Central Focus April 2011

Empty Physics position filled p.3 Tennis format changed p. 15 CENTRAL FOCUS FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 14 ISSUE 7

04.28.2011

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Delve 3-6

Shots

Be Heard 7-10

2

Letter from the 16 editor

In Focus 12-14

Sweat 15-18

The Scene 19-23

Opening

HOT BOX

LOVE IT 1. Cell phone policy 2. Chick-fil-A opens 3. 4.0 Luncheon

W

4. Blood Drive

e all desire to see where

we fit in. We wonder

if our interests and preferences match others around us. Everyone wishes to see how they compare to the 1,887 students

LIKE IT

they see in the hallways every day. However, it is difficult to see

1. Prom Fashion Show 2. Warm weather

how we fit in solely based upon

3. Silver Shield Awards

the faces we encounter. It takes

4. International Night

research to truly find out how we compare.

In the April issue of the Central

Focus, the staff decided to take up

the challenge of determining the

demographics that shape Francis Howell Central. Through weeks of planning, distributing, collecting, organizing and counting, the

staff has created a portrait of the interests and preferences of the student body.

Turn to pages 12-14 to see the

make-up of the students at Howell Central as well as how

you compare to the students around you.

Sincerely, 

Cory Schmitt

Print Executive Editor Francis Howell Central High School 5199 Highway N St. Charles, Mo., 63304 Phone: 636.851.5636 Fax: 636.851.41

3

Cover Francis Howell Central is made up of many different kinds of students, all

9

LEAVE IT 1. EOC scheduling 2. Study Island

diverse in their choices of music, fast

3. AP registration processes

4. Low turnout at Car Show

food and what kind of phone they

have. Student surveys were compiled to show how everyone fits in at FHC and how they stand out.

Photo by Kelci Davis Page design by Cory Schmitt and Maddie Wilson

Editors and Staff

Cory Schmitt Print Executive Editor Ted Noelker Multimedia Executive Editor Kelci Davis Visuals ExecutiveEditor Brendan Kinnison Delve Editor Alli Keisker Be Heard Editor Ellen Hinze Sweat Editor Anna Gingrich The Scene Editor Sean Carroll

iFocus Editor Mikelle McClintock Communications Editor Michael Roundcount Business Manager Claire Henderson Copy Manager Maddie Wilson Copy Manager Karley Canova

Staff Reporter Lizzi Holland Staff Reporter Patrick Hurley

Staff Reporter Destiny Pipkin Staff Reporter

Kamrie Reed Dylan Richardson Julianna Smith Victoria Walker Jolie Denton Jessica DiMariano Scott Kenkel Savannah McEachern Mr. Matthew Schott

Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Adviser

Letters Policy

The Central Focus is produced monthly as an integral part of the News Production class at Francis Howell Central High School. Students learn all aspects of media production and are responsible for contributing to each issue.

The Central Focus is a public forum for the students at Francis Howell Central High School. The staff ’s editorial policy is available in Room 139.

The staff welcomes comments and suggestions from the student body. All letters to the editor must be typed and no more than 300 words.

Names must be included with the submission of the letter, but may be withheld at the request of the author. The staff reserves the right to withhold content at its discretion.

Delve

Students unable to partake in Day Without Shoes p. 4 Deficit impacts staffing p. 5

3

Gas costs cause concern

By Brendan Kinnison Delve Editor

Shoes to fill Mr. Mark Philippi takes over vacated physics position

By Alli Keisker Be Heard Editor

H

ands are raised and students are engaged in classes of the new Physics teacher, Mr. Mark Philippi. He took over teaching three Physical Science classes, two AP Physics I classes and one AP Physics II class afer the departure of Ms. Karen

Brown in February Mr. Philippi graduated from Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa. During high school he participated in nearly all activities besides sports.

“I did plays, musicals, drama Please read more | Physics, PAGE 6

Photo by Savannah McEachern

The new Physics teacher, Mr. Mark Philippi, teaches his sixth hour Physical Science students by drawing various diagrams on the whiteboard. Mr. Philippi took over the Physics and Physical Science classes in February and will continue teaching the classes for the remainder of the year.

Central Focus April 28, 2011 FHCtoday.com/Delve

Students leaving school pass gas stations and see gas prices that continue to climb higher and higher, with no end in sight. Students’ wallets are stretched even thinner. “[Gas] is expensive when you do not have a job and still drive a lot.

I normally fill up with $20, which turns out to fill half a tank; lately, the amount that it fills has been less and less,” said senior Jesse Patch who drives a car getting about 18 miles per gallon.

According to missourigasprices. com, gas is, on average, at $3.72 a gallon. The cost to fill up is also increasing on average; a compact car costs $37.30 to fill up, a full-size car costs $57, a midsize SUV costs $62.21, a sports car costs $53.22, a pickup truck costs $73 and a minivan costs $60.60, all according to cars.com.

The St. Peters Patch reported that gas prices this time last year were an average of $2.50 per gallon, showing a $1 increase since last year.

The Patch also spoke with AAA spokesman Mike Right, who stated that gas prices are most likely going to rise this summer and might even break $4 a gallon for regular gas.

Those who pay for premium are already at the $4 mark. A barrel of oil goes for $105 now, whereas last year at this time, one went for $82.

The rising prices have started to have an effect on students who drive to school every day.

“It’s got to be a huge deal if students are paying for their own gas.

It affects anyone who drives often,” said Mrs. Dot O’Hara-Pinkham who is in charge of parking. “There have been a few students that came to me to ask about scooters, Please read more | Gas, PAGE 4

Page design by Brendan Kinnison

4

Delve

FHCtoday.com/Delve

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Claire Henderson

Bare feet banned

By Claire Henderson Copy Manager

Every year, TOMS Shoes releases a date for its annual “One Day Without Shoes” event. This day is devoted to not wearing shoes to raise awareness for the millions of children who go barefoot every day and do not have another choice.

This year, the date was set for April 5. Hundreds of people left their shoes at home and spent the day spreading the TOMS story and raising awareness for barefoot children everywhere. Students here at FHC, however, were not allowed to take part in this event.

On the morning of April 5, an email was sent to the entire staff that informed them of principal Dr. Sonny Arnel’s decision that students were not permitted to go barefoot.

“FHC has allowed the ‘Day Without Shoes’ in previous years, however, it was not pre-approved this year, therefore students should wear shoes,” the email stated.

Sophomore Austin Ball was one of the students who tried to take part in “One Day Without Shoes” after hearing the entire story of what the event was about.

“I was on edge last year about participating, because I did not know

much about the cause,” said Ball.

However, this year, when Ball decided to participate, he was disappointed to find he was not allowed to do so. “[I was] frustrated because I didn’t understand why they would not let me,” said Ball. “I spoke to other administrators and they said it was fine.”

Sophomore Abby Jungers was also frustrated with Dr. Arnel’s decision.

“They can yell at me all they want but nothing in the code of conduct says you can not, not wear shoes,” said Jungers.

Contrary to what Jungers believes, the Student Handbook does include footwear requirements in the Code of Dress.

On page 22 of the Handbook, the Code of Dress states: “For safety reasons, shoes must be worn at all times.”

Though most schools and workplaces have policies requiring footwear, some colleges and business offices with 150 or more participants abandoned these policies and joined the Barefoot Challenge sponsored

by TOMS to compete against other groups that pledged to go barefoot for the day.

Photo illustration by Mikelle McClintock

A student takes her shoes off to participate in TOMS One Day Without Shoes, an annual event that is held to raise awareness and support for children around the world who go barefoot every day. Students at FHC were not allowed to participate fully due to restrictions in the Code of Dress.

Inspecting dissection

By Destiny Pipkin Staff Reporter

Every year when animal dissections take place, the hallways are filled with talk about the dissections.

Everything from complaints about how dissection is animal cruelty to exclamations about how it is the most amazing thing a student has yet to experience in his high school career, to questions from students who only know it is a disgusting smell, are heard. Students seem to have a strong opinions about dissection, and are more than willing to express them.

“I’m a vegetarian, but I still think animal dissection is a very good opportunity for students, especially students who are going into the medical field. In college, you have to open cadavers,” said junior Hannah Koester.

In the minds of most teenagers, there is such a fine line between preserving morality and stepping into animal cruelty when it comes to animal dissection.

“As far as animal cruelty goes, I would say it is and it is not; animals

did have to die to do the dissection,” said junior Caitlin Eshenroder.

“However, even if you do not want to know about animals, it is a good thing to know how the body works.

It helps us learn about our own bodies.”

One of the most talked about subjects of students is where they the animals used in dissections come from.

“I don’t know where they come from,” said junior Alex Enloe. “They probably just take them into a field and shoot them, for all I know.”

Enloe is not the only student who is unaware of exactly where and how science classes receive these animals.

“I heard they buy [the animals], and they’re actually farmed for dissection, but I am not really sure,” said Koester.

According to anatomy teacher Scott Dauve, Koester’s theory is correct.

“We have companies that specialize in raising animals especially for high school and college dissection, such as bigger companies like Ward and Carolina,” said Mr. Dauve.

Chris Ewens (1996-2011) Ewens, Christopher M. age 15, March 21, 2011. Loving son of Gary and Karen (Brunkhorst) Ewens; awesome brother of Michael (Kathleen Hutchison) Ewens, Stacy Smith, Patrick Miyat and Kaleb Smith; dear grandson of Ida Brunkhorst and the late Ray Brunkhorst and Helen (Ewens) Bellas; nephew to Jan Jones (David Porter), Dale Brunkhorst, Joy (Dave) Thompson; dear great-nephew, second cousin and friend to many, he will be missed by all.

Gas from page 3 motorcycles, etc. They are all allowed as long as the parking office has proof of insurance, license, all the papers that are normally needed for a car.”

Some students have already begun driving scooters to school in order to save on their gas.

“Due to the gas prices, I get rides with my girlfriend and a couple of my other friends, but now that the weather is nicer I can ride my scooter,” said junior Patrick Earl.

The parking office reports that although they have not seen a large drop in student drivers, such a trend could start soon.

“Some students will need to

swallow their pride and just take the bus,” said Mrs. O’Hara-Pinkham.

Some students feel the government needs to interject and remedy the situation to fix the prices.

“The current gas prices are ridiculous. We’re paying $3.69 a gallon for regular while people in Qatar are paying $0.30 a gallon.

Obviously something is wrong here.

The oil companies are raking the consumer over the coals because they know we will buy it no matter how much it goes up. They try to use Egypt and Libya as an excuse, they know they can get away with it until trucking companies start striking.

Then they will have a real issue,” said senior Mike Arnold.

There are a few tips that students can follow in order to get the most

bang for their buck out of their car.

“You need to baby the throttle pedal. Having a lead foot will give you some of the worst gas mileage you will ever see in your life,” said Arnold.

Students can also increase their MPG by checking tires for proper inflation, changing oil, replacing spark plugs, or even running a fuel cleaner through their engine. A properly running car will perform better on the road.

A stop at the local car shop can provide the necessary items to make a car run better and cheaper. Some cars have even more that can be done to them to get more out of them; try reading the manual. These things not only boost MPG but also increase the life of the car.

FHCtoday.com/Delve

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Patrick Hurley

Delve

5

Teacher cuts Staff cuts cause teacher transfers, pay reductions, dismissals

By Victoria Walker Staff Reporter

Photo by Savannah McEachern

Senior Bryan Webb steps up to the plate with the ambition to make a solid hit. Webb and other members of the baseball team have been able to stay in shape by playing sports and training paired with eating healthy foods.

Healthier decisions for a better life

By Patrick Hurley Staff Reporter

It is time to open up the sock drawer and dust off last year’s swimsuit because summer is on its way, but have these winter months been kind to the student body’s curves?

Studies by the National Institute of Health have shown that Americans add on a pound each holiday season. While a single pound may not seem much now, multiply that by 15 to 18 years. Some students, however, find ways to stay in shape no matter the conditions.

“I know that [being healthy] affects your future a lot, as well as influences your academics,” said junior Charlie Goranitis. “Plus, it just makes it easier to have fun with friends.”

Some students find it more difficult to find the time to make healthy decisions. With so many poor food choices in the cafeteria as well as in the real world, the picking of the more fattening food prevails.

“It is just cheaper and faster to eat fast food,” said senior Kelsey Nagel.

Other peers are forced into not the most lean food choices, due to what is put on their dinner plate that night.

“I mainly eat whatever my parents cook. It’s not always the healthiest option, but it always works out,” said sophomore Michael Lynch.

Part-time fast-food jobs seem to worsen the situation. Teens

find themselves distracted by the work environment.

“I try as hard as possible to stay away from fast food, even though I work at KFC,” said Goranitis. “We get free food at the end of our shifts and sometimes you are too tired and hungry from working that it’s almost impossible to say no.”

Student jobs are not the only source of unhealthy habits.

Homework assignments as well as classroom conditions make it harder for teens to make the right choice.

“Mentally, school stresses me out often,” said junior Michelle Aiello. “Everything is piled on at once. When I’m mentally crushed, my physical state begins to suffer a bit. I feel suffocated by all the responsibility. Once the stress diminishes, my mental state improves.”

The work place and occasionally the classroom may be an unhealthy environment, but students find refuge in after school sports and activities to get their fix.

“I play tennis as well as basketball,” said senior Madeline Ragsdale. “I practice everyday including Saturdays, and I eat healthier before games so I perform better. Playing these sports motivates me to be in the best shape possible.”

Others get friends involved so that exercising is more lively.

“I work out with my friends after school, go for runs, and play soccer,” said Lynch.

Every year, the school goes through a period in third quarter where students turn in their schedule requests for the following school year; these are entered into the computer and numbers are counted up for each department.

Then, using those numbers, the school determines how many staff members and how many class periods are needed to fill the needs of the students.

If staff numbers are higher than the need for teachers in that department, then staff members will be selected to be placed in a “parking lot” where the future is presumably unclear until decisions are made, principal Dr. Sonny Arnel explained.

“The way teachers are placed is based on student enrollment,” Dr. Arnel said.

When a teacher from the department has been placed in the “parking lot,” that teacher is only placed there based upon seniority, rather than records, class grades or personality.

In other words, whoever has been teaching at Francis Howell Central the least amount of time is the first to be put there if their department has excess teachers.

Teachers in the “parking lot” can be transferred to another school in the district, rather than being let go or receiving layoffs. Hours may also be

cut, to have half time teachers; or, as some teachers do, they work half days at one school and work the other half of the day at another school in the district.

According to Dr. Arnel, budget cuts do impact these choices. The school and the district have to decide how many people they can afford to employ.

“The district has identified how much it costs to employ a staff member,” said Dr. Arnel. “These [costs] have to be taken into consideration when deciding where teachers need to be sent and from which schools.”

Dr. Arnel also added that it can be stressful not only for the teachers in that group, but for the friends of those teachers who also work at the school.

One reason given for the transfers occurring is that the student population is dropping. There are around 1850 students at FHC, according to Dr. Arnel.

Many of the teachers could possibly go to Howell because their student body is rapidly growing. At the very least, Howell will have fewer teachers transferring out. It all depends on which departments are having cuts and which ones are gaining staff members.

Another reason for the transfers and reduction is the $7.3 million in cuts throughout the district. $4,619,140 of this $7.3 million is coming from teaching positions being removed.

The reductions are established through the cutting of salaries.

“Our department found out we are no longer going to have writing lab teachers,” said Mrs. Jessica Bulva, Communication Arts Department chair.

This means that, while the writing lab will still be open, there will not be a teacher there to guide students who need help with a project, research, editing or other school related tasks, according to Mrs. Bulva. Her two plan hours as department head were also eliminated.

Adding to this, the Content Leader will be coming back to Central to work next year. Overall, two teachers’ positions have been eliminated.

Social Studies teacher Ms. Caroline Carroll has chosen to stay home for a year with her child while the other teacher will be kept employed within the district.

“We’re losing one teacher,” said Ms. Lisa Niswonger, the Social Studies Department chair. “We’ll have twelve teachers instead of thirteen in the department, [and there will be] no half time teachers.”

One dean position will also be cut, department chairs will only get one plan hour instead of two as they did previously, and a total of 22 other staff cuts will occur within the district; eight of these positions are from Central.

6

Focus Delve Central April 28, 2011 Physics from page 3

competitions, science quiz bowl, economics challenge team and NHS, Mr. Philippi said.

After high school, he continued his education at Truman State University, earning a Masters degree.

Until now, he has never been a fulltime contracted teacher, but has taught Physics and Physical Science classes at Kirksville High School, and Physics and Principles of Technology at Jefferson City High School.

Mr. Philippi decided to pursue a career in teaching because he wanted to make physics a part of his daily life.

“Teaching just sort of made sense as a way to make physics something I did every day. I knew I wanted to have fun, and that I probably wouldn’t be able to [have fun] by crunching numbers all day or staring endlessly at a computer screen,” Mr. Philippi said. “I decided what better way to use my enthusiasm for physics than to get other people excited about the same things?”

Before coming to Central, Mr. Philippi was substitute teaching and

working at Taco Bell while he tried to set up a job for the 2011-2012 school year. He found out about this teaching position by posting his resume on a Missouri education website, REAP. “I got a call from Ms. Allen when I was at a conference in Washington.

She told me about the position, and I came in to speak with her on my first day back in Missouri,” Mr. Philippi said. “[Ms. Allen] offered me the job on the following day, I filled out paperwork at the district office the next day, and by the [third] day I was in the classroom.”

Although he has been teaching here for only a month, Mr. Philippi said that the science department has been very welcoming towards him.

“The science department here is great. I wouldn’t change a thing,” Mr. Philippi said. “I do feel a bit lonely being the only science teacher in my hall, although World Languages has made me feel very welcome, occasionally even sharing some of the wonderful treats from any given fiesta.”

Mr. Philippi enjoys teaching science classes, especially Physics, because he is able to teach the students through interesting videos

FHCtoday.com/Delve Page design by Brendan Kinnison

and demonstrations. He is also able to help his students to answer questions about the world itself.

“I found that physics could answer the ‘why’ questions I had about the way the world (and the universe)

“

Mr. Philippi starts off class defining everything, then poses hypothetical questions and has us put ourselves into groups of four to figure out the answer. ” — Emma Worner, junior

works, and I was hooked. Because of Physics I could understand why projectiles follow a parabolic trajectory. I could understand why I could never make it to the end of a rainbow,” Mr. Philippi said.

Mr. Philippi tries to make his classes more interesting by getting

his students more involved in the class itself. He likes to ask his students questions that actually make them think and hopefully get them hooked on the subject, Mr. Philippi said.

“My classes are a lot of fun. I’ve got a whole bunch of different personalities, but they all blend really well and I appreciate all of them,” Mr. Philippi said. “I think they probably do [like me], but that’s not my goal. My goal is to teach them as well as I possibly can, and if they like that, they’ll like me.”

Physical Science student, freshman Jordan Sneed, and AP Physics I student, junior Michelle Aiello, believe there are numerous reasons why students like him, such as his personality.

“Mr. Philippi is full of jokes, but we stay on task and I feel like I’m understanding physics better,” Aiello said.

Students also feel that because of his age, he is able to relate to them more in class. “[Mr. Philippi] is pretty nice.

We like him because he’s nice and young, so we can relate to him more,” Sneed said. “Plus, if we have trouble learning, he’ll help.”

Because of the variety of teaching methods he uses, Sneed believes Mr. Philippi is an excellent teacher. She feels that students learn more in his class now because of the way he teaches.

“He uses different teaching methods so we can get a better look at what he’s talking about,” Sneed said. “We do games and projects, but he always lectures as another way of teaching us.”

Sneed says Mr. Philippi always gives his students opportunities to ask questions and get help, if needed.

He makes sure they truly understand.

“We like [Mr. Philippi] because we actually get what he’s teaching,” Sneed said. “He makes sure we understand it.”

Junior Emma Worner, AP Physics I student, agrees with both Sneed and Aiello. She feels that he explains every minute detail to ensure that everyone understands what is going on in class. “[Mr. Philippi is] pretty chill and understanding. He is a good teacher,” Worner said. “He starts off class defining everything, then poses hypothetical questions and has us put ourselves into groups of four to figure out the answer.”

“A lot of my high school classmates attended SCC, so it was nice to know I wasn’t alone.” ~ Danielle Le Tourneau SCC alum Francis Howell Central alum

Ask your counselor how to get started at St. Charles Community College.

Call 636-922-8000 or visit stchas.edu.

Heard Be

Securing the memories of childhood p. 9 Kind actions for all the wrong reasons p. 10

7

Broken ties High school breakups lead to lost friendships, torn bonds

I

n high school, relationships last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of years.

No matter which of the two or anywhere

By Victoria in between, people Walker form a bond, a Staff Reporter special connection, while in these relationships. People who date have a very unique friendship and will often be the closest friend, if not one of the closest, that each other has. When they break up, this all falls apart.

When people meet, they become acquaintances. From there they become friends. The friendship builds and sometimes they enter a relationship. They begin to date. It’s like a staircase. The

closer the two people become, the further up they go. When they break up, they shouldn’t just bail ship and jump off the steps. Many people have said that they simply cannot be friends with an ex, but why not? The two were once best friends; why does a change in relationship status have to tear two friends apart?

Take a step down. Become friends rather than exes. Breaking up doesn’t have to shatter the world, and it will hurt far less if it doesn’t. By communicating, the two will be able to not only preserve their friendship that they shared before and during the relationship, but gain closure in the fact that it doesn’t all have to end.

If they weren’t close in the first place, they wouldn’t have dated. Why throw away Please read more | Broken, PAGE 8

Photo illustration by Kelci Davis

A student holds a ripped up heart in her hands after having torn it. Many teenagers have had issues trying to figure out what needs to be done after a breakup, and where to go next.

Losing the fear, defeating depression I have seen many a time in which people will point out a problem in society and explain why it is wrong. Every

By Karley Canova Staff Reporter once in a while, there is a possible solution to that particular catastrophe. Most of the time, these rumors, gossip, and points of opinion simply make us think; rather, they make us dwell.

Half the time, we don’t want to fix whatever the problem is.

Well, now we are trapped by fear.

We don’t want to change certain things because we have a clinging fear that we won’t make it or that we can’t do it. For my particular argument, I’m not talking about worldwide epidemics, or changing the world, or saving a rainforest. I’m talking about you. You as a teenager, you as a young adult, you as someone who has a demon named Past that just won’t leave you alone.

I don’t want to group all students together as one giant teen who is, as so many people say, “spending these precious years trying to find ourself,” and “discovering what we’re going to

Central Focus April 28, 2011 FHCtoday.com/BeHeard

be in life.” Sure, some of us (us, as in, we’re growing up with similar issues, whether you believe it or not) know where we’re going, who we are, and have a stable path set in front of us.

Or, that’s how it seems to those of you. Nothing, however, is for certain.

That’s why all of those doors that you open, and even the ones you close, don’t have locks on them.

Anyway, much of the student body spends time dwelling on what we’ve done, things others have done, or even things the media tells us (you and I both know, media has the reins on our current society). All of this drags us down. How many of you

can tell me why we cannot move on?

Why we cannot change these things?

The biggest problems I see are fear, procrastination, and even worrying about it being “too hard”.

Fear branches off into doubt.

When you doubt yourself, you’re telling yourself you cannot do it.

Being swallowed up by this fear can put yourself in a mindset, to where you won’t try as hard because you already feel that you’ve failed too many times. This is when you should forgive yourself, instead of dwelling on the past - the statistics.

These statistics, or rather behavioral patterns, and similarities in your

decision making are what make up who you are. Or even, who people think you are.

Statistically, you always turn back to the ideals that aren’t good for you; they aren’t for what you want to be.

There are no necessarily wrong ideals; that is your own opinion (although society and the law will cause major obstacles for some of you).

When you can look past these ideals, past your depression, your statistics - you look forward, into the future. There is a lot for you to learn, see, and experience. You have to picture a desirable image of yourself, Please read more | Depression, PAGE 10

Page design by Alli Keisker

8 Be Heard Broken from page7 that friendship, that bond?

Sometimes it can be hard to be friends after a breakup because, let’s face it, it’s difficult, it’s traumatic, and it’s awkward. Friends have to be told, questions will be asked, it will spread around school, and all of this has to be dealt with.

They will see each other in the halls, maybe in class, and not knowing what the other is thinking can make it even more awkward than it has to be when the issue arises of the rest of the school knowing.

What to tell friends and classmates is tough because neither wants to hurt the other or say something that the other didn’t see or doesn’t agree with.

Before talking to people, the two should discuss between them what went wrong, if there’s any way to fix it, if they actually want to fix it, and what to tell their friends. Personal problems or information should not be shared without running it past the other person, and then only to people that both trust.

It is bad enough that people are asking about the breakup; don’t let them tear your lives apart. Also, discussing the breakup can help make things far less awkward. The discussion should be alone, so it feels more natural to be open and honest with each other.

Problems can be sorted out, misunderstandings made clear, and sometimes it even dismisses the reason the two broke up in the first place (communication is key in any relationship, be it dating, friendship, or otherwise), but even if it doesn’t, it will still make the friendship transition smoother and both will understand exactly what happened.

In the end, choosing to be friends after a relationship is over can really soften the blow. A friend is not lost, understanding and closure can still be found, and the one person that trust and comfort could be found in can still remain just that. Take a step back down the stairs rather than jumping blindly. Some say the one time they really need each other is when coping with the pain of the breakup. Be there for each other in the time when best friends and people who truly know each other are really needed.

FHCtoday.com/BeHeard

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Alli Keisker

Staff editorial

Illustration by Scott Kenkel

Searching for a purpose As teens begin to choose the paths their lives will take, how will they know what is meant to be?

One world made up of seven billion people. One country made up of 50 states. One state made up of six million people. One school made up of 1,887 students. Every person who walks this earth, originates in these countries, resides in these states and attends this school has a purpose—a purpose that, although we do not always see it, know exists.

We have all come across those people who are constantly looked down upon by society, who will never make it in life, never succeed.

Whether we want to believe those people may succeed or not, they will always have a purpose in life.

Whether it is big or small, it still means something. It still counts. It doesn’t matter if their purpose is to be a doctor; it doesn’t matter if their purpose is to be a writer; it doesn’t

to find this calling instantaneously, matter if their purpose is to be a others have to search for that musician. It still counts. glimpse. They have to fight for it; People may see one purpose for they have to themselves now, sacrifice for it; but another they have to later on in life.

Although many suffer for it.

For someone to of us can only grasp Most of our allow oneself to adolescent be influenced a glimpse of what lives are spent by others looking, longing in their life we are meant to for a place to decisions, they do, we will find our call our own. are allowing People force others to alter true purpose later themselves to their future. find a place, a Although many on in life. place that isn’t of us can only theirs.

They grasp but a glimpse of what we are meant to do, realize this and continue on with their lives, parting ways from our we will find our true purpose later past calling. on in life.

Us, as merely teenagers, often While some of us are lucky enough

“

”

judge this. We see the ones we love changing, struggling to find their places. At first glance we misunderstand them as they trample us to get there, but if we stand back, and watch them as they progress towards what they desire to do, we can’t help but feel happy for them. Our bitter mood about them develops into excitement. Our blindness towards our own calling soon is altered and our calling leaps out in front of us.

Once people break away from the seven billion other people in the world, they break away from our stereotypes and our pasts. The future, which was once a mystery to us, evolves into something we can firmly grasp. It holds us to the ground, to our place which we can now call our own.

word of mouth word of mouth THOUGHTS ON THE STORIES WE COULDN’T FIND SPACE FOR word of mouth word of mouth

King Leo

OUTDOOR TEACHING:

With the temperature rising, King Leo to teachers are beginning to Xerxes, we offer hold classes outdoors on our thoughts nice, sunny days. Students on issues we generally enjoy the nice couldn’t get into weather as they work on the paper. book work and study.

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT: Foreign language

classes held International Night on April 5 in the cafeteria. There was food and games from many different countries, such as Spain and Belgium.

SEUSSICAL:

Spotlight Players will be performing their spring musical, Seussical, on April 28-30. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. All seats will be general admission.

AP TESTING:

In May, many AP students will be taking one or more AP tests. Tests will be held on the same day throughout the nation.

END OF COURSE EXAMS: Students

in classes such as English II, Biology I, Algebra I, and Government will be taking End of Course exams this week.

Xerxes

THE SCALE: Word On a scale of

FHCtoday.com/BeHeard

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Alli Keisker

Be Heard

9

Young musicians' talent bashed Let’s face it: unless you’ve been hiding out under an extremely large, soundproof rock for the past year

By Maddie or so, you’ve Wilson probably noticed Copy Manager the waves of pop song-trilling youngsters that have taken over the media. You’ve probably noticed that names like Justin Bieber, Willow Smith and Rebecca Black are becoming increasingly hard to avoid, and that any time someone says the words “baby” or “Friday,” at least one person within a five-mile radius will start humming a few bars of a cheesy pop song.

Say what you will about these teenybopper phenomena; whether these kids are good or bad is an argument for a different place and time. (In my opinion, never. But that’s just me.) There will, inevitably, be those who swoon over the likes of “the Biebs” and “that one girl who sings that song about Friday.” And there will be those who would prefer to be deaf rather than have to listen to these singers. This is fine. Great, actually. After all, in ten years, all of these people will be merely blips on the radars of our lives; they’ll simply be trends that came and went, easily ignored.

There is one trend, however, that has come riding along on this veritable tsunami of “wonder kids” and that I simply can’t ignore. This, readers, is the now-fashionable trend of insulting, disparaging, belittling, and verbally attacking these young

pop stars. I’m not talking about a casual comment about how you don’t like that new song, or how you don’t understand why that star is such a big deal.

No, I’m talking about those vicious posts that you see when you log on to Facebook, YouTube, or Myspace, or even some conversations you might hear in the hallways right here at FHC. Just a quick glance at one of these situations - the comments for Rebecca Black’s video “Friday” on YouTube - offers some excellent examples of what I’m talking about.

These range from the mildly spiteful to the horrifically vulgar: “You [Rebecca Black] have got to be the dumbest [girl] on the [E] arth... you should get some cream for that crater on your face,” wrote one viewer.

“I am going to be nice to this girl. I will go buy her a gun so she can end her life now,” commented another. And then, this post directed towards Ms. Black, which makes me cringe every time I read it: “I hope you cut yourself, and I hope you get an eating disorder so you’ll look pretty. And I hope you go cut and die.”

It takes me a couple seconds after reading these to catch my breath again. They send a thousand emotions coursing through my body and a million questions whirling through my mind. Why are people being so mean to this thirteen-yearold girl? Why is she receiving death threats because she sang a song - just one song? Why, exactly, do these people think it is okay to attack this girl with such fervor, to pummel her

into the ground with their words?

I imagine there will be people who will argue that all of these threats are just bluffs and that these Internet commenters aren’t being serious.

That the girl has brought these criticisms upon herself by creating the video. Maybe even that the song is horrible enough to justify all the hatred.

I have one thing to say to all of those arguments, and it is this: when did it become acceptable to threaten, scorn, and humiliate a girl - a child, no less - even if they are just ‘empty threats’?

I was raised to recognize that these kinds of words are no laughing matter. They’re just sickening, especially when they’re preying on adolescents with such serious issues as eating disorders, body image, and suicide. If you’ve been paying attention for the last decade or so of your life, you should know that bitter words won’t achieve anything. They only break hearts.

Furthermore, Ms. Black has every right to pursue her own kind of artistic expression. And don’t laugh at the fact that I just called her song ‘artistic expression,’ because people’s opinions do not determine what is and what is not art. Art is any expression of a person’s thoughts, creativity, beliefs, delight, sadness, and so many other things. Everyone has critics. It’s the nature of the beast; art is subjective. But we live in a beautiful country where everyone is entitled to create and share their own art as they please.

Rebecca Black, Justin Bieber, Willow Smith, Miley Cyrus,

Photo illustration by Patrick Hurley, photo courtesy of MCT Campus

A photo of Rebecca Black is ripped to shreds to show disrespect. Black recently debuted on YouTube with her music video for her song “Friday”.

and their pop-music pals are not necessarily amazing artists. They’re not necessarily even good. That’s not the point. The point is that these singers are doing what they like to do, and people who like their art happen to support them. (The next time you scoff at the Biebs, just remember that his concerts sell out in about five minutes, and he’s a multimillionaire - at least some people are responding favorably.)

These kids are not shoving their songs down America’s collective throat; they’re not being offensive and they’re not forcing you to listen to their music. They’re producing

their own form of art, and if you can’t stand it, you don’t have to listen to it!

Because whether you like their songs or not does not affect their value as a person. As a friend, or a brother, sister, son or daughter. As a life.

So the next time you whip your hair back and forth on a Friday, or find yourself trying to decide whether to kick it in the front seat or the back seat. (It’s the best of both worlds!) just cool it. Smile a little.

Hum a few notes, catch yourself, jam your headphones in your ears and turn up the volume of your oh-socool alternative music...and just walk away in blissful silence.

Holding onto childhood Ever since we were little kids, when we were forced to lay still for an hour during daily nap time, we've hated

By Dylan Richardson being young.

Staff Reporter We were told we “weren't old enough” to do this or that, we had to hold mommy's hand while crossing the street, and she needed to be able to still see us when we went to play outside.

So we made a wish that followed each and everyone of us through our early years: wanting to finally be a “big kid.” We were sick of training wheels and more than ready to yank them off our bike with nothing but our bare hands. And of course

we were told by everyone the most annoying saying ever "Don't wish your childhood away." But what did our parents know? They were already grownups. No one chuckled when they had something to say, ruffling their hair and saying how cute they were.

That was then. Now though, it's a whole new story. We're in high school, we're big kids. It's time for us to make big kid decisions, act our age, and finally start growing up.

Our childhood is leaving us long before we're ready to say goodbye.

But don't go giving up your youth yet; right now, in high school, is the beginning of the end and I ,for one, plan to go out with a bang. Now is our time to do crazy things just because we can. Like buying a pair of Eeyore socks meant for little kids and showing anyone you can when

you wear them, which I have done.

Spend what time you have doing all those things you've had the impulse to do, but told yourself you couldn't because you needed to set an example or act your age.

I’ve played in the toy aisle at WalMart with friends at eleven o’clock at night; shortly after, we were told to leave the store and never come back. My friends and I have spent an entire day playing at a park swinging, playing on the jungle gym, going down the slides and just spinning in circles until we were too dizzy to stand.

I’ve done plenty of things I’m supposed to be too old to do, and have even been told so once or twice by an adult, but why should any of us let that stop us? These next few years are our last to ask ourselves, “why not?” and then do it.

Photo illustration by Kelci Davis

With the reality of college and their future impending, students often fall back to childish tendencies. Teenagers have begun returning to youthful activities to remind them of their childhood.

10

Be Heard

FHCtoday.com/BeHeard

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Julianna Smith

Remembering our passion The desire for recognition is clouding the pursuit of true passions

Check out our blogs at

Kamrie Reed

and work for it. If you don’t plan on working on what you don’t like, don’t complain about it later. That doubt, that dwelling, that fear will hold you back if you let it.

When you see yourself as small, so will everyone else - and they will use it against you. Trust me, I’ve been there. You probably have been, too.

You’ve felt them pull your heart open and shatter your hope. During your metamorphosis, they’ll be doing the same. But that is where you have to stand up; you must make your

Read up on the latest opinions of our staff anytime

searching. Are we doing whatever it is we do because of our love for it, or are we striving for recognition. Are our passions leading us or have we let the prospect of entitlement into its place?

If we choose option one, let us walk up to the plate to bat, let us pick back up that pencil, let us return our eyes to the viewfinder of the camera and let us return that can of food to our hands.

If we chose the latter, we might as well walk away for good.

Lizzi Holland

insides stronger than the obstacles on the outside.

However, keep in mind that what I’m telling you is different from becoming a brick wall and withdrawing from any emotion whatsoever.

Pushing it off until you feel like doing it is not a good idea either.

Eventually you will be looking back, after you have hit some huge wake up call, wishing you would have changed or quit or started something while you had the chance.

Becoming that person that you want to be is not that hard, unless you make it that way.

we do and there are many that still participate in charity for the right reasons. It just seems that a majority of our generation’s motivation comes solely from our perceived entitlement to reward.

A society based solely on gratification cannot function. Let’s all stop what we are doing. Let us put down the bat. Let us drop that pencil to our paper, let us drop our camera lenses to our necks and let us put back that can of food before we donate it. Let us do a little soul-

Sean Carroll

Depression from page7

Cartoon by Alli Keisker

I can’t help but wonder how many students donated not because they wanted to do the right thing for the community, but rather because they just really wanted that donut party.

While competition brought great reward to the needy, I can not help but feel that many ounces of the food donated were tainted. Tainted by the desire to be rewarded.

This is a general assessment of our generation. There are a great deal many of us that still pursue our dreams for our love for whatever it is

Victoria Walker

the opposite. We play sports in the hope of winning championships and medals and we write with the the motivator of receiving an award for our work. Awards and recognition should be the result of our passion and determination, not the factor behind it. Everybody wants to be recognized for their actions. Our intrinsic motivation is evaporating right in front of our generation’s eyes. We truly are losing sight of our passions.

This desire for gratification has expanded far beyond our activities.

Charity, which has always been of the most selfless things I can think of, has turned into the latest competition. It seems that most people simply want to out do the next person. Once upon a time, people did things because they were the right thing to do. People donated sweat and pain to charitable organizations not because they wanted others to view them in a positive way, but because they knew it was the right thing in the bottom of their hearts.

Take a look around today, and you will see a different picture. Charity work and donating has turned into a competition to see who can come out on top. Most people want to trump the next person in order to be rewarded. Rather than volunteering to better others, I’ve seen many volunteering for their own personal gain.

I have seen examples of this right here at Francis Howell Central.

As you may recall, in December, there was a canned food drive with the reward of a donut party for the winning class. Canned foods came flying in and the school donated thousands of food items to the needy. However, I could not help but be sickened. While our school did a great deed for the community,

Savannah McEachern

Our entire world is built around recognition.

Recognition for our actions, our successes and

By Cory Schmitt even our failures.

Print Executive Editor In today’s generation, the generation of “Me,” we all believe that we are entitled to being recognized for something. This perceived entitlement has caused an overwhelming majority of the population to derive motivation for all the wrong reasons. The desire to be rewarded for our actions has taken over the drive of doing the right thing. The desire to be rewarded has ruined our the purity of our passions.

People’s passions are disappearing.

Rather than playing for love of the game, people are now playing for the gold of a trophy. And most of us are guilty. You, me, professional athletes, and musicians. The passion to pursue the things we love has been replaced by the desire to receive gratification for our talents and actions.

A baseball player should be motivated by their love of the game, not by the allure of a large paycheck and fame. Any athlete should compete because they love what they do; a championship should not and cannot be an athletes only motivation. A journalist should write not just because they want to receive professional recognition and to be rewarded for what they do.

A journalist should write because they’re passionate about what they do. They should take pride in the service and duty they provide for their readers. Intrinsic motivation should easily trump extrinsic recognition. But it seems today that so many of us are guilty of

FHCtoday.com/Advertise Page design by Michael Roundcount

Central Focus April 28, 2011

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11

12

In Focus

Favorite color

33%

FHCtoday.com/Print

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Cory Schmitt, Maddie Wilson, Ted Noelker and Kelci Davis

C

The results are 15%

14%

10%

9% 6%

5%

3%*

3% *Gray represents other colors

Size of family

-

Social media preference Facebook

95.5% Twitter

3.8%

MySpace

+ Natural hair color

0.7%

Preferred caffeine source

Brown 56.8%

300

Blonde 30.3%

200

Black 8.8%

100

Red 4.0% Coffee

Soda

Tea

Energy Drink

Other

None

CF

FHCtoday.com/Print

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Cory Schmitt, Maddie Wilson, Ted Noelker and Kelci Davis

In Focus

This month, the Central Focus sent out surveys to all first hour classes asking for basic statistical data regarding students' interests and preferences.

From the 886 surveys returned, the staff has compiled a portrait of the school as a whole.

s e in...

Smart phones owned iPhone

Blackberry

1,887 54% 46%

Android

of students at FHC are female

59% 62% OF STUDENTS SAID THEY

300

Music

200

100

0

Cell service providers

OF STUDENTS SAID THEY

have no job

41% 38% OF STUDENTS SAID THEY

aren't religious

None

students currently enrolled

of students at FHC are male

are religious

400

13

54% 34% 8% 4%

OF STUDENTS SAID THEY

have a job

have no piercings or tattoos have at least one piercing have both a tatoo and piercing

28% 38.5% Sprint 24% rap 28.3% Verizon 40% 62% 14.6% 17% country T-Mobile 16% 22% 11.2% 8% pop U.S. Cellular 4.2% 15% 16% Other all 6% 3.2% 5% metal Of those who consider themselves religious 4% 7% 12% other 69% 23% 2% 6% 1% 6% PREFER TO LISTEN TO

rock

AT&T

have at least one tattoo

PREFER TO LISTEN TO

SAID THEY WILL GO TO

FAVE FAST FOOD JOINT IS

college

Taco Bell

SAID THEY WILL GO TO

FAVE FAST FOOD JOINT IS

SAID THEY ARE

FAVE FAST FOOD JOINT IS

PREFER TO LISTEN TO

comm. college

PREFER TO LISTEN TO

PREFER TO LISTEN TO

undecided

PREFER TO LISTEN TO

SAID THEY WILL GO TO

PREFER TO LISTEN TO

ARE CHRISTIAN-PROTESTANT

ARE CHRISTIAN-CATHOLIC

ARE CHRISTIAN-OTHER

ARE MEMBERS OF ANOTHER RELIGION

other

McDonald's

FAVE FAST FOOD JOINT IS

tech school

Jack In The Box

the military

Chick-Fil-A

14

In Focus

FHCtoday.com/Print

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Cory Schmitt

How does FHC stack up?

22.1

19.6

20.7

22.2

20.3

20.7

22

21

21.6

85.7%

96.4%

93%

93%

2010 FHSD graduation rates

2010 ACT scores: FHC vs. state averages

21.8

In addition to all of the demographic data, the Central Focus examined relevant academic indicators about our school, comparing them, when pertinent, to other schools in the district or to neighboring states.

SOURCE: Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

SOURCE: ACT Testing Agency

Sweat

Sherbno shreds new ground p.16 Best sports drinks to keep athletes hydrated p.17

From ten to six New team format forces boys tennis team to rework practice, matches

By Maddie Wilson Copy Manager

B

etween dealing with unpredictable spring weather, balancing second semester schoolwork, and weathering the pressures of an intense individual sport, the boys tennis team is accustomed to playing through unexpected changes.

This season, change arrived as a new team format implemented by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. The new required team structure, which decreased the size of the varsity tennis team from ten members to six — and, as a result, expanded the JV team — has created uncertainty within the school and the conference.

Please read more | Tennis, PAGE 18

Photo by Michael Roundcount

Senior Justin Arndt jumps into the air to return the ball. Many members of the tennis team found themselves unsure about the new training fomat that was introduced this year.

Central Focus

April 28th, 2011

FHCtoday.com/Sweat

15 Inspired by leadership

By Savannah McEachern Staff Photographer

With a team’s success, a coach has an influence that motivates the players to do their best. Coaches are the ones pacing back and forth, watching the players succeed or fail in the game. The coach makes the decisions that they see fit, while the athletes preform to the best of their abilities.

“They’re an influence to me and the team because they’re very encouraging,” said junior baseball player David Evans. “They want us to be better players and tell us how we can get better.”

Over the years, coaches like Ray Howard, who coaches baseball, have put in many of their personal hours to be with their teams and get them going.

They have a constant drive to push the players because coaches teach their players prior knowledge about the game, according to head boys tennis Coach Don Lober. “[Coaches] also have the drive to win and will push us so we can win,” said Evans.

According to Coach Lober, he has the best intentions for his players to do there best in each game.

“The wins are just icing on the cake,” said Coach Lober.

Coaches who played in high school know how it feels to win and want to see their players succeed.

Pushing them to their limit and teaching them countless drills to bring success to the athletes is one of the methods coaches like Coach Howard uses.

“I like to be aggressive, but I change it up most every year for the type of players I have,” said Coach Howard.

On the other hand, Coach Lober makes sure that he can look at mistakes and turn them into a bases for improvement.

“I was lucky enough to have coaches that I was able to develop a good rapport with,” said Coach Lober. “[My past coaches] influenced me in that I wanted to perform for them so that they would be proud of me.”

Page design by Ellen Hinze

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FHCtoday.com/Sweat

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Lizzi Holland

BMX-treme Jake Sherbno takes off with lifelong talent, perseverance

By Karley Canova Staff Reporter

Senior Jake Sherbno started as a young child riding around on his bike. He was six years old, jumping curbs, when his father noticed his talent.

His father, who had participated in riding bikes at a young age, took Sherbno to the BMX tracks.

“I’ve been hooked ever since,” said Sherbno.

He was six or seven when he was first sponsored.

A local bike shop was already interested in Sherbno’s apparent skill.

“The older I got, I got better and better, with sponsored deals and winning nationals,” said Sherbno.

Sherbno is now sponsored by Redmond Rockstar.

They pay for his equipment, such as helmets and wheels, and sometimes for his travel expenses. His sponsors also pay for him to race for free.

He practices about four to five times a week on a local track that his parents own.

The BMX Gateway where Sherbno practices is located in Old Town St. Peters. Sherbno said his parents have run the track for a very long time.

During the winter, Sherbno uses a stationary bike to exercise. The indoor tracks used for practice are about three hours away from Sherbno, so he doesn’t visit them very often.

“It’s really hard to get back into [racing] compared to kids from California who practice all year,” said Sherbno.

Photo by Scott Kenkel

Despite the obstacles, Sherbno still competes in the winter. The competitions usually consist of a 40-second race, qualifying as one lap. Sherbno has won many times, including about half of the 30 races, which draw the best competitors from all over the country, that are held a year.

Recently, he has competed in Arizona, in which he won two-thirds of the races; in Oklahoma, which he won; and Florida, which Sherbno believes did not go too well after he took a fall.

The people that he travels and races with during these competitions become new friends, according to Sherbno.

“Everyone’s really cool; it’s like a family,” said Sherbno. “It goes from little kids to old guys.

[We’re] really close.”

Sherbno has met many people all over the country, and is able to stay with a friend in, say, California, when his parents cannot take him to a race.

He has been able to travel the country, win the World Championship in Canada, and win the National number one title four times.

In the future, Sherbno plans to go to the Olympics for BMX. He has already been training at the Olympic training center for the past couple of years, where there are professional athletes that help coach him.

“You have to be confident, or you won’t ride well,” said Sherbno.

FHCtoday.com/Sweat

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Ellen Hinze and Ted Noelker

Sweat

17

From water to sports drinks, there are many ways to go about

Getting hydrated

[

Gatorade vs. Powerade

[

Vitamin Water

140Mg

125Mg

14G

14G

50

50

14G

14G

Electrolytes

Carbohydrates

Calories

Electrolytes

Carbohydrates

Calories

Sugars

Sugars

Values based on 8 fl. oz.

Propel Zero

Lifewater

Water

80MG

20MG

0

0

17G

0

50

0

40

0

13G

0

10G

0

0

Electrolytes

0

Carbohydrates

Calories

Sugars

Electrolytes

Carbohydrates

Calories

Sugars

Electrolytes

Carbohydrates

Calories

Sugars

Electrolytes

Carbohydrates

Calories

Sugars Values based on 8 fl. oz.

Gatorade leads the pack

The science behind the drink

back,” Mrs. Olson said.

Electrolytes are found in sodium and potassium and keep an athlete hydrated and maintain fluid balance.

Gatorade did not stop there.

They took it a step further to create an even more effective approach to keeping an athlete’s body in prime condition for being active. “[Prime] is the the Gatorade you drink before you preform, and it has extra carbs to give the athlete a sugar

peak,” Mrs. Olson said. “[Perform] is regular Gatorade, and [Recover], the last Gatorade has extra protein for muscle recovery.”

Gatorade has been around since 1965 and is supported by sport teams worldwide. Starting out with a simple sport drink, created by the Florida Gators, Gatorade branched out to include everything from sport drinks to nutrition bars to nutritional shakes.

By Ellen Hinze Sweat Editor

When comparing sport drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, Sobe Lifewater, Propel and regular water, their only similarity lies in their purposes. They are all created to hydrate, but according to school Athletic Trainer Heather Olson, only one is the best at it.

“Gatorade is the most researched sport drink out there,” Mrs. Olson

said. “It has the perfect balance of carbohydrates and electrolytes that works the best with an athlete’s body.”

According to Mrs. Olson, the drink’s original solution, with its six percent carbohydrates, is scientifically proven to benefit an athlete’s athletic ability. Compared to Powerade, which contains five percent carbohydrates; Sobe Lifewater, which also has five percent carbs; Propel, which contains no carbs; Vitamin Water, which has

four percent; and water, which has no carbs, Gatorade has the best ability to stimulate rapid fluid absorption, according to its website.

The Harvard School of Public Health says that carbs give an athlete energy and keep him/her hydrated for physically intense workouts.

Carbs alone are not the only perk to Gatorade, however.

“You can lose electrolytes when you sweat, which Gatorade gives

18

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FHCtoday.com/Sweat

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Savannah McEachern

Caddie receives scholarship Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship gives senior Ryan Tebeau full ride to Mizzou

By Alli Keisker Be Heard Editor

As he walks onto the freshly cut green for the first time at Persimmon Woods Golf Course one hot summer morning, senior Ryan Tebeau hopes his ambition to be a caddie will help him to later on receive a college scholarship. Through he carried golf bags to cleaned golf balls for the past two summers, Ryan worked hard as a caddie.

Ryan did indeed receive the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship earlier this semester. With this scholarship, he will be able to attend the University of Missouri - Columbia starting this fall and for the next four years. According to the Evan Scholars Foundation, students who have received this scholarship are allowed to attend one of the fourteen universities that will honor the scholarship. Which university the student attends depends upon what state they reside in. Evan Scholars will dorm in the Evan Scholarship House that is on campus at their college.

Scholars must maintain a strong

Tennis from page15 “We’ve completely abandoned the old way of playing,” said boys tennis Head Coach Don Lober. “[The new format] is creating a tremendous amount of confusion.”

Tennis often holds a reputation as a sport whose rules are difficult to fully understand, and these recent developments have only increased the complexity of an already elaborate system.

The system that MSHSAA tennis teams adhered to last year, as well as for many years before, was based on a structure that carried ten players on the varsity team and ten players on the JV team. On varsity, the top four players played singles matches only throughout the regular season, while the next six players formed three doubles teams.

In district and state qualifiers, teams were allowed to enter two

Turning Points Key points of games from the past 30 days

application, submitting an essay, and securing letters of recommendation,” Mr. Tebeau said. “You must also complete a detailed financial profile.”

Along with filling out an application, writing an essay, and receiving letters of recommendation, Ryan had to speak in front of a team of people at Westwood Country Club prior to receiving his scholarship.

Because of this scholarship, Ryan will be able to go to college with a full ride.

“His scholarship allows him to go to Mizzou for free,” sister Courtney Tebeau said. “He was still going to go [to Mizzou] either way, so the scholarship was just a bonus.”

Between spending his summer weekends caddying and spending hours going through the application process, he put a lot of time and effort into this scholarship. It was very exhilarating for Ryan to hear that he was accepted for the scholarship.

“I was overwhelmed with the thought of going to college for free.

I am really honored to be awarded the scholarship,” Ryan said. “I think more people should look into

academic record, be actively involved in house and campus affairs, respect their fellow Scholars and faithfully perform assigned house duties, according to the Evan Scholars Foundation. They also expect Evan Scholars to have at least a 3.0 GPA to keep their scholarship and participate in community activities.

A student interested in applying for the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship must meet four requirements prior to applying.

“The scholarship is awarded [to a student] who has a strong caddie record, excellent academics, outstanding character, and demonstrated financial need,” mother Judy Tebeau said.

Ryan met the criteria that he needed in order to be considered for the scholarship, so he applied with high hopes to receive it. According to father, Dale Tebeau, there is such a long application process for the Evans Scholarship that they began back in the fall of this year.

“There is an extensive process to apply for the scholarship. The process begins in September by filling out an

singles players and two doubles teams. Often, players from the top four would enter the tournaments as part of a doubles team, making a transition to an entirely different style of play.

“Typically, I wouldn’t start working doubles [skills] with my singles players until late in the season,” said Lober.

This year is different. The new format features six players on the varsity team. Each player plays a singles match and a doubles match at any given event. FHC’s top six this year includes sophomore Sean Nanney, senior Justin Arndt, junior Ryan Pham, senior Derek Hoerman, junior Neel Kothari, and junior Eric Chin.

The remaining fourteen members of the team are considered part of JV, although MSHSAA has technically renamed the level “varsity silver.”

When teams compete against other schools, only the wins and

Baseball defeats Howell 4-1 “After I struck out all three batters in the fifth, we were in charge. I had a chance to bring the team home.”

— Junior Alex Erb

losses of the varsity matches - there are nine total, six singles and three doubles - go towards the team score.

One of the reasons why Lober dislikes the new system is this imbalance between the varsity and JV teams.

“We’re trying to grow the sport of tennis out here, not limit it,” said Lober. “I don’t like the new format because [it makes] the varsity team more exclusive.”

JV tennis player Kyle Pyatt, sophomore, also preferred the old system.

“This [new format] seems way too structured,” said Pyatt, referring to the complexity now surrounding varsity matches. With each of the varsity players playing two matches, and a large number of JV players, events can become logistical nightmares and stretch into overtime.

Time is a concern for sophomore Sean Nanney, the top-ranked player

on the team.

“The matches always seem so much longer,” said Nanney. “[MSHSAA] says the new format will make [matches] shorter, but I don’t see how it will [do that].”

Despite its drawbacks, the new system has its advantages.

“The new format [gives] the doubles players more of an opportunity to play together throughout the year,” said Coach Lober. “[Players] are going to become much more adept and amazing at playing both singles and doubles.” He is optimistic that with hard work and practice, the FHC tennis team could emerge as one of the top teams in its conference and district.

Nanney echoes this positive attitude.

“I think [the new format] will makes us completely better because we play both singles and doubles,” he said.

becoming a caddie and try for the scholarship too.”

Ryan’s family is extremely proud of him for receiving this scholarship because they know how much work he put into it. Courtney sees her brother as a role model because of his achievement of receiving this scholarship.

“He’s one of my biggest role models because he is so hardworking.

He had to wake up really early every single weekend over summer and had to put a lot of work into it,” Courtney said. “He showed me that a lot of hard work pays off in the end.”

His parents are very happy for him for accomplishing this, and feel that he is a very committed and hardworking person.

“Through the passionate dedication and hard work, Ryan committed himself to this endeavor and was highly successful,” Mr. Tebeau said. “We are completely confident Ryan will live up to the high standards of the Evans Scholar and the tradition of excellence in academics and leadership.”

Photo by Michael Roundcount

Senior Justin Arndt readies himself to serve the ball to the opponent. The team has had a strong start, shown by their undefeated status in conference.

Volleyball loses to Howell North “It was like we were walking on eggshells the whole game.”

— Coach Mark McAfee Photo by Jessy DiMariano

Scene

Prom on the big screen p. 20 Students preference favorite after-Prom snacks p. 23

The

19

Suit pursuit Men's fashion advice for Prom

By Lizzi Holland Staff Reporter

While talking to students about prom, one can come to the common consensus that girls are often the ones the most excited for prom. Racks of clothing are combed through while girls search for the perfect dress. Trips to the salon are made, and sky-high heels are placed on girls’ feet. However, while the young men who are attending prom may not necessarily share the same enthusiasm as the ladies, their fashion choices should be just as carefully considered.

Please read more |

Suit, PAGE 22

Photo illustration by Kelci Davis

A mannequin displays a less traditional options for a guy’s suit: a white jacket paired with a white dress shirt and bowtie. Stores like Savvi at Mid Rivers mall offered this style last year, and will this year as well.

Picking up good impressions Prom is the single-most anticipated event of juniors and seniors in high school.

With this dance great

By Anna Gingrich comes The Scene Editor preparation. A female’s preparation encompasses the following: going tanning, buying a dress, finding the shoes and getting her hair done...oh yeah, and finding a date. The males generally have it easier in this realm. Or do they? They need to find a girl that will actually go with them, wait for that girl to pick a dress, find and rent a tuxedo

that matches, and fork out the dough for the tickets. Prom requires weeks, even months, of preparation and money in order to make the night as perfect and enjoyable as possible.

When it comes to picking a dress, girls always want a dress that no one else will have. Finding this dress takes shopping date upon shopping date until finally, the dress has found them. Once that happens, everything else just seems to fall into place, for her at least. She can easily pick her shoes and accessories. Unfortunately, these necessities start to add up.

However, this decision kick-starts the seemingly never-ending list of things to do for not only her but her

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date and everyone else in the group.

Another item on the list is transportation. Does the group want to rent a limo, party bus or just drive themselves? For some, it’s all about presentation. For others, it’s all about the money. Whether the entrance to this event is extravagant or ordinary depends on the group and the budget.

These are just a few of the items. Whether you work so you can afford this expensive evening or your parents pick up the tab, Prom never fails to raise financial controversy. Prom tickets, $130. Preprom pampering, $125. Finding the perfect dress, $175. Lookin’ fly for one glorious night, priceless.

What is your your ideal ride to Prom?

Poll by Anna Gingrich

Many who are planning to attend Prom on May 14 have started organizing all their plans for what they’ll be wearing, who they’ll be going with and what mode of transportation they will be arriving in. When 83 students were asked about their preffered mode of transportation to Prom, students at FHC primarily chose taking their own car over renting the classic but more expensive option of a limo.

Page design by Anna Gingrich

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The Scene

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Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Patrick Hurley

Prom on the big screen From adorable to alarming, these classic prom night flicks display every teen's prom dreams and some of their nightmares

Cute “Never Been Kissed” (1999)

This heart warming film focuses on a journalist who returns to her high school years for the undercover dish.

Josie, who was a typical “nerd” in her own school days now evolves into the pretty girl everyone wants, but she has a secret: she has yet to be kissed, even though she’s 25. She sets her eye on the handsome intelligent English teacher, a sort of “forbidden romance,” due to her being his “student.” Will she end up getting the scoop for her newspaper? Or will her hots for teacher make her throw her dream of being a big shot journalist out the window?

“Pretty In Pink” (1986)

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

This is an ‘80s classic that everyone has to see. The story is pretty basic. Andie, who is not the most popular girl in school, has a choice to make. Should she fall for the boy who has always been by her side? The one who may be a bit quirky, but has good intentions? Or fall for the boy she just met, who has always been the popular rich boy?

Creepy “Carrie” (1967)

The word alone brings one thought to everyone’s mind: Don’t make girls with telekinetic powers angry.

It will just put a damper on your prom night. This chilling classic revolves around a quiet young girl who has been teased day in and day out of her high school career; however, when the teen heartthrob asks her to the biggest school dance of the year, she thinks things may be changing. Little does she know, the queen bee of her senior high is out to get her.

“Prom Night” (1980)

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

The accidental death of a small child forces four innocent children into secrecy. While they think they are the only ones who saw, there is someone else. Six years later, now all seventeen years old, Prom is fast approaching. When they find out they’re targets of a killer, seeking revenge for the young child years ago, it’s already too late.

Most requested songs for the 2011 prom

“Friday” by Rebecca Black

“Tik Tok” by Ke$ha

“Firework” by Katy Perry

“My Kind of Party” by Jason Aldean

“Bohemian Rhapsody”

by Queen

“Love Like Woe” by The Ready Set

“Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”

by Enrique Iglesias

“Bottoms Up”

by Trey Songz

“DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love”

by Usher

“Billie Jean”

by Michael Jackson

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and MCT Campus

FHCtoday.com/TheScene

Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Mikelle McClintock and Scott Kenkel

The Scene

21

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

After uploading the photo of your choice, unlock Background by double-clicking the layer in your Layers Palette. Then, go to Image- Adjustments- Hue/Saturation and turn Saturation all the way down on the photo.

Go to Image-Adjustments- Brightness/Contrast and raise contrast and brightness to desired liking. After adjusting brightness and contrast, make a copy of your layer by going to LayerDuplicate Layer then select OK.

On the bottom of your Layers Palette, choose the button that says Add Vector Mask. Then, go to Filter- BlurGaussian Blur and change your pixels between 15.0 and 23.0 pixels. (Depending on image size and the amount of blur you prefer.)

Select the Vector Mask on the Layers palette and choose the paint brush tool. Set the brush hardness to 0% and make sure your foreground color is black and your background color is white. When you begin “painting” over the image, you will notice the photo becoming clearer. After clearing your desired field, create a layer and paint it black.

Perfect Step 5 prom pictures Five quick and easy steps to make the most out of your prom pictures

By Mikelle McClintock Communications Editor

On average, more than one billion pieces of content are shared each day on Facebook and goes out to an average of 130 friends.

This includes news stories, links, and photos according to mashable.com. And most of those photos being uploaded are being edited.

Now that prom is coming up, I am sure couples are already thinking about where they are going to take pictures at before the dance.

Why, you may ask. That is simple. They want their pictures to be absolutely perfect. With finding the perfect location, they want to edit their photos perfectly as well.

Prom is a major highlight of one’s high school career and having stunning pictures to remember it by and sharing with friends and family is something that will last forever.

With five easy steps, one can enhance their prom pictures using Photoshop.

Using the large eraser tool, be sure it is at 0% hardness, erase area over subjects of photo. This should give the photo a framed look.

Top ten iPhone camera apps

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Page design by Lizzi Holland

Photo illustration by Jolie Denton

22

The Scene

Some students opt out of traditional footwear

By Dylan Richardson Staff Reporter

For prom, every part of a girls appearance from her hair style to the color of her toenails are carefully selected for a visually stunning effect for the big night.

But there’s one part of a girl’s attire that has gone through radical changes over the last few generations.

Platforms, stilettos, pumps, and flats are all commonly chosen shoes for prom. Shoes are the finishing touch on every girl’s dress, but some have gotten tired of the same old heels.

“I am wearing flip-flops to prom this year. They match my dress and they are comfy, that is all that

matters,” senior Natalie Chaffee said.

Nowadays, the expected dress for prom is radically different. What was once a black-tie affair has shifted, allowing new and more fun choices of attire. Converse, Toms, Vans, Combat boots, and even the occasional pair of flip-flops are all seen as presentable shoe choices for prom. While some choices will always be a little unexpected, many girls still choose to go with fashionable and formal footwear. Different shoe choices are becoming more and more common.

“My date and I are both going to be wearing Converse that match my dress,” said junior Caitlan

Dress obsessed

Suits from page 19

Boutique vs. department store

By Kamrie Reed Staff Reporter

On May 14, girls will prepare for what some may consider the night of their lives. They spend the majority of their day in hair salons, nail places and, of course, applying makeup.

Many girls believe the ultimate piece of their outfits is their dress. They search for the perfect dress, for the cheapest dress. But where can one find the perfect dress? Should girls go to department stores, or should they journey into small boutiques?

“I want the most unique dress. I like to go to small shops, not name brand stores. Small family shops have more variety and cuter dresses,” said junior Hannah Koester.

Koester bought a Prom dress from a small boutique in downtown St. Charles.

Junior Rachel Jordan bought her dress from a store called The Cinderella Project. This store selects specific girls who are otherwise unable to purchase a prom dress. These girls receive their dresses for free as well as a makeover for prom night. The remaining dresses are brought to The Cinderella Project and sold for a reduced price of $25 each. Customers also receive a bag of coupons for prom makeovers.

Junior Kristen Kochmann bought her prom dress from a well-known department store called Debs. She chose to shop at Debs because of the increase in products. There is a

lot more availability of each product, according to Kochmann.

“I won’t really care if someone else had my dress, but if I do know them, I will be a little upset,” said Kochmann.

Jordan bought another dress from a small boutique called Perscillas. This store is an old vintage mom-and-pop shop that has been around for 20 years.

They ensure whenever a girl purchases a Prom dress, no one else from that school will purchase the same dress.

“I had to dig to find the cool thrift stuff, almost like [a] hidden jewel,” said Jordan.

Sophomore Amy Sweeney purchased her new prom dress from a department store. She generally gravitated to clothes from Goodwill, but for Prom, she will be wearing a dress from JCPenney.

“I decided to stop being a snob. I will not be upset if someone else has my dress since it is [my] sophomore year, but senior year, no one better have the same dress,” said Sweeney.

Girls are continuing to find their last minute bargains.

Some have already found the perfect dress and others are scurrying frantically to find theirs.

Good. “They’re going to look a lot cooler than heels, plus they’ll be more comfortable. They also make it so I don’t have to worry about getting a pedicure.”

Promgoers these days not only want to look classy, but they also want to be able to move freely.

They want to be able to dance all through the night without stumbling around the dance the first half before giving up trying to maneuver in their heels and discarding them on the side of the dance floor.

“I hate wearing heels to a dance, it hurts and you just feel awkward the entire time. That’s why I’m going in combat boots this year. I’ll look sweet in them too,” said senior Kelsea Thebeau.

Photo illustration by Savannah McEachern and Scott Kenkel

The first criteria to take into consideration is what your date is wearing. One hundred percent of the people interviewed agreed that not matching your date is a big no-no. In fact, some girls, such as junior Caitlan Good, take matching so seriously that they literally told their date what he would be wearing.

“If my date didn’t want to match me I would make him. Not matching is a major prom faux pas,” said Good.

“If you don’t match your date then you don’t look like you’re there together. You just look like friends who ran into each other.”

Another choice to ponder is what type of tie you intend to wear. Sophomore James Pugh is planning on wearing a skinny tie, Senior Sam Holder and junior Josh Burns are both wearing bow ties, and senior Jimmy Nash is wearing a basic tie. All three choices are acceptable and can be fashion forward, you simply have to commit to whichever you choose.

Whether you are renting or buying

your prom outfit is another decision that needs to be made before prom.

For financial reasons, most boys tend to lean towards renting a suit as opposed to buying one. The main thing to think about before deciding is whether or not you will ever have an occasion to wear that suit again. If not, renting one may be the smarter choice.

Shoes are yet another subject to be broached while considering your prom outfit. Some students decided that they will be wearing Converse or TOMS with their suits. However, Pugh, Burns, Holder, and Nash all reported that they are wearing a classic pair of dress shoes with their outfits.

“Don’t get me wrong, Converse are where it’s at, but not for prom,” said Holder.

Yet, regardless of your footwear’s appearance, make sure that they can serve as your dancing shoes.

However you choose to dress for prom, make sure that it represents you in a way you would like to be perceived by your classmates. Prom is a highly documented event with countless pictures and memories that last a lifetime.

“Prom is really how everyone you know is going to remember you,” said Burns.

So unless you want to be remembered as a fashion victim, remember these tips. However, you should not be afraid to express your personality in however you choose because you need to feel comfortable with your fashion choices during your prom night. Therfore, listen to other’s advice, but remember to stay true to your own style along the way.

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Central Focus April 28, 2011

Page design by Ted Noelker

The Scene

23

Snack attack After having exhausted themselves with Prom, students looks for easy snacks to curb their after-Prom munchies

By Destiny Pipkin Good parties are made up of a combination of music, movies, people, and most importantly, food.

After Prom, there are always several symptoms: the sore feet, the stinky body odor, and the infamous afterProm munchies (also known as A.P.M.). If you will be having guests over after Prom, you will need to be prepared for those munchies with the basic essentials Photo illustration by Jessica DiMariano

A student chows down on large meal from McDonald’s, consuming a burger, fries and frozen coffee. Last year, many Prom attendees went out to fast food restaraunts to cure their after-Prom munchies.

Cookies Before prom while you are waiting to go to your hair and nail appointment throw some easy bake cookies in the oven for that inevitable sweet tooth your friends will have after prom.

Pizza Since you are not given food options at Prom, if you dislike the food there, you are out of luck.

For those people attending Prom and not eating, pizza will be the back-up meal. Not only is pizza good for those not interested in Prom food, pizza is also just an all around good snack at 2 a.m.

Chips Chips are a simple snack you can just dump in a bowl after Prom that can please pretty any guest with the variety of flavors.

One bowl full of lays and another bowl for tortilla chips and salsa and you are good to go.

Popcorn After dancing and partying all night, sometimes it is nice just to relax with a few close friends, watch a movie and rest those sore feet. For these occasions, popcorn is an easy snack; you can put it in the microwave for two minutes and be ready to go. It is not messy or sticky. It is simple and scrumptious.

Prom food preferences Included in the $65 ticket price for Prom is dinner. Last year, chicken was served as a main course at Prom. Eighty-three students surveyed indicated their menu preferences this year.

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that will cure even the worse cases of A.P.M.’ The most common late night eatery is Steak n’ Shake; of course, that is if you do not want to prepair the food yourself. If you do not mind the work after all of that dancing, the best thing to ingest is a truck-load of carbs. Try running to a 24/7 Schnucks and picking up some ingredients for a pasta dish. Now your mind, and stomach, is good as new!

Candy After prom, when everything starts to wind down after hours of dancing, we all start to get a little sleepy, and then we remember, “Oh, wait! What about that party I’m supposed to go to?!”

Chocolate, Skittles, DumDums... they all have an essential ingredient­—sugar.

Make sure you have candy at this get-together to keep guests’ energy up. Candy after prom is a good way to recharge and squeeze a little more fun out of your night before you are ready to pass out for the night.

24

Aperture

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Central Focus April 28, 2011

Photos and page design by Kelci Davis

Purpose to the pain Students and teachers alike volunteered to give a moment of pain in exchange for life-saving blood at the StuCo and Red Cross blood drive held on Monday, April 4.

ABOVE: Prior to their screening, seniors Mike McPartland and Kelsey Nagel read through a packet provided by the Red Cross. The packet included information about various concerns, requirements for donations and addressed the possible side effects after giving blood.

RIGHT: Sophomore Natalie Kinzer lets out a silent scream as the nurses readjust the needle in her arm. The blood donated through apheresis was delivered to the hospital within 24 hours, while the blood donated in normal blood donation arrived at the hospital within the next week.

BELOW: As the nurse inserts the needle into her arm, senior Sarah Pierce scowls in pain. While most students were relaxed about giving blood, some had fears of needles and were quite anxious.

While she is hooked up to the blood bags, senior Miranda Pomar pulls out her phone and begins to text her friends.

Many volunteers texted, chatted, took pictures and tried to find ways to pass the time while they were waiting.

After filling an entire bag of blood, junior Samantha Kennedy sits with other participants and enjoys free food offered to anyone who gave blood. Any first-time donator was required to lay down and eat before the donor could leave, and all were encouraged to do so to help avoid negative side effects.