August Globe Newsmagazine Vol 85, issue 1

THE

Volume 85 August 2013

GLOBE ISSUE #ONE

Inside: student transfers

CONTENTS

14-19

STUDENT TRANSFER by katherine ren with peter baugh & parker schultz

6-7 PANORAMA luke auffenberg

8 SUMMER-Y

20 AthLete Profile peter baugh

10 -11 Mission trips

peter baugh

gwyneth henke & emma ehll

9 NEW TEACHERS

22 edward snowden

jessica jancose & emma ehll

peter schmidt

12 - 13 STEM PROGRAM

23 AWAy from home

jeffrey friedman

peter baugh

3

Editor in Chief Katherine Ren

Senior Managing Editors Parker Schultz Shiori Tomatsu Arya Yamada

Section editors Jessica Jancose Peter Shmidt Gwyneth Henke Jeffrey Friedman Peter Baugh

Webmaster

Addison Leong

Photo Editor

Olivia MacDougal Noah Engel

BUSINESS MANAGERS Ben Diamond Richard Simon

Editors

Abraham Bluestone Rachel Bluestone Neil Docherty Christopher Sleckman Emma Ehll-Welply Sophie Allen Zachary Bayly Sierra Hieronymus Audrey Holds Claire Lisker Becca Polinksy Peter Shumway Phoebe Yao Nuri Yi

Distribution Editor PHOTOGRAPHERS Alessandra Silva Steven Zou

COPY EDITOR Jeffrey Cheng

GRAPHICS EDITOR Audrey Palmer

GRAPHIC ARTISTS Cherry Tomatsu Victoria Yi

Gabriela Azimiaraghi Attiya Charrington Beatrice Engel Ryan Fletcher Marilyn Gund Ava Hoffman Lauren Indovino Linda Kim Makenna Martin MonYe Pitt Alexis Schawartz Maddy Vaughn

A

Reporters

Sophie Barnes Rebecca Bloom Lucy Cohen Akansha Goel Lawrence Hu Noah Jacus JiHyun Kim YeonJi Kim Lemuel Lan Bridget Boeger Gabby Boeger Camille Respess Kevin Rosenthal Daphne Singer Zachary Sorensen Max Steinbaum Rebecca Stiffelman Micaela Stoner Yuming Wang Ashleigh Williams Tara Williams Elise Yang Yossi Katz

The Globe Newsmagazine exists to inform, entertain, persuade, and represent the student voice at CHS. All content decisions are made by the student editorial staff, and the Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. Not every story that our reporters write is published in the print newsmagazine. Visit www.chsglobe.com for additional stories and photos, and for more information about the Globe itself. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement - for more information about advertising and subscriptions, please contact our office: Clayton High School Globe 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 854-6668 Fax: 854-6734 globe@claytonschools.net Professional Affiliations: Sponsors of School Publications . Missouri Interscholastic Press Association . National Scholastic Press Association . Columbia Scholastic Press Association

A AUGUST

THIS YEAR, ST. LOUIS weather is composed of two seasons: summer and winter. And some-

where between the drastic temperature change, school began. While the date isn’t marked in the stars, nor is there any sign of its impeding presence seen in the weather, Clayton High students can count on receiving a call from Dr. Gutchewsky reminding them of the glorious day.

In the days preceding the first day of school, something in the Clayton air changes. My drive

down Wydown Blvd. becomes accompanied by CHS’s cross-country runners training in pre-season, my inbox fills with frantic discussions regarding potential homecoming themes, and my days are spent gathering the last bit of school supplies.

I recently attended a welcoming lunch for “Big Sis Lil Sis,” where I finally got to meet my ‘lil sis,’

the one freshman I’m supposed to “guide” and take care of as she embarks on the supposed uphill climb of high school.

So in theory, I’m supposed to provide her with advice as to what classes to take, what clubs to

join, and what side of the hallway to stay on during passing periods. Yet when she looks at me wideeyed after expressing all her heart’s deepest anxieties, I’m at a loss for words.

So, I reassure her that it gets better, that hazing doesn’t exist, and that she’ll find what study

methods work for her. I tell her that while Honors Freshman Physics will change her, it won’t defeat

her. I tell her that teachers will always welcome her with an open door and that I’ll always be just a text away.

But then she asks about what clubs to join, what activities to sign up for, and future classes to

enroll in. And once again, I’m speechless. How is it possible for me to explain to this incoming freshman that the beauty of the four years that lies before her is that there is no blueprint to follow?

Should I preach good, old Robert Frost’s words and tell her to go the road less traveled? Or give

her one of DECA’s old shirts that displays Steve Jobs’ sage advice to “stay hungry, stay foolish”?

I do neither and instead just assure her that she will figure it out (which, looking back, may not

have been the most encouraging thing to say). But in all honesty, that was the truth. I told her to keep an open mind to all situations she will encounter, whether it’s deciding what clubs to join or

what friends to make. I told her that it is inevitable that she will fall along the way, but that it will be ok. Because while she may think the massive hallways of this high school will swallow her up, her

passions will guide her, her teachers will inspire her, and everyone else in the picture will support her.

In the end, we’ll all figure it out. Whether we’re new students nervous about finding the next

class, athletes aiming to get to the next level, or seniors trying to figure out where we want to spend the next four years of our lives, in the end we’ll all be ok.

Katherine Ren Editor in Chief

5

JUNE 28, 2013, Marche, Italy

EURO EXPEDITION Clayton High School senior Noah Youkilis began a trek back down a mountain, which overlooked the Italian countryside in the region of Marche.

Youkilis was joined by three other CHS seniors, Luke Auffenberg, Rilke Griffin and Olivia MacDougal, as they learned Italian alongside a group of Washington University students this summer.

The course lasted about a month and the students visited Rome, Florence, Sorrento and Naples, as well as a small town pictured in the valley below.

Hiking up the mountain was an experience all on its own where herds of sheep and wildflowers added to the once in a lifetime view from the top.

The group of seniors continued to Croatia and later Spain before returning home.

Photo by Luke Auffenberg

TEAMS SUCCESS Clayton was well-represented in the 2013 TEAMS competition. Two teams were finalists in the national competition held in Florida. The sophomore team finished eighth in the 9/10 grade age group, and the junior team finished sixth in the 11/12 grade age group. Pictured is the sophomore team: Rex Rice (coach), Jeffrey Cheng, Jeffrey Friedman, Andrew Litteken, Lilian Heil, Carly Osherow, Emily Braverman and Anna Widder. Peter Shumway is not pictured.

Photo from Anna Widder.

SUMMER-Y SHORT BURSTS OF NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED OVER THE SUMMER

by PETER BAUGH

STUDENT TRANSFER The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously reversed the previous decision in the Breitenfeld v. Clayton case on student transfers. Now, students from unaccredited school districts are allowed to enroll in accredited districts, including Clayton. The St. Louis area has two unaccredited districts: Normandy and Riverview Gardens. To read more, see page 14.

WYDOWN CONSTRUCTION Wydown Middle School continued its construction over the summer. The final product features a new gym, theatre and parking lot. The 2013-2014 school year is set to be the first school year with the entirety of the new school.

New Coaches Two Clayton fall sports teams will have new coaches for the 2013 seasons. Girls’ volleyball will be coached

by Jackie Jaques, and girls’ golf will be led by Kim Shelley. Both coaches were assistants last year for their respective teams.

WALLY LUNDT DIVING TANK Shaw Park Pool’s diving tank was dedicated to longtime swim and water polo coach Wally Lundt, who passed away in December 2011 at the age of 84. Jack Layden (class of 2013, swimming and water polo captain) was at the dedication. Layden discussed Lundt’s legacy with the Globe in March, “He taught everyone on our team that, if you are selfless and kind that life is going to be good to you and it will pay off in the end.”

SOLAR PANELS Twelve arrays of solar panels will be installed in the city of Clayton this summer. Ten of the solar panels will be on eight district buildings and two will be put on the Center of Clayton. Over the course of the panel’s lifespan, the investment is expected to save the district $700,000. The Board of Education approved the Microgrid Scholar proposal of a 20-year lease this June.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

1

by EMMA EHLL & JESSICA JANCOSE

Ms. Hartman taught at the high school four years ago. Since then, she’s been working at Wydown Middle School. She is excited to see former students, to catch up with them and to see their progress. She is also very excited to be able to give students the ability to express themselves in French. She goes back to France every summer to visit her family. She also likes to swim and bike around Forest Park.

Ms. bashiti NURSE Ms. Bashiti worked at Ladue and MICDS. The reason she came to CHS was that she wanted the position of being the Lead Nurse Coordinator. She is excited to meet the kids, and feels there has been a warm welcome so far. When she is not at work, she likes to hang out with her kids, they’re seven and five. She also plays tennis, travels a little bit and likes to eat good food!

Ms. hartman FRENCH

2

MR. Hansen Campus supervisor Dr. kucharski english Dr. Kucharski used to teach European History in a Chicago high school, but he wanted to go back to teaching English, and Clayton’s English program sounded very unique and appealing. He will also be working as the new Literacy Coordinator for the District. He has worked at the high school level for 26 years and is very excited to work district-wide with the high school, middle school and elementary school. He thinks it will be interesting to be able to work the elementary areas of language learning such as helping younger children learn to read and write. In his free time, he enjoys reading and traveling.

3

Mr. Hansen worked at Grand Rapids, Michigan at Grand Rapids Public High School before he came to Clayton. He came to St. Louis when his wife got a position as a resident at SLU. He worked as a substitute teacher last year, and loved the Clayton School District so much that he decided to apply for the campus supervisor position. He is excited to work at a school where kids really care about their education. He also coaches football and is very excited about the upcoming season. He loves fishing and reading, and come January he will be a new father.

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9

four four four p e o p l e s t o r i e s adventures a look into clayton high school students’ service trips around the world. by emma ehlL and gwyneth henke

becca polinsky:

costa rica

Becca Polinsky had little to no idea what to expect as her plane flew into Costa Rica.

“I came in thinking these kids would be orphans, pretty much, and that’s not the case at

all....La Fortuna has really poor areas, but everyone is still happy,” Polinsky said.

Polinsky travelled to La Fortuna, Costa Rica for 16 days this summer with the program Rus-

aisHwarya yadama:

nepal

tic Pathways. There, she and 20 other teenagers led a week-long day camp for local children. “[Participants] got chosen to go to this camp based on merit ... and it’s a huge honor for them to be chosen,” Polinsky said.

The camp was located in a house outside of La Fortuna called La Casona, or “The Mansion,” which belonged to a former Costa Rican president.

“They can’t afford to go to camp, so we gave them the Rustic Pathways [version]. We did outdoor activities, we did a lot of soccer and kickball, water balloon fights, we had a whole class for arts and crafts,” Polinsky recalled.

While some campers were impatient with the language barrier between counselors and participants, most children were overwhelmingly supportive and helpful.

“There were some [campers] that were just so happy that you were trying. That was the best part,” Polinksy said.

These lasting relationships that Polinksy made, as well as the chance to experience leading a summer camp and to see a drastically different way of life, resulted in a trip that met and exceeded Polinsky’s expectations.

“I wanted to do this not just because of the community service but because I knew I would come out of it impacted. I didn’t know if it would be negative or positive, but I knew it would be influential,” Polinsky said.

Located in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal lies a village called Khumjung.

“On a clear morning it’s easy to see a good part of the Everest range,” said senior Arya Yadama, who, along with senior Marie Warchol, traveled to this rural village to volunteer at the Hillary school.

While they were only there for six weeks, the planning process for their trip began several years in advance: “I did a research paper on Sir Edmund Hillary in 7th grade,” said Yadama. “He was the one who built the Khumjung School. I contacted the Himalayan Trust (Hillary’s organization) about any summer work I could do

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Josh lee:

nicaragua When Josh Lee committed to a trip to Nicaragua through his church, he had no idea what a life-changing experience it would be.

“I feel that my trip to Nicaragua has taught me some valuable life lessons. The first is to be grateful for any/all the blessings I have received,” Lee said as he reflected on his time there.

Each day of his week-long endeavor began

with vacation bible school, a program for the native kids.

“We just played games with them, did crafts, sang songs and performed some skits,” Lee said.

For the rest of the day they worked within the village, making improvements to citizen’s homes and environment. “In the afternoon, we went out to the village, split up into two groups, each with a tank of bug spray,” Lee said. “We went into individual houses, picked up trash and sprayed the bug spray around wherever the mosquitoes and flies were.”

Just outside of the city of Jaisalmer, Stefanie Getz found herself perched on top of an eightfoot tall camel. She led the camel through the dry desert heat by herself, surrounded by sand dunes, and later, with the help of an instructor, cantered through the desert in races against her companions.

This summer, Getz and eleven other students participated in a four-week service trip to India over the summer with Putney Student Travel.

“The purpose of the trip was community service...but I would say mostly what we did was experiencing the culture. We went to a lot of temples, we saw the way people lived and we experienced life in the village,” Getz said.

Connecting with the children in the village was one of Getz’s favorite and most eye-opening parts of the trip.

“We taught them how to play tag, which was really cool because we didn’t speak their language,” Getz said.

Connecting with locals and learning about

the customs of Kotri and India dispelled many misconceptions of India that Getz used to, and many foreigners currently, have.

“People might think India’s really poor, and it is, but people aren’t all unhappy. [Kotri] probably wouldn’t look like great living conditions, but after staying there [I realized that] they’re all really happy, and they love their lives...We were there to help them, but they really didn’t need our help,” Getz said.

For Getz, the trip was an opportunity to see new lifestyles.

“There’s not one way to live...Everything we do, they do differently for the most part...Your life’s not over if your way of living collapses for a second,” Getz said.

Getz shared a piece of advice for students interested in travelling and serving abroad: “Keep an open mind about everything, don’t expect anything, and if you do expect something, be ready for that to completely change.”

for them, and they invited me to work in the school. Marie was super interested as well, so I invited her to come along.”

Their work mainly encompassed teaching math, science and English to kids ages one through five.

“I would wake up every day and be amazed by how different it was than the USA,” Yadama said. “Then we would go to school and see these kids, who I expected to be very different than all of us, but really weren’t.”

Their journey began with a three-day hike up to the site, but the challenges didn’t end there.

“I didn’t really appreciate all the small luxuries I

have at home until all of them were taken away,” said Yadama. “In this day and age, Khumjung has become extremely advanced, so there is Wi-Fi as well as cell phone charging for trekkers like us, but we stayed pretty much disconnected throughout the entire trip.”

However, they settled in quickly and became close to both the lady that hosted them and the students they taught.

“Throughout the trip we made so many friends who I know would love for us to return,” Yadama said. “It was really nice to see the kids improving their English.”

Before returning home, they spent two

Outside of homes, they picked up plastic waste to ensure that the trash that people burned didn’t emit toxic fumes.

The feedback that they received from the people they were helping was both encouraging and inspiring. “By interacting with the natives, I saw how whenever we did something for them, no matter how small, they were truly grateful for what we did for them,” Lee said.

Although he wasn’t there for long, Lee will always remember the people he helped and how it impacted him. “My time in Nicaragua was just a wonderful experience, and I’m going to miss all the kids that I met there.”

stefanie getz:

india

weeks in the capitol city, Katmandu, where they went sightseeing and even went to a famous pizzeria.

In the end, the trip was a great experience that challenged both Warchol and Yadama to change their mindset. “All in all the entire experience caused my perspective to shift, in that I feel so lucky to have such easy access to everything I want,” said Yadama.

Yadama enjoyed the trip so much she exchanged emails with the students to stay in touch and plans to return next summer to continue her work at the school.  Photos from individual students.

11

STEM.

This summer, Megan McCormick ventured over to Annapolis, MD to partake in the U.S. Naval Academy’s Summer STEM Program.

by Jeffrey Friedman

When Megan McCormick heard that she was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy’s Summer STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program, she was expecting a nerd-fest.

McCormick would head to Annapolis, MD from June 17-21 for an intensive program in the STEM field, or as the USNA refers to it, “the pathway to our future.” The program, which is held at the USNA’s college campus, is offered to students entering 8th through 11th grade. A total of 250 kids from all over the country were accepted out of the thousands who applied, so the application process was very selective.

“They wanted to know your grades all the way back from eighth grade, how strenuous your classes were, sports, extracurricular activities, and if you were a captain or leader of any of the teams,” McCormick said.

Although she would never go around bragging about herself, McCormick has participated in an impressive amount of athletics, including golf, swimming, basketball and lacrosse. She was also the captain of her basketball team – it’s no surprise she was one of the selected applicants.

The main objective of the program is simple: to encourage rising 8th through 11th graders to pursue a course of study in engineering and technology throughout their high school and college careers. To achieve this goal, the STEM program exposes students to different aspects of the STEM field and helps them to understand how the knowledge of this field is being put to use to help support the country’s national defense needs.

McCormick’s father works at Scott Airforce Base and was in the Air

12

Force himself. He is the one who introduced McCormick to the program in the first place.

McCormick has always had an interest in math and science, and she originally thought she would pursue a career somewhere in the field of medicine. Due to the fact that it seemed like something that was more for the engineering type, she was somewhat against the idea of attending the program at first, but is more than happy that she ended up going.

“It sounded really interesting and I didn’t really have much going on this summer. I do like science, technology and math...the Naval Academy has access to a lot of good resources.”

Before the program commenced, McCormick was looking forward to meeting the people and getting the full experience of the college campus through her first official college visit.

The main thing that made her nervous in terms of what to expect of the program was the fact that it was held at a military academy.

McCormick said that she thought the camp was going to consist of a lot of rigorous activity (e.g. running early in the morning and doing a lot of drills), but she said in that sense the program was in no way what she had expected.

The five-day experience offered the students sessions in many different areas of STEM fields. The camp offered various lectures including informational sessions on cyber security, robotics and bio-terrorism.

In McCormick’s opinion, the most interesting session was the one on bio-terrorism. Although the class was only an hour long, it did an excellent job of illustrating the impressive speed at which infectious diseases can spread from one organism to another.

The students were able to have a near-college experience by staying in the USNA freshmen dorms with one roommate. Apparently the food exceeded expectations, as did the elegance of the dorms.

One of McCormick’s favorite experiences from the camp was an activity in which the students, along with one partner of their choice, were challenged to use a limited number of materials to construct the best possible object they could in a certain category. Categories included a car powered by rubber bands, a catapult powered by rubber bands, a combination of a catapult and a car, or a maze for a hex bug. The competitions were fun and gave the students yet another chance to build up meaningful relationships with their new friends as well as to spark their creativity through a hands-on activity.

Another cool thing about the summer camp was that the counselors were actual students who currently attend the naval academy. This gave the student campers the opportunity to interact with current college students, see how they felt about the school, ask them what classes the

Megan McCormick and some friends who also participated in the USNA’s Summer STEM Program spent five days hard at work (Photos provided by Megan McCormick). school offers and take advice about life after high school.

After all of that intellectual stimulation, breaks were a necessity at the summer camp. Students would participate in soccer, ultimate frisbee, tag football, running and other sports activities in their free time in order to interact with people they might not have had the opportunity to interact with before. Not to mention, the camp was split up into different colored squadrons consisting of approximately thirty people each, and once the kids were split up, there was not much of a chance to interact with another squadron aside from the sports activities that took place.

Intensive programs that focus in one area are definitely not for everyone, but if you are considering going into a certain field, it’s a great way to decide where in that field you’d like to see yourself working and if you’re interested in having a career in that particular field at all.

After attending the summer program, McCormick is having second thoughts about what she wants her career to be. A career in engineering, math or science definitely stands out to her as it did before, but she has now narrowed down her career opportunities to somewhere in the field of engineering as opposed to somewhere in the field of medicine.

The students who attended the camp had the opportunity to learn the way one might learn inside of a classroom, but it was a unique experience

to be so far away from home and with kids who share your passions and interests. Although certain people might have enjoyed some of the subtopics more than others, the exposure as well as the ability to meet other people who have a plan is really what mattered most.

Speaking of having a plan, although McCormick was one of the few students who felt undecided about her future career, many of the campers were certain of what they wanted to be. You could find a future astrophysicist or submarine pilot in every direction you looked.

When it comes to the kids who participated in the program, they were diverse but generally very easy to get along with, very competitive and proud of what they knew. Surprisingly, not all of the kids were huge “science nerds” – in fact, many of the applicants were attractive to the admissions office primarily as a result of their skills in sports or leadership inside and outside of their schools.

Although the USNA’s Summer STEM Program has by no means inspired McCormick to be an astrophysicist, she had nothing less than an excellent experience going on her first college visit, meeting a bunch of friendly kids who also hold interest in her field of choice, and gaining knowledge of and exposure to the field we call STEM. 

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The Impact Of LAW Section

by Katherine Ren

Additional reporting by Peter Baugh and Parker Schultz Photos by Robin Fultz and Peter Baugh

2,640

Students transferring out of Normandy or Riverview Gardens School District

22

School districts that transfer students are enrolled in

8,000

Around the number of students staying in Normandy and Riverview Gardens

| COVER STORY |

It is ten minutes into the information session welcoming new Clayton students transferring from the Riverview Gardens and Normandy school districts. As I sit talking with a mom new to the District, I notice her little boy staring contently at the collection of cookies he has just acquired. I decide to ask him what he is excited about regarding the upcoming school year, but before I can finish my question, he shouts, “Science!”

The little boy is Jeremia McAllister, a 2nd grade student living in the Riverview Gardens District, transferring from the Ferguson Florrissant District to Captain Elementary. In that moment of talking to Jeremia and seeing his enthusiasm for science experiments, I realized the true reason the District is gathered here— to provide opportunities for kids like Jeremia, whose passion to learn, alone, is enough to inspire many.

During conversations with representatives from across the District, they acknowledged that this is a difficult issue and further reform to the educational system is necessary in order to attain a sustainable solution. However, while the legal battle over the enrollment of transfer students from unaccredited districts has lasted for several years, it is important to not lose sight of Clayton’s mission statement: to inspire each student to love learning and embrace challenge

within a rich and rigorous academic culture.

There are several aspects of the transfer program that we will focus on: the logistics, finances, opinions surrounding the issue and the next steps the District and state are planning to take. All are vital to understanding the mandate itself and the complexity of its nature. By taking a holistic view of the mandate, one is better able to see the role it plays in not only the Clayton community, but its impact on the greater St. Louis area as well.

The Court Decision The origin of the current mandate began with the 2007 court case, Turner v. School District of Clayton. The original lawsuit sought to require the School District of Clayton to bill the Saint Louis Public Schools, and not the students’ parents or guardians, for their respective tuition. In addition, the suit sought to require the Saint Louis Public Schools to make tuition payments to the School District of Clayton on behalf of the students.

Jane Turner, the original plaintiff, had lived in Clayton years earlier where she sent her two sons to Glenridge Elementary School. However, in 2002, Turner married her second husband, Judge Julian Bush of Missouri’s 22nd Circuit Court in St. Louis, who was required to live in the city. Although the family moved to the Cen-

tral West End, Turner continued to send her kids to Clayton schools through the District’s program that allowed out-of-district parents to pay tuition.

Turner was reintroduced to Section 167.131 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, part of the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993, which stated that all unaccredited school districts had the responsibility to pay tuition and transportation to nearby accredited districts. In 2003 the Wellston School District lost its accreditation.

After seeing accounts of Wellston families citing the statute when applying to nearby districts, Turner saw that the statute could provide the same benefits for her sons.

In 2007, Turner, alongside other families in similar situations, filed suit against the School District of Clayton.

Turner later withdrew from the suit in 2011, after her sons graduated. All other families involved, except for Gina Breitenfeld, withdrew as well.

On June 11, 2013, after years of legal battles, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously reversed Judge David Lee Vincent’s ruling in the case of Breitenfeld v. The School District of Clayton, et al, which previously held that the statute governing transfers from unaccredited school districts was impossible to comply with, unconstitutional and unenforceable.

475

51

425

Students transferring to Francis Howell School District from Normandy Schools

Students transferring to the Clayton School District

Students transferring to the FergusonFlorissan School District

COVER STORY p. 3/6 Legislation Under the state law (Section 167.131), when a school district fails to maintain accreditation, that district is required to pay the tuition of all students requesting to transfer to an accredited district. The failing district must designate a district in which they are responsible for providing transportation to. Students who choose not to attend the designated district must provide transportation on their own.

Section 167.131 gives the school board discretion to accept students who are not entitled to a free education within the district. However, it does not provide any guidelines as to how the districts accepting students should go about enrollment. There are no parameters as to how many students a district must take or how the application process must be conducted.

A student new to the District meets with a District representative to aid him with the transistion process.

Tennill said. “The commissioner of education said that her plan is to go to the legislature when they reconvene in January and ask the

“If a school district is struggling, it doesn’t make sense to take money and resources out of the district...”

-Ryan Luhning

“We don’t really know what year two of this whole process looks like,” Chris Tennill, Chief Communications Officer at School District of Clayton, said. “Everybody has been working on this, and not just in Clayton but countywide.

There are a lot of smart people in a room figuring out ‘what’s the right thing to do for kids’.

How do we transition to year two and how do we set up this process in a way that’s going to be good for the kids that are transferring? I have to believe that we’ll find a way to bring some stability to this. It’s something that’s likely going to continue on for a couple of years.”

Another concern for the Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis is finding a sustainable source of funding to cover the tuition and transportation tab.

“The conversations I’ve heard for Normandy is that Normandy will likely start to run out of money around February or March of this year,”

18

Schools in the Francis Howell School District

legislature to provide funding for Normandy to keep them from becoming insolvent. That way they can pay their teachers and educate the majority of the kids who are still staying, but then also make good on their tuition payments to the districts that are taking their kids.”

Sharmon Wilkinson, superintendent of the Clayton School District, expressed similar concerns with finding a financially stable solution.

“The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is saying that they will step in and that they can use the state funding to divert it,” Wilkinson said. “The commissioner of education, Chris Nicastro, will ask legislators to identify additional funding if they need it.”

While legislators don’t come back in session until January, it is clear that further reform is necessary in order to keep the unaccredited districts running.

“We’ve been working with the legislature

2007

Year the Turner Vs. Clayton Case Began

to try to get this law fixed,” Tennill said. “The legislature has spent the last four sessions unsuccessfully trying to pass a fix. All have failed because they are loaded down with one type of school reform or another: school choice, open enrollment, tax credit scholarships. The legislature has swung and missed on it four times, four years in a row. Now that people are seeing the real numbers attached to this issue – 2600 students transferring out and 35 plus million dollars cost to the two unaccredited school districts – maybe the folks up in Jefferson City will stop trying to horse-trade for things on their political agendas and start to work on this because they want to do the right thing for the students and districts involved.”

Likewise, Ryan Luhning, assistant principal of Clayton High School, sees that the increased financial demands the program has placed on the two districts will pose greater obstacles in their efforts to gain back their accreditation.

“I worry about Normandy and Riverview,” Luhning said. “If a school district is struggling, it doesn’t make sense to take money and resources out of the district to pay another district to educate their kids. You really need to work with the district to try to help them get back on their feet so the community can still have a school to send their kids.”

With the statute’s mandate now affecting the greater St. Louis area districts, many hope that there will be an increased interest vested in fixing the vague law.

“The District has been involved in this litiga-

19,861.55

Cost, in dollars, of tuition to attend Clayton

tion for quite some time,” Jane Klamer, President of Clayton’s Board of Education, said. “But we’re not alone anymore. The issues that we’re facing are being faced by districts in St. Louis County and in St. Charles County, so I hope that means that the legislature will pay attention to this.”

Maripat Gatter, President of Clayton High School’s Parent-Teacher Organization, also hopes that the increased awareness will bring about the needed change.

“I think this is going to be a real financial hardship for those districts,” Gatter said. “But I think for us as a larger community, hopefully we’ll figure out that we can’t continue a school system that’s so inequitable, and this gives everyone a vested interest in making that situation better.”

Accreditation & Finances The state law mandates that the State Board of Education accredits public school districts.

Under the standards of the Missouri School Improvement Program, a school district may be given one of three ratings: accredited, provisionally accredited or unaccredited.

While loss of accreditation does not give the state the rights to immediately take over, the state usually attains the authority to intervene after a district has been unaccredited for two full school years. Students who graduate from an unaccredited school district will still receive diplomas that are considered valid according to the state education officials.

The Riverview Gardens School District lost accreditation in June of 2007 after years of being plagued by financial hardships.

Michael Sankey, a biology teacher at Clayton High School who began his teaching career at Riverview Gardens High School, shared his experiences while teaching at the school.

“We had issues with money,” Sankey said.

“It was a nightmare. We had a superintendent that was embezzling money and board members that were as well. I don’t think they really understood what it took to run a successful school. I remember my last year there, we didn’t have copy paper. They weren’t provided by the school, you had to get your own. You had to copy for one class on one side and you recycle the paper and use the other side for the next class. We didn’t have toilet paper in the building, so they would lock the restroom doors, so you couldn’t use the restrooms. Trash bags were

20

Years since the school transfer statute was written

used over and over again.”

After being provisionally accredited, Normandy lost its accreditation in January of 2013.

According to the Saint Louis Post Dispatch,

to turn their districts’ educational standings around.

“Ty McNichols, Normandy’s superintendent, has been strongly discouraging students from leaving,” Wilkinson said. “In Normandy, he has been saying, ‘It’s going to take all of us as a community to get the things we need. So come work with us.’”

Transfer Process Since the ruling, the School District of Clayton has joined a larger group of school districts participating, through Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis, in a common transfer application process for students who reside within the Normandy or Riverview Gardens School Districts and seek to transfer to an accredited school district.

Families seeking to transfer their students were asked to rank three districts of their choice that they sought to transfer to.

Representatives from school districts throughout the area met on August 2 to process the applications that they received from the two districts. Taking into consideration the maximum capacity at each of the participating districts in which students sought to transfer, the representatives placed the students with regards to their requests into an accredited district through a random lottery system.

“They were really great,” Jamecia Green, mother of McAllister, said. “They kept in touch and let me know what was going on and if you had any questions, you could either contact the school directly or you could call the cooperating school district and they would email you right

almost 1,700 students in both unaccredited school systems have requested to transfer, costing both districts a collective cost of $23 million.

For Normandy, the estimated $10 million tuition and transportation cost is equivalent to 151 average teacher salaries—half of the district’s certified teaching staff. For Riverview Gardens, the estimated cost of tuition and transportation comes to $12.9 million, the amount budgeted last year to operate Riverview Gardens High School and the district’s two middle schools.

Unfortunately, exodus only represents about 16 percent of the student populations in both districts. Both districts must attempt to earn their accreditation back with a majority of their student population to care for and less a large sum of money.

“I know that both Normandy and Riverview superintendents are really committed to turning those districts around,” Tennill said. “Unfortunately, sending that amount of money out to other county school districts is going to make it a lot more challenging for them than it already would have been.”

Despite the uphill climb both districts now face, the superintendents, both recently appointed, have been rallying support against student transSuperintendent Sharmon Wilkinson is prepared for the coming school year. fers in efforts

100

Students (approximately) that transferred out of the Wellston School District after it lost its accreditation in 2003

17.2

Distance, in miles, between Normandy High School and Francis Howell High School

COVER STORY p. 5/6 back. They were really great with communication.”

Under the law, unaccredited districts are required to designate a district to which they will transport students requesting to transfer. Parents who wish to send their children to other accredited districts are responsible for their own transportation.

Normandy announced in early July that they would transport all transfer students

dent transfers, leaving many without transportation options stranded.

Senior Talya Brooks, who attended elementary school in the Riverview Gardens District before her parents pulled her out for her to attend MICDS and eventually Clayton High School, explained that even when such an opportunity presents itself, there are still many aspects that may hinder the transition process.

“I feel bad for the children who are stuck,

“I’m glad that we are able to at least help ten students with the situation they’re in.”

-Dr. Dan Gutchewsky to the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles. Riverview Gardens chose the Kirkwood School District as their second choice, after the Mehlville District informed them that the space available for enrollment was limited.

Unfortunately, the three districts chosen by Riverview Gardens and Normandy as the districts of choice to provide transportation for have not been able to accept all requests of stu-

because they’re going to be caught in a school district that doesn’t have money to pick themselves up,” Brooks said. “More people are running away, which means more money is running away. We know a family with three kids, who have been literally trying for years to get their kids out of the Riverview schools. They’ve thought about private schools, they’ve thought about homeschooling. They’ve been working for years in attempts to get their kids into a district closer to where they work. It’s just not as easy as it seems, the process of getting an education wherever you want.”

A new student and parent with Wydown counselor Mark Snyder.

22.6

Distance, in miles, between Riverview Gardens High School and Mehlville High School

Human Aspect As the first day of school approaches for numerous districts, many critical questions still need to be answered.

However, despite the program’s uncertain future, many parents are just thankful for the opportunity it has presented their children.

“I’m excited to see a

2

Unaccredited School districts in the st.

Louis area

change,” Green said. “The biggest thing I had an issue with, was that the school he was in wasn’t really involved with the students. My son reads at a fourth grade level, and so I feel like there should have been more opportunities to educate him. They just wanted them to sit in a classroom and be quiet. After speaking with the principal at Captain, it really made me feel more secure knowing that there are different programs that he can engage in to stimulate his mind. I’m excited to see what this school year holds.”

Eugenia J. Jones, who pulled her daughter out of Crossroads to attend Clayton High School, shared similar optimism in what she believed the district would provide for her child.

“We chose Clayton because of the reputation,” Jones said. “I mean, if I’m going to take her out of a private school, I want to feel like I’m not slacking on her education. And I was told by a couple of people that it would be [as good of an education].”

In addition to the academic opportunities the district provides, Velma Glenn, whose 7th grade son will be transferring from Normandy to Wydown this coming school year, said one of her reasons for choosing Clayton was for diversity and cohesiveness of the Clayton community.

“There was a chance to end the voluntary inter-district desegregation program; Clayton students said ‘no’,” Glenn said. “Clayton students also stood up for when the Westboro Baptist church came out here to protest. It’s the students [in addition to the staff] that have also demonstrated a sense of community, loyalty and fairness for all people.”

While District officials acknowledge the necessity of continuity for any successful education system, they are still uncertain as to how the District will proceed with the application system. But despite the uncertainty, Brooks understands why parents are still grabbing onto the opportunity.

“The application process may be a year by year thing, but I understand why parents who have their children in private schools, who now have the opportunity to take them to public schools with the same quality of education for free, would do so,” Brooks said. “And for the

7.9 Million

Dollars the Normandy School District has in reserves

CHS math teacher Stacey Phelps explains school expectations to a new student.

people who care about their children’s education, as far as people who can’t send their child to private schools, this is the perfect opportunity. And for the parents who don’t care, I feel bad for those children because they’re going to be stuck.”

Besides the financial burden the program alleviates for many families, an invaluable aspect of the program is the potential personal effect it has on the lives of students who come through it.

“I personally called all the families to welcome them and invite them to enroll, and just the response I got from so many of the families: the sheer excitement and they were so happy that they were able to come to Clayton,” Dan Gutchewsky, principal of Clayton High School said. “It’s very affirming of what we do here and at the same time it makes you feel for the families and the very tough situation that they’re in.

I’m glad that we are able to at least help ten students with the situation they’re in. I think we’re an excellent place. ” What Clayton Will Do The District has made it clear that while there is a legal aspect of the program that still needs to be resolved, everyone’s number one priority once the school year starts will be to provide the resources necessary for a smooth transition for all kids.

“We used a math placement test to help us

35.4 Million

Dollars it will cost Normandy and Riverview Gardens For tuition and transportation

know which course would be appropriate for our incoming high school students,” Wilkinson said. “We are prepared to look into what additional supports we need to provide in order to support student success. One of the challenges [when Wellston students came to Clayton] was that the students found the educational expectations here to be much higher. So we need to be thinking about what supports to provide to help students meet our curricular expectations.”

For Gutchewsky, one of his main priorities for the upcoming school year is to ensure that all families stay well-informed and connected throughout the entire process.

“I think just making sure that we continue to communicate with the families and that they have avenues for communication,” Gutchewsky said. “Even things as silly as learning the homecoming traditions.”

And while this program presents countless opportunities for those transferring, many agree that it will also be a great asset to the Clayton community.

“I think anytime you bring people who have different backgrounds together and they share a common goal like academic success and they learn to help each other, it’s a real positive for everyone,” Gatter said.

At the end of the day, it is clear that everyone in the district has a common goal, and that

3

Unaccredited School districts in Missouri

is to educate.

“I think we should provide every child with the best possible education,” Wilkinson said.

“Our job is to make sure that every child in our schools receives the rich and rigorous experience that we want them to have and that they have the skills they need to be able to achieve their goals, whatever they may be.”

Conclusion Law section 167.131 intends to reform the equity of the public school system.

However, before the mandate can truly begin bridging the disparity, critical changes must be made to the vague law. Legislators must find the financially sound solution that deliv-

ers quality education to all students; a solution that doesn’t put the solvency of any district in danger.

But despite the law’s shortcomings, it does provide at least a start to a long-term process for public educational reform.

As for now, putting all logistics aside, it is important to not lose sight of what the District ultimately strives for: to inspire each student to love learning and embrace challenge within a rich and rigorous academic culture. 

32 Million

Dollars the Riverview Gardens School District has in reserves

SPORTS

AT H L

PROF

ETE

ILE

Photo by Noah Engel

SPRINTING AHEAD Sophomore Gabby Boeger is already one of Clayton’s top athletes.

by PETER BAUGH

D

edication is important to sophomore Gabby Boeger. Boeger, who has played soccer since she was five-years-old and has run her entire life, feels that working hard is one of her biggest strengths.

Teammate and senior runner Lily Niswonger has been impressed by Boeger’s focus since their first practice together in the fall of 2012.

“For me, when I first met her … she just worked so hard and was very driven and motivated to do well, and I think that definitely helped our team,” Niswonger said.

Boeger burst onto the Clayton High School athletic scene as a fresh-

man, proving herself to be one of the top athletes in the school, despite her young age. She was varsity cross country’s top runner and started at center midfield for the varsity soccer team. Boeger feels very grateful for the opportunities she has been given by both her coaches and teammates.

“I got to play a lot, which I am so thankful for because I love to play and I love getting playing time and so it was nice to be able to play, especially with people that were older than me,” she said.

One of those older teammates for both cross country and soccer is her sister, junior Bridget Boeger, who is a cross country standout and a second team All-Conference selection for soccer. Gabby Boeger says she and her sister get along with each other well and they enjoy playing together.

“We’ve always done both sports together, we’ve always both played soccer and we’ve both always run,” Boeger said. “It’s fun just to be competitive but still get to do the same things.”

Boeger feels that her two sports coincide with each other, and she uses similar skills to succeed in both sports. When playing center midfield for the soccer team, Boeger constantly has to run from one end of the field to the other, and she credits cross country with helping her endurance during matches.

“I was able to run most of the game and just stay at my best, and so I think cross country has done a really good job helping me to be able to run the whole game and to still have energy at the 90th minute,” she said.

Through her hard work and focus, Boeger has started to see the rewards of her dedication. In cross country, she was the Suburban East Conference champion, outrunning Anna Nelson, a senior from Ladue, by just .04 seconds in the conference meet. At the state meet, Boeger finished 29th, missing the All-State cut by only four spots.

On the soccer team, Boeger scored four goals with six assists, earning her a spot on the second team All-Conference.

To be successful at her sports, Boeger has had to be smart with her time management, especially in the fall when she has daily cross country practice, along with club soccer practice a few nights a week.

“It’s hours of homework … you may not get home until 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 o’clock at night. That’s a lot of dedication and little sleep,” Kurtis Werner, Boeger’s cross country coach, said.

Through her hard work and time management, Boeger hopes to play a high level collegiate sport after she graduates but realizes there are areas she can improve in, especially in her soccer game.

“I want to get better at scoring,” she said. “I want to score more goals this year and I also want to work on every aspect of my game enough for college recruiting and put myself out there for the colleges.”

With her strong work ethic and athletic abilities, it is hard to deny Boeger’s potential as a high school athlete. Werner was impressed by Boeger’s composure last season and is looking forward to her future at Clayton and beyond.

“Gabby is one of those determined individuals, and she showed this maturity as a freshman,” he said. “She basically wants to strive to be the best that she can be, and not every runner that you get is going to want to pursue that type of desire or have that type of desire. So having Gabby, it’s an anomaly, you don’t see it all the time.” 

Rechan Commits Senior Mac Rechan has one less worry than most of his classmates: he already knows where he will attend college. The tennis standout has already made a verbal commitment to attend Georgetown University.

Rechan has won the Missouri state singles

title once and finished second in the competition two other times.

He was also named the St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year in both his sophomore and junior years. Rechan looked at many schools to play tennis at but, in the end,

Georgetown stood out. He liked the coach, the chance to succeed in the Big East and the good education.

On his choice, Rechan said, “I just kind of fell in love with the school in general.” 

- PETER BAUGH

REVIEW

PBG/PAPhotos/ABACAPRESS.COM/MCT Campus

I

If you think that the Roman Colosseum is big, wait until you see the size of this pancake.

The thickness was wonderful, and the moisture of the pancake offered a nice texture to complement the delicious taste.

The apples that topped the pancake were warm and tasty, and cinnamon gave a nice touch to their flavors.

All in all it was an extremely tasty meal, but one that was too huge to finish. Luckily, my waitress brought me a to-go box without my needing to ask, even adding a cup of whipped cream that was not part of my order.

Though it was a tad pricey, my experience at the Original Pancake House was delightful.

If you have an hour to spare and are hungry, I would highly recommend giving it a visit. 

- PETER BAUGH

- ARYA YADAMA

“ Original Pancake House

Photo by Arya Yadama

W

hen eight hungry swimmers, including myself, walked into the Original Pancake House, I did not know how we would be treated. Some waiters and waitresses are less than welcoming to large groups, especially teenage boys.

At the Original Pancake House, this was not the case. Our waitress was polite and funny, welcoming us with two pitchers of ice cold water.

The welcoming people at the restaurant immediately gave me a sense that we were in good hands.

When asked what I wanted to order, I faced a dilemma. The crispy bacon and hashbrowns sounded fabulous, and there were many brilliant pancake options. Ultimately, though, I decided to order the apple pancake.

WWZ

wanted to see Despicable Me 2. It was my brother who coaxed me into seeing World War Z. Reluctantly sipping on my blue raspberry Icey, I plopped down in a seat, annoyed that I wasn’t going to enjoy cute, little Minions. When I walked out of the theatre, I had never been so upset at how much I had enjoyed a movie I was hooked from the very beginning.

World War Z isn’t another one of those cheesy zombie movies. It is a clever mix of action, thrill and apocalyptic chaos.

The movie starts with Brad Pitt leaving his family in search of the source of the zombie apocalypse that is quickly spreading around the globe. The scenes, while action filled, all followed the very interesting plot.

While those zombies penetrated country after country, Pitt’s desperation seemed to seep out of the screen and into the audience, leaving a thick layer of suspense that seemed to compress the theatre.

Usually, I hate horror in movies. But in World War Z, I found that my heart was racing with excitement, even at the scariest moments. To all the “X-men” or “I Am Legend” fans out there, this movie is made for you.

The movie was made from the book written by Mark Forster. I personally had not read it before I saw the movie. I can definitely say that it is one I would like to read.

More than anything, the movie had a wonderful plot that would keep anyone hooked from beginning to end. I mean, who needs cute, little Minions, when you can watch flesh eating zombies instead! 

If you think that the Roman Colosseum is big, wait until you see the size of this pancake.

Leaked Snowden’s leaks have prompted a longneeded discussion: Are we willing to sacrifice our privacy in the name of security?

Photo from Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

ww

E

dward Snowden is a hero. Edward Snowden is a traitor. Edward Snowden endangered the lives of United States citizens. Edward Snowden saved the American public from a tyrannical government.

The opinions on Snowden, an American security worker who leaked government surveillance information to the public, reach every end of the spectrum. However, whether he is a hero or a traitor, Snowden has been successful in raising popular discussion over one of the greatest unspoken conflicts of our generation.

Starting around May 2013, Snowden, who was working as an infrastructure analyst for the National Security Agency (NSA), began to disclose government information to journalists. The leaks regarded efforts made by the NSA to collect information on United States citizens.

One program that Snowden revealed to the public was PRISM, a surveillance program begun in 2007 under the Bush Administration’s “Protect America Act.” The results were disturbing. Snowden’s leaks indicated that PRISM had access to the emails, video chats, photos, logins and social network activity of just about any U.S. citizen.

Most shockingly, however, was the evidence that the NSA had collected private information from private corporations such as Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, YouTube, Skype and Apple.

This intrusion into personal privacy is unnervingly reminiscent of George Orwell’s “1984,” in which the government constantly monitors the behavior, speech and even the thoughts of every citizen.

In an interview with the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Snowden was sure to emphasize the power of the NSA. If, at some point in time, any U.S. citizen comes under suspicion, “They can use the system to go back in time and scrutinize every decision you’ve ever made,” he said.

22

By Peter Schmidt

By revealing this information, Snowden claims that he had no intention of endangering the U.S. government or its citizens. Rather, he described his efforts as a simple gesture to put power in the hands of the people. “These things need to be determined by the public,” he said, “not by somebody who was... hired by the government.”

Snowden’s activism begs an ancient question that has become increasingly important in our post 9-11 world of government surveillance and anti-terrorist policy: just how much power can we vest in the government without endangering our own freedom?

In Constitutional terms, Snowden’s leaks suggest that the NSA is working for the people but not by the people. The government, which was originally created to protect our privacy and welfare, now appears to be infringing on it.

For example, Snowden reported that the NSA collects information en masse before distinguishing the suspicious from the mundane.

This means that even if citizens have committed no crimes nor raised any suspicion, the NSA has access to their personal information. This seems like a shameless violation of the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure.

The issue seems to boil down to an uncomfortable decision. Which do we value more: our privacy or our security? Shocked by the past decade of attempted and successful terrorist attacks, school shootings and cyber warfare, we have unanimously chosen to ensure security at the loss of privacy. Only now is the public beginning to understand the consequences of that decision.

Edward Snowden is no renegade. He was a government worker who put himself at risk to reveal the dramatic shift of power taking place on our soil. Whether or not his actions were justified, he has succeeded in raising a discussion that desperately needed attention. “I’m neither traitor nor hero,” he said. “I’m an American.” 

FEATURES

Emma Mueller

Marina Henke

Studying at Aurehøj Gymnasium in Gentofte, Denmark

Studying at Conserve School in Northern Wisconsin second semester

How did you get the idea to study abroad?

Describe the education you will get at Conserve School.

My mom (who is Danish) and I were talking and she was like, ‘You know Emma,’ out of the blue, ‘you could always study in Denmark for a while’ … then like an hour later I honestly couldn’t see myself doing anything else but leaving.

The idea is that if you go there you are learning through the environment. Half of your time in every class, except math and language is spent outside. There is not a day where you aren’t exploring nature.

What did you like about Aurehøj?

What excites you about the trip?

They are really interested in music and arts, and that’s definitely something that I am very fond of and feel strongly about … they are very open.

How do your parents feel?

Basically my parents, they don’t really want me to go too much, but they are excited for me and happy for me. They are going to miss me, I guess, and I’ll miss them [and] my brother. 

Studying ABroad Fabio Bolz

German exchange student at CHS What do you think will be different about American schools than German schools?

There are much more courses to choose in American schools and there are no school sports and only a few clubs in German schools. If you want to do sports you do it in external clubs.

Explain the German education system.

The first 4 years you visit the elementary school. Then you either visit a “Hauptschule”, “Realschule” or “Gymnasium” depending on your performance. The “Hauptschule” lasts for 5 years, the “Realschule” for 6 years and the “Gymnasium” lasts for 8 years. The “Gymnasium” is the most difficult of them. Only with the “Gymnasium” degree, which is called “Abitur”, you are allowed to study at a university.

How will this change the courses you take next year in Germany?

I will take English on the highest level.  To read the full story of Henke, Mueller and Bolz, visit chsglobe.com Photos from individual students.

I’m very excited to learn in a way that I think is more realistic for actual pursuits in the real world.

I am really interested in environmental education and the power of interdisciplinary learning, and Conserve Schools gives me a really unique opportunity to learn so much about both of those things.

What are some concerns?

I wouldn’t finish a year of AP Biology (Henke will take one semester of AP Biology at Clayton and then two science courses at Conserve, including AP Environmental Science) and that does make me a little nervous, but ultimately I will be fine because at Conserve School the science classes are remarkable. Your semester of environmental science is broken down into two quarters; the first quarter has a focus on typical biology ... And the second quarter is all about applied science, with things like renewable and sustainable energy.

Ultimately, any concerns I have are really small in the grand scheme of things. Yes, I wouldn’t have a full year of AP Bio, which of course some colleges would like to see. The whole point of this experience though is it’s something that I’m passionate about and I want to do, not something that I’m doing for the sole purpose of college or making a good impression. 

2013

CLAYTON’S centennial

On the occasion of Clayton’s hundredth anniversary, we invite residents, businesses and institutions to join neighbors in the celebration and in the final series of centennial events.

Centennial Festival

Public Art Dedication Friday, August 30 6:30 p.m.

Century Garden in Shaw Park

Saturday, October 5 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shaw Park

Clayton adds to its collection of world-class public art with the installation of a wood, steel and bronze sculpture by James Surls. The public is invited to the dedication of Molecular Bloom with Single Flower. Century Garden is located in Shaw Park between the pool and ice rink. Dedication festivities will include meeting the artist, music and a cupcake truck.

Join us in celebrating our City’s centennial.

This free family event will include live music, tours of all of the wonderful new projects in the park, a car show, fun activities for kids including face painting, crafts, inflatables and the Bubble Bus. We will kick-off the day with a bike parade in Shaw Park; Mayor Sanger will serve as Grand Marshal. Food and beverages for sale. Don’t miss this amazing day in Shaw Park with something for people of all ages!

CCF Speaker Series

Party of the Century

Wednesday, November 6 7 p.m.

Washington University

Friday, November 29 6:30 p.m.

Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

Innovation and Infinite Possibilities

Everyone who lives, works or visits Clayton is invited to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recognize the City’s 100th anniversary!

This is a party with a civic purpose. Together, we will celebrate the magical and essential components of the community: stately neighborhoods, award-winning educational institutions, world-class businesses, and outstanding parks, public art and history.

To learn more and to order your tickets at $100 per person ($150 after October 31) for folks 21 and over, visit www.clayton2013.com

will be moderated by Peter Raven. A panel of Washington University thought leaders will look to the future, as the City of Clayton prepares to begin its next 100 years.

Discussion will consider innovative initiatives for 21st Century challenges. This event will be held at the May Auditorium in Simon Hall on Forsyth Avenue at Wallace Drive. Parking is available in front of Simon Hall and in the parking garage. Reception will follow. RSVP requested: sumlauf@claytonmo.gov

All That Glitters Friday, December 6 6 to 9 p.m.

Shaw Park Ice Rink and Carondelet Plaza Holiday merrymakers will be treated to free horse drawn carriage rides and carolers along Carondelet Plaza. Stop by the Shaw Park Ice Rink to Skate with Frosty – free admission, skate rental and treats in the Warming Hut. Fireworks display at 8 p.m. in Shaw Park.

Visit www.clayton2013.com for additional event information.