Act II and Intermission IN THIS ISSUE...
Learning “How to Succeed” 130th Anniversary of Central Alumni Teachers
C H T
Volume 110
Issue 2
Winter 2023
Pg. 07 Pg. 14 Pg. 18
IN THIS ISSUE . . . Letter from the Editor
The SAG-AFTRA Strike
The Israel-Gaza Conflict
Advertisers
N. Pickett
Advertisers Sylvan Learning Evangel University MSU’s LCR Dept.
N. Malega
N. Hunter
Cox College
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10 - 11
Gypsy Rose Released
Learning “How to Succeed”
Upcoming SLT Musicals
E. Logan
E. Lewis
S. Greene
Onward & Upward: Cheer’s Success
Changes on the Mat
Advertisers
Boys Soccer
J. Herr
E. Lewis
Jostens
E. Logan
20 - 21
22 - 23
24 - 25
26 - 27
“Setting” Up the Next Season
Running Across the Dog Park
Girls on the Green
Softball
E. Lewis
J. Wegrzyn
L. Caplinger
N. Hunter
Act II and Intermission IN THIS ISSUE...
Learning “How to Succeed” 130th Anniversary of Central Alumni Teachers
Pg. 07 Pg. 14 Pg. 18
C H T
Volume 110
Issue 2
Winter 2023
COVER Student actors as they perform the song, “Coffee Break,” in the fall musical, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo by Allison Loughary.
ADVISER Kori O’Dell PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ned Pickett ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emmarie Logan DIRECTOR OF DESIGN Allison Loughary COPY EDITORS Madi Taylor, Tyler VanLaningham SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Chloe Cunniff SENIOR REPORTERS Nina Malega, Morgan Martens
RETURNING REPORTER Nathaniel Hunter REPORTERS Lucy Caplinger, Sarah Greene, Jack Herr, Emma Lewis, Jack Wegrzyn, Reese Wood THE CHT Volume 110 Issue 2 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 423 E. Central St., Springfield, MO 65802 CONTACT kechrismer@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 to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid printing material that is legally considered obscene, libelous or private.
Possible Alien Life
130th Anniversary of CHS
Club Highlight: Archive Club
Alumni Teachers
T. VanLaningham
R. Wood
T. VanLaningham
A. Loughary
12 - 13
14 - 15
16 - 17
18 - 19
NASA Psyche Probe
All District Honor Choir
N. Malega
M. Taylor
Boys Swim
Holiday Lights
Holiday Episodes
Rick Astley’s “Are We There Yet?”
J. Herr
Advertisers Cash Family Orthodontics Class of 1973 Join J1
E. Logan
L. Caplinger
N. Pickett
28 - 29
30 - 31
32 - 33
34 - 35
36
Girls Tennis
Central’s Big Read
Seasonal Scents
Holiday Recipes
Advertisers
M. Taylor
S. Greene
T. VanLaningham
C. Cunniff
Drury University
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 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 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 Chrismer, at kechrismer@spsmail.org. Sponsorships begins at $25 per year, advertising pricing begins at $50 per issue, and all money raised goes toward our printing budget.
CLARIFICATION CORNER The Central High Times would like to clarify facts from Volume 109, Issue 4 and Volume 110, Issue 1 regarding Girls Soccer. Under the direction of Coach Welch in the 2015 and 2017 seasons, the team record was 5-2 in the first seven games, but not five games in a row. Under the direction of Coach Cardoza in 2022, the team won five games in a row at the beginning of the season and not “throughout the season,” as was stated in the articles.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • CONTENTS • 1
LETTER
from the
The letter from the editor has many to get the sound barrier breaking, barely different uses. Sometimes, it is used to street-legal vehicles we have today. discuss an article that the editor finds As a truly unique sport and a fantastic interesting. Occasionally, it is used to opportunity to merge athletics and respond to a critique or suggestion about engineering at our schools together, it seems the magazine. Most of the time, it is used like it is a huge missed opportunity and gap about a topic the editor is passionate about in our school system to not have automotive or simply thinking about at that particular racing of this caliber. Racing is an incredibly moment. I believe there is another use easy sport to pick up for both drivers and it can have—change. Journalism is a very engineers, and it seems completely unfair effective way to spark change in the world, to these people to not create an amazing and as such, dear readers, I come to make opportunity for them to express their a proposal. There are many sports leagues skills. In addition, it would be another in which Central and Springfield Public excellent way for students to become more Schools participate. We have standard involved in school spirit and supporting football, soccer, baseball, tennis, and the their classmates. There would, however, other major ball-based sports, and some be some roadblocks and issues to work out. more nontraditional ones, such as fishing. SAFETY I believe that our district could use a few more nontraditional sports, perhaps sports Now, there are many barriers to starting more unusual even than fishing. This is why a Formula One type team. One such barrier, I must now propose a petition to start an of course, is the danger—a rather annoying SPS single open seat automobile racing concern to anyone who wishes to truly league—effectively, Formula One type run a thrilling sport. Automotive racing racing, in our very own city, performed by is not exactly a safe sport, and there are our very own high schools. occasionally accidents. I Formula One and the would like, however, to other automotive racing draw attention to the fact sports sanctioned by the that many of the sports Fédération Internationale that we already have de l’Automobile are the are dangerous, such as pinnacle of automobile football, where you can racing other than Buickinjure the ball of your rocketing, a popular form foot. We also have fishing, of racing originating in where one is constantly Idaho. The modern form of in danger of being eaten SIGN THE PETITION NOW Formula One was invented by large fish, gars, and by the Italian Emiliano Formuleone, the sharks. In any case, my point is that danger cousin of Ferrari inventor Henry Ford. It should not be considered, as we already has roots back to ancient Greece, where it have dangerous sports, and it would be was performed at the first Olympic Games unjust to allow fishers to put their lives at using a style of car not unlike those of today, risk and not drivers, referees, mechanics, but one pulled by horses. Although it was and engineers—this is simply not right! not brought back with the reactivation of Even though it would be unjust to these the modern Olympics in the early 1900s, people to not put their lives in danger, there Formuleone created a new version of it at are precautions which could be taken to around the same time, featuring the now minimize danger. The FIA of course has crucial “Formula One,” a form of petrol that guidelines to keep their drivers safe, but is actually injected into the wheels of the let’s face it, no one wants to use those car to make them turn faster. This has made guidelines when we can simply figure out the cars become more and more effective our own guidelines, allowing for more on the track over the years, allowing them thrilling races.
2 • OPINION • WINTER 2023 • CENTRAL HIGH TIMES
EDITOR The current Formula One system is based around two (occasionally more in case a backup is needed) drivers for every team. Each team is sponsored by one major company or individual, and these teams construct their own cars every year. This leads to two different sets of competition— the competition between the drivers, and the competition between the teams. Obviously, the schools would individually serve as the constructors and teams, and top racers from every school would serve as the drivers. As there are five major schools, the ten drivers they provide leave ten slots left on a track. I propose that 9 of these go to competitors from smaller school districts, while the last one is a standard Honda Odyssey minivan, to provide a point of comparison for the speed these cars achieve, an element sorely lacking in the televised format of the actual sport.
which would be nearly nonexistent in a theoretical school sponsored team. In addition, there would be no need to pay the drivers either, as they would simply be members of a team. Building cars is fairly cheap, so that would prove to be no issue. I’m thinking only around fifty bucks to make a quality racing vehicle, tops. All Formula One teams are sponsored in some form or another, so I’d like to perhaps provide some examples of companies which would likely be highly interested in supporting a local version of the pinnacle of auto racing. We could approach one of our many local donut or barbecue institutions, perhaps a car dealership, or a musical group, all of whom would heavily benefit from promotion through entirely safe, student based auto competition. In addition, this typically makes for more interesting livery—what rational human being would not be interested in a Bulldog wearing a donut for a mascot?
COST
LOCATION
Another barrier is cost, but I would again like to point out that many of our other sports are also expensive. The average cost of the balls for baseball can run up to $40,000 per game, and the cheapest option for a tennis racket is around $900 dollars. Most Formula One teams work with a budget of a couple thousand dollars, and that includes budgeting for a variety of elements that we would simply not need in a school sponsored Formula One team. The largest cost is typically advertising, a need
The real challenge would be finding tracks. I have two hypothetical solutions to this. As Formula One uses two separate types of tracks, a local setup would use these as well. The first is a dedicated track for racing. As these are expensive, it could theoretically delay the crucial installation of this system, but there are many greenspaces which could be cleared to make way for a track. I am aware that some of these will be difficult to legally construct, but the cost of not doing this is far greater than the legal
STRUCTURE
cost. The other option, of course, is street tracks, such as the Monaco Grand Prix. Due to Springfield’s wonderful city scenery and very curve-heavy roads (as opposed to blocky squares), reminiscent of Monaco, I believe that this could be a fantastic method of driving prior to the opening of a theoretical track. I would highly advocate for using the downtown in order to create a historic racetrack during events, and it would only require the closing of some streets. I am aware of the difficulties this would pose if created. It would be extremely difficult to afford, and it will be a long journey before a Springfield Public Schools automotive racing team would be able to start. Can we afford, however, to not to create this? Think of the opportunities that this would create, from young daredevils, to mechanics, to sports journalists, and lawyers. I genuinely cannot think of a better use of the district’s money, and as such, ask all of our readers to let our administrators know what we need. Cheers,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • OPINION • 3
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EMMARIE LOGAN ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In June of 2015 the nation was shocked to hear of the jaw-dropping murder of Dee Dee Blanchard in Springfield, Missouri. Now, eight years later, her daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was involved in her murder, is being released from prison. Her release comes three years before her original release date. In 2008, Dee Dee and Gypsy moved to Springfield, Missouri from Louisiana
GYPSY ROSE RELEASED leukemia, asthma, seizures, a feeding tube, and a multitude of others. These needs required multiple surgeries, medical treatments, and a variety of medications. In 2009, doctors started to wonder if Gypsy’s medical diagnoses were legitimate. A neurologist who was treating Gypsy suspected that she was suffering from something called Munchausen Syndrome by proxy, a condition which is a mental
Photo courtesy of Cosmopolitan.
following Hurricane Katrina. They were given a home built by Habitat for Humanity, a global nonprofit housing organization. Along with the home, Dee Dee and Gypsy were also given a large amount of support from the community including trips to Disney World and concerts. Gypsy, who was described as suffering from multiple medical issues, lived her entire life under the care of Dee Dee Blanchard. Those issues included
illness that is often seen in the form of child abuse. Dee Dee was determined to be a case of Munchausen Syndrome by proxy as she claimed or created fake symptoms on Gypsy’s behalf to make her appear sick. There were multiple reports made that involved visits to the Blanchard home. Dee Dee, however, had anyone and everyone convinced that her daughter was living a unique life under the care of her sweet
mother. Everyone except Gypsy. As Gypsy got older, she began to be more in tune with her own body, quickly realizing there were many illnesses not adding up. Dee Dee continued to lie about Gypsy’s identity and health, but Gypsy’s curiosity for the outside world only grew. The only contact Gypsy had with the outside world was a computer, which meant that anyone she met was through the internet. In 2012, she met Nicholas Godejohn on a Christian dating website. Godejohn was 23 years old at the time and found Gypsy to be his perfect match. The two were not supported by Dee Dee, creating tension between not only Godejohn and Dee Dee but also Dee Dee and Gypsy. This tension built over time, but Gypsy and Godejohn’s love continued to grow. In 2015, Gypsy sneaked Godejohn into her house in the middle of the night, where he stabbed her mother Dee Dee to death, while Gypsy was locked in the bathroom. This murder shook everyone who lived in the city of Springfield, but the events that would unfold were even more shocking. Gypsy and Godejohn, who had fled to Wisconsin, were quickly found and labeled as prime suspects in Dee Dee’s murder. Over the course of the investigation, the truth was revealed, and Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison while Nicholas Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison. As Gypsy finds herself being released after eight years, many people have been following her story since she moved to Springfield, Missouri in 2008. She will have to adjust to many things when she gets released, but according to many news sources, she’s excited for what is to come. However, she doesn’t miss the torture she was under when her mom was alive. Gypsy hopes to write a book about her experience and to live her life right. Most of all, she wants people to understand how complex her life was and is and finally hear her perspective.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • NEWS • 5
THE SAG-AFTRA STRIKE For the first time in over sixty years, Hollywood faced strikes by two of the largest unions that represent actors and screenwriters. Starting on May 2, WGA (Writers Guild of America) began their strike. WGA negotiates with AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) every three years for a new contract. AMPTP is associated with streaming services such as Netflix and production companies like Paramount. Before WGA signs a new contract with AMPTP, it requires approval from WGA members. Members came to a vote and agreed to use a strike as an incentive to reach an agreement with AMPTP by the expiration of their contract, which ended on May 1. Both strikes have since ended, and are The ultimate reason for WGA to decide to go on strike was because of payment residuals to the writers. Historically, writers are paid for each rerun of an episode that is aired, but because of streaming services becoming more popular than cable television, writers are not making money from residuals anymore. After a fivemonth-long run, the writers’ strike ended in October on the basis of a new contract extending from September 25, 2023 to May 1, 2026. Out of 8,525 votes, there were only 90 votes in favor of not ending the strike. WGA members are now earning increased pay, health benefits, and streaming residuals. Though the Writers Guild strike ended in October, there was still a second ongoing strike in Hollywood. On July 14, 2023, the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American
NINA MALEGA SENIOR REPORTER
Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strike began. The SAG-AFTRA organization represents an estimated 160,000 actors, journalists, and other media performers. Like WGA, SAG-AFTRA also negotiated with AMPTP and went on strike for better payment residuals and working conditions. Also like WGA writers, actors were facing the brunt of streaming services being the main source of television streaming within the past decade. Payment for actors has been lessened because of inflation, and actors were no longer able to rely on royalty payments they normally make from show reruns. Of the 65,000 SAG members who cast a vote on whether to go on strike or not, an overwhelming majority chose to do so if an agreement was not reached by July 12, 2023. Unions like SAG going on strike halts the majority of film and television production. Withholding their labor decreases the
profits that these major production companies could be making and will leave thousands of workers without jobs. This will ultimately cause immense pushback from viewers and drive AMPTP to renegotiate their contract with SAG-AFTRA based on their set terms. Actors who are a part of the SAG union are not permitted to participate in any projects that continue production during the time of the strike. This includes premieres, interviews, conventions, panels, and more. The Oppenhimer cast including actors such as Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy made the decision to leave the Oppenhimer premiere event early to stay within the lines of the strike. As of November 9, 2023, the SAGAFTRA unions have ended the strike. This strike has been recorded as the longest actors strike against major studios yet. The deal was approved on a unanimous vote, and will increase minimus by 7% and include a streaming participation bonus for members of the union. There will also be an increase in health contributions and pensions.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
6 • NEWS • WINTER 2023 • CENTRAL HIGH TIMES
Learning “How to Succeed”: EMMA LEWIS REPORTER Each year, Central students from a variety of backgrounds collaborate to produce and perform the fall musical. Under direction of Gretchen Teague, this ensemble presented How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying to friends, families, and the Central student body. “Auditions were in August,” Teague said. “The first preliminary audition is more of a group audition, so everyone comes in and sings the same song and dances the same dance, they all learn it together. The callback is a little bit more specific, so songs or readings that we want particular people to do. We’re looking for who brings the energy of the character. I think ultimately we had thirty in the cast. Grades ranged from sixth grade, all the way up to seniors.” Auditions, announced on both the morning announcements and the theater program’s Instagram account, were open to all Central students. As a result, the final cast involved a wide range of students sharing a unifying passion for theater. Although Keilei Downer, 11, has participated in a total of thirteen shows in the past, she has seen tremendous growth in the group as a whole and notes the inherent togetherness that comes with theater production. “I saw many people who had never done shows before go from timid and afraid of making decisions, to being confident and fun to watch,” Downer said. “Everyone in the theater program understands the fear of having to perform in-front of people for the first time. It was great to see people supporting others on opening night when our nerves and anxiety were high.” Teague has also witnessed this growth in students who have passed through Central’s theater program. Through a combination of learning and gaining experience, her students have developed into talented,
Students Unifying in Passion For Musical Theater
persevering performers. “I love watching students come in in their very first production, and then seeing where they end up several years later,” Teague said. “It’s fun to see skills develop and things that we learn in class coming to play in production. This show was originally written in the sixties, so it’s an old book musical and has a lot of dialogue. It’s not a script that we have done that style in a while. They persevered through learning all the lines - there were a lot of them. They stuck to it!” Beyond directing Central’s shows, Teague serves as the IB MYP Coordinator and is extremely involved in Springfield’s theater scene. She has directed at Springfield Contemporary Theatre since the early 2000’s, and recently took on running Springfield Little Theatre’s acting troupe, Teen Players. Her experience, along with choir teacher Eric Eichenberger’s music direction, played a major role in facilitating the cast’s growth. “We have an amazing theater program here at Central and amazing theater teachers. Believe it or not, I am very selfconscious of my singing voice, but Mr. E helped me become more confident in my singing and figure out “How to Succeed” pun intended. Dr. Teague has always been there to support me, and I love how she pushes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to make bold decisions. It can be scary at times, but it is always so rewarding.” Downer said. Those off-stage, the technical crew, also put in a substantial amount of effort. The process of building the set and managing the props and costumes was majorly studentled, involving just as much collaboration and effort as the performers. “Gayle White took the lead on looking for people who would be helpful in tech and then providing time for work,” Teague said. “One of the things I really try to do is make sure that we’re sustainable in our work. We have a lot of stock materials flats, costumes, platforms, things like that, so I try to use up materials that we have. I also had in my head this image of the
giant window that looks out over the city. Sharing those ideas with Grace Meyer and Lucy Gowers, they talked through how we can use what we have and create this office space that could be multiple locations.” Being a part of the tech crew allows students to grow problem-solving skills, placed in a unique position of responsibility. Similar to acting, this role can also boost confidence, a person’s ideas being tangibly recognized. “Once we got past that, we were able to start building the set,” Grace Meyer, 10, said. “That was Tuesdays, Thursdays, eventually Mondays and Wednesdays as well, trying to get it done as fast as we could. It was very draining, but very fun. From doing tech for this musical, and possibly for other plays in the future, some of my social anxiety might go away. I might be more comfortable giving ideas out, as designing the set made me feel like my ideas were appreciated.” The technicians and the actors grew, in both production skills and as people. With the element of proximity and working towards a common goal, participating in theater prompted each group to develop lasting friendships. “This show was very hard to let go of, mainly because of our seniors,” Downer said. “I have been in shows with some of these people for multiple years and it is sad to think that, next year, I won’t have them. Further, it made me realize how little time I have left as part of the Central High School theater program. It and Dr. Teague have had such a positive influence on me, and I can’t believe how fast time flies.” While How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying has come to a close, there are more opportunities to participate in the theater program later into the school year. The turnaround from the fall musical to the spring play is very brief, with auditions quickly approaching. “Auditions for the spring production, the Old Man and the Old Moon are January 16th,” Teague said. “Those interested in auditioning to be a cast or work tech; I would just say show up that day afterschool, fill out an audition form, and join in on the fun!”
Photo by Ainsley Daccache.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • NEWS • 7
The Israel / Gaza Conflict On October 7, the military group Hamas shot at least 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel. An estimated 3,000 militants invaded Israel from Gaza, attacking Israeli military bases and villages, killing approximately 1,400 people, and taking more than 200 civilian hostages to the Gaza territory. Hamas’ attack was most likely coordinated and planned in advance, with funding and support from the government of Iran. Hamas was founded in 1987 as the Islamic Resistance Movement, advocating for Palestinian liberation. Hamas conducted a suicide bombing campaign in the 1990s, and gained a foothold in the the Gaza Strip, while Fatah prevailed in the West Bank and Palestinian authority. Tensions between Hamas and the Israeli government have been high since they gained governmental control of Gaza in 2005 and Israel withdrew from Gaza in the same year. While there was violence between Israelis and Palestinians beforehand, with at least 247 Palestinian being killed by Israeli forces and 32 Israelis being killed in Palestinian attacks, violence on this scale had never occurred before. Hamas’s barrage on Israel left at least 1,400 people dead, and videos of the brutal attacks on civilians were distributed on social media by militants. In addition to the more than 200 hostages, many more Israelis were injured in the attacks, with some families hiding from militants in
safe rooms for hours or even days. A video circulated around the internet of the Iranian parliament standing up and chanting, “Death to Israel, Death to America”. Israel’s response to the attacks was swift. The day after Hamas’s assault, Israel officially declared war on Hamas and prepared its own attacks from the air. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declared a plan to flush out Hamas by bombing infrastructure and Hamas operatives in Gaza until they surrendered or were defeated. Israel’s airstrikes have been intense, with a notable example being the airstrikes of October 12, when 6,000 bombs were dropped in 6 hours and 1,400 Palestinians were killed, and even more were injured. However, Israel’s assault on Gaza is not limited to bombings and military assaults. Israel has taken up a strategy of total war. On October 9, the Israel government cut off 80% of Gaza’s electricity supply and set up blockades to prevent food and fuel from being transported into the Gaza Strip. On October 13, the IDF ordered civilian Gazans to evacuate from the north to the southern half of the strip. According to the United Nations, Israeli forces also blocked water pipelines going into Gaza, cutting off water supply for reportedly 650,000 Palestinians. The Israeli government has been open about pursuing actions that have been criticized as war crimes. “I have ordered a complete siege on the
8 • NEWS • WINTER 2023 • CENTRAL HIGH TIMES
Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “We are fighting human animals, and we must act accordingly.” The leaders of many Western countries stood in firm support of Israel’s defense against Hamas. On October 7, a joint statement from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy condemned Hamas as a terrorist group and justified a response from Israel. President Biden, in particular, has been steadfast in his support of Israel, even visiting the country and giving a speech on the situation in Tel-Aviv on October 18. “Today, I spoke with [Prime Minister Netanyahu] about the appalling Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. I offered our support and reiterated my unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” said President Biden on Twitter the day of the attacks. “[First Lady Jill Biden] and I express our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.” However, the U.S. government is also restraining the Israeli military response diplomatically, behind the scenes, as Israel’s threatened ground invasion of Gaza was delayed indefinitely as the U.S. negotiated humanitarian relief, evacuation corridors, and the release of some hostages. A million Palestinians have been displaced due to the conflict. Human
NATHANIEL HUNTER REPORTER
Photo courtesy of The Guardian.
Rights Watch and other non-governmental humanitarian organizations called Israel’s actions “abhorrent” and accused them of war crimes. While this view was initially in opposition to the support that many world governments had for Israel, the opinion of those governments have also shifted in response to the actions committed by the Israeli government. The United Nations immediately asked for a ceasefire when the conflict began, but once it became clear that Israel would not halt its assault, the UN began seeking humanitarian aid for the Palestinians who were being affected by Israel’s actions. The UN tracks the number of people displaced and who lost their food, water and electricity, and since October 12, has been giving direct financial aid to the Gaza Strip. The UN has also demanded Israel to stop depriving the Palestinians of essential resources, but the Israeli government has refused to comply. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been sent to Gaza by countries in the UN, with
the United States sending a 100 million dollar care package to Gaza on October 17. The U.S. negotiated the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Egypt border crossing, and some restoration of water supply. Despite this support, however, the situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire for the Palestinians trapped there. The death toll continues to rise, passing 5,000 on October 22. The day before, the UN secretary general said that Gaza needed “much, much more supplies.” There has been a large influx in support for Palestinians and Palestinian independence in the wake of Israel’s assault, and not just online. World leaders have been more critical of Israel as well. “The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,” said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on October 24. “But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And
those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” After this statement, the Israeli government called for Guterres to resign after he said that Hamas’s attacks on Israel “did not happen in a vacuum.” Even so, even the most publicly supportive governments of the world are still attempting to diffuse the conflict as peacefully as possible, and ameliorate and prevent more of the humanitarian catastrophe that the war has created. “We can’t ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace. That’s why I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” tweeted President Biden on October 22. “And we cannot give up on a two-state solution.”
Photo courtesy The Atlantic.
Photo couresy of Reuters. Title photo courtesy of CNBC.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • NEWS • 9
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417-269-3401
UPCOMING SLT MUSICALS Springfield Little Theater began its 89th season in September with Fiddler on the Roof, and will show 7 musicals in total throughout the 2023-2024 season. Ticket prices vary between seating groups. Platinum tickets are $37 for 13 and above, $25 for 12 and under, and $34 for 62+, students, and military service members. Gold tickets are $35 for 13 and above, $23 for 12 and under, and $32 for 62+, students, and military service members. For groups of 10 or more, the price varies between $18-$30, and value seating is $17. In the Heights is the fourth musical in the Springfield Little Theatre season, following the recently closed Elf. It is a musical adaptation of the 2021 romantic drama movie of the same name. “Nina has just returned to her Washington Heights neighborhood from her freshman year at Stanford, unsure if she plans to go back; her parents struggle to keep their small business alive and Benny, their young employee, does his best to help the company stay afloat; Usnavi operates a tiny bodega, and his love interest, Vanessa, only dreams of finding a studio apartment in the coveted West Village. When the winning lottery ticket, a power outage, and romantic tension all hit the ‘hood, the long-time friends and neighbors make discoveries about each other, about themselves, and about the place they all call home.” The musical is rated PG-13, and the runtime is around 2 hours and 30 minutes. It will run from January 26 to February 11 in 2024. The Play That Goes Wrong is the fifth musical in the season. A Broadway hit, this is the second time that the musical shows at Springfield Little Theatre. “This 1920s whodunit has everything
you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!” The comedy musical is rated PG, and the runtime is around 2 hours. It will run from March 7 to March 17 in 2024. Mary Poppins Jr. is the sixth musical in the season. It is a musical adaptation of the Disney movie, which is an adaptation of the children’s book series by P.L Travers. “The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that ‘Anything can happen if you let it.’”
Photos and Information courtesy of Springfield Little Theatre.
SARAH GREENE REPORTER
The musical is rated G, and the runtime is around 1 hour. It will run from April 11 to April 21 in 2024. Guys and Dolls is the seventh and final production of the 2023-2024 season. It is an original musical loosely based on two short stories by author Damon Runyon. “Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.” It is a romcom, rated PG-13, and the runtime is about 2 hours and 30 minutes. It will run from May 31 to June 16, 2024.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • NEWS • 11
POSSIBLE ALIEN LIFE TYLER VANLANINGHAM COPY EDITOR
Throughout history, humans have been fascinated with the idea of extraterrestrial life. From fictional stories to supposed encounters, the search for alien life has been extensive, but ultimately unsuccessful. Recently, however, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) made a discovery that could be the starting point for concrete evidence of life not based on Earth. In early September, some research was released suggesting that the JWST may be able to detect signs of life on planets as far away as 50 light-years. The spacecraft has the capacity to detect some key biofactors that may indicate life, including chemicals like methane and oxygen that are commonly produced by organisms here on Earth. Combined with some data from the Hubble
a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Because the habitable zone around a star is defined as the distance at which a planet could sustain liquid water on its surface, this means that all hycean planets are potential candidates for life. K2-18 b has been of particular interest for some time after the Hubble Space Telescope detected water in the atmosphere of the exoplanet in 2018, three years after the planet’s initial discovery. Further information from the JWST more recently suggested that the planet may actually be covered in liquid water. After this breakthrough, the telescope then began detecting signs of dimethyl sulfide, a compound only ever observed to be produced by ocean-dwelling microbial life such as phytoplankton, in the atmosphere.
nutrient levels on a planet, which are two of many variables that could determine the habitability of a planet. On top of all this, many of the things that these telescopes can detect are only predictions. Whether or not K2-18 b is even covered by liquid water still remains largely unknown. Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that life has not yet been discovered outside of Earth, and the way we determine how habitable a planet is is based on our understanding of how life is able to thrive. Because we only know
3-D space-filling model of dimethyl sulide. All photos courtesty of Wikimedia Commons
Space Telescope collected in 2018, several discoveries have been made about a distant exoplanet called K2-18 b that excites researchers. The reason that K2-18 b stands out to scientists is the fact that it may be hycean in nature. Hycean planets are types of exoplanets that contain liquid water and
While these new studies have certainly sparked the interest of scientists and the public alike, none of this information conclusively proves the existence of extraterrestrial life just yet. The JWST does have an extensive amount of capabilities but it cannot detect things like temperature or
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about the conditions of life on one planet, it is impossible to have complete certainty regarding any conditions for life being met until we actually do discover something.
Psyche, a NASA mission to an asteroid rich with metal that is unique to anything NASA has ever seen before launched on October 13, 2023. 16 Psyche is an asteroid that is circling the sun between Mars and Jupiter. The distinctive characteristic of the asteroid 16 Psyche is that it seems to be the exposed nickel-iron core of a developing planet. For the first time ever, scientists are exploring an entity of metal, not the usual rock or ice. The mission was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The mission will cover the entirety of the asteroid, which has been calculated to be 140 miles wide. The mission was approved back on January 17, 2017 as a part of NASA’s discovery program. Arizona State University (ASU) is leading the mission and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and is responsible for mission management, navigation, and operations. According to research performed by ASU, Psyche was the 16th asteroid to ever be discovered. Though the Psyche mission to this metal-rich asteroid is taking place in the 21st century, the discovery of the rock was first sighted in 1852 by the astronomer Annibale de Gasparis. The asteroid has been assumed to consist mainly of metal from a planetesimal, one of the main building blocks of the Sun’s planetary system, according to ASU. ASU researchers claim that the asteroid most likely survived numerous hit-and-run-like collisions. This was a common occurrence when the solar system was forming. Because of this, Psyche may be able to tell scientists and researchers how the Earth’s core and the cores of other terrestrial planets came to be. During this mission, there are multiple goals and objectives that scientists want to achieve through the examination of the asteroid. According to JPL, the scientific
NASA PSCYHE PROBE NINA MALEGA SENIOR REPORTER goals are as follows: researchers are striving to understand a previously unknown building block of planet formation, iron cores. They are also taking a look into terrestrial planets. They are doing this by directly examining the interior that could not have been seen otherwise. Researchers also had a handful of objectives to reach while on the mission. This included determining whether or not Psyche is a core or if it is unmelted metal, characterizing Psyche’s topography, determining whether or not Psyche was formed under more reducing or more oxidizing conditions, and determining the relative regions of Psyche’s surface. In order to gather data from the mission in space, NASA will be testing out a new form of communication called Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC). DSOC is a laser communication technology that will encode data in photons at near-infrared wavelengths rather than radio waves according to ASU research. The use of light rather than radio will allow the spacecraft to communicate more data more efficiently. With reference to NASA’s official Psyche blog, the data can be transmitted at 10 to 100 times the bandwidth of conventional radio wave systems that are used today. DSOC will report data and demonstrate operations for two years up until and maybe even surpass 2026. The mission is scheduled to pass by Mars in 2026 if all goes well. DSOC will take communications
deep into space and will set up a foundation for higher data rate returns from robotic and human missions to Mars in the future.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • NEWS • 13
130 Anniversary of th
REESE WOOD REPORTER 130 years ago, Senior High School, now known as Central High School, was founded as the first high school in Springfield, Missouri. After many additions, remodels, and demolitions. After all these years, Central still stands tall with one building made up of an old wing, a new wing, and an auditorium. The first part, the old wing, was built in three different segments. The original Central building is the current home of the Office and Heritage Room, put into operation in 1893. The second part was the middle segment built in 1907, which was covered up by the construction of the auditorium in 1940. In 1913, the final part of the old wing, which contains the main office and the circle drive, was completed. The new wing was completed after the demolition of the fine arts building, the industrial arts building, the manual training building, and the original administrator’s office. Perhaps one of the most notable changes
to the building was the removal of the bell tower in May of 1917. Little is known about why the bell tower was removed, and it is hardly mentioned in older Central High Times newspapers and yearbooks, but some believe that it was removed due to its failure to meet proper building standards. Before the addition of the new building, the original library was located on the third floor, at the end of the hallway in the old building. When it was removed, multiple rooms were added as a replacement, creating an unusual overlapping classroom formation. The library now overlooks the commons. A popular club at Central is the Kilties. Created in 1926 by Robert Richie Robertson, it has the distinction of being the first girl-only drum and bugle corps in the United States. The Kilties have been active for 97 years now, being coached by many sponsors including the 2023-2024 coaches. Perhaps one of the most unusual elements of Central is the presence of approximately 120 junior high students. The Springfield Scholars Program began bringing middle school students to Central High School in the late 1990s by Deborah Preston-Nesbitt. Designed for gifted students, the program offers specially designed classes as well as access to high school classes at a younger age. Among the pieces of art throughout Central is the Hall of Ivy. The auditorium hallways used to be home to many ivy plants, which were removed in 1970 because of worry that they would cause structural damage. The old ivy plants were replaced with a mural, commemorating former valued members of the Central community. In 1996, the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) was brought to CHS. This program aims to help students have a greater world view while offering more
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advanced classes. Currently IB has two administrators—Mrs. Gray, who is the Diploma Program coordinator, and Dr. Cox, the Career-related Program coordinator. Although the Central building has been around since 1893, there was a high school program in Springfield using a rented building created in 1867 that evolved into Central. Sixty-eight students graduated in the first year. Then, in 1871, a new 12-room building was rented and in 1872 the first class graduated with two students. Possibly the most famous alumni is Linda Carol Brown, who was a part of the famous Brown v. Board of Education. This case made its way to the supreme court after Linda Brown was denied entry to Sumners Elementary because of her race. After her victory, she received her high school education at Central High School. The traces of World War 2 can be seen clearly in the history of CHS. There are many references to the events that took place in older yearbooks and copies of The High Times. There was at one point a class during the war called Aviation Psychology, teaching students the physical and mental challenges of flying. In addition, older editions often discussed the need to save gas and ration food, and how these affected the lives of CHS students. There was also a need to recycle and salvage scrap metal to help with the war effort. In the library, there is a stash of remaining year books. Many of them are damaged, some from age and deterioration. Some of the damage is from students drawing on the yearbooks or ripping out pages. Preserving the history of the school is extremely important. Having these historical facts help us better identify our identity as a school, and defacing them is an attack on our identity as a school.
Central High School
“ History is who we are and why we are the way that we are.
-- David McCullough American Historian
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CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • FEATURE • 15
TYLER VANLANINGHAM COPY EDITOR Central High School has many afterschool clubs and activities, but few are as unusual as the Archive Club. Founded with the intention of protecting Central’s rich history, the Archive Club is responsible for a myriad of different preservation projects so that current and future students can know as much about the past as possible. While the Archive Club is now a predominantly student-led organization, the idea was initially conceived of by just two people. “The club started with Ms. Mueller to get kids involved with the process that was already underway started by Angela Castille,” said Emily Morris, one of Central’s librarians. “We had tons of old artifacts that people needed access to, so the digitization of those was really what the main goal of the Archive Club is.” Archiving the many pieces of historical information about Central not only means it is available for others to see in the future, but it also makes it extremely accessible. “We digitized a lot of that just to preserve it and then people can search it online without having to come into the school,” Morris stated.
CLUB HIGHLIGHT ARCHIVE CLUB During the quarterly meetings that the Archive Club hosts in the library, members learn how to scan and digitize historical documents and maintain certain areas of the library. “Mainly, [the members will] pick out a yearbook and they can use the copy machine and scan page by page and then we turn those into files that can go on the website,” Morris continued. “This past year we played around with using notes on iPhones because it’ll take photos and turn them into PDFs.” Technology has also been a big help to the club, making archival activities much more accessible to the students. “If we had multiple copies of one yearbook, like if we had four copies from 1984, a kid could check one of those out and then work from home and get those hours in and not have to be standing at the copy machine,” Morris said. In addition to digitizing and archiving old documents, students are also responsible for keeping the library clean and organized. Each student adopts a part of the library where they go through shelves, making sure books are properly organized. They also do things like pick up any trash and dust to
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make the library a nicer place for students to come to. Archive Club is a place where Central students have the opportunity to learn about the past all while helping preserve it for future students to do the same. Over the four meetings they have per year, the students help to preserve Central’s rich history for the future.
Check out the CHS Heritage Room Website!
ALL DISTRICT HONOR CHOIR Four seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and six freshmen from Central were chosen for the All-District Honor Choir. All-District Honor Choir is the Missouri Choral Directors Association’s smaller regional honor choir. It pulls from south-central Missouri, and is divided into grades 9-10 and 11-12. The All-District choir leads to auditions for the All-State choir, which leads into the South-western American Choral Directors Association (SWACDA) choir, covering the south-western region of the U.S. For the 9-10 division, directors from each school choose up to five students on each part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) to audition for the choir. From there, chosen students must sing their part of a four-part choral arrangement. After, they will sing a major scale and are given a short sightreading task. “For non-music people, as I like to say, you’re seeing a piece of music for the first time and performing it,” Ella Greninger, 12, said. Greninger, a soprano, is one of the four seniors who was accepted into the 11-12 choir. Out of the 100-150 students auditioning for the 9-10 division, the top 50 will be selected to join the choir. Central freshman Brynn Wisenhunt was the only soprano selected from Central. Freshmen Wren Biggers and Emma Lewis, and sophomores Grace Meyer, Rachel Smitherman, and Claire Szura were the selected altos. Freshmen Beck Bauer and Joshua Woods, and sophomore Archer Gillam, were chosen for tenor. Thomas Klepper, a freshman, and sophomores Joseph Bastean and Landon WoodruffWicken were the chosen bass singers. The audition process for the 1112 division follows a different method. Directors may choose up to eight students for each part. The students must then perform a solo from the prescribed Art Song repertoire. They may choose from either of the prescribed books, between Italian or English pieces.
MADI TAYLOR COPY EDITOR
“Think of it as simple opera,” Greninger said. After performing their solo, the student then must do their own sight-reading excerpt tasks and sing in two major signatures. Around 150 students audition for soprano and alto, with less auditioning for tenor and bass. Out of these students, the top 50 are selected to join the All-District choir. The top 25 are given the opportunity to audition for the Missouri All-State choir. Greninger, along with seniors Darla Bauer and Czarina Tela performed as sopranos for the choir. Eliska Price, a senior, and Caleena Tomokane and Oakley Vincent, juniors, were the chosen altos. Out of these six students, five of them made the top 25. Greninger, Darla Bauer, Eliska Price, Caleena Tomokane and Oakley Vincent were all allowed to audition for the All-State Honor Choir. “Being named top 25 is a prestigious honor and allows you to know how you compare to singers across the area,” Greninger said. “It is also an excellent opportunity to hone your craft and improve your auditioning skills!” The All-District choir is essentially the best representation of choral students from the south-central area. There’s a lot of talent and dedication provided by the students. The choir looks at collegiate-level music with well-known choir directors from universities outside of the state. This is another opportunity for students to grow as musicians. On November 4, the students came together for a day-long event to combine their talents and practice. Prior to this day, the students had a three-hour rehearsal. Then, on the fourth, they engaged in a sixhour long rehearsal, before performing a concert that was free to the general public before the day ended. This culmination of their efforts is one that is unique and special to the students. To have 18 of Central’s own students participate, five of which were offered a chance at the All-State choir, is a valuable feat.
Photo by Gentry Goode.
Photo courtesy of Ella Greninger.
“Acknowledge it’s definitely a rigorous process, whether you make it or not it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there,” Greninger said. “Especially as a singer, your instrument is your voice and it’s an extension of your body. It’s courageous to put yourself in such a vulnerable position.”
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • FEATURE • 17
ALUMN I TE ACHERS Most people check off high school on their “been there, done that” list as soon as they walk the stage at graduation. However, a select few people return years later, just on the opposite side of the classroom. Larry Shaefer and Seth Bossi are two such individuals who have returned to Central’s social studies department as teachers. Shaefer was a “frosh” (slang for a freshman in the 1980s) during the 19861987 school year and graduated in 1990. He was on the football team during his first year at Central and his own coach, Bill Stringer, was a Central alumnus himself. After a back injury, however, Shaefer was convinced by Coach Jim Hoodenpyle to become a Bullfrog and join the boys swimming team. In addition to participating in sports, he was a member of the German club and was also part of the stage crew for the school performances and manned the lights high above in the auditorium.
Shaefer as a junior in 1989.
As if he wasn’t busy enough, Shaefer also had to work. This was not his first job—that milestone was met at the age of 13 when he worked in his neighbor’s plum orchard in Washington. This one was even more important. “I lived four blocks away on the corner of Main and Central and I rode my skateboard to work on Glenstone,” Shaefer said. “There used to be a Shoney’s there and I would bus tables and wash dishes at 15. I closed the place, like, 12:30, one o’clock in the morning, and then ride home, go to bed.
Get back up. Go to school. Do it again. But at that time, I was living by myself. I had an apartment and it was $60 a month utilities paid. So I needed to have money.… There was no way around that.” Between the various school assignments that must be completed and the general life responsibilities that students face, Shaefer believes that there is too much pressure putting a strain on students’ mental health. Some students have to work to contribute to household expenses, like he did, or are trying to pay for car insurance. Having worked through high school himself, Shaefer feels a connection with his working students. “I think that that experience gave me the ability to empathize with some of our student body who are in the same position,” Shaefer said. “So it was helpful; I understand where they’re at. So when kids come in tired, I ask them, ‘Hey, did you have to work?’ Most of the time that answer is yes.” Though many students are not entirely sure of what they are going to do after high school, many choose to go to college. When Shaefer was a student, a college education wasn’t necessarily the path that most students would take. Common elective classes at the time prepared students for trade and craft work and some students, including Shaefer, took vocational-technical courses. “All of my electives were centered around industrial arts,” Shaefer said. “[M] ost of where the new building is now, those were all just older brick buildings that were industrial art shop classes and stuff like that. And so then half or for a little bit more, about half a day I was at vo-tech and I was driving down the street taking classes down there basically for trade.” After he graduated high school, Shaefer went into the heating and air conditioning business doing sheet metal work. He did that for four years and got his journeyman’s license in sheet metal, but then decided that he wanted to do woodwork. During the 13 years he spent in woodworking, he found it rewarding to have a tangible final product. However, he said that the body can’t take doing hard work like that forever. So, his wife suggested that he go to college and learn to teach.
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ALLISON LOUGHARY DIRECTOR OF DESIGN “I think that because I’ve always had a desire for knowledge. I’ve always been a lifelong learner,” Shaefer said. “So I just gambled and it’s really difficult at that time. I didn’t start college until I was 37 years old. I had a family and kids. I had a job. I student taught and still worked. I still did well in school.” At first, Shaefer wanted to teach middle school. He wanted to be able to help students, and believed that was the way he could best serve. He taught at Pipkin for several years before getting the chance to teach at Central. “I got an opportunity to interview and so I took it because I wouldn’t have left the middle school setting for any other high school,” Shaefer said. “I’d probably still be teaching middle school but I did it because this building means a lot to me.”
Shaefer now. Photo courtesy of Larry Shaefer.
He realized that he was able to have conversations with older students who understood the life lessons he wanted to teach. At Central, he has students throughout the grades and he believes that he is lucky to get to watch them grow as individuals during that time. He wants to be able to make a difference in the lives of his students.
Shaefer wasn’t the only teacher who was impacted by his time at Central as a student. Bossi joined Central as a freshman in 2015 and he graduated in 2019. His course load included honors and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. He was a member of the debate and football teams, and was an active member of the band and played the flute. He also joined the Botanical Garden society and the grappling club, which transitioned into doing jujitsu outside of school. “I’ve always loved reading and being outdoors,” Bossi said. “So any chance I get to [do those things] are activities that I’ve always kept up in my life. ESS [Environmental Systems and Societies] was a big influence on me. It was my favorite class in high school. And when I was in that class my junior year that really kind of kicked off the whole homesteading kick, because my uncle actually moved down here from California that same year and started homesteading. So I actually spent a lot of time out there doing sustainable habitat and stuff. And that kind of transitioned to outside of school.”
Bossi as a senior in 2019.
This love for the outdoors had Bossi originally choosing to focus in wildlife conservation at Missouri State University. However, after his first semester, he switched to history education and this past summer he graduated with his history education degree with a focus in Middle Eastern studies. “There’s two reasons why I became a teacher,” Bossi said. “One, I thoroughly have always enjoyed school. I’ve always been interested in learning more. I’m a naturally curious person and always strive to
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The classroom that I have right now was Mrs. Gray’s classsroom when I was here. I did Theory of Knowledge in this classroom. ... This classroom was always a nice, comfy space for me to be in, I’m going to make sure it stays that way.
-- Seth Bossi
”
attain more knowledge. I like being around students. I like developing relationships with students and guiding them through history. History is my favorite subject and teaching is one of the few professions that you get to do history as a paid job. So that’s pretty cool.” Bossi’s second reason was that he wanted to spend more time with his family. His parents are both corporate workers who had little time at home. While teachers may spend time outside of school hours on lesson plans and grading, he believes that he still has more time than his parents. Bossi did his student teaching at Republic, which was very different from what he experienced at Central. For him, the benefit of coming back to his own high school to teach was that he already had established connections here. He knew many of the staff from his time as a student, and now he gets to work alongside them. “I saw that there was a position open here and applied because I wanted to come back and work with some of my former teachers, and I also think Central is just the best high school you could possibly find in the southwest area,” Bossi said. “It was the easiest transition I’ve ever made in my life, because I’ve already had an established root system here. … I feel well looked after and I could not ask for a better staff here at Central for sure.”
It was from his former teachers that Bossi gained a lot of his teaching ideas and methodology. Paul Epps, as Bossi’s former ESS teacher, influenced Bossi’s teaching style of being open and interactive with his students. Bossi had Joel Slingerland as a freshman in US History Honors and he impacted Bossi’s view on the world and how a teacher presents themself in the classroom. Bossi is trying to help his students in the best way he can. This can be achieved with his knowledge as a teacher. He makes sure to explain the reason behind assignments and emphasize their importance. Additionally, Bossi can use his experience as a former IB student at Central.
Bossi as a teacher at Central.
“I feel like I’m better able to design my curriculum and present it to them in a much more IB focused manner because I’ve already been through that program and I know what I’m looking for,” Bossi said. Both Shaefer and Bossi are able to connect with the students they are currently teaching, having had a background that is similar and familiar to their students. “I wouldn’t be the same teacher anywhere else,” Shaefer said. “[T]he culture of this school is just hard to find. And, you know, how fortunate am I? How lucky am I to be part of this history?”
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I’m very very fortunate to be able to step straight out of college into a role that is coveted because being a teacher at Central is coveted. -- Seth Bossi
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CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • FEATURE • 19
Onward & Upward: Cheer’s Success
JACK HERR REPORTER
The Central High School cheer team has achieved relative success in recent competitions. The team – which is composed of a greater number of cheerleaders than past years – spends a large portion of their week practicing, perfecting, and performing their routines both in the commons and on the field. The average person might think of the final products of tosses, flips, and other stunts of the like when they hear the word “Cheer”, but an essential step in creating such feats of agility is practice. “Normally, we have practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we would normally have a football game on Friday.” Natalie Crosby, 9, said “We would have a practice starting at three-twenty and it would go all the way to five-thirty.”
really bad setback,” Crosby said “But we got back up, we did the other half of the pyramid so it was fine.” Head coach Veronica Smith concurred with the sentiment. “Regionals were a great experience this year. We have an amazing routine this year that senior Blake Tucker and I made,” Smith said. “We felt prepared and confident before we performed, and we were very excited for our fourth place finish. We are looking forward to State on Dec. ninth.” Cheer is a detail-oriented sport, and there is a lot that can go wrong and there are many injuries to be had if a routine or stunt isn’t executed with precision. “We always have to think about the worst scenario possible and how we can prepare for that” Crosby said “Stunts are dangerous
Photo by Elseya Ligon.
Members of the varsity division of the cheer team have greater responsibilities associated with their rank. “On Saturdays, we have a special only-varsity practice for competition. We would get there at eight AM and stay until ten AM.” Crosby said. The varsity cheerleaders need to practice for when they engage in competition with other teams around the area. At the regional competition at Lindenwood University, Central’s cheer team managed to secure the fourth place spot and came close to netting second. “We went out, we did our routine, and we had half of our pyramid fall which was a
and a lot of people can get hurt”. Due to the nature of Cheerleading, the coaches need to pay close attention to keep everybody safe. It is also the coaches responsibility to manage the team at large and create stunt groups for routines. Smith is the head coach of Cheer at Central High School; she is assisted by two other coaches known to the cheerleaders as Coach C and Coach Leigh. “They all have cheered for many years, highschool, college, you know.” Crosby said. “They are just trying to pass on what they know to us. If we’re struggling with a stunt they come up and they show us where to
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stand, what to try, what drills to do, and really see what works.” The cheer team is of a larger size this year in comparison to years past. “We have thirty members currently. We have nineteen members on varsity and eleven on JV” Smith said. Many friendships can be formed in stunt groups and in the greater body of the team. “I’ve had a great time on varsity getting to meet new people,” Crosby said. “It’s definitely expanded my friendship circles. I have a friend group of cheer girls now that I see everyday and I have a connection with. It’s given me a community outside of my freshman friends. We see each other everyday, we practice everyday, we all have a bond, we have trust.” Trust is very important in cheer, considering the responsibility placed upon members of the team to keep everybody safe. “We definitely trust each other when it comes to stunting,” Crosby said. Another responsibility that cheerleaders have is to balance life with cheer. “Obviously there is a very big time commitment like over the summer we have a lot of practices almost every day that week” Crosby said. “After school I think it ends at a pretty good time so that we can still do stuff after school and get our homework done. With student-athletes, student always comes first so our coaches always make sure we have time for our schoolwork and to have time outside of cheer for school”.
Photo by Paige Bodnar.
EMMA LEWIS REPORTER Although the fall season has come to a close, there are many developments in store for Central’s girls volleyball team. With Head Coach Brooke Tadlock spearheading new supplementary programs, the players will continue fostering their skill set, even throughout the spring. “We had a totally different varsity team this year than last year,” Tadlock said. “Quite a few really good juniors ended up going different directions, so our only senior this year was Laramie Hill. We then moved up some very talented sophomores to the varsity team, along with some very good juniors that have a lot of athletic talent.” Tadlock’s selection of the players considered both skills displayed at try-outs and knowledge from open gym during the summer. Once the players were distributed among the freshman, JV, and Varsity teams, practices began. For JV and Varsity in particular, daily three hour practices allowed the players to improve and bond. “The games began in late September and ended in early October,” Saskia Stevens, 9, said. “For our first tournament, we placed second overall, which was such a great way to start the season. We went on to beat lots of schools, such as Carthage, Camdenton, Rolla, and Hillcrest. Our team bonded over our love for volleyball, school and the stress of balancing our schedules. The team was a team in more ways than just a word - we all respected each other a lot and got along really well. I’m really excited for the next couple years, as we have the rest of high
“Setting” Up the Next Season school to improve and make memories together.” This past season, all three of Central’s teams excelled in tournaments. The varsity players provided guidance to the younger teams and facilitated much of their growth. “Our senior definitely stepped up into a leadership role this year, she did a fantastic job with consistency and aggressiveness,” Tadlock said. “All of the girls who were on the team definitely improved. It is a hard thing to be asked as a young individual to play against players that are juniors and seniors when you’re just a sophomore, and they did a great job of competing and growing. I think they really do love each other and enjoy playing with each other, and that’s obvious.” Tadlock’s experience, spanning over a decade, also contributed to the players’ development. Prior to her position as head coach, she coached in a variety of positions and later ran her own club. “Coach Tadlock knows the game very well, she’s able to pick up on small things holding you back and offer tweaks which help you improve a lot,” Stevens said. “The upperclassmen were also very welcoming and offered a lot of valuable advice, but never treated you like you were a kid or less than them.” Players at all levels got to know each other well through scrimmages between the JV and varsity teams. Because of their collaboration at practices and games, they have developed a strong sense of
Photo by Emily Hernandez.
camaraderie. “When you spend so much time with people, working together, you’re able to get to know them really well,” Stevens said. “Everyone on the team has a great personality, which makes working together a lot easier. There’s a lot of trust in each other and our abilities. I think I’ve grown a lot more resilient and mentally tough, able to handle stress a lot better and feel a lot more confident in myself.” Although the fall season has ended, Tadlock is committed to continuing this growth. By nurturing her individual programs, Tadlock has plans to enhance the Volleyball program as a whole. “I started the boys volleyball team last year and I’m going to continue that this spring,” Tadlock said. “We had a great senior group last year and I think that even though they have moved on, we have a new group that’s going to come in and be really good. They get to scrimmage against our girls, which makes our girls better as well by challenging them in different ways.” Scrimmages against the boys team are certainly not the only way the team will continue to grow. Tadlock is establishing beach volleyball, an entirely new asset of the program, in order to enhance a variety of the girls’ skills. “It is one of the fastest growing female sports right now,” Tadlock said. “It’s still developing, but a lot of scholarship opportunities are available. In indoor, you’re very specialized—you’re a backrow player, a frontrow player, a middle blocker, an outside hitter, there are all these different positions that you can play as. Outdoor, you have to do it all, and there’s only two of you. You learn a lot more about strategy and how much your performance affects the team’s ability to find success, along with flowing with your teammate in a dynamic way. It does a lot for your game!”
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Changes on the Mat In the midst of Central’s shifting staff, Coach Michael Dalangin has taken on the role of wrestling coach. Encouragement from the new coach has provided a space for the wrestlers to evolve, working towards both a successful season and personal growth. “Joining wrestling is very easy,” Jaidyn Pohslander, 11, said. “All you have to do is find out when practice is, and show up in appropriate clothes and wrestling shoes if you have them.” Unlike many other sports at Central, wrestling did not hold official try-outs. The sport is welcoming to beginners, and both Coach Dalangin and the wrestlers themselves are eager to recruit students. “We have posters everywhere and all the wrestlers try to talk to classmates and friends,” Pohslander said. “Coach Dalangin talks to students, and we will have a table during lunch soon. We also value the middle school programs and the Bulldog Youth Club that filters into Central.” Through these methods of marketing, a group of thirty to forty students have been assembled and consistently attend off-season practices. Taking place Mondays and Thursdays, these practices develop the wrestlers skills in preparation for tournaments and duels. “Our practices look at technique, because you have to be able to learn X amount of moves to be successful in the sport,” Coach Dalangin said. “Repetition is huge when it comes to learning that, being familiar with the sport. Wrestling is such an individual sport that when you’re out on the mat alone, you can really tell if you aren’t paying attention at practices or if you’re not quite in shape. The biggest thing is that if you are not at practice, trying to get better, trying to be consistent in the wrestling room, it truly shows when you’re out on the mat by yourself.”
EMMA LEWIS REPORTER
Coach Dalangin
Competition begins on December 1st and 2nd at the Bolivar tournament, where both JV and Varsity are given the opportunity to wrestle. The first duel open for public viewing is December 4th, taking place at Hillcrest. Although wrestling is often considered an individual sport, support at such competitions from the team, family and friends means a lot to the competitors. “We compete as individuals, but wrestling in my eyes is still a team sport,” Pohslander said. “I need my team, and I would not be where I am without them. We push each other at practice, and we support each other everyday, on and off the mat. One of our former coaches had a saying he always repeated; ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ and I think that is really true. Wrestling is such a hard sport that you really do build this very close and unique connection. My teammates have seen me at my lowest lows, but also my highest highs. They were there for me in both instances - I really consider this team my family.” Off the mat, the wrestling team is very close with one another. The group commonly spends time together outside of practices, maintaining close bonds and making memories. “We spend our time in the room teaching and learning from each other, listening or laughing to people’s stories.” Rogue Wilson,
10, said. “My favorite memories involve going to Subway down by the dry-cleaners after practices, where we bond and talk about the practices and our day. It’s a very enjoyable end to a hard practice.” These bonds are very rewarding to the wrestlers, motivating the group to stay committed and develop their skills. Even outside of wrestling, the team has felt growth within themselves. “I have seen a lot of personal character growth since I started wrestling,” Wilson said. “I’m a lot more emotionally balanced out for one, as wrestling is a safespace for me to feel and vent frustrations healthily. Coach Dalangin is a very understanding man and has helped me through very serious problems that I have and am dealing with. He connects with each of his wrestlers like any teacher should.” Prior to this year, Dalangin had served as an assistant coach at Glendale, Springfield Catholic, Waynesville and Nixa’s Youth Wrestling Club. Throughout his time in these roles, Dalangin has witnessed firsthand the importance of personal connection with students. “I think the biggest thing is being positive in every way that I can possibly be,” Dalangin said. “A lot of the kids may not be very confident in their skills, really down on themselves. I try to keep up with those words of affirmation, telling them that they’ll continue to get better with practice and investing their time in the sport.” Dalangin’s presence as the new coach has proved to be extremely beneficial to Central’s wrestling program. In this new chapter, the group is anticipating wins, placements at tournaments and multiple state qualifiers. “With the new coach, everyone has really leveled up,” Wilson said. “How hard we are working seems to have increased, and the effort that Coach D puts in to connect with us and help each of us get better in our own ways is so impressive. He has helped many people improve very fast, which is not an easy task with a sport like wrestling. Even his way of convincing people to join is really impressive; we have a lot of people in the room trying to learn, and that’s really exciting. I think we are going to improve and learn throughout the whole season, so I have high hopes.”
Photo courtesy of @central.wrestling.1966 on Instagram.
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Running Across the Dog Park JACK WEGRZYN REPORTER The Central Cross Country season is nearing a close for this year as runners make team history and prepare for the final championship meets. Coach Jake Burch, Assistant Coach Andrea Gray, and Assistant Coach Colby Sanders each play a part in the Cross Country coaching staff, with Boys Captain Carter Meints and Girls Captain Alex Li leading the team amongst their Bulldog teammates. The runners have made Central Cross Country history through multiple competitive performances throughout the season and have also led practices every school day working to create a strong bond among the group. Sophia Brown, 10, is a Girls Varsity runner for Central Cross Country, Pomdog Dancer and Track runner with a season’s worth of prior experience. “We have Varsity-only and JV/Varsity meets almost every Saturday as well as JV only meets which are always during the week,” Brown said. “Our first meet was in the first half of September with State marking the end of the season on November 4.” Particular distances are run in meets for Varsity and JV, with Varsity typically doing only 5 kilometer races and JV occasionally having a 2 mile or 1.5 mile course to navigate. “We start our meet routine by leaving Central early in the morning and arriving 1 to 1.5 hours before the race starts,” Brown said. “We then look over the course. Later, everyone competes in the Varsity girls, Varsity boys, JV girls, and JV boys race order with a one mile warmup and cooldown with awards at the end.” Practices are held daily for runners to develop their competition paces, and in Photos by Paige Bodnar.
some cases require the team to wake up early. “Normal practices run from 3:30 to 5:00 pm, but we also have morning practices that become frequent during certain parts of the season,” Brown said. “Coach Burch always sends out a weekly schedule with the morning and afternoon practices, with one per school day.” The Bulldogs Cross Country Team participates in different types of practices to gain diverse training and achieve the best times possible. “There are three different kinds of practices: training runs, workouts and long runs,” Brown said. “In the mornings, training runs and long runs start at 6:10 and workouts are at 5:45.” Each type of practice has its own unique set of requirements, which allows runners
highschool sport. “Carter Meints, Dakota Walton, and Weston Jones have motivated me most so far this season,” Brodeur said. “They are all upperclassmen and great mentors that are very into cross country.” Brodeur follows a specific regimen physically and mentally in preparation for his competitive races. “I always tell myself to go hard and as long as I push it my time doesn’t matter,” Brodeur said. “The night before I carb load, have many snacks throughout the day, and make sure to warm up and cool down before and after the run.” Although cross country as a whole is considered an individual sport, the Bulldogs are a team and operate as such, participating in activities unrelated to training. “We have
Photos by Elseya Ligon.
like Chase Brodeur, 9, to make preferences on what they enjoy most. “My favorite is the long runs. They’re enjoyable and you can keep a stable condition without having to push,” Brodeur said. “Most of the time we do these at Sequiota and I really like that park too.” The Central cross country team wears uniforms with a red-striped design that is new this season as well as other apparel to represent themselves as Bulldogs. “There is a nationally ranked team from Texas called Love Joy that uses nearly the same uniforms as we do,” Brown said. “Coach Burch really liked their design and their coach granted us permission to use inspiration from them. Other team attire consists of hats, stickers, hoodies, and jackets.” There are certain runners on the team that act as role models and leaders, especially for Bulldog freshmen new to the
had many pasta parties throughout the season the night before meets,” Brown said. “We also play spike ball all the time for some team bonding.” Prior to the start of the current school year Brodeur was in need of a fall sport, and the decision to join Bulldogs Cross Country was motivated by a teammate that he was already friends with. “I mainly did cross because Carter Meints told me to,” Brodeur said. “I’m glad he did because it’s been fun.”
Photos by Elseya Ligon.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • SPORTS • 23
LUCY CAPLINGER REPORTER
GIRLS ON THE GREEN
Photos by Sarah Greene.
Central’s girls golf is a fall sport and is made up of students in grades nine through twelve. “This is my second year playing on the team and I am incredibly proud to be on it and play with these people,” Ellie Pierson, 10, said. This season saw the team greatly improve in both skill and camaraderie. Camilla Lu, 9, and Hampton Richards, 11, even made their way to the state competition. “This season was good and it was really fun. I think I improved a lot and our coach was very encouraging,” Finley Loethen, 10, said. The team’s coach, John Collins, has received praise for the humor he uses as a way to get his players to work harder out on the green. He has also been said to be very encouraging and inspiring. Players say he makes golf and practice fun to be a part of. “I think coach Collins is a great guy, he really really supports his players. He’s always coaching and implements funny sayings,” Greta Allen, 12, said. It is not only the coach that inspires these players, but also their very own teammates. “The team made practicing fun. We all got really close by the end of it. We were all friends regardless of grade or rank,” Loethen said.
For some, this was the first season of their career. For the seniors, this was the last season they will play for Central. “When you’re a teammate there are some connections that are almost unbreakable, it’s different then normal friendship. You’re all aimed towards the same goal, and since golf is an individual sport there is room for healthy competition,” Allen said. Even though the team is sad to see the seniors go , they are excited to grow as players and gain new teammates. “The seniors leaving is really sad because we all really celebrate our seniors as a team,” Gentry Goode, 10, said. According to the players, the best way to improve your golf skills is to have consistent practice. Whether that is every day or every week, repetition is key to getting better as a player. “I noticed when I spent time outside of practice I really improved,” Pierson said. The team had practice with the rest of their teammates every day after school at the Payne Stewart golf course, but some students played in their free time at Rivercut or Horton Smith. There was no practice on tournament days. “I started playing everyday and it really helped me improve and I got to play varsity for my first year on the team,” Audrey
Dimmick, 10, said. “I am definitely sad about leaving—the Central golf community has been like a home, but I know I have the tools to continue playing golf at drury,” Allen said. Golf has also provided its players with a sense of community that is unique to this team. All of the players are connected and see one another as family. “Playing golf is a great place to make friendships because you have so much time to talk and get to know each other,” Goode said. This season has yet again led to unbreakable bonds and many friendships that will serve these players for years to come. The people on this team have labeled this as a season of improvement and healthy competition. “Having competition with one another thickens the plot,” Goode said.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • SPORTS • 25
BOYS S CCER
There is much to celebrate this year as the 2023-2024 Boys Soccer season comes to an end. Along with many individual achievements, the team as a whole worked together to accomplish many goals. The Central Boys Soccer team won their game against Webb City granting them the title of Class 3 District 6 Champions. That win forwarded them to the Boys Soccer Quarter Final against Springfield Catholic. While they may not have brought home the win, they certainly brought home a new level of pride. “Our team was really struggling with communication at the beginning of the year but as the season has progressed we’ve gotten a lot better. When we are off of the field people are building strong relationships and I feel like that helps us on the field,” David McDowell, 9, said. Connections built on and off the field created opportunities for improvement as well as opportunities to display all of their hard work and dedication. Jack Brinkman, 11, was one of the nine Central Boys Soccer players to be named a member of the Class 3 District 6 All-District Team. Specifically, he was named player of the year. “My favorite game I played this season was when we played Republic. It was my first game back after being out for a month and a half due to [an] MCL strain I faced at the beginning of the season. Even though we lost I was just so happy to be back out on the field leading my team,” Brinkman said. Along with Brinkman, the Class 3 District 6 All-District Team consisted of many other Central High School Players. Trevor Selley was named Goalkeeper of the Year, Max Robinson was named Defensive Player of the Year, Issac Garcia, Kris Thwang, and Ryan Doel were named First Team, and Owen Smith, Logan Canada, and Calvin Torres were named Honorable Mention. Coach Cardoza was also named Coach of the Year. “ I think the Central Boys Soccer team is particularly good at motivating each other
off of the field and during practice. I think this is really important because if we can’t encourage each other at practice when we aren’t competing then we can’t encourage each other in-game,” McDowell said. This year was McDowell’s first year playing soccer, and even though he wasn’t an expert at every single skill from the start, he was influenced by his peers to keep practicing and maintain a positive mindset through it all. “Being a captain it’s important to bring
Photo by Hampton Richards.
positive motives to the team while also setting the bar high with energy. Seeing a player with a positive mindset and a high work-ethic really influences the rest of the players around them and sets the bar high on what the standards of the team should be,” Brinkman said. These standards set not only gave everyone a unique and enjoyable experience, but also brought multiple wins and awards all around. While they may be losing some seniors next year, the team has set a strong foundation for success in the years to come. They hope to see themselves in the same spot next year, except this time they’ll go farther.
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EMMARIE LOGAN ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Photo by Gentry Goode.
“I think the most important characteristic to have when playing soccer is to always be encouraging and to trust your teammates,” McDowell said.
Photo by Gentry Goode.
SOF T BAL L NATHANIEL HUNTER REPORTER Softball is less understood and less popular than its older cousin, baseball, but perhaps it unfairly gets the short end of the stick. Softball is essentially baseball on a smaller scale, taking place on a smaller field with a bigger ball, and only allowing underhand pitches. While softball may not be as popular as baseball, one of the most popular sports in the entire world, it does have its own exclusive benefits. Softball games are more fast-paced than baseball games due to the smaller size of the field, which can make it more appealing to someone trying to manage their time more efficiently. On top of that, softball only allows underhanded pitches, a kind of pitch where the pitcher’s hand is below the ball when releasing it, which can be appealing as well. Since there are fewer pitches to learn,
it can be easier as a newcomer to become more acquainted with the game and learn the ropes, whereas baseball is harder to get into and pick up because there’s more to learn and understand. However, this is not to say that softball has no complexities. There are still many different kinds of pitches that anyone at the top level would have to be familiar with. At a lower level, such as a school club, softball can be the better choice for someone who is still looking for competition and to have fun playing a sport, but might want a more relaxed environment or who wants something that is easier to become very familiar with. Central’s Softball Team falls under this category as well. Even if someone is not the most athletic person or not very familiar with sports or softball in particular, the team still has a place where you can join and learn the ropes. After a few months, someone who is not as confident in their abilities can make themselves at home with a supportive team and a sport they have greatly improved at.
“At the beginning of the season, we had a lot of players new to the sport of softball. It was important to focus on the fundamentals of the sport,” says Allison Tate, the coach of the softball team. “The Central softball team greatly improved! The girls were supportive of each other, displayed positive attitudes and sportsmanship. Players made great progress in their softball skills… I think that the Central softball team made a lot of positive growth in the 2023 season. The girls demonstrated great teamwork, and everyone improved their softball skills.” Going into 2024, the Central softball team is still aiming high and is hopeful to continue improving and attract more potential players. If you’re interested in a supportive environment where you can nurture your softball skills, the Central softball team would be happy to have you. “I am very optimistic about the upcoming season,” says Coach Tate. “My goals for going into the 2024 season are to increase interest and grow the team.”
Photos by Emily Hernandez.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • SPORTS • 27
The Boys Swim team at Central High School makes up an important part of the Springfield swimming scene. Led by Joe Price, the team now has a historically high number of participants. Swim practice occurs nearly every day after school. The team also occasionally practices in the morning, allowing them to earn their medals in swim meets usually run on Tuesdays, when Central competes against other teams. Although most of the meets have been local so far, the team is no stranger to traveling for competitions. In terms of competition, Central’s team has displayed relative prowess in the water. “In SPS we’re probably two or three,” DJ Everett, 9 said. “Central is a well-rounded team and I’d say we’re one of the best in SPS and we still rank really high in out-ofcity meets.” Meets are generally around two hours long, but much can occur within that time frame, and many forces are at play. “Some of us are trying to improve our times, but you also want to save energy for other meets. Our last meet is southwest MO, which if you do well then you can get to state, so some people haven’t been going as hard so they can save their energy for that,” Everett said. In the beginning phases of the season, the team was not as well-oiled of a machine as they are now. “The first few meets went a little rough because we were still trying to figure stuff out,” Everett said. “Over time the meets have gone pretty fast because nobody messes up and it’s going pretty smoothly.” Central placed second at the All-City meet. This achievement’s impressiveness comes not only from the challenges associated with the physical activity, but also the mental aspect of the ordeal. “They say that practices are 90% physical and 10% mental, but it’s kind of the opposite for meets,” Everett said. There are certainly physical demands associated with swimming, involving the struggle that comes with rapidly moving your body through a substance close to 1000% more resistant than air. “In swim specifically, you’re using all of the muscles in your body,” Sam Ferber, 9 said. “You have to learn great muscle control, coordination, and breath control. Breath control is really important in swim.
You have to take enough so as to not pass out, but not too many so you don’t slow down.” The team learns these skills at practices, which occur two hours after school everyday in Central High School’s swimming pool, just outside of the building. “[Coach Price] gives us a little sheet of paper with a set on it and we work on the set and then we just play it out from there. Most of the sets are similar to each other so it’s mostly working on technique.” Everett said. “We have six different lanes that are mostly split up by skill level.” The lanes designated for the more skilled swimmers mostly house upperclassmen. Even though the team may be divided in lanes, they are close-knit in relation. “It’s more of a mentoring thing,” Evan Cornelius-White, 12, team captain, said. “A lot of my relationship with the underclassmen, It’s a lot of them asking me for help on things like technique or how do I get through this hardship, or whatever it comes to with swim. Which I think is a lot different from other schools.” Whether you are a senior, junior, sophomore, or freshman you can find a place on the swim team. The group as a whole is important in swim. While events are performed individually, all points contribute to the team’s collective score. “I love the team. There’s a very good connection between everybody and I think we lift eachother up and support each other,” Ferber said. There is a lot to be said about the team dynamic, one the most important aspects being the bond between members. “It was kinda weird whenever I first got there, but I really like the relationships I’ve made with everybody in the swim team,” Everett said. “We have a fair amount of social stuff and before the big meets we usually have like a pasta dinner at somebody’s house.” Coach Joe Price is the coach of the swim team and oversees their affairs. “I love Joe,” Cornelius-White said. “Coach Price is a super cool dude. The thing with Joe is, he genuinely cares about all of the swimmers, but it’s kind of difficult to care about all the swimmers because we have like thirty of them. He really tries to form bonds with all thirty swimmers individually and give them personal advice on their strokes.”
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BOYS SWIM JACK HERR REPORTER
Photo by Gentry Goode.
Photo by Evan Cornelius-White.
Price is well liked by those he coaches, as evidenced by the outpouring of praise from the team members. “[Price] He’s really great,” Everett said “I will say some coaches are really strict and I think that’s a good thing because you have to push your athletes. But I think Joe does it in a really healthy way and he pushes you but not in a way where you would want to quit. I think he’s a great guy and we all love him.”
GIRLS TENNIS MADI TAYLOR COPY EDITOR Central’s girl’s varsity tennis team dates back to 2010, with a junior varsity team developing the next year. The team has a long history of winning, reigning as district champions four times, earning 2nd place in districts three times and coming in fourth as Class 2 four times. This year, the team consists of 11 seniors, 8 juniors, 14 sophomores and 10 freshmen, for a total of 43 players. While there were no district placements the past season, there were plenty of personal wins and enjoyment for the players, especially the graduating seniors.
In tennis, matches are played as either singles or doubles. In singles, there is one person on each side of the court. In doubles, there are two people on each side of the court as partners. Typically, varsity plays in singles while junior varsity plays in doubles, but occasionally the two groups mix. Denae Lyddon, a JV senior on the team, developed a good bond with their doubles partner. “I think I will miss playing with my doubles partner, Danielle McCorison, the most,” Lyddon said. “She was such a good player and she made the games fun and made me want to play honestly.” Lyddon also joined the team their sophomore year, and they dabbled in the sport as a kid. They started playing to have fun, and they enjoyed both the team and this season.
Photo by Emily Hernandez.
Photo by Emily Hernandez.
“This season was a rough one, but I won seven games total, which doubled my wins from last season,” Aria Thomas, 12, said. “I have never been a good player, but I have improved greatly over the past few years.” Thomas has been playing tennis for three years, starting her sophomore year. She thought it looked fun on TV and figured she’d give it a shot. As a senior, this is Thomas’s last year on the team, and there is a lot that she’ll miss. “I will definitely miss that feeling of hitting a ball that the other team had absolutely no chance of hitting,” Thomas said, “and my doubles partner jumping up and down congratulating me.”
“Our girl’s team here is fun to play with and they make the atmosphere really nice to be around,” Lyddon said. “The season was really good, I’ve had some wins and losses, but the season was really fun this year!” There are highs and lows to each season in each sport and they differ from person to person. Some will always remember meeting new people, winning matches, or experiencing something new. For Thomas, it’s all three. “The highs of the season were helping the new people and giving them pointers, as well as playing multiple single matches, some of which I actually won!” Thomas said. Alternatively, Lyddon’s high is that the girls tennis team has had the highest grade point average over all other SPS teams. While the team may not have made it to districts this year, championships are not what make a good season. A close, welldeveloped team and consistent effort are what keep it all going, and every person on the team plays an important role.
Photo by Paige Bodnar.
“I’ll definitely miss the people involved in tennis, my partner, and the excuse to go out and exercise,” Danielle McCorison, 12, said. McCorison has been playing tennis since her sophomore year. She plays with her partner, Lyddon, on JV and is also an alternate for the varsity team. She became an alternate this year, one of many special moments from this year. “Some highs of the season for me were winning singles, starting to play at the varsity level and people coming up to tell my partner and I how much they loved watching us play tennis together,” McCorison said. The 2023-2023 girls tennis season has come to its conclusion, but the team is far from finished. The seniors are off to bigger and better things, and the rest of the team is ready to come back even stronger next year. “This season has been so much fun and I came out of it learning so much more than I did before.”
Photo by Paige Bodnar.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • SPORTS • 29
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CENTRAL’S BIG READ: Grimm’s Fairy Tales SARAH GREENE REPORTER
Grimm’s Fairy Tales is the Big Read of the year. The Central Big Read is an annual event hosted by the Central library. Every year, the librarians choose a classical novel to be the book of the year. The past Big Reads have been Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The library has themed decorations and small events based off of the selected book. This year, Grimm’s Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm was the book in the spotlight. Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a collection of German fairy tales, many of which have served as the inspirations for huge movie franchises and modern pop culture. The first edition was published in 1812, and consisted of various German fairy tales that the Grimm brothers collected and recorded.
The Golden Bird
“The Golden Bird” is the story of a young prince and an enchanted fox. It begins with a King sending his three sons out to find a golden bird. The two eldest ignore a fox that gives them advice, and are consequently cursed to be stuck in an inn. The actual adventures of obtaining the animal and royal ascension element of the story is really fun to read, and there’s a lot of drama and development for being a 10 page short story. 9/10.
The Knapsack, the Hat and the Horn
“The Knapsack, the Hat and the Horn” starts with three brothers who are deep in poverty. They all three set out to find riches, but the youngest looks for magic instead of gold or silver. He finds a magic cloth that produces lavish meals at request, and trades it for a knapsack that can summon armies at an instant. It is a story filled with plot twists and incredibly strange events, and I liked it. 7/10.
The Juniper Tree
The Two Brothers
“The Two Brothers” is one of, if not the longest tale in volume 2, and has the characters and story to back it up. It tells the story of the exiled sons of a broommaker, who individually travel the world alongside a variety of woodland animals. After stumbling upon a struggling kingdom, one brother becomes a hero by slaying the dragon and saving their princess. There is quite a bit more that happens, but as the story is so long, I cannot describe even nearly a quarter of it–you should go read it yourself, it’s really good. 9/10; I have no idea how Snow-White became a famous Disney movie over this.
“The Juniper Tree” is known as one of the goriest, weirdest stories, which is saying a whole lot for Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I personally only really find the first part to be really interesting, but the rest is still good. It starts almost the same way Snow-White does; a childless couple wishes for a child, the mother dies, the father remarries an evil woman, and the evil woman wants to kill the child. Except this time, the evil stepmother is upset that her stepson is taking attention away from her own daughter, and will get the inheritance when the father dies. The beginning and end are detailed and quite creepy, even if the middle is a little mediocre. 8/10; it definitely deserves its reputation as one of the more disturbing stories.
Gambling Hansel
“Gambling Hansel” is the German origin story for gambling addictions, and I love it. It starts with Hansel, who gambles away all he has, but is eventually given three wishes by the Lord God. He wishes for dice that always win, cards that always win and a fruit tree that, once climbed, someone cannot come down from without Hansel telling them that they can. Chaos ensues, Hansel conquers half the world, heaven and hell go to war, and much more. It’s wild and wonderful, and a delight to read. 9/10.
Little Snow White
Snow White is one of the most iconic stories of modern times, and the original, while darker and much more eventful, isn’t too different from the 1937 Disney retelling. There is no true love plotline and the Queen tries thrice to kill Snow White instead of just once, and the titular Snow White herself is practically decrepit with age, being a day over seven years old throughout the majority of the tale. The dwarves also don’t have distinct personalities. However, the overall idea and plot is still the same, with the Queen wanting to kill Snow White for being prettier than her, and having a special mirror that informs her of how fair she is every morning. I personally prefer the Grimm’s tale to the Disney version– more happens in it, and it is a fair bit more interesting. 7/10.
There are hundreds of stories throughout all of the Grimms’ volumes, and while not all of them hold up, there are plenty that still have an impact and can be valuable today. Some of them are also just funny; there are plenty of stories I found incredibly entertaining that couldn’t make it onto this list. Overall, it’s a very enjoyable, quick read for fantasy and classical literature enthusiasts, and I would recommend it to any reader looking for a new historical classic to pursue.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • OPINION • 31
Holiday Lights
EMMARIE LOGAN ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
There are many activities that people love to partake in during the holiday season, one of them being looking at holiday lights. The Ozarks are filled with great places to see amazing performances and make happy memories.
SILVER DOLLAR CITY Located in Branson, Missouri, Silver Dollar City has over 6.5 million lights to enjoy. There are lights on every building, tunnels to walk through, and places to stop and snap some photos with your loved ones. There are even shows and a parade to celebrate the festive spirit of this time of year, all consisting of beautiful lights. Silver
Dollar City even has an event called Old Time Christmas where throughout the 30th of December, you can witness these lights along with special holiday treats. I will often go to Silver Dollar City just to see the lights because they are so beautiful and detailed. This is a great option for families, a lastminute outing, or even a date night.
Photo courtesy of @sdcattractions on Instagram.
GARDENS AGLOW Gardens Aglow is a botanical-themed light festival located at the Nathaniel Greene Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden. This light display is open to the public and admission ranges from three to seven dollars depending on if you buy them at the gate or online. This event shows over 200,000 lights. While you walk around
looking at lights, you can also stop by some food trucks and fire pits. This event can last as long as you want, but with an average walk around it would take about 45 minutes. This is a great option if you are looking for a less-crowded and quaint but beautiful place. I would recommend this attraction for a date night or an outing with friends.
Photo courtesy of the Springfield Sister Cities Association by Aaron J. Scott.
CANDY CANE LANE Friday through Sunday nights in December you can visit this family-friendly fun event called Candy Cane Lane. Rutledge Wilson Farm Park in Springfield, Missouri hosts this event each year, using their space to bring a beautiful light show that follows along with your local holiday radio station. It costs five dollars per vehicle and includes Photo courtesy of Springfield Greene County Park Board.
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over 10,000 lights to admire and enjoy. This is an excellent option for kids along with being a wonderful way to enjoy the show from right inside your vehicle. While this is a wonderful option, it doesn’t stick around very long, so make sure you plan ahead if you are planning on seeing this amazing display.
TYLER VANLANINGHAM COPY EDITOR
Seasonal Scents
With the arrival of the holiday season, what better way to usher in the cold winter days than the warm glow and wonderful scents of festive candles? From the comforting aroma of butterscotch to the enticing scent of freshly baked bread and the festive smell of cinnamon and clove, these candles are great ways to brighten up the room for the holidays.
BUTTERSCOTCH BREW This candle may be more of a fall scent, but it really adds a pleasant aroma to the atmosphere whenever I am studying or relaxing, which is why I love it. The smell fills the room and has such a nice butterscotch smell that isn’t overwhelming. This candle was $18 from Bubble and Geek. The candle seems a bit small for the price at first, but it’s served me well throughout the
year and still has about half of the wax left! I would definitely recommend this candle, but suggest using it mainly for smaller spaces like a bedroom or bathroom as opposed to something like a living room. This candle— while definitely more suited for fall and winter—was a good fit for any time of the year, and always gave my room a more comfortable and relaxing feel.
FRENCH BAGUETTE To me, this three-wicked candle smells just like stepping into a bakery. While it may not be as closely associated with wintery things as the rest of these on the list, who can resist the smell of freshly baked bread during the holidays, or any time of the year for that matter? This candle is great and its smell can linger for over well 24 hours after
it’s been put out. It’s $26.50 at Bath and Body Works and, in my opinion, well worth it. Once again, this candle is extremely versatile. While I personally love the smell around the holidays, I’ve been using this one on a fairly regular basis for about half a year now and I still love it just as much.
CINNAMON & CLOVE BUDS This is definitely the most festive candle on this list. It’s a great addition to a holiday gathering. Like the French Baguette candle, this one also has three wicks and it definitely brightens up any room that you light it in. The clove smell of this candle almost makes it smell like pine, and the cinnamon evokes fond memories of delicious morning
treats. This is definitely the most holidaythemed candle on the list, so whether you are waking up to a cold, snowy morning, enjoying a piping hot mug of hot chocolate, unwrapping presents, or just taking in the moment, this candle will greatly enhance the experience.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • OPINION • 33
Holiday Episodes
LUCY CAPLINGER REPORTER
Every winter, television channels will produce episode after episode, and some of the best ones can get lost in the mix. There are a multitude of fantastic specials, and it can be difficult to determine which ones are best to return amidst all of the new content. Although it was difficult to cut so many other good options, I have narrowed it down to three of my favorites.
Ted Lasso: Season 2, Episode 4 - “Carol of the Bells” My top choice goes to “Carol of the Bells” from Ted Lasso, a show that revolves around an all-American football coach trying to coach a failing English football team.This episode follows three different plot lines and ties them together seamlessly. Ted Lasso has a large cast of characters, so including all of their separate plot points in a single story might seem difficult, but these writers knew what they were doing. My favorite part of this
episode is that it is infinitely rewatchable. Finding new Christmas media every year is difficult, so it is great to find something timeless that can be enjoyed over the span of multiple holiday seasons. This episode is also jam packed with Chrsirmas cheer and there is no world in which watching it won’t immediately inspire audiences to turn on Maria Carey and get the cookies cookin’.
The Office: Season 2, Episode 10 - “Christmas Party” The next Christmas special on my list is “Christmas Party” from The Office and out of the 7 winter holiday specials in The Office, this is my favorite. The Office is known for its dry humor and unique character interactions, but still this episode is full of warm hearted Christmas joy. The basis of this episode is an office secret Santa exchange. The Office has a very large cast similar to Ted Lasso, yet also still manages
to successfully focus on singular stories. My favorite part of this episode is the romantic aspect between two of the main characters, Jim and Pam. They are an iconic sitcom couple, but by this point in the show they aren’t even involved yet. I think the best way to describe this episode is as both tender and thoughtful. It’s unexpected for a show like this, but pulls on your heart strings all the same.
Good Luck Jessie: NYC Chirstmas The third and final Christmas special on my list is the Jessie extended episode. Many Christmas episodes that come out each winter are from children’s shows, like Good Luck Charlie and Jessie. Although some may perceive Disney Channel shows as being childish or boring simply because they are meant for tweens, this would be a disservice to the numerous Christmas stories meant for children--their creators know how to encapsulate nostalgia and use it as a device. For me, Christmas media shouldn’t always be incredible. Sometimes the simple Photos courtesy of IMDb.
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childrens episodes give me the exact amount of warm tinglies that I need. This episode is particularly notable because it features a crossover between two Disney favorites, Jessie and Good Luck Charlie. In this special, the main plot is when a snow storm stops two of the main characters of Good Luck Charlie from getting home, so they call upon Jessie. My favorite thing about this episode is the simplicity and the sentiment introduced by the writers. The feeling of watching it this year holds the same joy as my first time watching it in second grade.
Holiday Recipes
CHLOE CUNNIF SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
CRANBERRY BRIE BITES INGREDIENTS: Mini phyllo pastry shells Brie cheese, cut into small pieces DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). 2. Place the phyllo pastry shells on a baking sheet. 3. Add a small piece of Brie cheese to each shell.
Cranberry sauce 4. Top the Brie with a teaspoon of cranberry sauce. 5. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until the Brie is melted and the pastry is crispy.
NOTES: This took about five minutes to put together so it’s easy to be done last minute.
EGGNOG INGREDIENTS: 4 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 cups whole milk DIRECTIONS: 1. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until well combined and slightly thickened. 2. In a saucepan, heat the milk, heavy cream, nutmeg, and cinnamon over medium heat. Stir every so often until it starts to steam (but don’t let it boil). 3. Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture.
1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. 5. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and optional rum and brandy. 6. Let the eggnog cool, then refrigerate until chilled. 7. Serve in glasses, garnished with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
NOTES: This took about 10-15 minutes to make. It tastes really good and is something that can be thrown together in a hurry.
PEPPERMINT BARK INGREDIENTS: 12 ounces (about 2 cups) of white chocolate or white chocolate chips 12 ounces (about 2 cups) of dark
chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
DIRECTIONS: 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, making sure it covers the bottom and extends over the sides for easy removal. 2. In 2 different microwave-safe bowls, melt the dark and white chocolate in 20-30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until it’s smooth and fully melted. Be careful not to overheat. 3. Pour the melted dark and white chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet. Use a
spatula to spread it into an even layer and make swirls. 4. Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes evenly over the chocolate. 5. Put the baking sheet in the refrigerator and let it chill for 1-2 hours or until the peppermint bark is completely set and firm. 6. Once set, remove the peppermint bark from the refrigerator and break it into pieces.
NOTES: This took about 20 minutes to make. The white chocolate took a bit longer to melt than the dark so it was a challenge to time it correctly.
CENTRAL HIGH TIMES • WINTER 2023 • OPINION • 35
Rick Astley’s Are We There Yet? Rick Astley is never going to live “Never Gonna Give You Up” down. He seems to have accepted this, but that’s not enough to stop him from producing more music 36 years after his first hit. While it shows his mature development in music, it also cleverly pays homage to his pop-based roots. His newest album, “Are We There Yet?”, was released in October. Throughout the past year, he also released three companion singles--”Dipping My Feet,” “Forever and More”, and the cheekily-named “Never Gonna Stop”. The new album leans heavily into Astley’s experimentation with soul and his developed baritone voice compliments this well. “Never Gonna Stop” will likely be the most well known song coming out of “Are We There Yet,” due to its name’s reference to “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The song speaks of maintaining humanity in the face of a world growing increasingly reliant on technology, and was written by Astley after reading an article on artificial intelligence. Although it certainly is not bad, it is difficult not to compare it to Astley’s 2019 “Every One of Us.” Both songs use an aggressive sound to convey a fairly optimistic message about passion in the human race, and “Every One of Us” is simply a more memorable and forceful piece. The other two singles, however, fare far better. “Forever and More” is a song reflecting on a partner the narrator regrets treating poorly for being “much too much.” Astley’s powerful baritone and forceful-yet-soulful lyrics used throughout the album perfectly complement the reflective style of “Forever and More.” The music video is a rather fun watch as well, albeit completely unrelated to the lyrics of the song. Directed by Simon Pegg (Mission Impossible and Star Trek films), it sees Astley assuming the position of a superhero van driver who uses music to solve problems with his crew, complete with a Batman-style Shakespeare bust alarm and bright red analog phone. “Dipping My Feet” may be one of my favorite pieces on “Are We There Yet?”. Although Astley explicitly stated that it was neither country nor Americana, the song certainly has a twang to it, perhaps due to the references to the Mississippi river.
There are several sentimental and romantic pieces in the album that are complemented by Astley’s mature baritone and sound. “Take Me Back to Your Place” and “Letting Go” are perhaps the best romance songs on the album, both dealing with love in a fairly adult manner. “Driving Me Crazy,” “Close Your Shoes,” and “Golden Hour” are certainly not bad entries by any means, however. Lene Bausager, Astley’s wife, apparently inspired many of these love songs, along with “High Enough,” a solid piece about human achievement. “Waterfall” is the most obvious tribute to the inspirations for the album, but also contains bitter-sweet lyrics about universal human difficulties. The wild cards are “Maria Love” and “Blue Sky.” Although “Maria Love” fits well with the tone of the rest of the album, it has a relatively dark inspiration--Astley calls back to his childhood during The Troubles, and created a song illustrating the way he felt about the imagery he saw on the television at the time. “Blue Sky,” however, the final piece on the album, is unique in “Are We There Yet?” It takes on the most openly sorrowful tone in the album, and comes off as a genuine statement of sadness by Astley. He has not yet commented on its meaning, however. Perhaps one of the best parts of the album is how much it feels truly connected to Rick Astley, the person. “Are We There Yet?” is obviously a far cry from Astley’s early songs, but it feels arguably even more organic and Astley-brand than the songs like “Never Gonna Give You Up,” “Together Forever,” and “She Wants to Dance With Me” that are so heavily tied to his early career. Perhaps this is because he has written lyrics for far more of his music than he did in his early career, but it feels very much like every word reminds the listener who the singer is, despite the soul influences. This is a good thing. Astley’s ability to be simultaneously self-aware of the cheesy-yetundeniably-lovable beginning of his career and Rickrolling, while still maintaining integrity as a serious singer and songwriter, all the while appearing humble about his job, is unmatched. This is reflected across his modern music, and “Are We There Yet?” continues the trend with creativity and heart.
36 • OPINION • WINTER 2023 • CENTRAL HIGH TIMES
NED PICKETT PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
NO. MY RANKING 1. Dipping My Feet In 2.
Letting Go
9.
Maria Love
7.
Forever and More
8.
Driving Me Crazy
10.
Take Me Back to Your Place
6.
High Enough
12.
Blue Sky
11.
Waterfall
3.
Golden Hour
4.
Never Gonna Stop
5.
Close Your Shoes
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