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Eureka, MO 63025 ehs_hub@rockwood.k12.mo.us
Issue 6, Volume 78 April 19, 2013 Eureka High School 4525 Highway 109
thebugle
State of district addressed
Rockwood regroups to tackle crucial issues Superintendent Bruce Borchers leaving after three years
Ms. Loralee Mondl newly elected
Dr. Keith Kinder 2 years on board “We do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential;” RSD’s mission statement is prominently displayed on the front page of the Rockwood website. Although this is a common goal, plans on how to facilitate maximum potential success vary widely among those in authority in the district. The district, much like the nation, suffers from paralyzing politics, a new, untested decision-making body, a departing controversial leader leaving a larger leadership void and unclear fiscal health.
The board of education
Like Congress, the BOE is always present, the definitive check on the actions of their only employee the superintendent. Mrs. Loralee Mondl and Mr. Jeffrey Morrell were sworn in to their new board positions, April 4, after voters elected them to replace incumbents Mrs. Janet Strate and Mr. Stephen Banton, April 2. Mrs. Strate served on the BOE the last nine years and Mr. Banton the last 15. In addition, Mr. Stephen Smith resigned, March 3. Now the longest occupancy of any BOE member is two years. Change is inevitable, but sometimes it is welcomed. “One thing I’ve noticed since [the new members] have been installed is that they seem to be very involved right off the bat,” Mrs. Deborah Asher, head principal, said. “They’re asking questions and they’re reaching out to people. It’s always a learning curve when you start a position of any kind, but they appear to me that they are going to be very active board members. There’s been a lot of changes and I think I’m ready along with the majority of people to move forward to get Rockwood back in a positive light and recognize all of the great things that are going on here.” The BOE accepted applications for the new position through April 19 and will interview applicants in an open forum to appoint the seventh member, April 25. Students keep their education a priority. “They need to keep what’s best for the students in mind,” Emily Buatois (12) said. The quality of education in RSD could be threatened by the politics. The results of the April 2 elections and the turnover on the board speak to voters’ disappointment. “Some people were just mad at the Board of Education or what they perceive the Board of Education has done or said,” Dr. Keith Kinder, BOE director, said in a phone interview conducted April 5. The Board elected Mr. Bill Brown, president, April 4. He replaces Mrs. Strate.
monika nayak featurewriter
Mr. Bill Brown 1 year on board This new BOE is now tasked with finding a new superintendent since Dr. Bruce Borchers officially accepted the offer of the superintendent position in the Oak Ridge School District in Tennessee, April 1, according to the Oak Ridge School District website.
Dr. Borchers
While RSD did not confirm his departure until April 16, rumors of the application submitted to the Tennessee school district were widespread and confirmed after the Knoxville News Sentinel published a narrowed list of candidates released by the Oak Ridge BOE. “It’s just really bad timing for our district [for Borchers to leave],” Jeffrey Lazar (12) said. “The school district is just in a lot of trouble right now, and this is probably a good time for him to get out. He’s been pressured a lot because there’s been a lot of negative press about him, so I could understand why he would want out.” Dr. Borchers released a statement through on the RSD website, March 28: “My professional career has been devoted to continuous improvement. I have always been open to opportunities to work with school districts and Boards who share that vision. That is what led me to Rockwood— and what is now leading me to explore an opportunity with Oak Ridge.” This new job shortens Borchers’ tenure to a little over two years. “He is cutting edge when it comes to education and technology, all of the aspects that make the school district very successful,” Dr. Kinder said. “I just feel bad that he didn’t get the chance to do all of the things that he wanted [here].” His administration was plagued by controversy: • Walking in without experience with a top-paying salary • The hiring of two former colleagues as consultants for more than $30,000 each for 17 days of work, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. • The subsequent hiring of those colleagues to high-level cabinet positions • The restructuring of the curriculum department and loss of experienced personnel • Changes in the curriculum-writing process • Dramatic reductions in the budget while growing the fund balance • The reduction of VICC enrollees “I know he was in a bad situation coming in with a lot of the public opinion of him,” Alex Roberds (11) said. “I’ve personally met him, and he’s a great guy.
Mr. Matt Doell 2 years on board I don’t think he would have been able to accomplish much if he would’ve stayed, so I’m glad he got a job somewhere else. I’m looking forward to the community getting over blaming him for everything that went wrong. It would be good to have some new administration at the top.” Dr. Borchers declined an interview. A new superintendent offers the community a chance to move forward and shift focus to the future of students and their education. “Communication is going to be key to build trust within the community and s/he needs to have a strong educational vision,” Mrs. Jenni Highfill, World Languages Department chair, said. “It’s important that we start to look forward. We need to find a great superintendent who can really pull everybody together because we are really divided right now.” The BOE will address the future superintendent search process at a meeting, April 18.
The budget
Just as the country struggles to manage its debt against its needs, the district seeks to establish a balanced budget. The district sought funds for building improvements and technology updates through Proposition S, approved by the BOE, failed, April 2. Election results provided a glimpse into the voters’ minds. “Some citizens were disappointed in the new superintendent bringing in his cronies just after he had taken over without considering other people in the district that might have been able to fill those positions,” Mr. Steve Collins, Rockwood parent and voter, said. “Also, the fact that a school board member worked for Glenn Construction and the work was not bid out properly gave the appearance of impropriety. The audit right before the election submitted a report that suggested the Glenn Construction potentially overbilled the district by $1 million. All of those issues raised a lot of questions about whether the school district was being run as it should be run.” Current budget numbers speak to this fiscal confusion. Years of cuts and off projections have resulted in unexpectedly large reserves. Mr. Tim Rooney, Chief Financial and Legislative Officer, joined the district just this year and has been tackling its finances while the state conducted its audit. He projects a fund balance at the end of this year to be over $50 million, after the BOE approves to spend $5.1 million to
Mr. Jeffrey Morrell newly elected
Mrs. Sherri Rogers 1 year on board cover this year’s deficit, Mr. Rooney said to the BOE during the April 11 BOE meeting. EHS continues to have needs that go unchecked, needs Prop S would have addressed. “We are below standard compared to the district with our locker rooms,” Mrs. Highfill said. “It is a travesty that accommodations haven’t been made for this prior to this bond issue. I am also very concerned about the antiquated technology. The technology was a key component that got left out.” If the superintendent—whomever s/ he may be—allocates money from the operating budget to accommodate these priorities then the district may have to make cuts elsewhere to avoid generating more deficit spending. The voters may have used their vote to communicate a larger displeasure with the district leadership. “I don’t think people were necessarily opposed to [the improvements mentioned in the bond issue],” Dr. Kinder said. “So they weren’t necessarily voting against the items. They felt that we have enough money in our existing budget to cover those so they supported taking it out of the operating budget instead of a bond issue.” Future voter confidence could be the determining factor in the future of EHS. In 2000, Eureka had 1,234 students which has grown to 1,965 students. Eureka’s campus, including its locker rooms, was built in the 1970s for a school that had 584 students. “Eureka has been playing catchup,” Dr. Kinder said. “I agree that Eureka High School needs a new set of locker rooms to handle the size. That’s only one of the problems Eureka has. Eureka is still a growing high school. It’s not just locker rooms; it’s going to be more classrooms.” The other three high schools were built for the size that they are now. Lafayette was built for 2,000 plus students. Marquette was built for 2,200. Rockwood Summit was built for about 1,400 students. The infrastructure is there and can be improved simply with updates, according to Dr. Kinder. “Eureka is going to need the most attention in the future,” Dr. Kinder said. “Eureka is trying to upgrade, but they’re also trying to keep up with the growth. That’s something that we as a district have to be concerned about.” The future state of the district will be determined by a handful of people new to their positions.
2Entertainment New vibes for STL music festival
casey walker society editor
St. Louis’ music festival, Loufest, takes on a new collaboration making it bigger and hopefully better
Rain beats down on over 12,000 bodies moving and swaying, washing away the sweat accumulated from the 87 degree heat earlier in the day. Confetti falls and giant red, blue and yellow weather balloons sail overhead. The Flaming Lips’ guitar melodies blare out their hit song,“Do You Realize?” while psychedelic images of woman dancing flash behind them on stage. The final moments of LouFest 2012. The festival was 16 acts. Headliners last year consisted of Girl Talk on Saturday and The Flaming Lips on Sunday. It’s an infant compared to other musical festivals, like Lollapalooza, a three-day festival with over 50 acts nearing its 22nd anniversary next summer. Loufest has only been running for two years, but those two years have been a success. “Last year LouFest was really fun,” Michael Doherty (12) said. “I noticed a transition between 2011 and 2012, there was a higher attendance rate already, and I thought that there was a significant change in the lineup with much more famous performers playing last year.” With the attendance rate going up over the last two years Mr. Brian Cohen, LouFest founder, felt the festival needed to be taken in a new direction. “It became obvious at the end of year two which was 2010, that we needed to grow to survive,” Mr. Cohen said in a phone interview conducted, March 12. LouFest’s website states this year’s festival will take place, Sept. 7-8, and will be “a new weekend experience St. Louis has never seen.” LouFest has decided to jump into the major leagues of music festivals and partnered with C3 Presents, a company that helps produce Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. “Everything is going to be bigger. That’s for sure. We’re going to expand the line-up to include a greater range of music, a range that will resonate with a greater amount of people,” Mr. Cohen said. “Then work in elements that make the event more well-rounded: expanding the food court, expanding our retail area and expanding the footprint.” St. Louis will be home to a music festival of the same caliber of other big-name festivals, like Lollapalooza, held in Chicago, and Austin City Limits, held in Ausin, TX. “A lot of music festivals are held on either the coast or bigger cities like Chicago, which is hard to get to,” Josh Ocuaman (11) said. With Loufest in the Central Field, an area in Forest Park that stretches out and shares the city’s skyline, a big music festival has never been more accessible to students. “With the festival being so close you can just grab a group of friends to go with,” Zak Kupfer (12) said. Loufest is all about the local feel: being surrounded by friends in your community, listening to local bands and eating local food—highlighting the City of St. Louis. “St. Louis is such a beautiful city and plus with the local feel it kind of has, not just from the music perspective but from the catering, the food, the merchandise, it really feels like a really neat, authentic, St. Louis experience.” Dan Germain, drummer for the Pernikoff Brothers, a band that preformed at last year’s LouFest, said in a phone interview conducted, Feb. 12. The St. Louis-based trio, The Pernikoff Brothers opened
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Festival attendees stand by and patiently wait for the first act of the
day, The Pernikoff Brothers during LouFest 2012, Aug. 2012. The day
the show on Sunday during LouFest 2012 bringing their St. Louis sound to the stage. With the new collaboration a worry arises among past LouFest attendees that this year’s festival will lose that local feel that it has fostered so well in the past two years. “I think it has the possibility of losing the local feel if they don’t book as many local bands and just book bands that more people know,” Kupfer said. Loufest is filled with local flavors from the food stands and vendors selling screen printed t-shirts and vintage sunglasses to the promoters, like St. Louis’s Kladi’s coffee. “I like LouFest because I’m a big supporter of local music,” Matt Kirchhoefer (9) said. The local radio station KDHX looks to the festival for a boost in popularity so the collaboration could potentially be a debacle, a good opportunity to promote could go to the wayside. But KDHX, who has already worked with C3 Presents, has more of a positive outlook on the collaboration. “Since C3 has come along they’re handling a lot of it,” Mr. Chris Ward, KDHX marketing director, said. “We’re [KDHX] really working with them this year to give the concert goers more of an experience so that they associate KDHX with something good.” The movement toward change has a positive outlook. “I don’t think the change will be negative,” Germain
starts off with small local acts and progresses towards the headliners.
said. “It sounds like the C3 partnership is pretty dedicated to keeping the local feel to the festival.” The dedication to local authenticity is mutual between Cohen and C3 Presents. “There’s no interest on either side to move away from that [local feel] so we will try to maintain the local but also try to integrate more national elements so that it becomes a festival that it can play on the national scene,” Mr. Cohen said. The collaboration will potentially bring bigger acts and more people to the festival, but that doesn’t mean leaving the local vibes behind. The festival will still be held in Forest Park and will still be held over two days. The lineup will be announced in late April, and ticket sales will follow. “If my schedule is free I really want to go next year, Mandy Lupardus (12) said. “I’m excited to see what the collaboration will bring.” The dancing, the singing along and the confetti won’t leave LouFest. “The two teams are working so well together so that everyone is excited about the event and how it’s growing and expanding while not losing it’s roots,” Mr. Cohen said. “I think that for me, this signals that this Loufest will be something that will only grow from where it started rather than something completely different.”
elfiorP3
Smiling her way to the top Mrs. Baker wins teacher of the year, leads choirs and individuals to top sanden musical honors maddie editor-in -chief Alicia Keys newest single belts “This Girl is on Fire.” While the song was inspired by Keys reading about her own success, according to the New York Times, the words ring true for Mrs. Donna Baker, music teacher, as she has seen success after success throughout March and April. First, at the St. Louis Suburban Solo and Ensemble Festival, 21 solos and ensembles received a Superior I rating, continuing onto state, April 27. Another 23 received an Excellent II rating. Then, during the Renaissance Assembly, Mrs. Baker was announced Teacher of the Year, March 8. “I was so surprised,” Mrs. Baker said. “It sounded like thunder. The best part was seeing all my kids. It was really special to be honored in that way.” Not long after, three choirs received Superior I ratings at the State Choir Festival and one choir received an Excellent II rating, March 12. Over Spring Break, at the Heritage Music Festival in San Diego, all three choirs— Concert Chorale, Women’s Chamber Choir and Onstage! Show Choir—received first place gold out of nine competing choirs. Concert Chorale and Onstage! both received the adjudicator’s award for earning the most points in their respective division while Onstage! was also awarded the Outstanding Choral Group award. As a school, they earned the Sweepstakes for Choral Program awarding, meaning they earned the most points of any school with two or more choirs at the festival. “It was so exciting to win,” Becca Weitzel, show choir, said. “Our whole choir was sitting together and cheering. People were crying. I felt so proud to be part of the choir winning, and all those
kate moger
Cheers fill Gym A as Teacher of the Year is announced and Mrs. Jenni Highfill, World Language Department chair and Mrs. Janice DeNure, French teacher, applaud Mrs. Donna Baker, TOY, and the Renaissance Assembly
awards just proves how good she is.” Winning wasn’t the only positive experience from the trip to San Diego. It also translated into a stronger bond between instructor and student. “It was awesome,” Kyle Gardner, show choir, said. “We were like one big choir. She always kept it fun; there was no down time, but she really tired us out.” This “Girl on Fire” has been everywhere through the past couple months; still, in the midst of all the highs, no single award or victory stands out. “I don’t have a favorite moment because I just love every moment when a kid succeeds,” Ms. Baker said. “When a student has been working really hard on a solo, sings well and comes back with a one superior rating —the best you can earn—and they are happy. That’s a special moment to me.” Choir provides an opportunity for students to find outlets and showcase their talents. In a more academic class, students earn grades, and while this is true of choir, singers also work hard on a final product that they can present to an audience during performances and be confident in their hard work. Mrs. Baker focuses on ensuring that every person standing on the choir rafters has the necessary training to make the whole choir sing to the best of their ability. “When it’s time to get to work in her class, it’s really go, go, go,” Nicole Stefanski, concert chorale, said. “We repeat everything. She hates it because she’d rather get it done and get it right, but everything has to be perfect: perfect vowels, perfect breaths. She makes us keep doing it until we get it right, and if one thing goes wrong, we start over and do it
comes to a close, March 8. Mrs. Cynthia Sieloff, Math teacher, and Ms. Becky Stevenson, Language Arts Department chair, were also named finalists for the honor.
again.” Making sure students get it right and perform their best drives her efforts. “I love coming every day and connecting with students to help them learn,” Ms. Baker said. “I know I’m making a difference.” Mrs. Baker’s love of music translates into her choirs, where she demonstrates an extreme passion for her work. “She devotes all her time to our choir,” Weitzel said. “Literally she lives at this school, and every ounce of her life is devoted to choir. She really cares about how we do and how we sound.” Even as a child, Mrs. Baker had a passion for music and teaching. “I started playing the flute in fourth grade,” Ms. Baker said. “Then one day while singing in church choir, my director told me I was good at singing, too.” Even as a student, she enjoyed being there to help others when they weren’t quite understanding their work. “When I would get done early with my work, my teacher would let me help other students,” Mrs. Baker said. “It was from these early experiences that I knew I wanted to be a teacher.” Her desire to help continues into her teaching style today. “She’s super passionate about what she does,” Gardner said. “Most teachers are like ‘here’s a thing, do it,’ but she will pull you aside if you’re not understanding and go over it.” Attention to detail breeds a environment of excellence in the choir room. “She’s been an inspiration to me,” Peter Plank, Mixed Chamber Choir and Concert Chorale, said. “She’s taught me if you’re not striving for excellence, you’re striving
Former teachers of the year
for failure. Mrs. Baker has set a standard in my life of doing everything to the best I can and to push myself to places I thought I couldn’t go. She has taught me so much musically, and outside of music—a strong work ethic and how to treat other people.” Her guidance brings students together to support each other outside of class. “I love watching students support each other,” Ms. Baker said. “Michaela Wolz is performing at the [Fox Theatre’s Teen Talent Competition, April 12], and it’s so amazing to watch her classmates rally and support her in that.” Whether she is perfecting a choir’s newest song for a performance or helping an individual with a solo, Mrs. Baker has left a mark at EHS and those around her. “I used to be so scared performing in front of people,” Kyle Anderson, show choir, said. “She’s made me so much more comfortable with my stage presence.” She’s established a reputation, and her guidance helps students gain confidence each time they take the stage. “She always does this pinky up thing before every show,” Stefanksi said. “It’s her signature for good luck to get ready to sing on stage.” Years ago after a successful performance at a festival rather than “raise the roof” on stage she lifted her pinky to show everyone she was proud of them. Her attitude of pursuing excellence and constantly striving for perfection defines her role as a teacher and choir instructor. “She is strict because she knows what will sound good,” Weitzel said. “She wants us to sound really well when, but she’s really loving and sweet at the same time. She will get down to business when she has to, but she’s also a really good friend.”
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Mr. Matt Hoevelmann, mathematics teacher Mr. Jim Schulz, social studies teacher
Mr. Bryan Clar, social studies teacher
Mrs. Lisa Lingle, former math teacher
Mr. Brad Klages, former math teacher
Mr. Mark Kimball, former science teacher
Mr. Russ Clarlisle, former social studies teacher
Mr. Andy Gensler, language arts teacher
Mr. Harry Witt, language arts teacher
Mrs. Mary Wisdom, mathematics teacher
4Feature
erutaeF 5
The world behind AP
AP class atmosphere “For my class, students should spend an hour outside of class doing work for each class period we have,” Mr. Mark Miller, AP Biology teacher, said. “For a test, I’d expect them to spend three to four hours studying also.” Even for veteran AP students, such a workload is still daunting, but the intense workload is to be expected with an AP class. The amount of work can vary between AP classes; though almost all require some sort of studying outside of class. “I think regards to how much homework is assigned, it’s not much worse than any class,” Alex Branchfield, AP student, said. “The amount of studying you have to do on your own is a lot more than other classes because you have that faster pace.” For those who enjoy the subject of the AP class, the extra work may not even seem like work. “I enjoy researching the history from my AP Art History class because I’m interestetd in it,” Eve Thomas, AP student, said. So even in those late night study sessions for a test on the art of the Renaissance or the computation of derivatives, the work pays off. “I think students see what they can do and stretch themselves,”Mr. Brian Clar, AP U.S. History teacher, said.
Students
The coursework of an AP class isn’t the only characteristic of the class that parallels a typical college class. “An AP class is very similar to what I experienced in college,” Mr. Clar said. “As a teacher, you’re able to talk with the kids, and you’re able to expect them to sit down and work. The students want to understand the material.” Much of this cooperative teacher-student relationship is thanks to the type of students taking the class. “I feel like the kids in AP classes are motivated to do well,” Kayla Brandt, AP student, said. “It makes you work harder because you want to do just as good as the next person.” Another important factor to the environment of an AP class is the frequency of class discussion. Many AP classes, like their college counterpart, weave discussions routinely into lessons. “In AP Art History we do a lot of discussion online and in class about the artwork,” Thomas said. “They’re a way for you to think more organically about different things instead of just reading the textbook and doing questions.” This combination of motivated students and thought-provoking conversations create an environment unique to AP classes within high school course options.
Teachers
Last year, EHS administered 28 AP tests from eight different subjects: Art, Computer Science, Language Arts, Math, Music, Science, Social Studies and World Languages. Twenty-seven of the 28 received scores averaging 3 or higher on the five-point scale, according to Mr. Craig Kennedy, testing coordinator. The teachers are doing something right. One part of that success comes from the passion AP teachers have for their respective subjects. “With teaching AP Biology, I feel like I have to continually update what I know,” Mr. Miller said. “I’m continuing to learn too and I feel good about that.” Along with their dedication, AP teachers must maintain a balance of acceleration and help. “They’re organized and keep you on pace,” Branchfield said. And even though the material is meant for college students, the teachers make it comprehensible. “I try to bring it down to the real nuts and bolts,” Mr. Clar said. “If they understand the trends, they will be able to reason anything out on the exam.” Even when the work and deadlines are daunting, AP teachers facilitate success. “I want them to do the best they possibly can, and they want to as well,” Mr. Clar said.
1 2 3
illustrations by maddie sanden
Top five average AP scores in 2011 at EHS
[ [ Advanced Placement by the numbers
AP Class US History
EHS Average 4.42
MO average 2.91
Though an AP class may only last two semesters, the benefits for AP students can extend months and years beyond graduation. AP classes can open doors, especially for students looking to continue their education. Once a student selects a college, AP courses allow students to have the option of moving past basic courses in their college curriculum because of the credit a passing AP score can give. “I get about 40 hours of credit at Truman State University,” Ian McSally, AP student, said “It gives me the ability to double major.” Besides skipping intro classes, the financial advantage of earning credit from an AP class appeals to anyone looking to leave college with as little debt as possible. “I signed up for AP European History because we have a lot of kids in my family, and we need the money for college,” Mary Kay Gagnepain, AP student, said. Credit is given for scores of 3 and higher or 4 and higher, depending on the exam, according to University of Missouri and Washington University’s websites. Students usually earn three credit hours from a passing AP score, which equals one college course. The cost of the three credit hours earned from the AP class would be $90, the cost of an AP exam at EHS. When compared to the cost of a college course at state and private
Future with AP
Work
Advanced Placement classes provide an opportunity for students to combine intellectual classroom atmosphere with success on national exams, earning college credit
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mary tomlinson
Mr. Paul Stanley, AP World History teacher, lectures on the comparisons between the French, American and Haitian revolutions, March 10. Even though history can seem like a dry
Global average 2.75
Calculus AB
4.3
3.14
2.82
Psychology
4.07
3.50
3.12
Physics C
4.00
3.74
3.48
English Language and Literature
3.95
2.88
2.81
subject, teachers like Mr. Stanley bring excitement to the class.“Mr. Stanley makes it a fun class,” Paul Hummell, AP student, said. “It’s like watching a comedian’s show. He’ll go
through a lecture and talk about the Mongols and how barbaric they were and then he’ll use silly analogies that make it memorable. But he still gets through the material.”
universities, the savings could range from $700 to $4,300, according the University of Missouri and Washignton University’s websites. That’s up to enough to buy up to four MacBook Air computers, an iPhone 5 and a new pair of Nikes. For career-minded students,their AP classes relate to the career path they see for themselves, thus preparing them for their future. “I plan on majoring in aerospace engineering,” JD Engle, AP student, said. “AP Physics helps me with the principles I will need to know.” However, all of these future advantages from AP classes mean nothing if a student takes the class and doesn’t think they will enjoy the subject material. “I’m more concerned about kids taking an AP class because they enjoy the content and enjoy being pushed,” Mr. Jeff Buckman, college counselor, said. “If you get credit, fantastic, but that should not be the reason to take that class.” Additionally, the workload and stress of an AP class should be considered before signing up. “If a student thinks they’re going to be overloaded in the AP class, they shouldn’t take it because the stress of an AP class may be too much and it wouldn’t be worth the end result,” Engle said. Many factors should be consider when contemplating whether or not to take an AP class.
Percent passing AP exam (3 or higher) in 2011 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
89% 65%
EHS
Missouri
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62%
Global
Of the 89% of EHS students that earned a three or higher...
28% earned a three
28% earned a five
33% earned a four
=
To AP or not AP
mary tomlinson
“The only AP class I could have taken this year would be a history class, which isn’t my best subject, so I thought I would do better in regular,” Ellen Schulz (10) said. “I think it was a good decision.”
mary tomlinson
“I think everyone should try and take one AP class,” Stephen Tresslar, AP student, said. “If it’s not your thing, you can stop taking them. But you’ll never know until you take one.”
mary tomlinson
“I’m still content with the information I’ve learned even though I haven’t taken AP classes,” Genevieve Atkins (12) said. “I feel like I’ve learned everything that I’ve needed to learn for college.”
25%
3.655
the average score on an AP exam in 2011
mary tomlinson feature writer
or 1/4 students at EHS enrolled in AP courses in 2012
53%
of the class of 2012 earned a 3 or higher on one or more AP exams before graduation statistics according to Mr. Kennedy
6Opinions
Letter to the editor Mrs. Jennifer Strauser reflects on last month’s issue
Dear Editor(s): Please allow me to open this letter with the disclaimer that I do not believe anyone involved in your recent story, “Ideal Integration” meant any harm in its publication; however, my initial reaction was one of hurt, disbelief, and quite frankly, anger. Starting a story with a quote that says, “…since I’m white; we don’t recognize it at school” when referring to Black History Month gives a definite negative connotation. Perhaps some information from the Staff Equity Team about how we decided to handle Black History Month this year would have gone a long way in explaining the junior’s quote at the beginning of the article. Dr. White’s and Cambryce Berry’s quotes also lend a negative connotation—and an untrue one as well, in my
opinion—to the article. In one fell swoop, I’m afraid the article has undone years of work by staff and students to bring social justice to our school. An outsider reading this article would assume— incorrectly—that our school is rife with racism and prejudice. I question why The Bugle staff didn’t seek more positive quotes for how the culture of our school has changed. We have twenty-plus staff members on our Equity Team. Why not interview one of them? In this extremely important equity work we are all doing, I simply ask for more equity in reporting. Consider not only your audience and your subject when writing stories; consider the impact your words have on us all. Jennifer Strauser, Associate Principal
Raising my leadership standards Unique field positioning provides the opportunity to learn important sanden lessons about what it takes to lead by example maddie editor-in -chief It all came down to one minute. One goal. During our second regular season varsity lacrosse game, we suffered a difficult 7-8 loss to Lafayette, April 4. After the game, I felt terrible. Being the goalie, I always feel responsible for letting in the shots that cost us the game. Thinking back on the Lafayette game, I was extremely frustrated at several shots that trickled across the goal line. One shot took a crazy bounce off my helmet. Another hit off my thigh and swerved into the net. Yet another bounced off my toe, barely crossing the goal line. Each time one of these crazy shots managed to get in the net, I hung my head and got angry with myself for not having a faster reaction time or better positioning. Being the last line of defense presents numerous opportunities to get down on myself. When my team counts on me to make important saves, I can easily get down on my many failures. My coach and teammates constantly remind me that of course not every goal that is scored is my fault, but—having high expectations for myself— often still blame my shortcomings. That’s the nature of being a goalie. All the pressure is on me. Spectators, instead of blaming the offense, often hold the defense responsible for a turnover on the offensive line that leads to an opponent running down the field and scoring. Sometimes, I fail to realize that the actions of every member of the team contribute to the overall outcome of the game. With this in mind, I’ve tried to change my outlook on the game. Slowly, I’ve started to understand that while I can’t physically leave an 18-foot diameter circle, my voice and actions contribute to the end result, too. If I sulk in the net, upset about letting in a shot, that attitude projects onto the rest of the field. Being a goalie represents great privilege and responsibility because I have a unique perspective on the game. No one sees the field from my perspective; on the other hand, when all else fails, everyone looks to
me to save a shot in the end. I’m not a captain, but I have the power to completely impact the game with the attitude I choose to reflect to my team while I’m standing in the net. Holding a position such as goalie has helped me develop leadership, something that I find very important. Acting as a leader has been one of the most positive aspects of my life as it occupies many facets of my life. Leadership in the newsroom has taught me how to collaborate with multiple people at once. Leadership in sports has taught me the significance of attitude. I’ve learned so many important lessons, but perhaps the most powerful is leading by example. My actions are a constant reflection to my teammates, and I have a responsibility to use my unique situation to make my team better. Sometimes, setting an example is as easy as just doing what coach instructs, but other times it’s much harder. In the moments where I am struggling to remain positive with myself, I have learned I need to make the conscious decision not to get down on myself and not to get down on my teammates. Our coach always reminds us to be intentional in all of our actions on the field or during practice. We should never go through a drill or scrimmage without fully comprehending its purpose and executing each play understanding what is supposed to happen. I’ve taken this lesson to heart and applied it not only to my practice skills but also my leadership, and I consciously try to lead by example and attitude each time I step onto the field. Of course, struggles always impede my attempts at being the best leader that I can be during each game. Especially in the moments where my own thoughts of failure translate into my body language and attitude, I have to intentionally pick myself up in order to pick my teammates up. I rely on my teammates to prevent pointblank shots from firing into the back of the
taylor balleau
Sticks raised to the sky, the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team prepares to break it down before a home game against Villa Duchesne, April 2. The Wildcats won, 14-4. net, and they rely on me to back them up when a shot is launched. To remind myself of the necessity of keeping focus, I write “get the next one” on my stick. This small reminder serves as a simple way of preventing negativity in my thoughts. Lacrosse requires us to be a completely interdependent team. Each player needs the girl next to her to prevent the other team from scoring, and we all rely on each other to get the ball down the field to play offense to get the next one.
It all starts with our ability to trust each other, and all of that stems from the support we give each other. Of course, losing to Lafayette will always sting. I wanted to beat our rival so bad in my last season, but that game has translated into important lessons I needed to learn. While it is easy to get down on myself, I have a better understanding of how leading by my example—through my attitude—is important to my team and every moment of every game.
Changes in the BOE provide fresh start for district amidst concern over budget, leadership
Bringing in new hope
7Opinions monika nayak
Mr. Jeffrey Morrell, new BOE director, recites the oath as Superintendent Bruce Borchers swears him in during the start of the BOE meeting, April 11. midst of all the craziness. we need to consider what is best In his resignation letter he said, for our district not our political “I remain committed to keeping the opinions or personal feelings focus on our kids—our students…” towards individual board members. In the end, we belong to a Being a part of the school board school district. We belong to one is a thankless task. The members of the most well-known and wellare not paid any salary; they are respected districts in the state of lucky to receive a meal before Missouri. However, it seems we each meeting. They don’t even may have lost sight of the ultimate have a fancy meeting spot as they goal in being a part of a school gather in Crestview Middle School’s district—to provide an education to cafeteria and go into closed session students. in the school’s library. We’ve all walked through the Whether we like them or not, old and outdated locker rooms. they have donated a significant We’ve all had times where we dealt portion of their lives to Rockwood, with technology issues that could spending many under-appreciated be updated and fixed. Even if we hours making decisions shaping our may leave behind these issues in schools and affecting over 22,000 a couple of years, they will still students. They need our support affect siblings, friends and teachers and constructive criticism to make that remain in the district once we sure that the schools truly meet graduate. the needs of families living in the With problems such as these, district.
The Bugle newspaper staff
Staff Editorial
The week of homecoming we vote as a school for our Homecoming Court to represent us at school dances. While with much less glamour, the RSD constituency also selects a board to represent them. These seven residents usually meet semimonthly and make the most important decisions influencing the quality of education in the district. However, budget confusion has left constituents unsure if RSD is really running a deficit when they are sitting on over $50 million in the bank. When this fiscal cloudiness is paired with a superintendent’s controversial actions, many people in the Rockwood community have come to question the board’s decision making. Recent events have led to the resignation of board member Mr. Steve Smith and voters electing Mrs. Loralee Mondl and Mr. Jeffrey Morrell ousting Mrs. Janet Strate and Mr. Stephen Banton. In all the commotion, Proposition S, the bond issue promising to replace outdated facilities and update technology also failed at the polls. Finally, Superintendent Bruce Borchers, has accepted a new position at Oak Ridge School District in Tennessee. These times seem daunting and unsteady, especially for students and teachers who look to the board to uphold what has come to be defined and revered as the Rockwood Advantage. We all value our superior access to technology and teachers who consistently go beyond the call of duty to help their students succeed in the classroom. We have grown accustomed to beautiful facilities and administrators who support the RSD mission calling for all students to “realize their potential.” When these events threaten to compromise our education, it is easy to get in an uproar. It is easy to worry that the Rockwood Advantage might be lost. It is easy to point fingers and put blame on people who make the decisions—the school board. However, Mr. Smith understood the most important goal in the
editor-in-chief maddie sanden online editors abby biggs rachel trujillo society editor casey walker opinions editor paige ondr
photo editor madeline karas feature writers monika nayak mary tomlinson taylor balleau online writer forrest nettles ads manager
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As Mrs. Mondl and Mr. Morrell take their place on the BOE, they’re focus needs to be on remembering that we belong to a school district where students come first. Soon, a superintendent will be selected, hopefully someone that can reestablish leadership and direction in the school board and a desire to rededicate our efforts to revitalizing the Rockwood Advantage. We were there once; we can get back there again. We are about to watch a new school board in action. Now is the time to start fresh, to instill a confidence in the Rockwood community and a newfound faith in this superior district. Of course, there will be concern that with so many new board members, the decision-making body may lack some experience in dealing with issues like the budget; perhaps a new set of eyes looking at the issues can present new ideas. Perhaps new ideas can bring together a divided community. With this fresh start, the community needs to take a new perspective on where we are heading as a district. We need to reevaluate our priorities and again put the education of our students first rather than our own political or personal opinions. Each time we go vote for our Homecoming or Prom Court anything can happen. It’s a blank canvas every time. Sometimes, we choose people because they recently accomplished something or because they have a special meaning to a class. No matter why they are selected, they represent a class and our school; likewise, the board members serve a purpose of representing our interests. Instead of cheers and congratulations, BOE members often receive criticism and hatred; however, their desire to step up and serve is necessary. The time they give up keeps our district working and functioning. Of course they aren’t perfect, but, hopefully, this new group can change the community’s outlook and inspire a renewed hope in what our district can once again be.
The primary obligation of The Bugle is to create a quality publication to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The Bugle, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment and strives to establish and maintain standards outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists. The Bugle is a public forum. Student editors apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. While the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff. Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the school process, copyright infringement or unwarranted invasion of privacy. Letters to the editor are encouraged by students, faculty and the community. Letters must be signed but names can be withheld upon request. Letters must not exceed 250 words and The Bugle reserves the right to reject, edit or shorten as necessary. Letters should be submitted to ehs_hub@rockwood.k12.mo.us. Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Members of the Editorial Board include all staff editors. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not those of the editorial board. The Bugle reserves the right to refuse any business which seeks to advertise any product which is illegal or generally considered unhealthy or undesirable for students as determined by the Editorial Board. The Bugle may choose to publish public service ads at the discretion of the Editorial Board. The Bugle will print political ads which comply with federal, state and local campaign laws. The Bugle is a member of Sponsors of School Publications of Greater St. Louis, the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.
8Sports
taylor balleau sports writer
Shooting for state
The screech of a whistle, the stray cries of captains and the weaving of girls marks the start of a 50-minute game. Lacrosse—a fast paced and intense sport. The Girls Varsity Lacrosse team not only anticipates winning but winning state. With Eureka’s name imprinted on the front of their mud-stained and worn jerseys, the girls are ready to make their mark. “I have really high hopes for the season,” Elizabeth Darrow, midfield, said. “We just need to keep up the momentum and the enthusiasm. If we keep supporting each other, we could go as far as state.” Simply running from point A to point B in the freezing temperatures of this spring’s months may not suffice. The girls train and dedicate their lives on and off the field to become the best. “At practice we run,” Darrow said. “We do lots and lots of running. We are very familiar with suicides.” Missouri’s weather is erratic— vacillating between chilling blizzard-like conditions and sunny, summer days. Along with the confused climate, the girls’ practice locations have been unreliable forcing them to practice in conditions that are less than ideal. Training and conditioning sessions have been moved from the practice fields to the track to the gyms and back on to the fields. “It was a little hard being stuck in a gym,” Selina Baner, attack, said. “We couldn’t really work on transitions or true game-like situations.” As if spending every single day after school training isn’t rigorous enough, for the first time, the girls instituted before-school practices to better prepare. Being awakened by a blaring alarm clock during a pitch black morning as well as arriving at school by 6 a.m. means commitment. “Waking up so early is a little difficult,” Baner said. “Although I know it’ll be worth it in the end.” The Wildcats are not just athletes throughout their own
After months of preparation, Girls Varsity Lacrosse is ready to win
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Ready to block the opposing team from slipping toward a victory, Mia Fiore, attack, defends a Villa breakaway, April 2. “I give my everything at games,” season, they use their free time to prepare for the next game, the next practice or scrimmage. Coach Ellen Wright has introduced preseason as well as postseason preparations ensure the girls will go as far as possible. “To get ready for the season we would do after-school conditioning,” Jennifer Marey, attack, said. “It has probably been going on since November. We would work on stick skills to make sure we are going to be the best.” Throughout the use of drills such as wall-ball and team activities, the Wildcats put their
Fiore said. “I really believe in this team. Everyone always has each other’s backs.” The Wildcats won, 14-4.
all into making sure they have done everything to guarantee a win. From the tossing of a ball to a wall to playing on the nicest of fields on the East Coast, talent has been collected and deposited back into the team. “Practicing outside of season is a huge advantage because you come back to the season ready to play,” Baner said. “It’s a little tough to get back into the game when you haven’t played for a while.” Missouri may not be the state some think of as a lacrosse capital, it is a source of huge
talent. Hosting special select teams such as MO22, Brave and True Lacrosse, girls improve their skills with the help of these traveling groups. “Playing with East Coast players in tournaments has brought me a lot of experience,” Darrow, a member of MO22 and True Lacrosse, said. “My talent has skyrocketed. I’ve learned new plays and learned from girls with a ton of talent.” Athletes cannot expect to improve their skills without pushing themselves—and the girls demonstrate that drive.
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Exposure to new talents, skills and teams has been a tremendous help to the girls. “We did summer select teams, and that really improved my playing abilities,” Fiore said. “It taught me a lot, and I’ve gotten a lot better. Without all of that extra practice and playing, my talent wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is now.” The extra training and conditioning has been paying off. Despite obstacles, the girls placed first in the Hazelwood West Tournament, wracking up big leads, March 15-16. “It was a difficult tournament; we only had a few subs, so we didn’t get many breaks,” Marey said. “But we pushed through it and beat three teams to win the championship.” With a strong start to the season and a lot of energy behind the Wildcats, the 2013 season is projected to be one to remember. The girls hold a strong season record of 8-2, as of April 16. An accumulation of training, support and dedication has built up momentum, and their efforts are ready to burst forth at the first sound of the whistle. The Wildcats are more than a team, they’re a powerhouse. The difference between a team and a group of individuals is noticeable. These teammates get each other. Their play on the field flows. They know what they are doing. Their plays are muscle memory. They know each other’s strengths and abilities and hope these traits and their hard work will manifest into a team sporting Eureka jerseys holding the state championship trophy above their heads. “There is nothing unattainable,” Darrow said. “There’s nothing we cannot do. We really need to keep that in mind. As long as we keep up this momentum and keep the goal clear then we can definitely do this. There is no doubt in my mind that we can go as far as state. We can do this.” Despite 11 attempts through email and by phone, Coach Wright would not respond to questions.