Central Focus February 2012

focus central { } francis howell central high school | volume sixteen | issue four | 2.1.2013

Freshman flies to the fore Guard Emma Raup shines on court in wake of key teammates injury

delve 3-8 | sweat 9-13 | in focus 14-19 | the scene 21-26 | be heard 27-30 | interact 31 | aperture 32

SIX {mAPping out the future} The second curriculum night, put on by Advanced Placement teachers and counselors, allowed parents and students to learn about upper level courses.

ELEVEN {social smack talk} As rivalries with Howell intensify, athletes on both sides take to Twitter, turning up the heat and bringing their issues off the court.

SIXTEEN {winter formal}

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emma raup

With the reinstated winter formal three weeks away, check out our spread on how to ask someone to a Sadie Hawkins dance and what to wear to the Feb. 23 formal.

NINETEEN {festival fun} Get a sneak peek at who and what will be showing up at the second annual Fine Arts Festival, which happens tonight.

TWENTY-TWO {need to know} justin xu

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opening shots | february 1, 2013

esther davis

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In the wake of December’s Sandy Hook tragedy and threats at FHC, students must be provided with more information when threats arise.

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Taking learning to next level Library makes technological leaps, bounds by adding learning commons

photo by dohen gallagher

By Maddie Newton be heard editor

A

s the years go on, technology is constantly improving and updating. Beginning the new year, Francis Howell Central has jumped on the technological bandwagon and has begun adding technology to the school library. Students now have the ability to make videos for school projects, thanks to the new additions in the library.

The librarians, Mrs. Andrea Head and Mrs. Joan Rigby, had been brewing up a plan to create a video creation station in the library and waited four years for district approval and money to accumulate. This plan was finally confirmed and set to begin at the start of 2013.

There are now three glass cubicles in the library, intended to assist students in the video-making process.

Each area has the same equipment, including an iMac computer, scanner, microphone, Flip video camera, camera, and a green screen, essentially everything a student needs to create a video. Up to four students can work in one of these technology cubes on a project.

Not only does this area have all of the tools involved in video making, each computer has a dual boot system, allowing students to use both Windows and Mac softwares on one computer.

District technician Jason Adams explained students can both use the software they are comfortable with, but

also explore the other to get experience.

This feature will also allow students to use the Adobe softwares to help with creating and designing videos and school projects. These programs separate the simple PCs in the library from the new iMacs.

“This is a business education type of setup. The audio design is a more creative design than the typical computer,” Adams said. “It is a preference for students to which system they want to use, usually what they use at home. Sometimes they want to branch out, but most designs are used by the Mac system.”

Mrs. Patricia Shockley’s students were some of the first to use this area for a commercial project that helped

them advertise and sell virtues from a piece of writing from Benjamin Franklin.

The students are learning to incorporate technology into their regular curriculum through this new library addition.

“Besides learning to work with a variety of technology, students are also collaborating,creating, and presenting a finished product. Without this area, this technology would not be available,” Mrs. Shockley said.

This new area is aimed towards more creative students and teachers, looking to explore new ways to present information, according to Mrs. Rigby.

“A creative, technology-oriented please read more: LEARNING, PAGE 8

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New semester, new schedule Many students course list undergo radical change in order to accommodate students class desires

By Kellie Grezinger staff reporter

With the new year comes new schedules for students. All around the halls for the first few days, people can be seen walking around with schedules and coffee in hand. Second semester brings with it lots of confusion and stress.

Junior Charlie Grant is among the group of people who are getting acquainted with a new schedule.

“My schedule is actually easier this semester.

I just feel like a total freshman trying to find my new classes and remembering not to go to my old ones anymore,” said Grant.

The end of the school year is finally beginning to creep around the corner and become something that seniors can fathom. With this realization, comes changes in schedules to make it more relaxed or to take some crash courses to prepare for college.

Senior Katie Poenicke can relate to those who have taken on a few more relaxed courses

to end the year with.

“I’ve been accepted to the school I want to get into, so this last semester is basically my time to chill out before college. I still have a couple AP classes, but easy electives,” said Poenicke.

Like Poenicke, the majority of seniors have decided to take a similar plan of action.

Senior Emily Ortinau is one of many taking challenging classes, but also taking on a couple of easier electives.

“I wanted to be able to make sure I’m ready for college, but at the same time I don’t want to stress myself out completely,” said Ortinau.

Senior Amy Strassner is one of the noble students still trudging through the school day with a schedule loaded with AP and honors classes.

“I’m taking three AP classes and two honors classes. It’s definitely hard to not get senioritis, but I do think it’s worth it to keep giving school my best shot,” said Strassner.

Changes to students schedules at the semester have become a common occurrence as the Guidance department seeks to accommodate each student’s needs when it comes to the non-core classes they elect to take.

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Source: Missouri State Highway Patrol

By Ben Morrison staff reporter

Once a student reaches the second semester of their sophomore year, they are presented with a unique opportunity: the chance to drive to school. And with the ability to drive comes another opportunity: the chance to get in an accident. No matter how good a student believes their driving skills are, they are still at an incredible risk of getting in an accident around so many new drivers.

For some students, an accident will come sooner than for others. Many students have already been in accidents outside the school this year, and junior Spencer Foust was in one such accident this September.

“I was rear ended, but I had a tow hitch in the back that kept my car safe,” said Foust. “But the other person, the entire front of their car kind of crumpled in like tin foil.”

While the minimal amount of damage sustained by Foust in his accident is uncommon, the situation that caused the accident was not.

“Everyone’s leaving and taking a left out of Central, so you are on this really congested road,” said Foust. “When that stoplight changes abruptly, everybody comes to a sudden stop and, at the end

of that line, somebody’s eventually going to crash.”

The other student involved in the crash, senior Lydia Colvin, recounts the accident happening in almost the same way.

“It was in all of the chaos after school,” said Colvin. “Apparently someone stopped short in front of Spencer, I put my brake on, but I didn’t stop fast enough.”

A crash has more of an effect on a driver than just a dent in a bumper, a hood and a wallet. An accident has a profound effect on a driver’s attentiveness.

“I’m a nervous wreck when I’m a passenger now, and even more so when I’m the driver,” said Colvin. “I guess it’s better, but it gives me a heart attack every few seconds.”

The paranoia extends outside of the car that a student is driving, however.

After their accident, a student starts seeing the bad habits of other drivers.

“I feel like I am seeing more and more bad tendencies that pop up in new drivers at school,” said Foust. “Like bad parking jobs or barreling out of the school.”

There is also a tendency in winter for slippery icicles to fall from the sky, melt and freeze to the roads, decreasing the

Cottleville firefighters wait for a tow truck to arrive at the scene of an accident involving an FHC student in 2010. Though statistics show crashes involving students have dropped, the area surrounding FHC is considered a perilous one by students, especially before and after school.

coefficient of friction and therefore making it more difficult for brakes to decrease the velocity of a motor vehicle. Or, in laymen’s terms, snowfalls in winter and makes it harder for people to stop their cars.

“I think during the winter months the weather can affect it,” said Foust. “ But lately we haven’t been having as much snow as years before so, I feel like that’s going to be much less of a problem.”

The winter season is not the biggest problem though, according to Foust.

The circumstances of the day, more than the weather, seems to increase the risk of accidents.

“The most hazardous it gets is when it’s raining, but it also sort of has to do with the day, much less the season,” said Foust. “I’ve noticed a lot more accidents happen on early release days like finals or Fridays. People have a tendency to

photo by kelci davis

Risk of potential car accidents impacts students

feel the need to get out, so they’re not paying attention at all.”

So, since it’s true that the circumstances of the day dictate the danger, what, if anything, can a student do to reduce their risk of getting in an accident? Short of leaving their car in the driveway, it all rests on improving attentiveness.

“I would say it has to do with paying attention to who’s on the road or paying attention to the lights up ahead,” said Foust.

Besides attentiveness, Colvin says student drivers should also make sure they keep appropriate distance and expect the unexpected.

“Keep a huge distance and always be like, vigilant and pay attention to not just the car in front of you, but the car ahead of the car in front of you,” said Colvin.

“Always keep your head on a swivel.”

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photo by kelci davis

for senior

A parent looks at an AP Bulletin during the Jan. 10 AP Curriculum Night. Teachers and principals attended the night to answer and inform students and parents about the differences students will find in AP classes.

Jiajun Xu, (Justin)

AP Night gives students chance to explore classes

By Claire Richardson staff reporter

In the midst of third quarter with the insanity of classes, homework, and sports, there is the added stress of figuring out next year’s schedule.

For sophomore Alex Brewer, AP Curriculum Night, on Jan. 10, was the chance to get ahead and learn how to save money.

This is the time of year where students, like Brewer, are forced to look beyond high school and confront the scary reality that is the future, all while considering exactly how much homework they can tolerate.

AP classes can help prepare students for college and help them earn college credits, which is helpful for students who have a strong idea of their aspirations.

“I got more information on what classes to take because I want to major in science,” Brewer said.

With information on classes from each department, Brewer decided classes like AP Chemistry and AP Biology would be helpful in his goal. While students still do not know what they want to major in, Principal Sonny Arnel says AP classes are still helpful. “[AP classes are] beneficial because they stretch students beyond regular curriculum.

[They] help develop ... time management, prepare for tests, and help transition [students] to college,” Dr. Arnel said.

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AP Curriculum Night clarified the price tag of different options given to students. The cost of the AP exam is $89, and while often forgotten, there is also the option to apply for advanced credit through Univerity of Missouri-St. Louis or through Lindenwood University, at the cost of $60 per credit.

Earning these credits in college can cost much more; for example, at the University of MissouriColumbia, an undergraduate credit costs $269.40 per hour, according to their website.

The AP Exam is widely accepted at universities throughout the nation, whereas Advanced Credit may not transfer.

However, the amount of credit is based on each university and the score a student receives on the exam. While score is important in determining the amount of credit a student will receive for an AP class, Advanced Placement classes are also important for the admissions process says Guidance Counselor Kris Miller. “[Colleges] know what the student has been exposed to based on a national curriculum.

AP classes help a college to know that a student challenges themselves,” Mr. Miller said.

Students should remember that once enrolled in an AP class, they are not allowed to drop the class until second semester.

two worlds collide

Teacher of the year nominees

Students lack say in

By Tori Cooper staff reporter

Mrs. Jessica Bulva English

Mrs. April Burton World Languages

Mr. Steve Cross Business

Each year the faculty votes on who they believe should be awarded Teacher of the Year. This award goes to the teacher who they believe is the most respected, responsible, and who’s class, they believe, is the most successful academically.

The process is based solely on faculty decision, with minimal student input. Sophomore Kyra Barillier believes students should be allowed to have a say, considering that students are the ones in the classroom. They see how the teacher really interacts with the class.

“I think its strange [not beinging able to have a say] because we are the ones that they have to teach and we would be the best judges of if they

are teaching us well and if the deserve to be the best teacher,” Barillier said.

Students are also the ones who do the work and receive the help from the teacher. The principals only come in every once in awhile to observe the class.

Voting isn’t the only part of the process. Teachers and students are able to nominate a teacher that they believe is worthy enough to have the title. The teachers chosen are then interiewed and have to write a bio about themselves.

After all of that, the committee of two Areté members [faculty members] and two student members of Areté narrow it down to three candidates. At the end, the building staff votes on who is teacher of the year.

By Evan Pagano staff reporter

Communication is key. Everyone has heard the old chiché, yet some Americanborn people might lose sight of the fact that they were brought into this world with the key in hand.

They were shaped with America’s customs, shaped with its culture, and shaped with its language: the key of communication has always been theirs. For senior Jiajun Xu, the key was earned, not given.

Ten years ago, Xu and his mother moved to the United States from the communistgoverned country of China. His mother, Kristen Chen, had just gone through a divorce with Jiajun’s father, and broke away from the bustling Chinese city of Shanghai.

Xu, a third grader at the time, was leaving all he knew: his views, his customs, and his language were seemingly cast away behind the jet trails of his America-bound plane.

“At first it was very exciting, because it was my first time flying on a plane,” Xu said.

“I was excited to go somewhere new and different.”

This brand new landscape proved to be more different than Xu had ever imagined.

Upon landing, he was instantly made aware of how starkly contrary the customs were in the Land of Opportunity.

“When I first got here, I had very different views and cultures than most kids in the US. Some of the things that I was accustomed to were unacceptable here,” Xu said.

The change in pace that came with his move to America was jarring. In addition, the approach to education differed greatly from

“He was a fast learner of English,” what he was accustomed to.

Luckily, Xu did not have to go at this Stegman said. “They teach English at the alone. Kristen remarried shortly after their schools in China at a very young age, and I arrival, tying the knot with a man named Dan think this benefited him greatly.”

Encouragement from Stegman was not Stegman. Stegman, who makes his living as a dental technician, proved to be a big help the only resource Xu had upon arrival. His elementary school, Central Elementary, for young Xu. “[His mother and I] always encouraged offered English for Speakers of Other him to do well in school, and the rest will fall Languages (ESOL) classes to aide students in a situation in place,” Stegman said. such as Xu’s.

Things falling into The program’s place, however, was not goals are to instantaneous.

While help immigrant Xu did well in American I feel more wells t u d e n t s school, there were taller rounded. I’ve “communicate hurdles to hop: not only experienced two effectively in did Xu’s culture differ completely different English (listening, greatly from the widely worlds and now they speaking, reading, accepted customs in come together.” and writing) America, he needed Jiajun Xu {senior} for a variety of to become fluent in a purposes and second language at the audiences,” as age of eight. While he had acquired a basic knowledge of English well as help them “know and understand from his education in China, Xu found it to the culture of the United States ... and be insufficient for everyday living in his new recognize similarities and differences with other cultures.” home.

“In elementary school I had to take special “In China you learn the very proper way of speaking, it’s very systematic,” Xu said. classes. ESOL classes,” he continued, “were “You don’t have real life examples like you classes to help kids who just came here do when you actually hear native speakers from other countries. As time progressed, it got easier and easier, so I didn’t need those speak.”

So while Xu found ease in the education classes.”

Stegman continued to aid Xu along the system of America, the language barrier was a hurdle that he initially struggled to way — both with his cultural transition and clear. Stegman believes that Xu’s prior his schoolwork.

One of his biggest impacts in that education of English helped him get his feet regard may be in the way Xu now signs on the ground.

“

his name. Jiajun, while more ordinary in China, turned out to be difficult to pronounce for English speakers. So with the drastic change in scenery came a change in name as well.

“I go by Justin now,” Xu said. “I actually had another English name before Justin, but my step dad said it was too plain. He gave me a list of names to choose from, and I chose Justin because it had a ‘J’ in it.”

From that point on, “Jiajun” has only appeared on attendance sheets in Xu’s classes: America turned out to bring quite a change. His Chinese culture, however, has not completely fizzled.

“I would say there is a good balance between the two cultures [in my life]. We celebrate some holidays that are Chinesebased and some holidays that are Americanbased, like Christmas and the Chinese New Year,” Xu said.

Stegman, who grew up in America, believes that one should always remember his heritage.

“I believe it is important for someone like Justin to know and hold on to his roots,” Stegman said. “He has the capability of embracing both cultures.”

Xu’s support system, including Stegman and the resources at school, helped make that possible. Now fluent in English and continuing his academic success, he believes that the experience helped shape him as a person.

“I feel more well-rounded,” said Xu. “I’ve experienced two completely different worlds and now they all come together.”

“

by the teachers and without “I guess that the that input it’s like saying advisors and the teachers “Oh, that’s a good teacher,” don’t think that we are I think it’s strange without really backing it up,” capable of choosing the because we are the Dwyer said. right teacher, they think ones that they have Mrs. Amy Zykan. is a we will base it more off of to teach and we faculty member of Arete and personality, but not good would be the best organized this year’s award. teaching,” said sophomore judges.

She sets it up for faculty Elise Thomas. to vote on who they want Junior Evan Dwyer Kyra Barillier {sophomore to receive the title. Zykan said students have the organizes the process this first-hand knowledge to accurately participate in the voting for teacher way so that there isn’t unfair voting.

“If more than three teachers and students were of the year.

“I feel that it’s a little wrong [that students aren’t to vote then the decision would be made on able to have a say] because it’s the students taught popularity rather than the teaching,” Zykan said.

Surrounded by administrators and her students, Mrs. April Burton laughs after being named the 2012-13 teacher of the year Jan. 9 after a vote of the faculty.

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photo by kelci davis

Teacher of the Year

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jump from page 3: LEARNING

teacher [is mostly going to be using this area],” Mrs. Rigby said. “Some teachers are kind of afraid to use this technology but we aren’t. We are here to assist and make sure students know how to use the equipment.”

Mrs. Shockley’s classes are benefitting from this area as they are learning to work together and learn new ways to use technology through their commercial project.

“This area enables teachers and students to use a variety of technology to expand on the curriculum. My students really seemed to enjoy the project and I had an opportunity to work with each

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delve | february 1, 2013

group as a facilitator and get to know my students better,” Mrs. Shockley said.

The school district has made it a goal to teach students how to use different resources than the typical classroom setup, in order to prepare students for their post-high school experience, according to Mrs. Rigby. This addition to the library is one of the first steps to carry out this goal.

“The focus of the district right now is college and career readiness. We are hoping to teach our students how to use something better than a Powerpoint,” Mrs. Rigby said. “Now, we are the pilot program for the district. We will share the products so the district can see how it is being used.”

As this is just the beginning of this new area, the library is hopeful that students will learn from these video making stations and that each teacher will find a way to use them for their own purposes.

“I see it being requested often and I hope students will want that option for school projects,” Mrs. Rigby said.

2013 Seniors (and their parents)

Party Central needs your pictures for the DVD/slideshow for the allnight party!

For details how to submit your photos, please log onto the FHSD website and go to FHC’s website.

Click the For Parents tab, choose Parents Club 2013, then the Party Central Info tab on the left.

The submission date has been extended to 3/4/2013. All Party Central attendees will receive a copy of the DVD! Questions - contact René Killpack at 636 578 3740 or at partycentralpics@yahoo.com

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Raupin’ dimes Varsity shooting guard is a scorekeeper’s nightmare in her debut year

By Evan Pagano

T

staff reporter

he hum of a silent microphone reverberates through the gymnasium, and the chatter of arriving parents and students begins to hush.

As the night’s PA announcer — social studies teacher Nick Beckmann — lists the lineup of the visiting Fort Zumwalt West varsity girl’s basketball team, freshman shooting guard Emma Raup sits on the Spartan bench in anticipation.

The starting players for the Jaguars have all been read off, and Raup wipes the sweat from her hands. Each of her

fellow starters are introduced, and soon it is her turn. “... The 5’6” guard, number 25 ...” is her cue. Her trot down the alleyway of her teammates starts with a spin and ends with a slight, humble grin as she gives a double low-five to her teammate at the end of the line.

Unknowing onlookers might pass the blonde-haired freshman girl off as a petite, possibly fragile player. Raup has made it a habit of proving them, as well as other doubters, wrong.

Only a freshman, Raup is defying common logic. Prior to this game against the rival Jaguars, she has played in each and every game for

the varsity girls basketball team in her debut year.

This is no small feat: from the season’s first game, the scrappy shooting guard has shared the court with much bigger and more experienced players, and has not shied away from the physicality their experience brings.

“I play faster now,” said Raup, speaking on how her game has changed since entering high school.

“And I’m more aggressive because the older girls are kind of mean.”

Her added speed and aggression shows. Each time the Jaguars add points, Raup blazes down the court

with her hand in the air, her white headband holding the whipping of her long, blonde hair to a minimum.

Her white uniform whooshes past Head Coach Brian Ricker, perched forward in his chair, hands clasped, watching his budding star intently.

“When [senior guard] Kristen Warncke went down, I asked Emma to become more deeply involved in the offense,” Ricker said. “I asked her to increase the number of shots she took and to be sure and attack the basket.

Since then she has averaged double figures in points virtually every night.” please read more: RAUP, PAGE 10

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Warncke, who had her senior season cut short with a torn ACL early in the schedule, still attends every game she can. From their initial meeting, Warncke felt confident Raup would have success.

“I actually met her at our camp this summer for the younger girls,” Warncke said of her fellow Spartan. “She definitely stood out right away... she’s a really good ball handler and a really good shooter.

You can just tell that she’s way above her grade the first time you see her play.”

Raup’s striking talent has translated into points, especially since her role was expanded in the wake of Warncke’s injury. In the nine games since Warncke’s ACL tear on Dec. 22, Raup has averaged 13.4 points per game, a significant jump from her still respectable 7.9 average in the games prior to Warncke’s injury.

Raup attributes a great deal of her success to the help she has received from Warncke. Not only did Warncke help her from a basketball standpoint, but she made her feel like part of the Spartan family.

“Kristen got me really comfortable with the team over the summer,” Raup said gratefully. As the clock ticks on, this level of comfort shows.

Ricker leans back, one leg over the other, and contemplates a strategy as his Lady Spartans trail 17-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Raup, frustrated by her scoreless start, drops down on her chair as Coach Ricker explains the plan of attack. Sweat and determination have coated Raup’s face.

“She plays with a passion, with tremendous energy,” Ricker said.

“Emma loves basketball, plays hard and wants to improve.”

That passion and energy is evident up and down the court as the second quarter gets underway. On the defensive end, she actively defends her side of the court, and smacks her hands together in approval with each Spartan score. Each time she gets her chance on offense, her mind is set on one objective.

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photo by brittany thomsen

jump from page 9: RAUP

Focusing on the basket, freshman Emma Raup lines up a free throw.

With the injury to senior Kristen Warncke, Raup has embraced a larger role on the team, increasing her scoring average by more than five points per game.

“Shoot, score, dribble, drive,” her practice as a child. Raup, Raup said, explaining her duty as a who started playing basketball in shooting guard. She takes that job the third grade, spent many an seriously: Raup has shot, scored, afternoon shooting hoops with her dribbled and drove her way to being older brother, Henry. These hoop a very close second on the team in sessions, Emma says, helped her points with 184. That total trails only immensely.

“We played one-on-one and he senior Grace Wade, with 185.

Raup stares down the opposing just passed the ball and rebounded for me when point guard I shot,” Raup i n t e n t l y, said. “Going crouching up against as the ball him one-onmoves closer She plays with a one, he was to the Spartan passion and bigger and I side of the tremendous energy. think it helped court.

She Emma loves with my tenaciously basketball, plays hard confidence.” defends the and wants to improve.

Confident ball, swiftly Brian Ricker {coach she is. After gliding around some nifty the floor, until finally the Spartans gain possession. moves in the paint, the freshman Raup is dished the rock, and her sees an opening. Just as she raises impressive ball handling is instantly the ball for a shot, she is fouled. The on display. According to Ricker, this silence in the gym is deafening as she steps toward the free throw line, is one of her best assets.

“She can beat any defender off the a simple task in mind.

“Just arch the ball and get it in.” dribble,” Ricker said, emphasizing Raup accepts the ball from the “any.” “Emma, at times, is virtually referee. She dribbles once, digs her unstoppable.”

This skill may root from from front foot in place, and dribbles once

“

more. The ball hitting the paint, the crowd’s anticipation, and the opposing team’s chatter may have made noise, but Raup’s perfect shot swishing through the net did not make a sound.

Number 25 did not stop there.

While the Spartans trailed for the majority of the game, Raup tirelessly added points to the scoreboard.

One point came from an additional free throw. Later in the second quarter, an aggressive route to the basket ended as a three-point play, as she capitalized on the foul with a swish. Late in the game, she hit a pretty mid-range jumper to the delight of the crowd. In addition to her personal success, however, Raup’s teamwork shined bright.

“We all bond really well and stuff, especially me, Grace [Wade], and Katy [Gerler]. We all know where we are on the court,” Raup said.

That chemistry with her teammates has put Raup at second on the team in assists this season, with 23.

In stylish fashion, Raup capped off her ten-point showing against the Jaguars with a bang. After receiving the ball out on the perimeter, Raup made a move to her right, cut

back and saw an opening. Like she has on eleven prior occasions this season, she lofted an arching three-pointer directly through the net, never touching the rim. While the Lady Spartans hung their head in loss that night, things continue to look up for young Emma Raup.

“As a junior and senior, Emma could be one of the top one or two players in the conference and one of the best in the metro area,” said Ricker. “Her future in basketball is unlimited.”

Warncke offered similar remarks.

“The sky’s the limit for her. She’s already at a high level as a freshman and she’s just going to get better every single year. If she keeps working hard she’s going to be at an extremely high level and it’s going to be really hard to stop her as a senior,” Warncke said, confidently.

Raup, humble in her ways, is hesitant to compliment herself. She does, however, recognize that every point she scores makes a statement.

“Everybody looks down on me because I’m the freshman, but I go in there and try to prove that I am a varsity player,” Raup said. “Because at the end of the day you’re a varsity player like everyone else.”

out FLIPPING

By Cody Jones Sweat Editor

To any viewer, Friday’s Fox 2 news broadcast was nothing out of the ordinary. A quick recap of the Cardinals victory over the Astros, fresh developments concerning a new smoking ban, and the regularly scheduled prepcast. All viewed half heartedly by a stayat-home in need of some morning coffee viewing pleasure. But across the way at said prepcast, a student was emerging from the Spartan darkness into full blown exposure, complete with a camera crew and Tim Ezell.

Junior Jake Shepard’s memorable performance at the Friday morning Homecoming pep rally is etched in students minds, and left those same students wondering “Where’d this kid come from”?

The flipping phenom’s moment in the spotlight came less than a year after he began training, all due to a random compliment from a church goer.

“I did a backflip off of a bench and [Hannah Mackenzie] was like, you should join cheerleading. So I decided to try it out,” Shepard said.

Shepard’s small parkour background proved to be useful as he refined his craft. He headed to Flipside Gymnastics to learn the ropes.

“I just wanted to do a backflip, but I went to open gym and they taught me everything,” he said. In less than a year, Shepard was able to learn everything at Flipside that he would need to tryout for the FHC varsity cheerleading squad.

His quest began at cheer camp. From the onset, he left an positive impressive on his coaches. “ What impressed me most was his lack of fear, he would try anything. At camp, the instructors would show him something one time, and he would try it, and have it down after just a few attempts. It was very impressive,” said varsity cheer coach Angeline O’Neal.

After a little training, Shepard became a member of the squad.

The advancements Shepard have made have him tumbling toward a successful future.

His focus remains on his team, however.

With the winter season winding down, he is expected to continue benefiting the team, while also building on his talent.

“He is like a clean slate, full of talent, just waiting to hone and refine his skill,” said O’ Neal.

With his youth and dedication, there are potentially great things on the horizon, a far cry from a park bench at church.

As the lone male on the cheerleading squad, junior Jake Shepard already draws a lot of attention, but his tumbling skills keep it on him.

Shepard joined the cheerleading team after being persuaded by friend Hannah Mackenzie.

photo by kelci davis

Jake Shepard makes name for himself during televised broadcast of Homecoming pep rally

Howell rivalry goes viral, hitting Twitter timelines

By Jeremy Karp staff reporter

The Howell/Central rivalry has been one of the most intense rivalries in St. Charles county over the past decade. For example, the Vikings have defeated the Spartan football team every year since 2008, after the Spartans had a fouryear streak of defeating their rival.

However, the battles on the field are starting to become overshadowed by the battles off the field.

A couple weeks ago, Twitter accounts were being made by FHC students, which were aimed at either giving compliments or others deemed inappropriate.

This prompted a student at Howell to write a tweet insulting the Spartan’s football team on Twitter. That tweet angered sophomore Dyllan Lindsey, who is a member of the football team.

“I lost my mind when I saw the tweet,” Lindsey said. “I feel like Howell students act like they are superior than we are, which is not true at all,” Lindsey said.

In actuality, all the Twitter accounts that were made by students is what led to the start of the “web war,” but the decade long rivalry made it less business and more personal for some people. Students from both schools began sending insulting tweets towards each other.

“This rivalry has been a tradition for both schools for a long time, and social media gives both schools a new place to argue on,” Lindsey added.

Not everyone, however, participated in the war of tweets. Sophomore Corey McCoy, a close friend of Lindsey, actually tried to get his fellow teammate to stop tweeting at Howell students.

“Corey tried to calm me and a couple others down, because we all believed on settling the battle on the football field,” Lindsey said.

Senior Derrick Puni knows what it’s like to deal with heckling Howell students, both on and off social media, being a basketball and football player.

Puni actually is a fan of the war on Twitter, because he believes it’s a great attention grabber.

“I like it because I feel like it hypes the games we play against Howell more,” Puni said.

“Everybody is going back and forth online and it creates more anticipation for the matchups we have.”

Puni says personally, he hasn’t been insulted on Twitter by Howell students, but he has seen his teammates take the heat from them, both online and after the game.

The “war” lasted for three hours, and when it was over, hundreds of tweets were sent back and forth between students at Howell and Central.

For more than a decade, Howell and Central have been at each other’s throats in the battle for school supremacy, and Lindsey believes that the Twitter war has ignited new flames in the rivalry.

“With Twitter, I think a spark has been added to the rivalry that both us and Howell have had for so long,” Lindsey said.

Puni believes more people will show up to sporting events between the two schools because of the Twitter war.

“I think it is more hyped because everyone tweets about it, and word gets out about the rivalry, then they find out about the games we play against them, and other people get into it,” Puni said.

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Youth gives team hope

Sophomore Jacob Gajewski claps his hands in satisfaction in a meet versus Holt. The youth of the team is building up its talent for the years to come, as underclassmen like sophomores Joey Ziegler, Tate Bennett and Gajewski get more matches in place of injured upperclassmen.

By Ben Berberich staff reporter

Injuries, excruciatingly painful and one of the worst things that could happen to any high school team or athlete.

FHC’s wrestling team seems to have been plagued with strange and unusual injuries this year. At the beginning of the year, the team had at least seven starters out with either leg or arm injuries. One of those seven starters was senior Chris Stagl.

“In a match I dislocated my shoulder and tore a ligament, which put me out of the team’s season for about a month,” said Stagl.

The team faced many other injuries like this at the beginning of the season. With many of the starters out of the lineup, people who were not as experienced at the upper level got to start in matches.

This may have factored in to the way the season started for the team. Even though with a rough start many on the team feel that their season is coming together quite nicely.

“It’s been going well, we are mainly made up of sophomores and we are

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beating some of the good teams and youth program.

This is a way for coaches and students were growing as a team,” sophomore to meet before they get to high school Joey Ziegler said.

The team consists of 11 sophomores and play for FHC. Some students start as of right now, young compared to as young as first grade and go until their most of the schools that they are facing. freshman year.

Also, the team has a very big sense The teams the team goes up against are still the teams they faced three of bonding. With having a lot of sophomores years ago when there seems to the wrestling team be more of a made it to state, bond between so facing tougher I feel by the time we them because opponents is not are seniors, we will they are in the producing a very be a state team and same grade. The good record, but it will be state-bound upperclassmen may be producing for the school. also bond well something else. with the younger “Some of the Joey Ziegler {sophomore generation of the kids know what team, according we expect in terms to Stagl. of work ethic, and “They are pretty cool all of them are others joining the team and being on freshman and JV have to learn and good kids, I’m one of the only seniors adjust to this, but everyone is adjusting and I see them really as any other and producing what we ask of them.” teammate,” Stagl said.

Bonding of teammates is what Coach Steve Cross said.

Luckily for the younger wrestlers almost coaches love to see, because usually it all of them have gone through the team’s produces hard work. Hard work will pay

“

off eventually in matches.

“We try to take the pressure off of them, our expectations is it’s not about wins or loses but if you go out there and gave your best for seven minutes, thats what we want to see,” Coach Cross said.

The team has been able to beat wrestlers that they had not expected to beat this year with such a young team and also has been able to beat teams that they had not expected to beat. The upcoming talent on this team, in the eyes of the coaches, could take them back to state if they keep up this good work ethic. Not only do the coaches see it but the players do as well.

“I feel by the time we are seniors we will be a state team and will be state bound for the school,” Ziegler said.

The team will lose only one senior next year from the team this year which will help the team learn the strengths and weaknesses of the players since most of them will remain on varsity for the following year. By next year or two years from now the team will be looking to make another state run and bring home the state championship.

photo by brittany thomsen

Younger generation brings work ethic, enthusiasm after seniors suffer rash of injuries on mat

JONES

PAGANO

BECK

THREE THREE ON

Each month, three sports writers from the central focus staff will tackle a trio of topics that are burning up the world of sports

SUPER BOWL The 47th installment pits the San Franscisco 49ers against the Baltimore Ravens.

RUSSIAN

Blues rookie forward Vladimir Tarasenko has made an early statement in the NHL.

STAN THE MAN No. 6 passed away at the age of 92 on Jan. 19, leaving St. Louis Cardinal fans distraught.

CODY JONES: Two ball clubs in the opposite ends of their prime. The Ravens are lead by three defenders with 35 seasons of experience (Ngata, Lewis, Reed). The Niners defense is youthful and furious with no glaring weaknesses.

The game will come down to the offenses. I like Joe Flacco to hook up with Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith for scores. Colin Kaepernick will keep the game close, but Justin Tucker will seal it with clutch field goals. Ravens 23 Niners 17.

CODY JONES: Seriously, what is up with all these rookies and their ridiculously hot starts lately? Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, RG3, Andrew Luck and about a dozen more. Add the Blues Vladimir Tarasenko to the mix. He looks like a seasoned vet out on the ice, and after such a great start in his first four games (four goals, two assists), everyone’s expectations are high, and for good reason. In the age of the rookie, Tarasenko only adds to the youthful flair.

CODY JONES: One of the greatest hitters in MLB history, Stan ‘The Man’ Musial leaves behind a legacy that the city of St. Louis will cherish and admire for years on end. His records are nearly unattainable. Words do not do his impact justice. And although his playing days are long gone, St. Louis will miss the man that Stan was.

BLAKE BECK: San Francisco’s No. 3 defense will prove too much for Flacco and the reborn Ravens offense. Expect a defensive battle with the 49ers run game — thanks to big runs from Frank Gore and the scrambling quarterback Colin Kaepernick — prevailing in the end and getting the best of Baltimore’s aging defense.

Ray Lewis’ 17-year career will unfortunately come to a dreary demise.

BLAKE BECK: Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko started off his professional hockey career in impressive fashion, notching two goals and an assist in his first game. The rookie hasn’t slowed down and is looking like a potential rookie of the year contender, keyword being potential. Don’t expect the Russian to play at this high of a level all season. NHL defenses will begin to clamp down on the Blues’ biggest threat.

BLAKE BECK: Although I never had the privilege of seeing him play, I once did a project on Stan Musial in fifth grade. Since then, I hold him in high regard. My favorite Cardinal of all-time after Albert Pujols (come on, I grew up watching him play), Stan the Man was without a doubt the best Cardinal of all time, and it’s a shame our generation never saw him play. Here’s to baseball’s perfect warrior; baseball’s perfect knight. Rest in peace, Stan Musial.

EVAN PAGANO: The 49ers are what the Ravens were supposed to be. They have a stout, smothering defense that ranked in in the top five in defending the run and the pass during the regular season. To boot, their offense received a spark when they brought in the secondyear scrambling sensation Colin Kaepernick.

The electric Baltimore Ravens have notched emotional victories left and right, and won’t be stopped. Ravens win the Super Bowl.

EVAN PAGANO: Looks like we’ve got a star on our hands. Fresh out of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, Vladimir Tarasenko has flashed greatness as the shortened NHL season begins, chilling near the top in points through the first six games. Whether or not this eye-opening pace of production continues, it looks like the Blues have lighting in a bottle with this young gun from Yaroslavl, Russia. Can you imagine what he can do in a full season?

EVAN PAGANO: Stan Musial was the epitome of loyalty in a business riddled with men making “business decisions.” For 22 years, “The Man” played professional baseball at a historically high level, and he was a Cardinal in each. All while other teams attempted to lure him with dollar signs, Musial never once skipped town for a few extra dollars. So incredible stats aside, No. 6 is the greatest Cardinal ever because he valued his city as much as it valued him.

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Welcome back students! visit our newest location at 308 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters 636.278.2605 Contact us about fundraising opportunities: marketing.orangeleaf@gmail.com!

Tune in to FHCtoday.com today for Episode 4 of iFocus.

You will see stories on: The progress the Studsations are making.

How game themes are chosen.

An update on what’s going on in Activities.

Thursdays 7:00 pm The REALM

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{the scene} vital

vocals

By Emily Klohr

Esther Davis works hard to attain dream of becoming an opera singer

staff reporter

Mrs. Elisabeth Baird plays a chord on the piano. Conversations stop, and all eyes turn to her. She asks her students to sing the solfege scale, and in the midst of all the voices is one that really stands out. It sounds like a mature woman, not a high school freshman.

As warm-ups continue, this young woman switches out of social mode and into work mode. She begins to focus on the music, and concentrates to ignore the distracting chatter from people who use choir as a blow-off class.

To her, it most definitely is not.

Freshman Esther Davis has been singing since she could talk.

Even as a young child, she thoroughly enjoyed music. In third grade, she joined the St. Charles County Youth Choir (SCCYC), and her friends there encouraged her to join the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), a fine arts theatre that focuses mostly on dance.

When she was younger, Esther wanted to be a writer and record her own pop music, but switched to classical music after hearing a woman sing at Powell Hall a few years ago. She started training her voice for opera music three years ago, and has been doing shows through Winter Opera in St. Louis and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis for a little over a year.

Esther practices at least three times a week on her own, and has private voice lessons once a week. She has SCCYC rehearsal once a week from the middle of August until early June, and rehearses every night when she has a theatre or opera show coming up.

Esther has been in 21 SCCYC concerts, eight school concerts, two COCA shows, one show with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, three shows with Winter Opera in St. Louis, and one school musical. Including little performances she picks up throughout the year, Esther performs about ten times a year.

Freshman Katrina Krieg has been friends with Esther since the beginning of middle school and is also involved in choir.

“Singing has made Esther more mature, and she has more confidence than most people her age,” Krieg said. “All of her performances are spectacular. You can really see the work that goes in.”

When Esther is emotional, whether it be good or bad, she wants to sing.

Some people write or run when they get upset, but Esther sings, because it takes please read more: ESTHER, PAGE 17

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Ways to ask

By Erika Paar

StuCo reintroduces winter Homecoming

Send them a pizza that says, “Will you go to the dance with me?” in your choice of toppings.

By Emily Klohr staff reporter

On February 23rd, Student Council will be hosting a winter homecoming. Seniors wanted another dance, and thought it would be cool to bring the winter homecoming back. An online vote taken by students decided the dance would be formal.

“We haven’t done a winter homecoming in a while, and it would be different to bring it back,” said junior Hayley Lechner.

Freshmen and sophomores were also disappointed that they only get one dance, while juniors and seniors have prom. StuCo decided this would be a new way to incorporate another dance, while also raising money for the Make-AWish foundation. Lechner and junior Sean Earl, members of StuCo, are in charge of planning the dance.

“The dance will be fun, and it’s also for a good cause because the money is going to Make-AWish,” said Earl.

Write out “Sadie Hawkins Dance?” on cupcakes.

Text each letter of “Will you go to the dance with me?” one at a time.

Spell it out in Post-its on their car.

Make a scavenger hunt and on every clue write a letter to spell out “Sadies?”

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“My dress is short, but not too short, and is lacy with lots of sparkles.” { Hayley Lechner } junior

History of Sadie Hawkins Dance The Sadie Hawkins Dance originated in the late 1930’s from the Li’l Abner comic strip with the character Sadie Hawkins. Sadie Hawkins Day would fall on any given day in November. On this day all of the unmarried women in Dogpatch would chase the bachelors and “marry up” the ones they caught.

“This isn’t my exact outfit, but I’ll wear something like this.” { Sean Earl } junior

Gender roles switch with Sadie Hawkins

By Erika Paar staff reporter

Normally, high school students are totally stoked about Homecoming. However, sometimes something happens and for an unfortunate reason they are unable to go to the dance. Sad, right?

This is the nightmare of students all over the country. The sad thing is that they will miss one of the few high school dances they will get to experience.

StuCo has come up with a solution

to make it up to the students that were unable to come to Homecoming: a winter Homecoming. But this will not be just any run of the mill dance; no, it will be a Sadie Hawkins dance.

Many students have mixed opinions on Sadie Hawkins dances, in which girls have to do the work and ask guys instead of the traditional guys ask girls.

Junior Jocelyn Thro thinks the dance is a great idea, whether it be because it takes some of the pressure off the guys, or gives

the girls a chance to ask.

“It is fair because guys pay for the other dances like homecoming and prom, so this gives the girls a chance to pay,” said Thro.

The whole point of a Sadie Hawkins dance is to give the girls a chance to ask someone.

“It’s cool because it is different than what we usually do, but I am too scared to ask someone,” said freshman Kaleigh Zehnle.

The dance is scheduled for Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the large gym.

Freshmen earn roles in play Three freshmen were cast in lead roles in this year’s spring musical, “Kiss Me Kate.”

Esther Davis, Emily Turner and Rachel Weideg are all nervous, but thrilled, with their upcoming roles.

- Erin Rowland

“I didn’t expect to get Kate at all. I was going to be happy if I got anything.”

“I was sitting refreshing my Facebook page to find the cast list... I ran up to my mom’s room and I was like, “Mom, I got a part!”

{Esther Davis } freshman

{ Rachel Weideg } freshman

had successful results, and finds singing enjoyable and fun.

“It’s not like a video game, where you continue playing until you win, and then start a new game,” Esther said. “You can always add to it.”

On top of singing, Esther loves playing the piano, and would like to jump from page 15: ESTHER learn how to play guitar and ukulele.

When Esther is emotional, When she isn’t rehearsing, Esther whether it be good or bad, she enjoys talking to her friends, school wants to sing. Some people write theatre, and is very involved with or run when they get upset, but Venture Crew (a co-ed version of Esther sings, because it takes a lot Boy Scouts that goes camping and participates in of energy and social activities is a good way in the area). for her to relieve She loves singing, Esther does stress. and she isn’t the a lot to keep “After I type of person to up with school go through give up on and rehearsals. a dramatic something she Both operas p e r s o n a l are for adults, experience, loves.

Katrina Krieg {freshman so the practices usually a painful are late at one, I write song lyrics. Singing makes me happy, night, and all day in the summer. so I put all my energy into singing, It’s difficult for her to manage and it cheers me up,” Esther said. rehearsals, school, and her social “Also, I sing when I’m excited. Lots life during shows.

“I went to see Esther perform in of people would want to jump and scream, but I literally dance around Alice in Wonderful (through Opera Theatre of St. Louis) last summer, my house singing.”

Singing takes a lot of focus, effort, and she did a great job,” said and hard work from Esther. She has freshman Emily Eastman, a friend

“

“It’s kind of overwhelming.

This is the first big role I’ve had and I’ve been in theatre since second grade.” { Emily Turner } freshman

of Esther’s.

Mr. Patrick Keller, the choir director at Saeger Middle School, worked with Esther from third to eighth grade in SCCYC and school choir.

“Esther definitely works hard during rehearsals. She takes music seriously and on a more mature level than many students her age,” Mr. Keller said. “She goes above and beyond what she is required to do.”

Esther plans on continuing her vocal training through high school and into college, and would like to travel the world as an opera singer.

“Esther has a lot of motivation when it comes to music,” Krieg said. “She loves singing, and she isn’t the type of person to give up on something she loves.”

Warm-ups conclude, and Mrs. Baird switches into the choir’s concert music. Esther sings her heart out, using her facial expressions and voice to tell the story of each song.

Class ends, and Esther puts her music away. Conversations erupt as everyone walks to the buses, but Esther continues humming as she walks through the halls and into the outside world.

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playlist

Love, love, love With Valentine’s Day approaching rapidly, Blake takes a listen at some of the classic love songs you’ll be hearing in the next couple weeks.

by Blake Beck

“Careless Whisper”

by George Michael

The sexy sax solo serenades the soul, with the cherry on top being the exhilarating line “So I’m never gonna dance again, the way I danced with you.”

“Romeo and Juliet”

by Dire Straits

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You know it’s a true love song with a title like “Romeo and Juliet.” This cute little thing will definitely get you in the Valentine’s Day mood.

“Can’t Fight This Feeling”

by REO Speedwagon If you don’t know how to break it to your crush about how much you’re into them, just sit them down and sing this bad boy. They’ll love it.

“Total Eclipse of the Heart”

by Bonnie Tyler

To get fi t: • go to th • maint e gym ain healt hy diet • plan e xercise routine

stay FOCUSED on goals

Sometimes I like to sing this to my dogs in my bedroom, but it’d probably be more effective if performed in the presence of a significant other.

“I Remember You”

by Skid Row How come all good love songs are about break-ups? Why is this even on a Valentine’s Day playlist?

“I Want To Know What Love Is”

by Foreigner The infamous line “I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me” is perfect to sing to that special someone in the middle of Olive Garden.

remember to turn in all homework!

“Time After Time”

by Cyndi Lauper It’s not a love playlist without Cyndi Lauper. The way she sings, “If you fall I will catch you, I’ll be waiting/Time after time.” Gets me time after time.

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

by Poison You can feel the heartbreak in Bret Michaels’ vocals, which sends chills down your spine. This is the antithesis to Valentine’s Day.

“Don’t Know What You Got”

by Cinderella

This one’s for all those who will be spending Valentine’s Day fresh off a break-up. Tom Keifer says it best: “You don’t know what you got, till it’s gone.”

“Love Stinks” by J. Geils Band Maybe you’re just one of those people that spends Valentine’s Day by yourself. Every year.

Just like me. Hey, ladies.

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y: ls e n mo s goa e av ving f s To t sa ck o e • s ep tra gs e • k endin on sp back ut ding c

• n spe

don’t give up! for any goal: have the right attitude!

stay organized

To los e • eat weight: lots o f fruits and v • say eggies “no” t o swee • exe ts rcise regula rly

Maintaining momentum:

New Year’s resolutions

By Abbie Kaplan staff reporter

The New Year is often ushered in with feelings of bittersweet nostalgia and anxious anticipation. With this excitement of a fresh start in the air, people often set goals or, as they are more commonly referred to around that time of year, New Year’s resolutions. But as 2013 is swept into the folds of everyday life, it can become a challenge to maintain our focus.

“Sometimes we get away from [New Year’s resolutions],” said Mrs. Christy Gerling, one of the school nurses at FHC. Time is usually at fault when it comes to incompletion, but sometimes resolutions such as getting fit or improving grades do not take more than ten extra minutes a day. For example, instead of scrutinizing the parking lot for the closest spot to the building, a student should try parking farther away just to get those few extra steps in everyday. When it comes to

grades, if a teacher offers a key to check answers, a student could get there before school to make sure what they have is correct.

Senior Matt Peterson sees New Year’s resolutions as a tactic to stay focused.

“I intend to continue doing well in school by staying persistent,” said Peterson.

He believes that just staying persistent is a good way to accomplish a goal. And maybe, at times, we could all use a little more persistence.

Singles

Awareness Day

By Claire Richardson staff reporter

It’s that time of year again. The one day of the year when relationship status defines who you are: Valentine’s Day. So whether you are taken or if you are ridin’ solo, you deserve to be happy this Valentine’s Day. Here are seven ideas for all the single people out there:

1. Simply pretend it is just another Thursday. Go to school and go about your daily business and ignore all the talk photo by kelci davis

2. Hate on every happy-looking couple as they walk hand-in-hand down the hallway. High school relationships never last anyway, right?

A sculpture student prepares an art piece for the Fine Arts Festival. The festival will take place Feb. 1 at FHC.

Festival showcases talent Fine Arts Festival allows art students to share art with community

By Ben Berberich Staff Reporter

Planning tables, booths, times and everyone’s schedules, senior Brittany Myers has a lot of work to get done for FHC’s art display at the Fine Arts Festival.

Since the beginning of the year, Myers and her partners in the National Art Honor Society have been planning for this festival.

The festival serves two purposes according to art teacher and sponsor of the National Art Honor Society, Mrs. Judy Switzer: it is a celebration of fine arts within the school, and it is also a way to advocate for the arts within the school, the district and the community, as it is a good way to get the parents, public and community to see the fine arts in our school.

“Most of the artwork that is going to be auctioned is made by the National Art Honor Society students, but the art that is being displayed is mostly art students from around the school,” said Myers.

For the other Fine Arts departments, students will be able to watch different skits that are going to be performed by The Spotlight Players, while the band and choir will be performing different pieces of music. The stage in the auditorium is where theater, band, and choir will be performing.

This time on the stage will be broken down

so that each group will have a chance on the stage.

“We will be having most likely short group skits or small one acts and maybe even some improv,” said senior Andrew Henke.

One thing you won’t find in bulk at this festival is art teachers. The festival is fully student run. Spotlight Players provide students who volunteer to work their booth; band has winter drumline and jazz band perform; and choir also has their students perform. For the art department, all of the volunteers are students who are involved in the National Art Honor Society. They are really the ones who run the show on the night of the event.

“I personally will be working at the caricature booth, and I’m pretty excited to be working there,” said Myers.

According to the Fine Arts teachers, this art festival is a good way to get the school more information about the Fine Arts department.

At FHC, you only need one fine art credit to graduate from the school. Some teachers feel that this downplays the importance of art in a student’s life.

As artists, their main goal is to get their art out to the community and show people what they have produced. One way for them to get their work out is to display it at a festival much like the one at FHC. Spotlight players

are always looking to get new people to come to their shows to see what they have to give.

“I think that it is a good marketing technique; it definitely gives good publicity and good environment for theater,” said Henke.

The festival is also an opportunity to raise money for the Bill Hearst memorial scholarship. This scholarship was created by fine art teachers to remember the man who started the art department at FHC. “Most of the teachers were mentored either as high school students or as college students by Bill Hearst, and we really wanted to do something to remember him by, so we created this scholarship fund,” said art teacher and friend of Bill Hearst, Mrs. Michelle McCune.

The scholarship fund is given to one student each year chosen by the Fine Arts department. The money is raised either by people buying the art that is showcased at the festival or at an auction where people can buy art that is set aside strictly to auction off. The festival is one of the best ways for students to get their artwork out to the public. This is going to be the second type of art festival that includes the auction and the ability to buy artwork. The festival is from 6-9 p.m tonight at FHC.

3. Have a ‘date’ with your ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’. For example: Channing Tatum, Justin Bieber, Megan Fox, or Taylor Swift.

4. Enjoy the company of other single people with a Ladies or Bro Night at a restaurant of your choice. Make fun of all the couples at surrounding tables.

5. Watch a sad movie, like The Notebook, and enjoy the company of Ben and Jerry.

6. Buy yourself a box of chocolates, you deserve it.

7. Go on a spending spree and buy yourself some happiness.

8. Listen to sappy love songs and tell yourself that your special someone just got a little lost. A good one is “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes: sad, yet still hopeful.

9. Realize that Valentine’s Day is just a secret plot by Hallmark to make money.

10. Accept the fact that you are single on Valentine’s Day and move on with your life. fhctoday.com | the scene

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Foxygen takes listeners on psychedelic trip “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic”

By Blake Beck staff reporter

Foxygen’s name really says it all. The psychedelic duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado have a penchant for going over-the-top, just as their name suggests.

The two prefer to spend their free time vying for a In The Darkness partnership with Jansport — they did get a response from a Jansport representative — and retweeting all No Destruction of their haters. This whimsical behavior is certainly mirrored on the band’s 2012 EP “Take the Kids Off On Blue Mountain Broadway,” an ambitious project with every nook and cranny filled with noise and potential.

San Francisco “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic,” the band’s second release, Bowling Trophies is a much more refined, coherent album that still manages to maintain what was so special Shuggie about “Take the Kids Off Broadway:” the visible influence of 1960s rock innovators. From Lou Oh Yeah Reed to The Kinks, “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors” is one big homage to the artists We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors who shaped France and Rado’s music.

The most pronounced influence is without of Peace & Magic a doubt Bob Dylan, whose poetic lyrics and conversational vocals, as well as his Oh No 2 straightforward guitar riffs, are emulated in tracks such as “No Destruction” and “San Francisco.”

Rado even bears a slight resemblance to Dylan himself, although it might just be the hair.

The rest of “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace of Magic” is really a who’s

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who of 1960s rock. There’s a dash of The Doors, primarily on the title track, which is the modern day “Break On Through (To the Other Side).” The track’s rambunctious sound signals the band has maintained its raucousness seen in “Take the Kids Off Broadway” and proves the duo is capable of tackling just about any musical style.

“Oh Yeah,” the band’s tour de force, and “On Blue Mountain,” the album’s most dynamic and zealous piece, are two other tracks that are chock full of influences. Whether it’s the belching vocals reminiscent of Jim Morrison, or the almost raspy sound akin to Mick Jagger, Foxygen’s tribute to rock legends does an exemplary job of showcasing France’s wide vocal range.

But, of course, Foxygen will receive comparisons to some of its contemporaries. One such modern day group is MGMT, whose sophomore album “Congratulations” served as a time machine that took us to the days of Pink Floyd and Television Personalities, not so different from “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic.”

Not only are these two groups mimicking the groups of yesteryear, but France’s voice is almost a dead ringer of Andrew VanWyngarden’s, the lead singer of MGMT. The similarities are striking in “Shuggie,” which is a track one may have mistaken to have been on MGMT’s last album.

With all this talk of legendary artists, however, it’s easy to get the vibe that Foxygen is just one of those goofy 1980s tribute bands that performs at your local

bowling alley, sans the cheesy Poison covers.

The band’s name certainly doesn’t help its cause, and neither does the running inside jokes seen within “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace of Magic.” Take, for example, the line from “No Destruction,” where France casually proclaims, “There’s no need to be an *******, you’re not in Brooklyn anymore.” And don’t forget the line from “Shuggie,” where he sings ”I met your daughter the other day, that was weird,” which comes off as almost tongue-in-cheek.

Maybe France and Rado really are that 1980s tribute band. With a name like Foxygen — the album name is also a doozy — and the aforementioned subliminal “jokes,” it’s quite possible these kids are pulling a fast one on us.

If they are, they sure are pulling it off quite nicely.

An album that’s a beautiful blend of psych rock, folk, and whatever else you want to throw in there, in addition to a closing track like “Oh No 2,” which leaves you with a genuine and downto-earth line, “If you believe in love/Everything you see is love/So try to be what God wants you to be/And say that I love you/Again,” is surely a perfect disguise. It makes you wonder — maybe these guys really are for real.

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{be heard}

Discs before downloads Cody Jones describes the value of CD’s compared to digital downloads

L

ast summer, I woke up to a nice breeze blowing through my window. It was one of those pleasant awakenings. I could hear some birds having a quaint conversation in the pine next to my house. Naturally, my first thought on such a beautiful day was to hop on the mobile and check what was going on with Facebook.

Scrolling through I stumbled upon a coupon for a CD that just came

By Cody out hours before my nightly Jones slumber. I figured, why not sweat editor get up nice and early and go use this coupon on this glorious day? And so, my CD bromance began.

It’s no secret this is a digital age. If the compact disc isn’t dead yet, it’s on life support.

For a long while, I was a strong advocate of downloading and sharing music illegally. All the songs I could ever want for free. It was convenient, and kept my numerous stacks firmly secured in the confines of my wallet.

But I was always downloading, never feeling anything, and simply going through the motions. I should have been delighted having

all this music available in my library, but I was not.

I reached Best Buy, parked my dad’s Tahoe and walked through the automatic doors. It did not take me long to find the CD, as it was set aside on display. “Cabin by the Sea” by the Dirty Heads. 16 tracks of SoCal reggae rock with hip-hop blend. Eight bucks. Perfect.

As I handed the cashier my card, something came over me. I felt warm on the inside, something like a blurry satisfaction. As soon as I reached the car, I tore into the plastic wrap and ripped off the sticker. It was go time.

Long story short, the CD was fabulous. It was the perfect collection of tracks for blaring with your windows down.

Maybe it was due to the fact I had such admiration for “Cabin by the Sea,” but a few weeks later I went out and bought another CD. “Periphery 2” was not the perfect summer soundtrack like “Cabin” was, but I still got an overwhelming sense of pride for my purchase.

Mr. Misha Mansoor flipped my musical desires with a little chug chug and a lot of offbeat.

Ever since my Periphery acquisition, I have not been able to download music. The whole concept of downloading seems silly to me now. First off, ever since Limewire’s fall from grace you have to search near and far to find

a song that is not a top 40 hit. It does not help when all the Android downloading apps run the same server, and you can never find anything new, no matter how hard you try.

But let’s say I finally find what I was looking for. Sweet, right? False. The information the song comes with makes me nauseous. The newest Incubus album is “If Not Now, When?” not djrrockhitsforradio22.com. So when I download “Adolescents,” I expect the album to be correct. But no, it remains askew.

So now if I want to listen to the album as a whole, I have to switch back and forth between the five or so album names, with only one of them being the actual album. And no, Captain Tuneup doesn’t “got what I need,” so tell Biz to bounce while I try to repair what’s left of my formerly formidable music library, There is nothing “automagic” about that. If I would have just bought the CD, I could have listened to it track by track, without interruptions. Woe is me.

Also, supporting the artist whose music you purchase is a plus. They work their tail off to give us something worth our time, so why not reward them? Yet even if I buy a song, something is still missing if the transaction occurred solely online. Taking my purchase and burning it, then syncing it, then transferring

it to another library, only to realize I paid to put myself to work is really disheartening. If I’m going to support an artist, I’m going to buy the CD. At least that way, I don’t have to wait around for a blank CD to burn. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Sometimes even better than the music itself is the CD liner art. The concept artists can work with musicians to create is nothing short of marvelous.

Whether it’s Jeremy McKinnon’s lyrics scribbled out in his handwriting, or classic text and formatting plastered across the booklet of In Fear and Faith’s self titled, the way the liner notes are set up add to the overall feel of the album. And without paying for a physical copy, you lose that extra oomph.

I for one love opening a CD and getting bombarded with all the extra stuff labels send your way (Especially Sumerian and all their stickers). You lose the little subtle things when you go digital. You lose the track by track accuracy for your library. You lose the visuals that in some cases, complete the album.

You lose the lucid headbanging you undergo upon the first song starting up in your car. But mainly, you lose the identity you get when you buy a CD, and the warm fuzzies that always come hand in hand.

fhctoday.com | be heard

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staffeditorial

Students deserve more information about threats

M

ost high-schoolers haven’t yet encountered the life-changing, bonerattling experiences that we often read about online and in papers. Even after events such as the Sandy Hook tragedy, when mortality stares us in the face, rarely do we come to the understanding that these things can happen to anyone.

Just as it’s impossible to predict when a threat might appear or a madman may crack, it’s impossible to know exactly how to react in case it happens. Ignoring the cliché, it’s always best to “expect the unexpected.” Execution of this principle would essentially mean that every member of FHSD — student, faculty, administration ­— is well aware of both what is going on and how to react. So far, we haven’t even been close to meeting this standard.

Amidst all the issues concerning security that are present at this school, the main problem lies in communication between the administration,

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be heard | february 1, 2013

students, and their families. As made glaringly clear the last time a threat to the school was posed, the general public isn’t deemed fit by the district to know the details of incoming threats. The information offered was more or less, “There was a threat at a Francis Howell school, and we’ll take care of it.”

Any announcements pertaining to potential dangers to their children will cause any parent to crave and need more information. Who’s to blame?

How is this being taken care of? Is it a bomb threat?

Is a gun involved? And far from reaching out to all the parents with Sandy Hook in the back of their minds, the district made no further mention of the case.

In this instance, the threat was nothing but a teenager who decided the bathroom stalls needed some decoration. And while FHSD reassured the public that the threats weren’t likely to go through, its alert lacked vital details that would allow parents

to judge for themselves how to react. Keeping scary information, however harmless, away from us was certainly done with good intentions. Regardless, not being upfront about the situation only made us more fearful of the unknown.

In the history of our country, America has never been as conscious of community as it is after tragedies. Just over 11 years ago, after 9/11, we joined hands and swore that we would never again be the victim of such an attack. Now, the US is fighting hard to ensure beyond all doubt that our schools are safe. Why shouldn’t our school respond in the same way?

There’s a reason FHC pride has become such a phenomenon; not many high schools match ours in the quality of students or faculty. Does it make sense, then, for students to learn in fear that in the event of an attack, we won’t know how to respond?

Let’s face it, we deserve to know.

Plan on checking out the

fine arts festival

tonight?

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visual art gallery

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not sure what to expect? the night will be filled with all kinds of art. there will be theatre, music, sculptures, paintings and lots more. see the work of your fellow peers and experience some culture at fhc.

water color

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here’s a map to help you get around!

print making

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On Jan. 22, English I teacher Kelly Briesacher’s fourth and fifth hour preAP classes ventured outside of the classroom to the stairwell near the student entrance to read aloud the balcony scene from “Romeo & Juliet.” photos by Kristin Lorenzini & Brittany Thomsen As freshmen Conner Adkins and Kat Reynolds look on, English I teacher Kelly Briesacher laughs as students portray the title characters in “Romeo & Juliet.”

Mrs. Briesacher has taken her students to the stairwell for several years to give students a visual reference to the famous balcony scene in Shakespeare’s classic play.

‘Wherefore art thou?’

Freshmen Emilie Weinreich, Hannah Drury and Delaney Ransom focus on a passage from the play as their fourth hour classmates read sections aloud.

ABOVE: Abby Rademeyer, Lydia Koehler, Melanie Jones, Melissa Wyatt and Mrs. Briesacher react to different moments in the reading.

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aperture | february 1, 2013

Playing Romeo, freshman Nate Limbaugh smiles as he reads aloud to his classmates in his fifth hour class. Several students in each class period were chosen to play parts and read aloud.