February 1, 2023

Editors-in-Chiefs: Chloe Ellison

Amber Winkler

Features Editor: Olivia Van Horn

Entertainment/Opinions Editor: Violet Newton

In-Depth Editor: Haylie Bryson

Managing Copy Editor: McKenna Hudson News Editor: Ray Hathcock

Sports Editor: Tony Biondo

Promotions and Contests Editor: Hope Moseley

Illustrations Editor: Morgan Chairs

Design Editor: Michaela Manfull

General Staff:

Ben Bartels

Sophia Black

Brazia Brown

Jackson Calhoun

Miranda Fabian

Jackson Fifer

JJ Gruettemeyer

Elise Grimshaw

Lindsay Haislip

Ben Henry

Drew Johnson

Izzy Lash

Alayna Lohaus

Stephanie Lichtenegger

Carter McDevitt

Kaylee Priest

Jonica Schmidt

Ella Struble

Gavin Swart

Noah Tucker

Alex Wheadon

Editor-in-Chief of Photography/Sports: Addison Polsgrove

Editor-in-Chief of Photography/Social: Payton Johnston

Digital Media Manager: Ankita Pandurangi

Yearbook Photography Editor: Kylie Taliaferro

Newspaper Photography Editor: Etaf Abdallah

General Staff:

Jazmin Acevedo

Ava Bax

Mady Brewer

Parker Bruns

Hannah Button

Alayna Clement

Molly Cowick

Brianna Dunham

Guadalupe Garcia

Andrew Goffinet

Austin Griffin

Heidi Huff

Demi Johnson

Thomas Jones

Kaylee Monroe

Reina Murrell

Eashaan Patel

Grace Pinson

Katelin Robbers

Holly Samuels

Hannah Simmons

Faith Smith

Jalyn Stephens

Caroline Woodland

Faith Smith

Video Editors-in-Chief: Marina Williams

Rachel Trapf

Video Graphics Editor: Maddie Clark

Sports Videography Editor: Parker Smith

Livestream Editor:

Aidan Neu

Chief Editor: Rhea Patel

Hype Video Editor: Jackson Cutlan

General Staff:

Etaf Abdallah

Video Game Review Editor: Max Ramirez Raegan Moellering

Haley Aldenderfer

Riley Aldenderfer

Allison Bass

Jacob Bass

Camden Blair

Chad Blanke

Sean Brand

Emily Clausner

Jack Darling

LeeAnna Daniels

Sassy Garcia

Owen Gonzalez

Wilson Lam

Mason Mitchell

Eric Morrow

Om Nair

Vanessa Ng

Noah Newson

Will Perry

Ian Pierce

Laney Quandt

Sam Reimer

Freya Rieken

Taylor Saale

Dana Sanchez Salvador

Harper Schneider

Nathan Smith

Austin Vollmer

Advisers: Aaron Manfull

Jordyn Kiel

NEW KIRBY REMAKE

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe a remake of the game from the Wii

by Alex Wheadon awheadon315@gmail.com

On Sept. 13, 2022 Nintendo revealed a remake of Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, a game released on the Wii in 2011, called Kirby’s Return to Dream Deluxe. This game is slated for release on Feb. 24, 2023.

The story of this game is that one day a ship called the Lor Starcutter crash lands on Planet Popstar, being damaged in the process and losing a bunch of parts. When Kirby and company go to investigate the crash scene, they find someone named Magolor passed out inside of the ship. Upon Magolor discovering his ship is damaged, he asks for Kirby and his friends to go find the lost items and in return, he would take them to Halcandra once he gets his ship working again.

“I never played the original Return To Dream Land, so I’m excited to play it for the first time,” junior Sophia McClure said.

Kirby Return to Dream Land Deluxe has copy abilities much like the game before. There has been a new copy ability detailed in the trailer for this game which is the mecha copy ability that gives Kirby a mech suit that can shoot out some sort of projectile and an electric uppercut ability. All of the copy abilities are returning from the original game.

“[Mecha Kirby] seems like a pretty cool ability, and it’s always fun to use cool copy abilities,” McClure said.

Something original to these games are Super Abilities, which are time limited abilities that are stronger than the abilities they are based off of. There are five that can be obtained like the Ultra Sword obtained from inhaling the Super Blade Knight or the Monster Flame obtained from the Super Hot Heads. There is also the Flare Beam obtained from a Super Waddle Doo,

the Snow Bowl obtained from a Super Chilly and the Grand Hammer obtained from a Super Bonkers. All the Super Abilities are obtained from a stronger version of a normal enemy like how Bonkers is a normal enemy and Super Bonkers is a stronger version. Or how the Blade Knights gives a sword and Super Blade Knights gives the Ultra Sword.

This game is multiplayer where players can pair up with up to four friends and play together. When playing in multiplayer, players can play as Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight and Bandana Waddle Dee or a different colored Kirby. King Dedede, Meta Knight and Bandana Waddle Dee aren’t able to get any copy abilities like Kirby can. Instead they use their weapon, which is a hammer for King Dedede, a sword for Meta Knight and a spear for Bandana Waddle Dee.

In most, if not all Kirby games, there are subgames. This one is no different with the new one being called Magolor’s Tome Tracker. From trailers, it looks like the game is played by Magolor showing the players a tome and you have to be the first to nab it.

There are also some returning subgames like Samurai Kirby from Kirby Super Stars in which players will get told to draw their swords and they have to be the quickest to do so to beat everyone else. Other returning games are Bomb Rally from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Smash Ride from Kirby: Squeak Squad and Ninja Dojo returning from Kirby Return to Dream Land.

“Definitely [most excited for] the mini games like the ninja one that was in Kirby Superstar and it’s four player now so it’ll be more fun than before,” junior Max Ramirez said.

MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS

Kirby:

“First you draw a circle, then you dot the eyes, add a great big smile and presto, it’s Kirby,” this is a quote from Kirby’s Adventure, the second game but the first on a home console being on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or the Famicom in Japan. The quote is a great representation of Kirby. Kirby lives in a dome shaped house in Dream Land on Planet Popstar. He is a caring little puffball who helps people in need even if it’s out of the way or if they are past enemies. He also cares about his past enemies like when in Kirby: Triple Deluxe he saves King Dedede who is kidnapped by Taranza and even is happy after he is saved even though he is the

Magolor:

He’s a mysterious fellow who first appears on Kirby’s Return to Dream Land on the Wii. He crashes on Planet Popstar at the beginning of the game. In the game there it is not shown his true intentions when you meet him and he tricks Kirby into helping to get to Halcandra. At the beginning of the game he is very nice and talks about how he loves Popstar so much he wants to stay. Once you get to Halcandra he reveals his true intentions and betrays Kirby. In Kirby Star Allies you can befriend him which would show that they made up after Kirby Return to Dream Land.

An illustration of the Super Cutter ability from Kirby’s Return to Dream Land and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe. (Illustration by Alex Wheadon)

AI RESOURCES

Siri

THE SCARES AI BRINGS

The positive and negative effects that AI is bringing to everyday life

by Chase Pray cpray812@g.fhsdschools.org

Since the likes of “Terminator”, “Tron” or the “Matrix” came out in the late twentieth century, the fear of technology taking over and becoming a threat to humanity has grown exponentially. However, FHN engineering teacher Michael Green believes these fears can be summed up as mass hysteria about something people don’t truly understand.

Alexa

“The term AI is Hollywood,” Green said. “The fear people have about it comes from all the false media being produced about it. AI has its limits and will only work with a human being the one programming it.”

The fear about AI isn’t just limited to what people see in the media. AI has been slowly affecting the way school work has to be graded in classes such as ELA in recent years. With new programs that allow students to get answers or

even write full essays for them, it’s becoming more and more difficult for teachers to distinguish what work is actually student made.

“I feel like we are using technology more and more and if we have an assignment where students have to type something out I’ve heard of programs that can type up essays or give you answers to questions super fast,” ELA teacher Kristen Johnson said. “I tested one of these programs out and it gave me a full essay within a few minutes.”

Another difficulty arising from the growth of these programs is the fact that it’s difficult for a teacher to properly address the situation. Since it doesn’t show if a student used one of these programs when they submit work, it makes it difficult for teachers to accuse their students of cheating if they have no concrete evidence.

“It’s going to be tricky to have those conversations if I ever have suspicions,” Johnson said. “If it

becomes an issue, I might have to pull any hand written work they’ve given me and then compare and contrast them so I have a valid reason to address it.”

While it’s understandable that the growth of AI could be concerning, it’s important to remember that AI is only as smart as us humans make it. AI will always have flaws just like any other man made creation.

It’s important to embrace the growth of this new technology as something humans can use to their benefit.

“When it comes down to it, AI was created by humans, it depends on us humans to exist and will only work with a human running its code,” Green said.

(IIllustration by Alex Wheadon)

Link to video that discusses AI's uses and effects

Amazon Alexa

Siri

is a form of virtual assistant technology that has many different uses, such as listening to music, setting timers, answering questions, and much more.

WOMBO

is practically a personal assistant.

Siri was developed by Apple and is provided in Apple products.

Wombo is a mobile app that utilizes image manipulation in order to make something appear to be lipsyncing.

Chat GTP is considered a generative language model that can recieve a prompt and efficiently respond to it.

THE SHOE DEBATE CONTINUES

There are many different shoe brands, but which one is the best?

by Noah Tucker ntucker088@g.fhsdschools.org

New balance is a footwear and apparel company founded in 1906 based in Boston, Massachusetts, that is dedicated to aiding athletes in their pursuits. While New Balance products are not currently environmentally friendly due to their use of regular cottons and petroleum based fibers, they have committed to several stability goals such as having 50 percent of its polyester to be recycled. Even though New Balance isn’t as popular as some bigger brands such as Nike and Adidas, it recently has made a surge in popularity, with the 574s, 550s and 990s being some of the most popular sneakers within the brand. New Balance has also made a shoe with NBA basketball player Kawhi Leonard. Being an athletic brand, New Balance has a wide variety of sports wear from basketball shoes to soccer and baseball cleats.

“I have to go [with] New Balance,” sophomore and baseball player Dominic Jefferies said. “They have the best cleats.”

Nike is another sports based footwear and apparel company. Nike was founded in 1964 in Oregon and is easily one of, if not the most popular sports brand in the United States. Nike has made large leaps in their sustainability

WEBSITE LIST

Check out each of these shoe brands right now!

New Balance

with their “Move to Zero” program and their “Nike Forward” material. You can even buy refurbished shoes from their official website and they have many stores that allow you to drop off worn shoes for donation or recycling. Nike is the brand behind some of the most popular shoes in the United States with their signature Air Force 1, Air Jordan series and their various other collaboration shoes such as Lebron, Kobe and Giannis.

“I like Nike SB’s because they got a longer lasting material for skateboarding but they got good color ways,” sophomore Adian Martinez said.

Birkenstock is a company that primarily sells sandals and shoes that are made from leathers, textiles, natural cork and synthetic fabrics for comfort, durability and look. The Birkenstock company boasts environmentally friendly practices and products through water based adhesives and the use of jute; a natural stabilizer. One of the secrets to the comfortability of specifically their sandals, is the footbed, which was originally coined by Brikenstock in the 1930s.

“They’re very comfortable,” social studies teacher Kimberly Coil said. “They may not always be the most stylish, but my feet feel good and that’s important.”

A NEW ANT-MAN

by Chloe Ellison cellison944@g.fhsdschools.org

After four years since it was initially announced, the next movie in the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe will be coming out on Feb. 17 and will be called “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”. This new movie will be the third Ant-Mancentered movie and will complete the character’s trilogy. Even though it will be the completion of this Ant-Man trilogy, the movie will also be the first of many in Marvel’s new Phase five.

This movie will bring back the widely known characters of Paul Rudd as Ant-Man and Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne. It will also bring in a newer character who we haven’t seen much of, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, the new and powerful villain for the MCU. Rudd and Lilly have previously been known as more light-hearted characters, however this movie will set a different and more serious tone for the two as shown in the trailers.

Fans of Ant-Man and the MCU are prepared to see this movie be a base to further the MCU and set up many other storylines. Introducing the quantum realm with further explanation can set it up as a plot point for other movies and shows in the MCU. If the MCU decides to closely follow the comics then this movie could also be seen as Cassie Lang’s origin story for her extensive storyline that she has in the comics.

Promotional poster for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. (Picture by Marvel Studios)

Brandon Reale holds a pair of Air Jordan 4. Reale is a senior at FHN and plays basketball for the boys varsity team. He started collecting shoes at the age of 13 and now buys 2-4 pairs a week, resells them online, and runs an Instagram account for shoes @Realedealkickz. (Photos by Etaf Abdallah)

Nike Birkenstock

PHIL’S FORECAST

by Alayna Lohaus alohaus637@g.fhsdschools.orgv

Early spring or six more weeks of winter? This is the great question that will be answered by a trusty groundhog named Phil, who resides in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Since 1886, this prediction has been in the hands (or paws) of this four-legged rodent. Each year on the morning of Feb. 2, Phil has come out of his stump to determine the upcoming weather.

According to Groundhog Day lore, if Phil sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. However, if no shadow is seen, an early spring can be expected.

Though this event may seem strange, it began with the Christian practice of Candlemas, in which candles were used to represent how long and cold winter would be. Germans later resorted to using a hedgehog to help in this prediction, but changed their prophet to a groundhog after settling in Pennsylvania, where there was an abundance of groundhogs.

“I think it’s pretty accurate because animals are in nature, so they know what is going to happen,” sophomore Mauricio Reyes said. “They live in the Earth, so they can feel [what’s happening].”

Some may question how accurate Phil’s predictions are. With predicting 107 longer winters and 20 early springs, he only has about a 39 percent accuracy rate. Even so, this ritual continues to be practiced year after year.

“I’m going to say [there will be] an early spring because that’s better than winter and you have to be optimistic,” junior DJ Dillon said.

TYPE OF PEOPLE ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Take a look at the most common types of people found on Valentine’s Day (Content by Morgan Chairs)

The Optimist

It doesn’t matter if they’re single or in a relationship, they’ll be your hype person. Similar to ‘The Cupid’ they want happiness for everyone except they’ll embrace your singleness. Most likely making and buying valentines for everyone they know with the hopes of making sure no one feels left out. When it comes to their personal life it doesn’t matter whether or not they are single they’ll enjoy the ‘day of love’ regardless.

The Cupid or Match-maker

Their one goal for the day: make people fall in love. The help could be wanted or not and this person wouldn’t care. They’ll find a way to meddle like it’s their one and only job. What day is better than Valentine’s Day to play Cupid? Who knows what lengths they’ll go to, but in the end it’s worth it to them because they love love.

The Love Birds

Whether they’ve been together for a month or years there’s always those couples that go above and beyond to declare their love for each other. From massive amounts of PDA and public romantic grand gestures to the non stop ‘lovey dovey’ social media posts about their love. If your goal is to avoid them, it’s best to stay off their

The Anti-Valentine

“This is a holiday made by consumerism and capitalist interest,” or something along those lines will most likely come out of this person’s mouth. They detest Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s from a broken heart or simply just not liking the day, they won’t hesitate to negatively talk about the ‘day of love’ no matter if it’s warranted or not.

The Capitalist

This one is pretty self explanatory. Their main goal is to make as much money as possible. From promoting the day two months in advance to trying to sell overpriced flowers and chocolate. Never fear, the day after Valentine’s day all these things will be on sale in the hopes of making room and getting ready for the next holiday.

Scan here to let us know what type of person you are on Valentine’s Day

(Photo from Shuttershock)

WHAT KIND OF VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT ARE YOU?

(Content by Izzy Lash)

1. Unlimited money, unlimited miles, where do you go?

A. Somewhere sunny, warm and adventurous.

B. Somewhere hot, beachy and relaxing.

C. I’m staying home and sleeping.

D. Somewhere cold, snowing and cozy.

2. You’ve been invited to a party, what are you doing?

A. Dressing cute and having a fun time! It’s a party!

B. I’m hosting it.

C. I don’t know the host so… I’m not going.

D. Go to the party, find my friends and chill.

3. There are 13 people and 10 chairs, do you…

A. Bring in three chairs.

B. Get rid of three people.

C. Make everyone stand.

D. Have three people stand.

4. There are two paths before you.

A. Go straight through the middle.

B. Take the well beaten path.

C. Turn around.

D. Take the path less traveled.

5. You have a difficult test tomorrow, what are you doing?

A. Sleeping well, you know you’re prepared.

B. Relaxing or hanging out with friends, you can stress in the morning.

C. Cram, cram, cram! No time to sleep when you’re testing!

D. Do some craming, sleep well, cram some more in the morning.

6. It’s the day before Valentine’s day!

A. I’m planning a date with my significant other.

B. What! I completely forgot.

C. Is it? Oh well.

D. I’m going to buy last minute candy for all of my friends.

7. You have the aux…

A. You play your normal playlist, it’s not like you have bad taste.

B. You turn the radio on to your favorite station.

C. You pass it to someone else, you’re driving.

D. You play your carefully curated, for-otherpeople playlist

8. What’s your favorite color?

A. Red.

B. Yellow.

C. Purple.

D. Green.

9. Would you rather only be able to tell the truth or only be able to lie?

A. Tell the truth, you already do that.

B. Tell lies, some things shouldn’t be said.

C. Tell lies, you have too many secrets to keep.

D. Tell the truth, you have a guilty conscience.

10. What kind of romantic are you?

A. Hopeless romantic, you’re a sucker for cliches.

B. Chill romantic, grand gestures aren’t really your thing.

C. Lazy romantic, you want romance, but it’s too much effort.

D. Happy romantic, you just want everyone you care about to feel loved.

Tally your answers down below

Mostly B’s- Stuffed Animal

Mostly C’s- Candy Hearts

Mostly D’s- Chocolate

COMICS

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL

by Micheala Manfull

GIRL MOMENT

by Izzy Lash

THE GLITCHY ADVENTURES OF JOME

by Alex Wheadon

by Violet Newton

WARNING! 49% OF STUDENTS

...HAVE NOT PURCHASED THEIR YEARBOOK FOR THIS YEAR YET.

Why is this a big deal?

• The price goes in the coming weeks.

• The staff will not be ordering extras once the final number is set at the end of the year

Check on FHNtoday.com to make sure your name is on the list of who has purchcased a book. You can find that list here: https://fhntoday.com/yearbook-sales

You can purchase a 2022-23 yearbook:

• on FHNtoday.com under the YEARBOOK tab on the top menu

VALENTINES WITH DECA

by Ray Hathcock rhathcock942@g.fhsdschools.org

For the whole month of February, DECA will be selling cookies and cards that are Valentine’s Day themed for $2. They are able to be delivered to whoever in the school the buyer wants.

“I think Valentine’s Day, when we used to do the heart grams, it was kinda scary if you wanted to buy one for someone, because it was once a year, like a big deal,” senior and Vice President of DECA Sarah Korte said. “But I feel like since people already buy the DECA cookies all the time, I think more people are going to be prone to wanting to buy them and maybe just feel more comfortable. We want everybody to feel happy when they get one, loved when they get one. We don’t want it to just be for couples. We want it to be like if you want to get your best friend one to make them feel special.”

The cookies are baked in first and second hours and are to be distributed every third hour, when DECA adviser Mike Freedline teaches marketing class. Proceeds from the cookies go into funding for DECA competitions.

“It’s just more school spirit anytime you just do stuff that makes people feel special or just doing other stuff and celebrating just being at school,” Freedline said. “Just makes it more fun for anything that creates school spirit.”

EDUCATE YOURSELF

As Missouri transitions to the legal usage of recreational marijuana, the users need to educate themselves about the laws and health concerns regarding usage

by Amber Winkler amberewinkler@gmail.com

On Nov. 8, Amendment 3 was passed which allowed for the legalization of recreational use of marijuana. Internal medicine physician Dr. Mimi Vo and FHN school resource officer Travis Scherder agree that one of the most important things people need to remember as Missouri transitions to legal use of recreational marijuana is to educate themselves.

According to Vo, cannabis has many beneficial health uses. For those looking to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, she believes that they need to educate themselves on the correct dosages and how to mitigate side effects. A doctor should be consulted about their usage.

“I think that my worry would be those who are between ages 21 to 25,” Vo said. “They’re going to be using it more as a psychoactive property just to get high. And that’s like again, I don’t condone the use of it that way, because the brain is still evolving up to 25. I think that would be my biggest worry.”

Those who are over the age of 21 and are considering recreational marijuana usage should educate themselves about what the laws actually are. Scherder is concerned that people will think that since marijuana is legal, they can smoke out in public, but that’s not the

case. With Amendment 3, there are many smaller laws and restrictions in the amendment. This means that users can still get arrested on marijuana related charges and receive tickets for usage in certain scenarios.

“You’re going to see it out in public a lot more,” Scherder said.

“Which kind of goes along with the part that I said that people want to educate themselves, because people think ‘Oh, it’s legal. Now I can smoke. I can smoke weed anywhere I want, anytime I want, no matter what.’ And that’s not going be the case. People are gonna find themselves getting tickets, because you can’t just go out and smoke in public. That’s just not something you can do.”

With the legalization of recreational marijuana, concerns have been expressed about teen usage. Scherder believes this will make marijuana more accessible to teens, increasing teen usage. But Vo believes it will be safer even if they get their hands on it, because of the regulations in place for the marijuana that is being provided to the community.

“There’s no regulation [in the places where it’s illegal],” Vo said.

“There’s no regulation of whether the product has to be tested for pesticides tested for pathogens, like bacteria or fungus.”

Micheal Freedline, DECA club sponsor, sells cookies outside room 22 Freedline sells a bag of DECA cookies for one dollar each during students’ passing periods. (Photos by Parker Bruns)

(Illistration by Violet Newton)

Scan this QR code to read about Missori’s Laws on recreational marijuana.

Scan this QR code to learn more about medical vs recrational marijuana.

MORE INFO

Scan this QR code to learn more about the passing of Amendment three.

KNIGHTS, BULLDOGS AND HAWKS

by Gavin Swart gswart370@g.fhsdschools.org

The FHN band makes sure that they find the best people by looking towards the middle school band programs. One of the ways they’re pursuing recruitment this year is by doing concerts with both Barnwell and Hollenbeck’s band programs in order to encourage more people to join the high school band.

SNOWCOMING PEP ASSEMBLY

StuCo, after not having a spring pep assembly, has decided to combine the winter sports with the spring sports in our upcoming pep assembly for snowcoming to be able to showcase all the sports

by Miranda Fabian mfabian486@g.fhsdschools.org

This snowcoming season, with having complicated budgets, adding a pep assembly for the spring sports and homecoming together hasn’t been an option. Rather than having no pep assembly for some seasons, seen in past years, StuCo has come together and made the decision of joining spring sports with the winter assembly. Now both the winter sports and spring sports are represented in the pep assembly. This year’s assembly will now be at the end of the winter season and the beginning of spring season on March 10.

“When we were looking on the calendar with all the clubs and groups, it just seemed to be a good date and it was kind of nice to include spring and winter sports this way,” co advisor for Student Council Rachel Pirrone said.

StuCo currently has been working towards creating the pep assembly

to go alongside snowcoming. Having meetings twice a week after school, their different committees all work to get things done and planned by March. Due to COVID in the past and then having a complicated scheduling after having our first pep assembly back from COVID, StuCo hasn’t had much of the opportunity to work with spring sports.

FHN’s pep assemblies are often known for their fun mini games, their many performances, their crazy class spirit and the representation of each sports season. The teams start off the pep assembly with running into the gym and showing off what their sport has to offer and whose apart of the team can be something people look forward to finding out.

“It was mainly our sponsor’s idea and we just really liked it, because that way we can include both winter and spring sports,” senior and StuCo president Maria Leon

“The wind ensemble will play with the eighth graders from both schools,” band director Ryan Curtis said. “And we’ll do a shared concert playing the same music, so the high school kids will play the middle school music.”

The middle schools are going to send their bands up to North on March 13 in order to have them do a concert with our band. Curtis is hoping to inspire them to continue playing in band up into high school.

“I just want to get more involvement [and] more students coming up from the middle school into the high school band,” Curtis said.

The band members are super excited to get to do another concert and are really excited to have more recruitment for next year. It is important for them to keep getting new people for the band to be the best that they can be, and doing these concerts is an easy way for them to recruit more people.

“I didn’t even know high school band was a thing until the high school band director came in at the end of my eighth grade year and started talking about it,” sophomore band member Jackson Bland said.

On Dec. 7, FHN’s band program, Knightpride, performs under the direction of Ryan Curtis, who took the role after the group’s previous director switched schools. (Photo by Sadie Cotton)

Aguirre said.

Senior Ryan Murdock dunks basketball durinrg pep assembly while running out with the FHN boys basketball team. Varisty and Junior Varsity sports runs out with their teammates to showcase their sport in the 2022 snowcoming pep assembly. (Photo by Etaf Abdallah)

Scan this QR code to read more about

Scan this QR code to watch last year’s snowcoming video

DECA COOKIES

by Izabelle Young Iyoung516@g.fhsdschools.org

Around 6:30 a.m, the business hallway at FHN begins to smell like a kitchen, as the chocolate chip cookies are baking in the oven. While the cookies are in the oven, Mike Freedline, a business teacher at North prepares a cart to travel around the school to sell cookies during homeroom and throughout the day.

Freedline started selling cookies to help raise money for DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America). DECA puts young adults in real life situations to help with marketing strategies, public speeches and much more.

“It’s good to meet students that you don’t necessarily have a class with,” Freedline said.

Due to the fact that homeroom only happens on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Freedline also sells them outside of his classroom in room 22. Freedline sells the cookies for a dollar a bag and two cookies come in a bag. Freedline enjoys selling cookies because he gets to meet new students everyday and see some of his older students that he had in previous years.

Freedline has two students that help him with the process of bagging and selling cookies; seniors Sarah Korte and Bailey Scarbrough. Korte is the Vice President of DECA, while Scarbrough is the President.

“This is the first year that Freedline has let us travel around during homeroom and we love it,” Scarbrough said.

Not only do Scarbrough and Korte help prepare the cookies to be sold, they go from class to class during homeroom selling cookies.

“We love being the cookie girls,” Scarbrough said.

DECA EVENTS

Feb. 7 - District Competition

March 12-14State Competition in Kansas City

April 21-26Internationals

TACKLING THE TRADES

Juniors Zack Mawhiney and Nate Holway attend trade school for part of the day

by Ben Henry bhenry501@g.fhsdschools.org

DECA COOKIES

The DECA cookies are from Otis Spunkmeyer. Here is some info about the cookies.

• They are not gluten free

• They are not vegan free.

• Made in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts

One of the options the district offers to help prepare students for future careers is participating in the dual enrollment program through Lewis and Clark Career Center. Juniors Zack Mawhiney and Nate Holway both attend the Career Center in place of their morning classes.

“They’ve got all kinds of stuff, automotive repair, law enforcement, brickworking, advanced manufacturing, HVAC,” Holway said.

Holway is enrolled in the Welding class, while Mawhiney takes the Brick and Stonemasonry class. Lewis and Clark provides these programs in a very hands onmanner. Students receive classroom instruction and then take the skills they learned into the workshop.

“We have a textbook, most of the paper instruction was at the beginning of the year, because there’s so much in the weld shop that is dangerous,” Holway said.

The students in both of the classes began the year with health and safety information, and then worked their way into more and more complex constructions. They also sometimes have tests over the concepts they learned and vocabulary used in the class.

“We started with a corner, then a 10 brick wall, then 4/8 inch blocks,

now we’re [working] on a Christmas scene,” Mawhiney said. “We’ve made a brick couch, brick mailbox and a Christmas tree. In my class we mostly do practicals, we build the stuff and [Mr. Blattner] grades it.”

The primary goal of Lewis and Clark is to prepare its students for employment in the trades. They do this by providing industry-recognized training and accreditation to their graduates.

“By the end of the course, we get two different welding certifications and we get an OSHA certification for free,” Holway said.

With certifications earned by the students over the course of the two years they attend Lewis and Clark, this makes them significantly better candidates in the modern job market. Additionally, Lewis and Clark professors have connections and contacts with many companies and unions in the fields that the students are going into.

“My instructors have contacts in other companies and Lewis and Clark can help,” Holway said.

While the students spend a part of their day at Lewis and Clark, they still have to take a few classes at North. Lewis and Clark covers all of their elective credits for graduation. Along with this, there is the option for credit dismissal through Lewis and Clark.

In order to attend Lewis and Clark, the students had to fill out

Michael Freedline, DECA club sponsor, sells cookies outside room 22 on Jan 4. (Photo by Parker Bruns).

A welding student makes a design on the face of a metal plate while in a welding booth. The bulky visor protects the wearers eyes from the blinding flash of the welding equipment. (Photo by Luke Williams)

Scan the QR code to find out more information about Spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookies

an application and write about why they should be allowed the privilege to attend the school.

“There was an online application and you had to write an essay about why you should be picked for the course and you had to take an [aptitude] test,” Holway said.

Post-graduation, Lewis and Clark will also help the students secure an apprenticeship under another tradesman or further education in the trades through schools like Ranken, the largest technical college in Missouri. One way Lewis and Clark help prepare students for the trades is by having a very high standard for the quality of work the students should be doing.

“There’s a very high expectation of what should be completed and how it should be completed,” Holway said, “You can work really hard on a weld all day and he tells you to do it again, that’s really frustrating.”

TERMS IN THE TRADES

Q & A with shop teacher Brian Stemmermann

Q: “Who is OSHA and what do they do?”

A: “The Occupational Safety and Health Act makes sure industrial jobs are safe.”

Q: “What is under the umbrella of HVAC?”

A: “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.”

Q: “What is a CDL and what privlages do you get with it?”

A: “A commercial drivers license allows you to drive tractor trailers, anything over 13 tons.”

SOLO & ENSEMBLE COMPETITION

by Haylie Bryson hbryson949@g.fhsdschools.org

Solo & ensemble will take place on March 4 this year at Fort Zumwalt East. If North students qualify for state, they will perform on April 28 in Columbia. With more students performing and better preparing this year, some choir students may bring home gold awards for FHN.

“I believe we’ll do great,” junior choir student Jace Brockmann said. “Last year we got multiple gold awards and most people got gold on their competition. So I believe that we’ll do just fine.”

Whether students are taking choir for a credit option or a potential career path, almost everyone gets excited for solo & ensemble. It’s an opportunity for students of vocal music to apply their skills that they’ve learned in the program and receive important feedback for future improvement. With more students preparing this year compared to last year, everyone is working overtime to prepare their solos and or ensembles.

“I know that [choir students are] working their butts off,”

Brockmann said. “And I understand that they’re willing to participate more this year than last year. The more years they’re in choir, the more they understand that they need to work hard.”

Usually solo & ensemble is the most important event for choir students at North. But this year choir, Bella Voce and Knight Sound have the opportunity to perform alongside choir students from Lindenwood University at the Scheidegger Center on the same day of solo & ensemble. They’ve been preparing a masterpiece for the event, as well as privately preparing their own performance pieces for solo & ensemble.

“They have solo & ensemble contest that day,” FHN Vocal Music Director Jennifer Oncken said. “And then they’re going to Lindenwood to be the only high school students singing with about 200 college students. Normally the whole day is about solo & ensemble contest, but that’s like the small thing in comparison to what we’re actually doing that day.”

On Dec. 7, FHN’s band program, Knightpride, held a concert in the school’s auditorium. The group is under the direction of Ryan Curtis. (Photo by Sadie Cotton)

A welding student grinds the debris off of a weld while the metal is secured by a table vice (Photo by Luke Williams)

15

BEST OF THE BEST

Have you ever wondered what the best type of energy drink is? What about places to visit around Missouri? Or around the United States? These pages should help you the next time you’re making a decision about anything, even which Breaking Bad character is the best.

Top 10 Types of Cereals

This list ranks 10 different cereals, and includes fun facts about the famous cereal brand, Kellogg’s.

Top 10 Places to Visit in St. Louis

If you’re looking to do something fun during a stay-cation, look no further. From the City Museum to Waplehorst park, it’s all there.

16

Top 10 SZA SOS Songs

SZA’s new album, SOS, broke records, and the charts. Read to find out what the best songs on the album are.

17

Top 10 Useful Apps

Phones have become essential to our daily lives. Though you’ve got plenty of apps, this list may have you adding just one or two more.

18

Top 10 Types of Energy Drinks

Must. Have. Caffiene. In today’s society, energy drinks are essential for high schoolers. Check this list to make sure you’re drinking the best one.

19

Top 10 Breaking Bad Characters

The new hit show on Netflix, Breaking Bad, has lots of interesting characters, but which one really is the best?

25

Make Your Own Top 10 List

Everyone has their own opinions, maybe you don’t think potato chips should be where they are on the list or you think that Missouri definitely belongs on the top 10 states list. This page gives you the opportunity to make your own top 10 page or to re-rank another page already in the paper.

Top 10 Hiking Trails Around St. Charles Spring is just around the corner which means it’s time to get outside and get active. These trails are top-tier for anyone to try.

Top 10 Ways To Make Potatoes

Potatoes have all the nutrients required for humans to survive, and there’s no one way to eat them.

Top 10 NBA Rookies

If sports are more your thing, check out these up-and-coming NBA rookies for this season.

Top 10 U.S. States To Visit

There are 50 states in this country, so when taking a trip it can sometimes be hard to pick just one.

10 STL FUN FACTS

1 The tallest man in documented history was Robert Pershing Wadlow from St. Louis. He stood at 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall

2 St. Louis was the first U.S. city to host the modern Olympics

3 The Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the United States

4 The first United States kindergarten was started in St. Louis in 1873

5 STL native John Hamm was a drama teacher and taught actress Ellie Kemper.

6 The first successful parachute jump from a moving airplane was made by Captain Berry in St. Louis in 1912.

7 The first interstate highway was built in St. Louis.

8 AnheuserBusch brewery was founded in St. Louis and is the largest beer producing plant in the nation.

9 Peanut butter was first brought to the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 and became a popular source of protein during the first two world wars.

10 In 1928, Jim Howe, a pharmacist in St. Louis, developed TUMS in the basement of his home while trying to figure out ways to treat his wife’s indigestion.

TOP10

On this page you’ll find some of the most fun places to go within an hour’s drive from FHN. This list includes several places that range from very close to somewhat far away. (Content by Naomi VanDyne)

CITY MUSEUM

The City Museum is 30 minutes away, but you can spend your whole day there and still not explore the whole building. You can even go down the ten-story slide or get in a bus that’s hanging off the roof. They are constantly making changes to the building so each time you go, it could look different.

STL ARCH

Perhaps the most iconic landmark around St. Louis, the Arch is a must go to. The view from the top of the Arch is incredible and unlike anything else.

“The architecture is pretty and when you see everyone from up high it’s really pretty.”

- Madalyn Bridgewater, 9

KATY TRAIL

5

MAIN STREET ST CHARLES

Full of life and charm, many local shops will give your day trip lots of fun. Main Street hosts many different festivals and seasonal activities.

“I’ve been going there since I was little to see the people and collect cards for Christmas Traditions.”

- Taylor Inman, 11

THE MUNY

1 2 3 4

The Muny is the largest outdoor theater in North America and produces seven musicals every season (June-August). It is a great place to have a fun night. “It’s an outdoor theater so it’s nice outside and you get to watch a play that is awesome.”

- Kaili Melton,

9

UNION STATION

This is a wonderful place to spend some time partially inside and partially out. There is a lovely koi fish pond in the center and a Ferris wheel, ropes course, aquarium, restaurants and more surrounding the area.

8

If you are looking to get outside and be active, this is a perfect way to do it. The Katy Trail runs for a very long stretch (240 miles) and you can hike, run or bike anywhere along it. It’s mostly flat and has some beautiful scenery as you journey.

SCIENCE CENTER

6 9

This is a QR code to the list of Muny shows for 2023.

STL ZOO

Plenty of different areas to check out depending on what you’re interested in.

“I like the dinosaur exhibit; I think dinosaurs are cool.”

- Bella Faulkner, 10

7

10

This was a childhood favorite of many and is still fun to go look at the animals. The train cannot be looked over, as taking a trip through the park is one of the most fun parts of going to the zoo.

SIX FLAGS

A day full of fun with friends and family, Six Flags has plenty to do from riding roller coasters and other rides to eating food or playing games, you are sure to find something you enjoy.

WAPELHORST PARK

Only a short four minutes away from FHN, Wapelhorst Park offers a lot, not to mention the aquatic facility with its slides and lazy river, open from May to August.

“I like to fish when I can and ride my bike.”

- Eric Back, 10

TOP10

This is SZA. SOS is her newest released album which released on Dec. 9, 2022. With its first week of being out, ‘SOS’ spent two weeks at number one on Billboard 200 chart as of Dec. 27, 2022. This album became the first by a Black female artist to land its place at number one in its first two weeks since 2013. Scan the QR codes to listen to the songs. (Content by Ella VarVera)

KILL BILL

Within the last week, “Kill Bill” has taken the number 3 place on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is by far the most listened to and liked song on SZA’s new album, “SOS.”

“I feel like ‘Kill Bill’ will be the most popular among listeners, but I feel like it’ll get over played like “Bad Habit,’ which I really hope doesn’t happen.”

-Kirnpreet Dayal 12

NOBODY GETS ME

Following ‘Kill Bill’ on the Billboard Hot 100, is ‘Nobody Gets Me,’ at number 10. The song is relatable, speaking on past relationships and love. Along with the lyrics, ‘Nobody Gets Me’ has grown popular because of the music video and the visual representation that comes with it.

BLIND

Once again, ‘Blind’ by SZA is high up on the Billboard Hot 100. As of this week, it takes 12 place. ‘Blind’ was one of many songs from the SOS album that was released before the rest of the album. This caused the song to spread around the Internet very quickly.

“Blind. I can’t listen to this song without thinking about TikTok and it just kinda ruined it for me.”

-Ellenna Forbes 10

LOVE LANGUAGE

‘Love Language’ is a very relatable song, especially to young people. It holds a very important lesson about young love and the challenges that come with it.

SOS

10

SEEK AND DESTROY

‘Seek and Destroy’ has a complex level of craftsmanship and penmanship that you can’t find anywhere else. SZA’s vocals in this song stand out above the rest as she really shows her range and abilities.

NOTICE ME

9

‘SOS’ is SZA’s second album and was released four years after her fist. According to Rolling Stone, the album is considered an “R&B meets Nineties teen

melodrama.” The album has 23 tracks with features from Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Pheobe Bridgers and Wu-Tang clan member, Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

1 2 3 4 5 6

‘SOS’ grabbed the attention of many right away. The song is said to be different from the rest of the album with its intriguing incidental or background music. There are less lyrics and more instrumental components to switch things up.

SZA is liked so much because she’s relatable and looked up to. She says what she feels and is able to display her insecurities and fears.

“It was a fire album. It was one of the best albums released all year for sure.”

-Mia McDonnell, 10

8

This song specifically is described to have great production and lyrics. ‘Notice Me’ is a song that grabs your attention right away and it just keeps getting better as you listen.

“‘Notice me’ has a special place in my heart and it’s just kind of satisfying.”

-Lane

Mckee,

10

7

SPECIAL

Besides the easy-to-love rhythm of ‘Special’, the lyrics are very meaningful and can be to related to by almost everyone. ‘Special’ is a great song that helps describe the feelings of many young people today.

SHIRT

Similar to number 6, ‘Shirt’ has grown big because of its insanely catchy chorus. Shirt is a great song for all of the emotions and is a song that just makes you feel good.

“This is the perfect playlist for when you want to feel sad, happy and confident all in one”

-Miriam Lichty, 10

GONE GIRL

The song ‘Gone Girl’ shows up on the list because of its unique and mesmerizing chorus. It stands out because of this and really gives the listeners what they want.

“I immediately added the song ‘Gone Girl’ to my playlist because I just love this chorus so much.”

- Ellenna Forbes 10

10

USEFUL APPS

In this list, you’ll find 10 different mobile apps designed to help you in your everyday life. These range from social media to organization to fitness, and all are free to download (some may require subscriptions to use). These apps are not in any particular order. (Content by Phoebe Dollins, Images from Shutterstock.com)

1

YouTube

You can watch and create videos, gain inspiration from anyone, and basically find any sort of video or short you want. Not to mention the countless free features.

3

FHN’S FAVORITE APPS

2

Musi

Musi allows you to stream music straight from YouTube with surprisingly clean audio. You can still search songs and create playlists and you have unlimited access to any music you want. Plus, it’s completely free.

“I like Canvas just because I can have all of my notes and assignments available whenever, wherever.”

Zachary Fettig, History Teacher

5 TikTok

This widely popular app allows you to watch and create short videos of all kinds. With TikTok, you have access to all sorts of inspiring, entertaining and informative videos. Plus, when creating videos, you can add your favorite music and sounds for free. You can even add effects.

9

HBO Max

You can have unlimited access to thousands of movies, shows, documentaries, cartoons, etc. Subscription is $9.99/ month, which isn’t too bad considering all of the content you get access to.

6

Spotify

Spotify isn’t just another music streaming service. You can listen to countless songs, search your favorite artists and music, and create and share your own playlists. Plus, you can listen to music mixes made just for you every day. You can even listen to podcasts, all for free (or you can get a subscription).

10

Seconds Interval

Timer

This app is a workout interval timer with a lot of cool features. It lets you time your intervals and tells you when a new interval is upcoming. Plus, it runs in the background and you can assign music to your workouts.

7

Weather Channel

With the Weather Channel app, you can find accurate daily forecasts, hourly predictions and monitor the radar. Plus, you get easy access to all sorts of weather details. You can even watch news and weather videos, all for free.

Instagram

Want to stay connected with your community and maybe even make some new friends? Instagram allows you to search your friends, chat with anyone, follow people, create and share posts and more.

4 Canvas

Familiar to most students and teachers here at FHN, Canvas helps teachers provide their students with a superior learning experience by keeping learning resources and assignments in one organized, easy-to-use place.

8

“Honestly, probably TikTok because there’s just a lot of funny videos.”

Grace Fromme, Sophomore

Duolingo

Ever wanted to learn another language but just never had the time, or didn’t want to take several years of classes? Well, now you can learn a new language on the go. And if you don’t practice, just remember: Duo is watching you.

BONUS:

Wordle

How many tries would it take you to guess a mystery word? This fun and addicting game made its debut in May of 2018 and has recently gained tremendous popularity, especially among mobile users. Plus, it’s free.

“Probably Instagram because you can see what is going on in everyones life.”

Sami Wilson, Senior “Seconds app; it’s a fitness app, you can create your own workouts.”

Kimberly Skwira, Art Teacher

TOP 10

Energy drinks have become a commodity to keep students awake during days of early mornings and late nights. In fact, many students and even some teachers rely on caffeine almost everyday to get them through the day. This list contains the top 10 best tasting and most efficient energy drinks.

(Content by Emily Mueller, photos from Shutterstock)

1 2 3 4 5

ALANI NU ENERGY

Alani Nu energy drinks are a sweet flavorful drink when a boost of energy is needed. Alani’s come in a small variety of zero sugar flavors. They’re for people who don’t like the bitter aftertaste of some energy drinks.

“Alanis are my favorite and I’ve been drinking them for over a year and they’re still my go to energy drinks.”

-Delanie Riggs, 11

MONSTER ENERGY

Monster energy drinks come in a wide variety of flavors and zero sugar options, and are one of the most popular energy drinks. Monsters come in a wide different variety of sizes as well.

“I like Monsters because they hype me up for game days and make sure I have enough energy to get through.”

-Sophia

Manzella, 10 REIGN ENERGY

Reign energy drinks are a perfect option when a huge boost of energy is needed. Reign contains many vitamins and is also a delicious way to get some energy with many flavorful options.

REDBULL

Redbulls are a sugary but delicious energy drink also containing many vitamins. They also have many zero sugar and flavor options, and are one of the most popular energy drinks too.

“Redbulls taste better than other drinks. I can find these everywhere and they give me fast energy.”

- Chloe Murray, 10

CELSIUS

Celsius drinks consists of a sparkling water base and contains green tea for a better tasting drink. They are a common drink among teenagers in high school.

6 7 8 9

GHOST ENERGY

Ghost energy is an energy drink consisting of many unique flavors including a variety of different candies like sour patch kid, warheads, etc. These energy drinks are newer and are a delicious boost.

C4 ENERGY

C4 energy drinks are also delicious drinks with unique flavors as well, the most popular being starburst. These are commonly used as a pre-workout due to the different ingredients contained.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY

WHAT’S IN IT?

Below are the amounts of caffeine, sugar and calories per serving in each energy drink.

ALANI NU

1. 200mg caffeine

0g sugar

10 calories

MONSTER ENERGY

2. 86mg

Caffeine

27g sugar

101 calories

REIGN ENERGY

3. 300mg

Caffeine

0s sugar

10 calories

REDBULL

4. 111mg

Caffeine

37g sugar

168 calories

CELSIUS

5. 200mg

Caffeine

0g sugar

10 calories

GHOST ENERGY

6. 200mg

Caffeine

0g sugar

5 calories

C4 ENERGY

7. 200mg

SPARKLING ICE + CAFFEINE

Sparkling Ice is a common zero sugar drink, but taste even better when caffeine is included. They only come in six flavors, each one being delicious.

“Usually I just want a small energy boost and these taste good so they’re my favorite.”

-Lukas Wilson, 10

BANG

Rockstar energy drinks have a variety of sugar and zero-sugar options to choose from, so everyone can happily enjoy. These aren’t the most popular but they work well. 10

Bang energy is another great drink when a huge boost of energy is needed. They have a wide variety of flavors to choose from.

“These keep me awake and taste really good.”

-Izzy Apple, 10

Caffeine

29g sugar

110 calories

ROCKSTAR ENERGY

8. 72mg

Caffeine

29g sugar

140 calories

SPARKLING ICE

9. 70mg

Caffeine

0g sugar

5 calories

BANG

10. 300mg

Caffeine

0g sugar 0 calories

TOP10

Breaking Bad has recently been catching on with teenagers and adults alike, for a good reason too. This show is about a normal teacher turned drug kingpin. Here is the Top 10 characters from the show ranked from most important to the least important, but fan-favorites. (Content by Kevin Raja)

1Walter White

The main protagonist of the show, White is an old, high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who turns to drugs and crime as a way to provide for his family’s future.

“He’s just him.”

-

Johnathan

Barklage, 11

6

Mike Ehrmantraut

Mike Ehrmantraut is a “fixer” and right hand man to the drug kingpins. He is a veteran in the criminal underworld and an expert problem solver and strategist. He is stern and grim, but looks after those who work for him as best he can.

“I really liked his character because he was actually so cool and smart and he just felt realistic and genuine.”

2

Jesse Pinkman 3

Jesse Pinkman was Walt’s business partner and a former student of his. He starts off as a naive street hustler but is transformed into a hardened criminal over the series.

“He’s very attractive and I loved the gas station scene and he is very caring.”

- Madison Snyder, 9

Gus Fring 4

Gus Fring is a mysterious and powerful businessman, involved in the meth drug trade. He is ruthless, dangerous and seemingly always one step ahead of his enemies.

Hank Schrader

Hank Schrader is Walt’s brother-inlaw and an agent of the DEA. He is a fiercely loyal and uncompromising member of the agency and does what he believes is right, even when it puts him in danger. His commitment to law enforcement sometimes causes tension in the family.

7

- Maddie Higley, 11

Skyler White

Skyler White is Walt’s wife and mother of their two children. She is forced to confront her husband’s dark side while still maintaining her family’s safety and stability.

“I hate her. She’s the worst. She’s super annoying and grating.”

- Brendan Curtis, 11

8

Todd Alquist

He is a hardened criminal who is willing to do whatever it takes for his uncle, even if it means killing someone. Despite his ruthless mentality, Alquist is respectful and even kind to people who have wronged him. He is a skilled tracker and able to locate almost anyone.

Lydia Rodarte-Quayle

9 Lydia Rodarte-Quayle is a powerful and dangerous woman in the meth business. She is savvy and cunning and is a master of manipulation, often playing people and situations to her favor and interest.

Huell Babineaux

A corrupt lawyer and “fixer” who helps out White and Pinkman with their criminal activities. He always looks out for number one, himself. 5

Saul Goodman

10

Huell Babineaux is a recurring character on the show. He is a professional bodyguard and an associate of lawyer Saul Goodman. He is a fan favorite as well.

(Photo from Shutterstock)

TOP10

This page lists ten different places to hike and go near St. Charles. Described in this list are places ranked 1-10 and a description and how far away is included. Other students from FHN share their favorite places to go too. (Content by Madeline Dustin)

1

Elephant Rock

This park features a train of large pink boulders on the top of hills. It also has seven acres of trails and views. This is one hour and 40 minutes away from St. Charles.

“My favorite thing was going to the top and seeing the view and climbing the boulders.”

- Dominick Robinson, 12

2 3

Johnson’s Shut Ins

From the numerous waterfalls to the crystal clear water, Johnson’s Shut Ins is one of the most popular places to swim every year. This is one hour and 50 minutes away from St. Charles.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park

6

Klondike Park

This park features more than four miles of trails and a unique lookout bluff. It is also the site of an old sand quarry. This is 40 minutes away from St. Charles.

“It’s on the river. It’s really pretty. Theres all kinds of trees around and rock formations.”

- Mady Brewer, 10

7

Castlewood State Park

Popular for hiking and mountain biking, this place also hosts a lake and beautiful views. This is 30 minutes away from St. Charles.

“We go a lot with my family and it’s really pretty.”

- Katie Head, 9

8

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

This state park features the ruins of a twentieth century castle. It also has caves and crystal clear water. This is two hours and 40 minutes away from St. Charles. 4

This state park features Missouri’s highest point. It also includes forested hiking and camping. This is two hours away from St. Charles.

“It’s in the state so you can go there pretty often. And it’s pretty tall.”

9

Lone Elk Park

This park has driving routes to see the elk and bison in the park. It also has multiple hiking trails throughout the park. This is 30 minutes away from St. Charles.

Creve Coeur Lake Park

This huge lake with a three mile trail around it features playgrounds, boat rentals, fishing and tennis courts. This is about 15 minutes away from St. Charles.

“I just like the lake. It’s nice to walk around, just beautiful.”

- Kevin McGuire, 10

Rockwoods Reservation

- Sean Hartley, 11 5

This wildlife reserve has miles of hiking, campgrounds and picnic sites. It is also full of wildlife. This is 45 minutes away from St. Charles.

“The tall trees and greenery are super pretty to walk through on hikes. Sometimes you will find a pretty creek too.”

- Elise Grimshaw, 9

10

Mark Twain National Forest

This forest is filled with hills and has scenic rivers, lakes and streams. With hiking, biking, fishing and more, this is an hour and 40 minutes away from St. Charles.

Designed by Kevin Raja (20) Madeline Dustin (21)

TOP 10 Ways To Prepare Potatoes

The potato is a versatile food that can be found in many different forms. Some of the most common ways to eat potatoes are in breakfast plates, casual picnic lunches or fancy steak houses. These are just some of the many favorite ways to prepare potatoes. These are 10 of the most popular ways to prepare potatoes, ranked from best to worst. (Content by Erica Sanford)

Baked Potato

A great baked potato should be hard and crisp on the outside with a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth interior. You can choose to top it with sour cream and butter, or bacon and cheese. There are so many ways to enjoy this simple dish.

“My favorite type of potato is a baked potato because you can eat them in so many different ways. You can add bacon and cheese or just put some butter on it and call it a day and it tastes good regardless.”

-Damla Devecigil, 11

10

9 22

Chips

Today, potato chips are the most popular snack food in America. It is the go-to snack for all types of functions. Potato chips can be cooked in many ways and flavored to all tastes.

Hash Browns

The perfect breakfast side dish, hash browns are always made with shredded potatoes. When fried, the jumble of tangled strands forms an intricate lattice of crispy, golden-brown potato.

“Hash Browns, they just seem like a good mix of crispy to mashed potatoes. I know they are usually a breakfast food, but I think they work for a lot of meals.”

-Sean Kloecker, 12

Wedge

Crispy baked potato wedges can be made in many delicious flavors and are like pillows on the inside and out. Wedges are the ideal entrée or snack, and they’re almost as popular as fries.

Smashed

What a delicious side dish or snack. They have a savory garlic flavor, creamy in the center, but crunch on the outside. It takes some time, but it’s really simple for most people to make.

“I have to say I like smashed potatoes most of the many potato types. Smashed potatoes are a good texture, but not as boring as plain old mashed potatoes. It also has variety considering you can get loaded smashed potatoes, my personal favorite.”

-Rachel Trapf, 12

Mashed

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

When most of us imagine buttery, fluffy potatoes we think of the traditional mashed potatoes. Homemade mashed potatoes are deliciously flavorful, easy to make and usually a crowd favorite.

Waffle Fries

They are crispy on the outside and fluffy/tender on the inside, with an excellent lattice texture.

“I would have to say waffle fries because you can almost use them as spoons. I’m a sucker for sauce, so it’s tough to beat.”

-Natasha Haverly, 11

Fries

French fries are frequently seen on the menus of diners, fast food restaurants, pubs and bars. They are typically served hot, soft or crispy and eaten as part of lunch, dinner or by themselves as a snack. Wonderful for all occasions.

“Fries are nostalgic. It brings you back to when you were a kid.”

-Samantha Soltysiak

Soup

Usually, a quick and easy thing to make on the stove top. They’re nice and creamy and it’s always so cozy and comforting and delicious. It can be a very diverse way to prepare potatoes.

Skins

TOP10

This year’s NBA season has included some major displays of talent. The rookies this year have had to battle that much more to be the best. Here is a ranking of the Top 10 rookies of this year. (Content by Tyger Kibera)

1 2 3 4 5

Paolo Banchero

This year’s favorite to win rookie of the year, Banchero has been putting up numbers that has shocked the league. Coming from Duke, the #1 pick in the draft is currently averaging 22 ppg, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He is in the process of potentially changing the Magic’s reputation and might make them a real contender in years to come.

Bennedict Mathurin

He’s the 6’5 sg/sf, averaging 17.9 ppg, 1.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds. Currently leading the Indiana Pacers to a 6th seed in the Eastern conference.

Jaden Ivey

Listed in the draft as an explosive guard. Averaging 15 ppg, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Ivey taking that extra year in college rather than being a one and done like most, really gave his game that edge to his on-ball play style.

Jabari Smith, Jr.

During the summer league, Smith showed that he can compete at a high level. His 6’11, 220 pound frame lets him be a rebounding threat to the other team. Currently averaging 12 ppg, 7.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists per game.

Jalen Williams

Williams was a guy that everyone snoozed on and was not talked about enough leading up to his rookie career. He is shooting over 50% field goal pct, ranking top 5 among rookies. Giving OKC 10.7 ppg, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

6 7 8 9 10

Keegan Murray

Coming out of Iowa and being drafted to the Kings who didn’t have any expectations coming into the new year, Murray has helped the Kings to the 3rd seed. Murray is averaging 11.9 ppg, 4 rebounds and .8 assists a game on 42% field goal pct.

Jalen Duren

Coming from Memphis, Duren is a strong willed, physically gifted player that’s sets him apart from the rest on the defensive end. Duren is giving the Pistons 6.9 ppg, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks per game.

Andrew Nembhard

Nembhard was overlooked by many teams and ended up being drafted in the late second. To say the least, he has shocked everybody and proved he is one of the top guys in his class. Nembhard is averaging 8.5 ppg, 2.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Tari Eason

The athletic sf/pf has shown really good potential this far in the season. Being so gifted, Eason can guard three out of five positions, making him a versatile player when it is off the pick n’ roll and in transition. Eason is averaging 8.5 ppg, 5.3 rebounds and .8 assists.

Aj Griffin

A very efficient off-ball scorer in college, Griffin has learned very quickly how to create a shot for himself in the league. The Atlanta Hawks sg/pf is averaging 10.4 ppg on 2.1 rebounds and 1 assist.

“[Paolo Banchero’s] got all the skills. He’s got a lot of talent. I hope that he can kind of grow into being that dominant player that he was in college and continue to do that through the NBA.”

- Jeffrey Fletcher, Principal

“I think [Jaden Ivey’s] going to be a good scorer in the future. I think he’ll get nice assist numbers and just [good] numbers in general.”

- Danny Schanks, sophomore

“I think Benedict Mathurin is a great rookie and the Pacers fought the steal of the draft with him. I think he will evolve into an all-star later in his career.”

- Eli Bollinger, freshman

Pages Designed by Erica Sanford (22) Tyger Kibera and Amber Winkler (23)

TOP 10

This page includes the 10 best states to travel to in the United States as well as many activities you can do in each state. Other FHN students explained why they liked to travel to these states as well. (Content and Photos by Elise Grimshaw)

4

Hawaii

7

Texas

If you want good barbecue, country music and a warm climate, Texas is the place for you. As well as the country, there are also some major cities in Texas.

HIKES NEAR YOU

Heres some hikes near you perfect for beginners.

California

From the amazing sunsets on the beach to the city and Dodgers baseball games, California is the #1 vacation spot in the US every year.

“What I like about California is it’s very lively and more interesting than Saint Louis.”

- Eashaan Patel, 9

Florida

Florida is known for their beaches, amusement parks and more. The warm tropical climate is something all the vacationers enjoy.

“It is super pretty and it has Disney, beaches, lots of places to go, it’s never boring.”

- Madeline Dustin, 10

5

Colorado

Colorado is a popular vacation destination but not too busy for those seeking to get away into nature.

“I really liked the view of the mountains, especially with the sunset.”

- Morgan Smith, 9

6

Louisiana

Home to the famous New Orleans, Louisiana is such a great place to visit with beaches, cities and great food for everyone to enjoy.

8 9

New York

Hawaii is such a good vacation destination if you are looking for beautiful, secluded, crystal, clean beaches. The beaches are typically more private with less people then other beaches. 1 2 3

New York is truly one of a kind. It is the biggest city in the United States and the culture and diversity is super cool to see. You will never be bored in New York because of the endless amounts of activities to do.

10

“I liked going to the beach and seeing my family.”

-Katie Head, 9

Utah

Utah is home to many National Parks such as Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and many more. The Grand Canyon also runs through Utah.

“I like Utah because the Grand Canyon and mountains are beautifully made by nature.”

- Courtney Epplin, 9

Washington

Washington has warm summers and cold winters just like many other states, but that is perfect for those wanting to travel to the mountains, city and beach. Washington is also home to Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park.

Wyoming

Although Wyoming is typically not the most popular state, this state has beautiful National Parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The geysers, waterfalls and animals are all unique.

Bangert Island

Bangert Island has a total trail length of 3.2 miles. Its a very low hike with little change in elevation, perfect for a beginner.

Spencer Walking Trail

Spencer Walking Trail is another hiker perfect for a beginner it totals 7.9 miles but it is a down and back hike.

MAKE YOUR OWN TOP

10

Looking back to the Top 10, lists you may have disagreed. Here is a chance to recreate one of the lists that you disagreed with and make your own Top 10 list. Feel free to replace an option with your own choice if you really disagree.

POTATO CHOICES

-Baked Potato

-Smashed

-Waffle Fries

-Fries

-Potato Soup

-Potato Skins

-Mashed Potatoes

-Potato Wedges

-Hash Browns

-Chips

STATES

-Florida

-California

-New York

-Hawaii

-Colorado

-Louisiana

-Texas

-Utah

-Washington

-Wyoming

SZA’S SOS ALBUM

-Kill Bill

-Nobody Gets Me

-Blind

-Love Language

-SOS

-Gone Girl

-Shirt

-Special

-Notice Me

-Seek and Destroy

CEREAL CHOICES

-Lucky Charms

-Reese’s Puffs

-Cocoa Puffs

-Special K Fruit and Yogurt

-Frosted Flakes

-Cinnamon Toast Crunch

-Froot Loops

-Cap’n Crunch Berries

-Honey Nut Cheerios

-Fruity Pebbles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“AS PART OF FHN MEDIA, I LOVE ALL THE SKILLS I GET TO LEARN THAT CAN BENEFIT ME IN THE FUTURE -- FROM LEARNING HOW TO USE A CAMERA TO LEARNING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ADOBE PROGRAMS. I ALSO REALLY LIKE MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND SEEING HOW OTHERS REACT TO THE PHOTOS WE TAKE

FHN Media

ENROLL IN A JOURNALISM CLASS FOR NEXT YEAR.

Journalism - (Writing & Design Focused) - 1/2 Comm Arts Credit & Dual Credit Option

Broadcast Journalism - (Video Storytelling Focused) - 1/2 Comm Arts Credit

Digital Photojournalism - (Photography) - 1/2 Practical Arts Credit

ALREADY TAKE AN INTRO COURSE? JOIN STAFF. Applications for 2023-24 are available now. Find out More at www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore

.”

—Etaf Abdallah, Newspaper Photo Editor

AN ADVENTURE OF THE BODY

Logan University provides students with a way to learn and further their knowledge on the human body

by Jaden Slusser jslusser235@g.fhsdschools.org

Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri offers a free Tour of the Body to the community. Tour the Body is a program where anyone can view, touch and learn about a dissected human cadaver. The tour will help participants to gain a better understanding of the structures of the human body.

“This is hands-on, you are feeling what it’s really like, you’re seeing what it’s actually like instead of seeing a picture,” Tour of the Body guide Nicholas Reese said. “So I think having that hands-on experience and having that reality of it really sets the perspective and gives you an opportunity to advance beyond your peers.”

The anatomy lab is used by Logan students as well as other schools and universities in the area to help them advance their knowledge of human anatomy. Logan University is a chiropractic school but the tour can still be a valuable experience to anyone interested in any aspect of the medical field.

“It is important to see if you can handle the anatomy labs first off because not a lot of people can do it,” a chiropractor that attended Logan University Dr. Laura Stephenson said. “I know there are people that will walk in there and turn right back around so you have to make sure that you’re still interested in it.”

Whether or not a student is interested in the medical field, this is a unique opportunity that can be beneficial for students going into any profession. Students involved in the program and those who lead it agree that the tour can provide a better sense of what can be involved in the medical profession and help participants understand the body on a deeper level.

“This is a good opportunity to provide people with high quality information straight from the source,” Reese said. “I think it could be beneficial for anyone [and] you

can still teach people things that they didn’t know about themselves.”

Students like Adam Glenn, a senior in high school, was one of many students that were able to benefit from the tour as he knows he wants to study medicine in the future.

“It was very interesting,” Glenn said. “I looked at dead animals before but never actual human anatomy,” Adam said. “I learned that I can look at a cadaver and not freak out, I’ll probably have to do that more in college or med school.”

The tour may be very interesting and unique but it is not for everyone. To some people, the smell is not great and seeing a real cadaver right in front of them can be unsettling. Mother of Adam,

Jennifer Glenn, also participated in Tour of the Body, but her experience was a little different than Adam’s.

“I think my favorite part about the tour was when we left,” Glenn said.

Tour the Body is a rare experience. Although it may not be for everyone, it has great lasting effects on the school and the medical community which will benefit others for many years to come.

“It’s very nice that these people are donating their bodies to science so we need to get more of the public eye to see how the school and how these cadavers are helping all the students and the future doctors learn,” Stephenson said.

A doctor leading one of the Tours of the Body shows off a model brain to a group of enthralled listeners. (Photo Submitted by Logan University)

WANT TO TAKE YOUR OWN TOUR OF THE BODY?

An easy list of steps to help you schedule your own visit to tour a human cadaver at the Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri. The tours can be booked for individuals looking for more insight into the human body or for school trips to help students, whether they’re heading into a medical field or not. (Content by Michaela Manfull)

1.

Make Sure You’re Up For It

Not everyone’s got the guts to see human intestines. If you got squeamish during the seventh grade frog dissection, maybe the TV show Scrubs is the better way to go for you.

Check Out Their Website

2. Scan the QR code to the right to see Logan University’s official website that has all the information you’ll need to schedule your visit to their campus.

3.

Fill Out The Paperwork

Scrolling to the bottom of their website, you’ll see a place to submit paperwork in order to visit. It’s only one piece of paper, so it’s not like you’re buying a house or selling your soul away. Still, make sure you read the paperwork so you know what you’re signing up for.

4.

Submit A Tour Request

The final step to get a tour is to submit your tour request, which is done by going to the bottom of their website and selecting “Submit Tour Request.” It will take you to a screen where you can send an email to the Tour Coordinator who will help you book your trip.

A person shows an eyedropper to a room of people as part of the Tours of the Body showcase. (Photo Submitted by Logan University)

A speaker gives a presentation about the Tours of the Body to a room of Emergency Medical Services workers in order to help educate them about new innovations. (Photo Submitted by Logan University)

Designed by Michaela Manfull

THIS MONTH’S “FAST FIVE” OF NORTH

Some cars are fast, some are furious and some are just really cool

RILEY PUHR

by JJ Gruettemeyer jgruettemeyer069@g.fhsdschools.org

“Sick” Puhr drives a 2000 Pontiac Firebird.

Her favorite parts about the car are either how the front looks or how it sounds. Puhr hasn’t done any work on her car yet but she is planning on putting in a cool air intake soon. If she could do anything, she would turbo or supercharge it. Her favorite place to drive her firebird is the back roads at the lake.

“I’ve always liked Firebirds and I wanted an older car to work on so it just kinda fell into my hands at the perfect time,” Puhr said.

Check out some cars at Cars and Coffee hosted by Gateway Classic Cars by scanning the QR Code.

COOPER TATLOW

Everybody knows of the new parking lot at North, but most people don’t pay attention to the cars that are in the lot. Driving through the lot, there are plenty of cars that stick out; all for different reasons. Seniors Cooper Tatlow and Riley Puhr both have American muscle icons. Tatlow has a 2016 Ford Mustang GT that stands out because of its beautiful red coat and its “loud” nature. Puhr has a 2000 Pontiac Firebird, Firebirds stopped being made

AZEEM EHTISHAM

in 2002, making it the last of its kind and a staple to the Pontiac name. Junior Shannon Renkey and senior Mason Baue have JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) masterpieces. Renkey has a 2014 Subaru WRX hatchback. With its all blacked out paint job, tint and wheels plus a big hood scoop on the front, it has a mean look to it. Baue has a 2008 Nissan 350Z. It often goes under appreciated because of its soft top but that’s what makes it unique. Senior Azeem Ehtisham drives a 1983 Buick LeSabre, a 40 year old restored classic in North’s very own parking lot.

“Classic” Ehtisham says about his 1983 Buick LeSabre.

It was his dads car while he was in college. He restored the engine and then gave it to Ehtisham. He doesn’t plan on getting rid of his car but he would like to fix all of the rust on the body and repaint it. He says his favorite part about his car is the seats are very comfortable, almost like a couch.

SHANNON RENKEY

“Diverse” Renkey calls her 2014 Subaru WRX Hatchback named Blast.

Her father gave her the car and her favorite part about the car is how fast it can go. Her favorite place to drive Blast is on the country roads in Wentzville. There isn’t anything she would change about her car as she is content with how it is. Renkey has come to terms with the fact that Blast won’t last forever.

“It’s pretty old, so it might die soon. I’m just hoping it stays alive,” Renkey said.

MASON BAUE

“Loud” Tatlow describes his 2016 Ford Mustang he named Noisy Boy. His car holds a lot of sentimental value as he plans to keep it forever. He’s put a lot of work into the car from a whole new JB sound system to his Drake Scott spoiler and even his Flowmaster Scavenger Series X-Pipe and muffler. Up next for his car are some new wheels, but if he could do anything he’d supercharge or turbo it.

“Unique” Baue talks about his 2008 Nissan 350Z. His goal for the car is to turn it into something different. He flew all the way to California and drove the car 33 hours home. His favorite part about his car is the wheels and tires he put on them. Even though he loves the car, he does plan on getting rid of it to build something a little bit faster. His favorite place to drive is Highway F.

“Its got a really good view and the road is pretty curvy and [it’s] just an enjoyable drive,” Baue said.

(Photo submitted by Shannon Renkey)

(Photo submitted by Riley Puhr)

(Photo submitted by Mason Baue)

(Photo submitted by Azeem Ehtisham)

(Photo submitted by Cooper Tatlow)

FACTS ON KINLOCH AND KATHY

Kinloch’s Airfield was home to the first control tower, first aerial photo, first animal airlifted, first parachute jump, first meal on flight and first airmail shipped.

Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to fly in an airplane and he did it at Kinloch Airfield.

Congresswoman

Maxine Waters and Actress

Jennifer Lewis are from Kinloch.

One school in Kinloch was taught by nuns and they taught two grades at a time.

The first black man elected to a school board in Missouri was done in Kinloch (1924).

Kathy has two kids, three grandchildren and one great grandson.

Kathy and her husband David eventually moved to Wentzville, Missouri after years of hard work.

Both a documentary and a book have been made about Kinloch.

SEPARATE BUT NOT EQUAL

Kathleen Black shares her experience growing up in Kinloch, Missouri during the 1950s

by Sophia Black sblack565@g.fhsdschools.org

Her day starts off as any other. She gets dressed, she gets something to eat and then she heads out the door for school.

She’s one of 15 children in her family and one of six girls. Life for Kathy Black is the same as any other teen, except she’s black in the 1950s. The country is “separate but equal,” but according to Kathy, nothing is really equal.

She lives in Kinloch, the oldest all-black community in Missouri. Segregation is still in full effect in Saint Louis County, so she goes to an all-black high school in her all-black town with almost everything they need. After school, she meets with her friends at the local teenage hangout spot, Uncle Dick’s. Her life is contained within the city limits of Kinloch.

“It was a regular town, we had everything except a bank,” Kathy said. “We rode our bikes. We went to school. The high school had teams. We got up on Sundays and went to church. As teenagers we went to school. After school we had a hangout for teenagers called Uncle Dick’s. We went there and spun our records and ordered hamburgers and we danced. From that point of view we were a normal town, just like a white town. We were just all black.”

Kinloch was first developed in the 1890s and was like every other white town in Saint Louis. But towards the 1920s, it became a majority black town due to restrictive housing in the city. The city continued to grow and even became home to an airfield where many historic events took place. Despite the destructive nature of segregation, Kinloch was able to become a prominent black community that was home to hundreds of black families.

Kathy grew up in the segregated United States but it didn’t make her bitter. Growing up she knew that it was just how things were and until the laws were changed, nothing could be done about it.

Kinloch was all she knew.

According to Kathy, the isolation of the town brought comfort and safety in a time where black people were rarely protected. During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Kathy was able to move out of Kinloch in 1963.

The Civil Rights era was an empowering time for many black Americans. Protests around the country sparked change within the laws that were rooted in discrimination. In Saint Louis, there were sit-ins and demonstrations but nothing compared to what was going on in the south. Kathy watched it all from a distance.

“Sadly, I guess I did not have the courage,” Kathy said. “I was nowhere near them and I never thought about going and joining. I think, to me, that it was a calling. You had to have courage and conviction and I’ve often wondered how those people got all of that courage and conviction.”

The protests might have changed the laws, but it took time for them to change minds. Kathy witnessed some places that would rather

close down than let black people in when they finally had to. The process of desegregation was slow. Opportunities that weren’t afforded to black people before the Civil Rights Act was passed didn’t come right after the bill was signed, but they slowly came. Even with new opportunities, some towns like Kinloch were left out.

During the 1980s, the City of Saint Louis bought out homes in Kinloch to expand the Lambert Airport. This displaced hundreds of families in Kinloch, causing the town to lose over 80 percent of its population. Now, the town is no longer what Kathy remembers and could even be described as a ghost town. While Kathy’s life was able to get better due to the opportunities afforded by things like the Civil Rights Act being passed, Kinloch got worse. Kathy eventually moved out of Kinloch with her husband, David, and was able to have a family that was better off than she was growing up.

The future for Kinloch is starting to look brighter. Renovation efforts are being made

Designed by JJ Gruettemeyer (30) Sophia Black (31)

Photo of Kathy during her teenage years. (Photo submitted)

FILE IT AWAY

by Olivia Van Horn ovanhorn332@g.fhsdschools.org

Color Code Method

If you are more of a visual organizer instead of a planner organizer, the color coding method is for you. Each subject or a certain category gets a different color so, if you use folders, have each folder be a different color with the label of the subject on it. This will help keep track of your assignments so that you don’t have to worry about what folder you may have put the test review in.

“I feel like being organized just makes life easier,” art teacher Courtney Flamm said. “From a teacher’s perspective, if I’m not organized then my students aren’t organized and won’t be aware of what I’m asking them so it makes everybody’s lives easier when I’m organized.”

Planners / Bullet Journal Method

Another way to organize is the planners or bullet journal method. This type of organization works best for people who need visuals and things to be written out. There are many different sources that you can use such as Notion, Google Calendar or just a simple calendar planner or blank bullet journal for the more creative type. This way of organizing will work best if you are someone who can keep track of notebooks or will look at a calendar or to-do list every day.

(Sticky) Note Method

The last way of organizing to be mentioned is the note or sticky note method. This is more oriented toward people who do not need the visual aspect of the organization and only need things to be written down. You can do this method on a piece of paper, the notes app or just a simple sticky note.

A NEW CHAPTER

FHN Secretary retires to spend time with family and travel

by Drew Johnson djohnson440@g.fhsdschools.org

Administrative Assistant Rae Ann Noah retired on Jan. 31. Noah has worked in the district for 23 years and the past 11 spent at FHN. Noah has retired in order to spend more time with her family.

“Earlier, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and I decided that I needed to be available to take him to his treatments if he was sick,” Noah said. “Recently, we went to the doctor and he is cancer free. Now I can retire and we get to enjoy the later part of our lives together.”

Although Noah is optimistic about the future, she still is sad to leave the district.

“I’ve developed pretty deep friendships with the majority of the people here and I am just someone who cared about her job every day,” Noah said. “I have never gotten up one morning and dreaded coming in, I love it here.”

Despite the fact that many of her memories were positive, Noah still had a difficult time adapting to some changes. Noah has spent the past five years as head secretary to various main principals.

“When I got the position as head secretary, it was hard trying to learn the job and be what I felt like

FUN FACTS ABOUT HEIDELBERG GERMANY

I needed to be for everyone,” Noah said. “I’ve also had four bosses in the last five years and that’s been a huge challenge.”

Ever since Noah assumed the role of head secretary, colleagues have felt that she kept the staff running smoothly and has formed unbreakable bonds with the people she worked with.

The town is about an hour from Frankfurt, Germany.

Heidelberg has an estimated population of 160,335 people.

Heidelberg has an estimated the largest wine barrel in Germany.

“It’s going to be hard here without her, she brings us together,” Cara Mchaffie, who has been a secretary at FHN for nine years said. “It’s something that’s been really hard for me because I just care about her so much. I think if you were to say anything, she’s just well respected by the administration and assistants.”

Noah is looking forward to the future with her family and time off. She has plans to travel with her husband.

“I’d like to do some traveling,” Noah said. “I was born in Germany, so I would love to go visit there. An Alaskan cruise would also be fun as well. I have some things on my bucket list to do.”

Many members are sad to see Noah retire. Though, with her future unfolding, she believes its the right time to leave.

“It’s been a wonderful ride here and I’ve enjoyed every single second of it,” Noah said.

(Illustration by Michaela Manfull)

Rae Ann Noah works as Principal Jeffery Fletcher’s assistant for school year. Noah is excited to start a new chapter. (Photo by Etaf Abdallah)

The town Noah was born in is Heidelberg, Germany.

MARDI GRAS PARADE

by Sadie Ortmeyer sortmeyer483@g.fhsdschools.org

This year, St. Charles is hosting their own Mardi Gras celebration in Frenchtown by having a familyfriendly Mardi Gras Parade on Feb. 18. It starts at 11 a.m. and parades down Second Street, and ends at the Foundry Art Centre parking lot where they are having an afterparty from noon to 2:00 p.m.

50 MARATHONS BY 50

Teacher Stacy Bevill has a goal of running a marathon in every U.S. state by the time she is 50 years old

by Ella Struble estruble765@g.fhsdschools.org

Math teacher Stacey Bevill is working towards completing 50 marathons, one in every state, and hopes to complete it by age 50. So far, Stacey has run marathons in 16 states, including Connecticut, Nevada and Wisconsin. She began this journey in 2015.

“It started off when I ran a race after my first kid was born and kind of got the bug,” Stacey said. “And then I thought to myself, ‘what’s something that’s just so out there that I can do to keep me active.’ I decided, you know, ‘I think I’m going to have a goal of doing all the states.’”

Since COVID, Stacey has had to increase her number of races from three a year to four or five a year in order to meet her goal by 50. COVID also had a great impact on her training regiment.

“When COVID hit, obviously for everyone it caused a lot of issues,” Stacey said. “It caused my training to really get off. To where after COVID I was just doing one or two runs to prepare for these races.”

After this setback, Stacey hired FHN alumni Jackie Pirtle-Hall to be

BEVILL’S TRAVELS

her running coach. Stacey is also supported by her husband, Brett Bevill, who is the varsity football coach at FHN.

“I do my best to make her marathons,” Brett said. “I go there to support her and you know, carry around anything she needs and meet her on the race course at least two or three times.”

Stacey began running to keep herself active after having children. When she heard about the marathons a friend of hers had been running, she decided to try it herself.

“I started with a half marathon,” Stacey said. “First one was tough, and then the second one I did, after I finished, I said to myself, ‘I think I could run that again, I’m not tired.’”

Stacey enjoys running because of the opportunity it gives her to relieve stress, especially stress related to teaching.

“So with teaching, it helps, there’s so much weight that’s always on teachers’ shoulders all the time, and running is one of the few times that, when I have just so much weight on my shoulders, I can just let it all go,” Stacey said. “And it allows for me to be free and allows my thinking to be free.”

“It’s fun to come together and just have a reason to get together with people and party,” French teacher Jenny Liberson said.

Even if this holiday originated in New Orleans, it has spread to many places beyond. It serves as a time for people to get together and celebrate with family and friends even if they celebrate Lent or not. This is why Frenchtown is doing a parade which allows anyone to come.

“I think it’s a fun thing that should keep being celebrated and I think it’s important to remember the origins of New Orleans and all that stuff,” Liberson said.

Mardi Gras is a widely known holiday that has been celebrated for hundreds of years and is specifically well known for its decorations and colors. Especially in New Orleans, the celebration is huge and includes parades, decorations and music.

“New Orleans is huge, they have a week of festivities and they shut things down,” Liberson said.

The holiday Mardi Gras is celebrated on Fat Tuesday, which is the last day before Lent for Christian groups. It can fall on any day between Feb. 9 and March 3, but this year, it falls on Feb. 21.

“I think it’s just like the fun-like cultural aspect of New Orleans, and the strong cultural presence it has there kind of like stems out everywhere else,” Liberson said.

“And I don’t think that is the case with a lot of holidays.”

Various Mardi Gras decorations and accessories. (Photo by Heidi Huff)

Stacey Bevill is running in the Arkansas Marathon in 2015. (Photo submitted by Stacey Bevill)

Bevill ran in the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in St. Louis in 2014.

Bevill ran in the Arkansas Marathon in 2015.

Bevill ran the Marshall University Marathon in 2015 in West Virginia.

by Brianna Dunham)

KNIGHTS START STRONG

by Carter McDevitt cmcdevitt291@g.fhsdschools.org

The FHN varsity boys basketball team has had a very promising start to their current season campaign. So far this season, they have a record of 4-10 and already have more wins than four of their last five seasons and are looking to improve on their nine win season last year, their highest win total since 2014.

The success so far has been spearheaded by North’s 6’5” center Ryan Murdock, who is averaging 17.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. FHN’s Murdock led offense is performing well this year, averaging the most points for the school in four seasons, but shooting guard Nikhil Contractor thinks the team’s focus on defense has led them to success.

“One of our main focuses is on defense, Coach [Larry] Green really implements that,” Contractor said. “More teams know we’re going to apply pressure.”

Contractor has been the team’s best outside shooter this season, averaging the most 3-pointersper-game with two and the third best field goal percentage (min. 50 shots). He is also, like the majority of his teammates, a senior. This year’s roster is made up almost entirely of seniors, who comprise 11 of the 13 players on the team, so there’s a lot of experience on this squad. While this may be an issue for the program later down the line, for this year’s team it means one thing; chemistry.

“I feel like as a team we’re all coming together as one,” Contractor said. “Everyone works together and we’re all friends on and off the court.”

NEW WAVE OF SWIMMERS

With the current Swim and Dive season underway, new teammates are making a big splash

by Elise Grimshaw egrimshaw432@g.fhsdschools.org

This year, six new swimmers joined the FHN girls swim and dive team. Training every day in the water and on land, the girls have been working hard to prepare for GAC’s. The nerves and excitement headed into the season along with hard work helped the girls PR as the season progressed.

“Since the season has started we have seen a lot of improvement, not just in times but also we have gotten a lot closer since the beginning of the season,” returning sophomore swimmer Michaela Manfull said.

One swimmer in particular that stands out to Manfull is sophomore Madeline Dustin. Along with swim, Dustin was also on the varsity cross country and track team this past season.

“Madeline Dustin is one of our new swimmers and she is really good,” Manfull said. “She just joined a team this summer to prepare. She does a lot of running, so she’s definitely comfortable with how you have to breathe in the water.”

With a fairly young team this year, only two seniors and five juniors, the rest of the team consists of

DUSTIN’S SWIM STATS

Favorite Stroke: Free style and breaststroke

Best 500 Time: 7:51

Best 200 Time: 2:49

Best 100 Breast Time: 1:48

underclassmen. The team has a whole set a lot of goals for themselves for the season.

“Give North a good name, give themselves a good name and have fun,” assistant coach Rowan Pugh said. “Those are my goals for any season, any sport that I coach, any progress or PR or state qualifications that we get, that’s just a bonus that makes it all better because those humans are so deserving of that.”

As the coaches set goals for the season and the team, the team also set goals for themselves to help each other. As there were lots of new swimmers to the sport, communication and asking questions was key.

“My team has taught me to put in 100% every race and practice and to try my hardest,” new swimmer Madeline Dustin said.

The team chemistry has been another important part of the season. The team got to know each other through team bondings which helped the team connect.

“Our team has got closer this season through all the late night practices and long swim meets. We all get along and it’s made this season one of the best,” Dustin said.

(Photo

The girls swim team circles in a team huddle before their swim meet on Dec. 1st (Photo by Addison Polsgrove)

PINK OUT PREVIEW

by Madelyn Graesar mgraesar283@g.fhsdschools.org

This season, the Lady Knights have two games against FHHS, one of which is the Pink Out game held by North at their home court on Feb. 10. The Pink Out game is known to bring a huge crowd and donations.

“It’s always a big deal to us,” girls basketball coach Danielle Rampley said.

ELIMINATING WORRY ABOUT BUS SCHEDULE

The JV head coach does know that the bus scheduling is rough but doesn’t want anyone to panic about the issues considering buses to away games

by Lindsay Haislip lhaislip362@g.fhsdschools.org

With the understaffed bus drivers at the time, it can be very difficult to make sure that the FHN school sports teams get picked up at the right time, at the right place and make sure that the team gets there on time.

“It’s very stressful for all of us,” JV team captain and sophomore Sophia Manzella said. “Especially since the school wifi doesn’t allow communication through GroupMe.”

The stress of not knowing if a bus is going to show up can get overwhelming for the players and coaches. The communication between coaches and players can get a little rocky since the information can change any time, any day. JV head coach Jeff Ott feels that the communication between the school and bus drivers could be easier by having a centralized pickup spot so everyone knows where to go and where each pickup spot is going to be.

“Honestly, the bus not showing

up has been a fear of mine because we could end up just being late or having to cancel our game and a team never wants to forfeit,” Mazella said.

Many emotions can go through the process of making sure that a bus will show up but Ott knows that one will most definitely be there because he knows how hard everyone works to make sure players and coaches arrive on time and he doesn’t want the players worrying.

“I don’t want there to be any concern about buses not arriving,” Ott said.

Coaches in the athletic department have a process to communicate with bus drivers and bus scheduling, so the teams have a generalized idea of when they should get picked up.

“I appreciate all that the bus driver does and I know it’s a hard job and they’re understaffed right now,” Ott said. “They are doing their best to get us to where they need to be safely and responsibly.”

Howell High has been North’s biggest rival in many sports for as long as some students can remember. This game is seen to be very different compared to others due to it being against Howell. Players share that they are excited to play in this game because of the environment and huge crowd along with the possibility of having bragging rights over Howell.

“It’s beating Howell. Everyone wants to beat Howell,” girls basketball player and freshman Olivia Graeser said.

Coach Rampley believes that this could be a close game if the team is prepared and if their shots fall. This year, the team is very young due to them having five new freshman players joining the varsity team, Graeser, Morgan Smith, Courtney Epplin, Addy Jones and Elise Grimshaw. Many of the players also believe this game could be a close one.

Epplin believes that this game could be a big test. The team will have to be on game speed to come out on top. However, Howell lost a crucial player to their team this year who averaged around 25 points.

“It’s going to be really tough,” Epplin said.

As the Lady Knights continue their season leading up to the annual Pink Out game, they are staying strong with a 10-7 record and hoping to improve it leading up to the big game.

(Photo by Etaf Abdallah)

FHN JV/Varsity girls basketball player Elise Grimshaw eagerly waits for the late arrival of the bus to an away game against St. Charles West Warriors. (Photo by Sophia Manzella)

NO GIRLS JOIN CO-ED BOWLING

by Violet Newton vnewton158@g.fhsdschools.org

Through past years, the FHN bowling team has consisted of both boys and girls making it a co-ed team. However, this year is different as the only girl who was on the team, Senior Peyten Davis, is no longer a part of the FHN bowling team.

“We actually don’t have any girls on the team this year even though it’s co-ed, last year we had a girl on the team but she’s not on the team this year,” member of the bowling team and senior Julius Cox said.

BOYS WRESTLING TEAM CONTINUES GOING STRONG

Boys Wrestling team continues to do well despite losing top athletes last year

by Chase Pray cpray812@g.fhsdschools.org

1. Headgear To prevent ear and head injuries

Although there are currently no girls that are a part of the team, it is still considered to be co-ed so girls are welcome to join. The team hopes to have more girls join the team in the future years.

For more information on Bowling in America, scan the QR code above.

“Bowling helped me be a better leader,” Davis said. “It helped me with being a good sport and managing my anger in public spaces. I definitely didn’t leave on false terms, I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

For any girls who are interested in joining the team, bowling is looking for new athletes in the 2024 season. The team is open to anyone who wants to join and they will teach new athletes anything they need to know.

After a great 2021 season that saw a big wave of seniors graduating, the boys wrestling team has been able to maintain their momentum throughout this season despite the setback of losing two state qualifiers. With a record of 4-1 and the team starting the season strong winning their first four meets, the boys have the intention of improving their already impressive record as the season progresses.

“We lost two state qualifiers from last year but we definitely haven’t lost momentum this season,” head coach Chris Brown said. “We started off the season the exact same as last year with a 4-1 record going into Christmas break.”

There are many qualities that factor into the team’s continued success such as their work ethic, team environment and the coaching. Many of the athletes have also been training extensively during the off season to make sure they’re in top shape for when this season began. Junior Trystan Blenis believes that the team is excelling at all three and contributes that to the team’s current success.

“I think we all work really hard and it helps [that] we all get along and learn from each other,” Blenis said.

2. Singlet Proper uniform for competing

3. Mouthgaurd Prevents injuries to the teeth, cheeks, lips, and tongue

4. Shoes Proper shoes is essential to getting more traction and preventing ankle injuries

“Coach Brown is an awesome coach and he teaches us a lot during our practices and meets.”

As the season progresses the boys have each been working to reach their own personal goals that they’ve set at the beginning of the season. These goals have helped them stay motivated throughout the season and perform the best they can.

“We all want to win our matches and the meets we are at so it’s definitely motivating when we do win,” Blenis said. “My biggest goal is to make it to state at the end of the season and to hopefully do well there.”

The training and practice the boys are going through has been setting them up to succeed and do their best at meets and during matches. Coach Brown has been training the boys to be at their peak when they compete and it’s been paying off for many of the boys so far. The team will have their last meet on Feb. 1 against Parkway North after placing 9th at the GAC tournament.

“They’re doing great so far and we have a lot of goals I’d still like to achieve before the end of the season like sending as many of them as I possibly can to state,” Brown said. “They’ve all been training hard though and it’s showing during competitions.”

FHN bowler throws the ball down the lane during a match hoping to hit as many pins as they can. (Photo by Ankita Pandurangi)

Junior DJ Dillon wins a match at Francis Howell North against Troy Buchanan Trojans on Dec. 14, 2023. The Knights ended up losing to the Trojans 46-36. (Photo by Holly Samuels)

Scan the QR code for more information on wrestling.

FHN WRESTLERS PREPARE TO FINISH THE SEASON

Wrestlers face mental and physical challenges when preparing for meets

by Emily Mueller emueller500@g.fhsdschools.org

Challenging practices everyday has become a routine for the female and male wrestlers at North. The wrestlers have been putting in endless amounts of effort into their practices in order to be prepared for the final meets coming up quickly.

“I mainly wrestled junior varsity this year and I really think it’s been going really well,” freshman wrestler Andrew Moore said. “I feel like I got a lot better I think both the coaches and my teammates have gotten me really good this season.”

It isn’t only what is put in during practice that matters, but also what is put in outside of wrestling practices and in the offseason. Many of the wrestlers played fall sports in order to stay in shape and better set them up for the season.

“Before the wrestling season, I was doing cross country in order to

stay fit and make sure my stamina stayed good,” sophomore wrestler Landon Davis said.

Wrestling has much more to it than just physical strength.

Mentality plays a huge role in performance in wrestling. Changes within the team caused some wrestlers to feel differently this year making their mentality play a big role in their performance, such as sophomore Isabelle Apple having to wrestle without her brother for the first time this season.

“It’s been super sad wrestling without him this year,” Apple said. “He always motivated me and I mean he was my ride everywhere which was nice but it was kind of hard to get used to him not being around at first.”

This wrestling season is somewhat different than the 2021-2022

season for some on the team. Some of those factors could lead to potential challenges this season.

“We moved up a district which lead to harder competition,” Apple said. “That is going to encourage me to work harder and make me a stronger person.”

Even though there are challenges, there are many things that help the wrestlers overcome those challenges and push through. The fun team activities and the environment of comradery are what keep some of the wrestlers going.

“Overall, I’m really looking forward to the rest of this season because I have good partners and I think that will set me up for success,” Moore said.

RESULTS

Throughout the season, wrestlers rack up wins on their record. These are the amount of wins each FHN wrestler has so far this season.

Chad Blanke

13 wins

Trystan Blenis

10 wins

Collin Conley

9 wins

Cole Dillon

10 wins

DJ Dillon

14 wins

Isaac Gonzalez

11 wins

Wyatt Hines

12 wins

Skyler

Lashley

7 wins

Israel Mendez

2 wins

Wyatt Nicholson

14 wins

Jacob Peterson

4 wins

(As of Jan. 24)

FHN wrestler and sophomore Izzy Apple faces a Francis Howell High wrestler during a match on Jan. 11. (Photo by Grace Pinson)

Scan the QR code to see photos from the wrestling match on Dec. 1

BEST OF WINTER PHOTOS

Some of the best highlights from the 2022-23 winter sports season

The Varsity Boys Basketball team huddles up around coach Larry Green in North’s Jan. 6 game against the Timberland Wolves. The final score, after a hard-fought game, was 72-84, with a Wolves win.

Cale

Schaefering is a senior at North and a member of the bowling team. “My favorite thing about bowling is everyone is here to play with each other and not against each other, were always lifting each other up,” Schaefering said after North’s Bowling match at Harvester lanes on Jan. 15. (Photo by

Scan QR Code

To see more photo galleys and sports content at FHNGameday.com

(Photo by Hannah Button)

Laramie Horstman forces a Palmyra wrestler to the mat in the FHN wrestling team’s first quad of the season as a home meet. They went up against St. Charles West, Orchard Farms, and Palmyra. FHN did an amazing job in this meet, starting the season off 3-0 in overall in duals. (Photo by Hannah Simmons)

Ankita Pandurangi)

first 30 seconds of the game, scoring the first basket and dominating on defense the rest of the game. As the game progressed, the point gap grew more and more from the start of the third period ending with a major 31 point lead.

Junior Mariah Snelson and seniors Maddison Musil and Bailey Scarbrough on the sideline of North’s Jan. 6 matchup against the Timberland Wolves. (Photo by Hannah Button)

Jasmyn Moody swims the back stroke in the Varsity Girls Swim teams first meet of the season at Pattonville. They raced against Pattonville, along with Ritenour highschool. For diving, Leighton Hemmer got second place along with Sophia Arnold receiving first. Overall, the girls got second place with a total score of 89. (Photo by Addison Polsgrove and Payton Johnston)

Junior Alicia Hunn pulls a 3-pointer in Norths 65-34 win against Liberty on Dec. 2. North gained the lead in the

(Photo by Parker Bruns)

ENROLL IN A JOURNALISM CLASS FOR NEXT YEAR.

Journalism - (Writing & Design Focused) - 1/2 Comm Arts Credit & Dual Credit Option

Broadcast Journalism - (Video Storytelling Focused) - 1/2 Comm Arts Credit

Digital Photojournalism - (Photography) - 1/2 Practical Arts Credit

ALREADY TAKE AN INTRO COURSE? JOIN STAFF. Applications for 2023-24 are available now. Find out More at www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore

FHN media

Finalizing your schedule for next year? Check these three journalism ones out!

Once you pass any of the three classes listed on the right side here, you can enroll in the journalism groups like the newspaper and yearbook staffs, the web and video staffs or you could become a staff photographer or part of the sports team. All these staffs meet during the school day and students get class credit each semester they enroll.

JOURNALISM

You can get a 1/2 credit of Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to graduate and you’ll become a better writer and designer. People who want to be on the Newspaper, Web and Yearbook staffs generally take this class, as do those who want to be Sports Reporters. No matter your writing level, this class will help you get better. It’s the class most people entering the FHN media program take.

BROADCAST JOURNALISM

You can get a 1/2 credit of Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to graduate and you’ll become a better writer, speaker and video storyteller. People who want to create and edit videos on the Video Staff or Sports staff generally take this class. However, anyone who wants to make better videos will get a lot out of it.

DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM

You can get a 1/2 credit of Practical Arts towards what you need to graduate and you’ll become a photographer and multimedia creator in the process. You’ll work with DSLR cameras, cover events at school and work to get your photos published in the yearbook, newspaper and online at FHNtoday.com and FHNgameday.com. You might even find your photos showcase on the @FHNtoday and @FHNgameday social channels.

OPINIONS

HISTORY BEHIND THE HUE

by Michaela Manfull mmanfull438@g.fhsdschools.org

Science is green, history is orange, math is blue and English is red and here’s why

There’s been a debate recently about which color each school subject should be. While I could write my personal opinions, I think it would be more interesting to read about the science behind the choices. Now, buckle your seat belts and prepare to get into an argument with someone nearby.

Science is green, simple as that. Most science classes have to do with life or the world. The color green is most commonly associated with nature, growth and balance, all of which can be translated into the sciences.

Next is history, the toss-up subject. For me, history gets whichever folder is left over. It’s usually either orange, yellow or purple. First off, many historical documents have an orangish tint and orange is associated with

courage and vitality. It’s not as happy as yellow or as aggressive as red, instead a mix of both being more adventurous and exploratory.

While blue is known for being a calming color, it is also connected with logic and stability. Not everyone might feel calm while trying to figure out how to use the quadratic formula, but there is a sense of trust in math because there is always an equation or rule that tells you what to do. Whatever the reason, logic says that math is blue because logic is too.

Finally, English. It’s almost as much of a toss-up as history. People view

English very differently, some see it as an opportunity to tell stories and enter new worlds. Others see it as a class filled with vocabulary and forced reading. Red is English because it’s the color of energy, passion and strength but can also be seen as one of hatred or intensity.

Hopefully this article will have started at least one conversation somewhere. Keep in mind that you can really justify any color for any subject, even if you think science is red.

NO FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK

A four day school week. If people think about it, it sounds like a great idea. Another day to work on any homework and more time with friends and family or to just relax and take a day to wind down.

If we keep our current schedule and take away one day, it would add about two hours to a school day or make the school year longer. This could mean more stress for students because they’re in school for a longer period of time.

Some kids aren’t old enough to stay home by themselves and parents and guardians tend to work during the school day so guardians would need to find supervision. That means that they might need to take up more shifts or even get a second job to pay for that which takes away the appeal of being able to spend time with friends and family. (Brief by Stephanie Lichtenegger)

Rebecca Greishaber, a sophomore at North gets on the bus on Wednesday, Jan. 4. Greishaber is driven to school by a parent but takes the bus home. She will get her license when she turns sixteen later this year. (Photo by Mady Brewer)

(Illustration by Michaela Manfull)

An open box of Crumbl Cookies sits on a kitchen counter. Crumbl Cookies is a cookie shop created by two cousins and first opening in Logan Utah in 2017. Crumbl implements a rotating menu, meaning that each week will have new cookies.(Photo by Sadie Cotton)

HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLS

by Hope Moseley hmoseley517@g.fhsdschools.org

Crumbl Cookies is a popular cookie business known for their large cookies that are often very sweet. Unlike most bakeries, Crumbl does not offer a variety of cookies constantly, they rotate unique flavors each week, only repeating the flavors every so often. But the real question is; are they worth the hype?

On the Crumbl Cookies website, it features each cookie and how many calories each cookie has. The catch is that the number of calories listed for each cookie only accounts for one fourth of the cookie. So you may think you’re only eating 150 calories, but in reality, you’re actually eating 600 calories. That accounts for a fourth of the calories you need in a full day.

Getting cookies at Crumble is always a gamble. You can’t guarantee that you’re going to get a good cookie or not. Sometimes the cookies are overly sweet. Sometimes they’re too dense. And sometimes the icing is hardened as

if it had been sitting out all day. Also, Crumbl Cookies are expensive. A single cookie costs over four dollars after tax. Four cookies cost over 10 dollars. So if you get two cookies, you’re paying almost as much as you would for four. Compared to other cookies they cost way more. For example, the cookies at Grandma’s Cookies are the same size as Crumbl, but they’re only 89 cents a piece. Crumbl Cookies are not worth the hype. You may have a better chance of getting good cookies at other bakeries or even store bought cookies. Crumbl just isn’t worth it.

KANYE WEST: GONE TOO FAR

Biondo abiondo548@g.fhsdschools.org

Award winning music artist/producer Kanye West has solidified his music with the greats throughout the years, but his recent actions have raised concerns over whether or not it’s okay to still listen to his music. After making many anti-semitic remarks throughout 2022, he has landed himself within the category of ‘canceled’ in today’s culture. West is too far gone to separate his music from all of the negative publicity he has received in the past year.

DID YOU KNOW

Nicole Axelrod at only 25 years old has gained her TikTok fame from doing weekly Crumbl cookie reviews. With a whopping 415 thousand and 500 followers and over 27 million likes, she reviews the new cookies every Monday and has been doing this since early 2021 and is still going strong. Her most viewed video currently has over 3.8 million views when she reviewed shark weeks cookies, with flavors such as sugar shark, pineapple upside down and even coconut cake.

West has released a plethora of hit albums and songs throughout his music career, with albums like Graduation, 808s and Heartbreaks and The Life of Pablo. West has 10 albums that have debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200, which is tied for the most ever with Eminem. Despite all of the accolades, West is plagued by questionable choices he made during the duration of 2022. After anti-semitic tweets, wearing “white lives matter” t -shirts and openly speaking positively towards Nazis, West’s legacy in music is permanently tainted by his actions outside of it.

West has ruined his legacy in music through a series of actions and public statements that have overshadowed his talent as an artist. His controversial behavior and antics have caused many fans and critics to view him as more of a spectacle than a musician. As a result, West’s legacy in music will likely be remembered more for his controversies than for his contributions to the industry.

(Illustration by Izzy Lash) by Tony

IT’S NOT JUST PUPPY LOVE

Romantic

On Behalf of the Editorial Staff

yourFHN@fhntoday.com

To preface, this editorial may relate to you in every way or it may not relate to you at all. As we talk about high school couples, not every generalization we pose may reflect you and your partner or it may be you two down to a tee. Whatever the case may be, insert yourself into the situations posed and allow yourself to reflect on your own experiences and relationships.

“Oh you’ve been dating for three months, that’s cute.”

“You’ll probably break up in a week.”

“They’re just kids, what do they know?”

The answer to that question is not much. Sometimes we don’t know a lot when we’re young, we’re only in high school after all. Most high school students don’t have to worry about the responsibilities of adult life yet. We’re not worried about getting married, moving in, having kids. Those aren’t the thoughts on the forefront of most high school couples minds. When high schoolers enter relationships, the intent isn’t for money or for status, it’s because of the connection you feel with the other person. That genuine connection is often overshadowed by adult relationships, getting married and having children. Often, because teens aren’t taking major relationship steps, these relationships are seen as childish and immature. When in reality, high schoolers can have some of the most honest and genuine relationships that aren’t being threatened by the burdens of adult life.

As a couple gets married, has kids and settles down, the spark that brought them together may dim. The excitement of reaching all these relationship milestones loses its importance as the drudgery of life can batter a married couple. Often, adult couples tend to crave space and vacations apart from each other. This may seem alien to high schoolers. Why would a couple want to spend time apart? But that’s just the thing that bring people together; the space. People need time apart to miss

each other, to feel again what it’s like to want the other person. Teenage couples naturally experience space on a day to day basis as they are apart from each other at home, at school or experience long distance relationships. To a certain extent, space is what makes love grow fonder.

Because teen couples aren’t together 24/7 like most adult couples, they cherish the time they get to spend together. That’s how high schoolers maintain that spark and excitement, the space that keeps them apart brings them together.

When high school sweethearts get married and move through life together, they always have

the knowledge that they were each other’s first loves. Everyone remembers their first love and often, it was in high school. The whole point of a high school relationship is to have fun. Nobody in high school enters into a relationship wanting kids or wanting marriage immediately. They go into a relationship for the fun of experiencing adolescent milestones with someone they like. That is the genuine part of a high school relationship that people can look back on and reminisce about.

High school relationships are far from perfect, however. Teens make many mistakes in navigating the complexities of relationships. Sometimes they may lack

high school relationships can be the most meaningful and genuine connections of a lifetime

communication skills or they may seek out a partner for nothing more than sexual activities. Whatever the mistakes may be, teens are allowed to make them. Adult relationships often have pressures to be perfect. Adult relationships may have way more riding on them than teenage couples. But when we’re teenagers, we are allowed to make mistakes with our partners that most likely will not result in serious consequences. Knowing that the both of you are learning as you go and neither of you are perfect is such a freeing aspect of teen relationships. And that’s okay. Nobody’s perfect and neither are relationships. But as long as teenage couples try their best to maintain a happy relationship, that’s the most genuine high school connection a teenager can have.

FACING THE ODDS

14% of couples met in school.

Couples who met in school

Couples who met outside of school

Around 2% of marriages today are from a high school relationship, however 25% of women say they married their first love.

So, next time when your relationships are discounted and dismissed as ‘just a phase’, remember that adults and teens can be in very different worlds. What may mean the world to you might seem like a phase to an adult. But it’s important to know that every relationship you’re in where effort is put forth by both parties, is valuable and meaningful. It’s not just a phase for you. To you, it may be what keeps you going or what motivates you to wake up in the morning. And while we’re not getting married and buying houses and setting up retirement plans together, we’re having fun being teenagers and experiencing the trials and tribulations of high school relationships.

High school sweethearts who get married have a 54% chance of their marriage lasting ten years and over (compared to 32% of the average American couple). If a couple waits until at least 25 to get married, the chance of their marriage lasting increases to 78%

Around 14% of teens are currently in a relationship they consider to be serious with a boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other.

Prefer not to say

Sexually Active

Not Sexually Active

Around 30% of teenage daters say they have had sex while 66% of teen daters indicate that they have not had sex.

(Illustration by Violet Newton)

Statistics facing high school couples as they navigate through their teen years

(Information from Brandon Gaille Marketing, Pew Research Center and Soocial.com)