Dec. 13, 2017- A Cloud Over Teenagers

NORTH | STAR FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH | ST. CHARLES, MO | 12.13.17 | VOL 32 ISSUE 03

A CLOUD OVER TEENAGERS

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students are affected by depression. Others don’t always understand the influence of depression and other mental illnesses 24-30 Many on teenagers, and how they affect students’ academics, relationships and growth.

ENTERTAINMENT 2 Streaming Disney

Disney’s historic lack of creativity has led to a Disney streaming service.

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Where to See Lights The St. Louis area has many places that display Holiday lights for the season.

NEWS 8 Computer Science Club Computer Science Club gives students a place to practice computer skills.

11 Feminist Club

FHN now has a feminist club for students passionate about gender issues.

WE’RE SOCIAL, 20

ARE YOU?

Substitute James Edwards’ past has influenced his well-known phrase, “I’m quick! I’m sharp! I’m bright! I’m smart! I’m rich and good looking and a major blessing!”

FEATURES 18 Gymnastic Coach

TWITTER @fhntoday

Junior Isabella Gledhill coaches gymnastics at GT Gymnastics.

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SNAPCHAT

DECA Cookies

Special education students help make DECA’s famous cookies.

fhntoday

INSTAGRAM @fhntoday

SPORTS 34 New Swim Coach

FACEBOOK

Girls’ swim has a new coach, Joshua Galati, who looks forward to the season.

@fhntodayfan

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YOUTUBE fhntoday

SMUGMUG

OPINIONS 42 Paying for College

fhntoday

ON THE COVER For some teens, depression can feel like a cloud over their lives, as depicted by the illustration. (Cover

by McKayla Bogda and Alex Rowe)

CTE

CTE, a condition caused by repeated concussions, affects athletes today.

Financial aid systems at most universities disadvantage the middle class.

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43 Junior Tyler Haynes has a special place on the varsity boys’ basketball team. Read more about his relationship with the team here.

FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | CONTENTS

Education System

High school places too much unnecessary pressure on grades.

PAGE BY HEERAL PATEL

EXTINCT TO INK: A BLANK CHRISTMAS Hey, Dot. What do you want for Christmas?

Well, I was going to ask for... You know what? I can’t do this.

What do you mean?

I mean, this bit.

The background isn’t even filled in!

I thought it was snow...

Whoever is in charge of this operation is just plain lazy.

It’s almost finals week. I’m trying my best!

(Comic by Riley Kampff)

A “RiME” AND A REASON

The heartfelt indie game “RiME” has done a great job of the storytelling side of the game industry

by Riley Kampff

kampffriley@gmail.com | @batrilena

There is something truly beautiful about an independent game when it cannot be pinned down to a specific genre because of how dynamic it is. “RiME” knew how to tug at heartstrings with its storytelling, music and even the animation in the gameplay. The powerful components of “RiME” make for an epic adventure with soft spots for those who want a bona fide story, something to relate to.

The main character, who is an unnamed boy, starts off washed ashore and stumbles upon what looks like an abandoned city. The boy then befriends a magical fox to help him on this journey to find a mysterious red-caped man they are never able to catch. The player discovers that there is, in fact, a deeper meaning for why the boy ended up there in the first place though trials and puzzles. There is a bigger picture to every character and area players encounter throughout the game. The man in red shows the loss of a loved one of the boy.

The fox who is so eager to guide him represents the boy’s desire to catch the man, even though it seems impossible to get him back.

The game has five chapters and five towers, and each tower holds a decent amount of challenges, like escaping enemies and solving puzzles that are not easy to figure out at first glance. The game has a special feature where players can pivot the point of view, almost like a turret. Using this tool for perception helps in situations like triggering scenes and opening doorways.

As far as gameplay goes, the only negative thing about it is how the game itself flows. The initial traveling in the game is a bit gritty and slow, that includes running and swimming. The slow paced movement doesn’t throw the whole thing out the window. It is, in fact, an indie game, so it won’t be perfect. “RiME” compensates for that with its simple mechanics and not-so-simple puzzles. The game consists of multiple types of puzzles: where perspective is changed, where keys and objects are used and where memory and patterns are crucial.

The game this is most similar to is any “Legend of Zelda” game, only because of the mute character, the open-world third person view and the various puzzles throughout. While “Legend of Zelda” is one of the most sought-after games of all

PAGE BY RILEY KAMPFF

(Image from tequilaworks.com) time, “RiME” beats it fair and square in its storytelling. Even the music gives off a light-hearted tone, so it’s hard to not connect with it emotionally when playing.

There’s even a song composed by the violinist Lindsey Stirling.

There tends to be positive feedback for games when the story is what got people to play. Gamers don’t want to always play the same first-person shooter that comes out every year. Some want a story, a character they can relate to. Being emotionally involved shows that developers took the time to put charismatic components in the game. “RiME” represents how games can’t always be the scapegoat for angry adolescents. It also shows that the game industry considers the preferences for all types of players.

ENTERTAINMENT | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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Move-a-Movie Truck

(Illustration by Jake Price)

“CREATIVITY” IN THE HOUSE OF MOUSE Disney has no originality, proven by their recent decision to remove their content from Netflix and move it to their own streaming service

by Jake Price

japrice024@gmail.com | @japrice024

Disney is super creative. Disney is the company that has the most imaginative minds working behind the scenes. Disney is the most original entertainment production company that exists on the face of the earth.

Let’s take the video game “Disney Infinity” for example. The game takes on the unique concept of bringing toys-to-life by selling Disney character figurines that will be playable through a video game once placed on a platform. You could play as Mickey Mouse, Jack Skellington, Rapunzel, etc.

“Disney Infinity” was truly the first of its kind.

Wait Jake, what about “Skylanders” and “Lego Dimensions”?

Um...“Disney Infinity” is based off Disney characters which are obviously more popular than any characters in those two other games. I mean, the game got cancelled, but since Disney is more popular, then that means they obviously did that type of video game first.

Their movies are some of the most inventive pieces of entertainment ever created. The Star Wars and Marvel movies to be exact. “The Avengers”, “Rogue One”, “Guardians Of The Galaxy”, and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” are some great examples of movies that Disney pulled out of nowhere. It just amazes me how many amazing, original stories and characters the company is able to create.

Wait Jake, didn’t Disney only buy Marvel and Star Wars and not create them?

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Yeah, they bought them. Which means they own the two brands. Since they own them, it means they basically created the two universes all by themselves.

Those aren’t the only type of movies they created all by themselves. Their animated movies such as Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Up, and The Incredibles were created without any help whatsoever.

Wait Jake, didn’t Disney partner up with Pixar to make those movies?

Partner is the key word in this situation. Disney partnered which means they share the work they’ve done with Pixar, and that means Toy Story was made by Disney entirely. Pixar and Disney are basically the same company now. Duh! In 2019, Disney plans to release their next original, never-before-thought of project: a streaming service. They plan to make a service that will feature all Disney movies and TV shows ever made for around five to ten dollars a month. Nothing else is like it.

Wait Jake, isn’t that same thing as Netflix?

No, its nothing but Disney content which will be taken off of Netflix once Disney starts to move forward with the service.. Sure, the streaming service is the same price as Netflix, the same platform as Netflix, and the same concept as Netflix, but it’s Disney. So, that means it’s a such a fantastic idea to carry out. With such a great, obvious history with originality in the House of Mouse, what could go wrong? It’s not like Disney is wasting people’s time and money on another streaming service that is basically a Disneyfied Netflix.

FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | ENTERTAINMENT

STUDENT TAKE:

WOULD YOU PAY FOR A DISNEY STREAMING SERVICE? “I wouldn’t pay for it because I just don’t understand why you would pay twice the amount of money for two similar streaming services.”

- Plum Russeau, 10

“Yeah [I would pay for it], because all of the Disney movies aren’t on Netflix, so if they’re all going to be on one thing, then that would be easier.”

- Kimberlin Sargent, 11

“I wouldn’t pay for [the Disney streaming service] personally, but I bet a lot of other people would because there is a big audience for Disney.”

- Mason Heller, 9

PAGE BY JAKE PRICE

BEST LIGHT SHOWS TO VISIT Here are a few unique places family and friends can visit around St. Charles and St. Louis to see holiday lights during the season

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT GOING TO VISIT LIGHT SHOWS? “I liked the nostalgia it invoked. I always spend time with my family on Christmas, and we always used to go to them.”

-Brady West, 10

“I loved the beautiful light arrangements. It’s a relaxing time.”

- David Hernandez, 11

“I like them because they’re very colorful and expensive.”

- Shaun Hales, 9

The Blues-themed lights shine at the Winter Wonderland light show at Tilles Park. The park is specifically designed for cars to drive through. It is open through the holiday season, Nov. 22-Dec. 30. (Photo by Alex Rowe)

WILD LIGHTS AT THE ZOO The St. Louis Zoo allows visitors to stroll through the displays, with the zoo’s animals out and about. It is located within Forest Park, on Government Drive. They also offer campfires and s’mores during this event, and entertainment such as live carolers.

End Date: Dec. 30 Times: 5-10 p.m.

Cost: -members: $7 -nonmembers: $8

TILLES PARK Tilles Park is unique because it is open to all traffic, like cars, vans and even limousines. They also offer carriage rides. It is located in St. Louis on 9551 Litzsinger Road. Saturdays are off-limits for vehicles, as they only offer carriage rides within the park.

End Date: Dec. 30 Times: 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Cost: $10 per family vehicle

MISSOURI BOTANCAL GARDENS

CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS

The Garden Glow showcases all the Botanical Garden’s floral exhibits surrounded by beautiful lights. The Botanical Gardens are located on Shaw Boulevard in St. Louis, with free parking for the gardens included.

The Celebration of Lights is located in O’Fallon, within Zumwalt park.

Every light display within the park is organized by local organizations, and it is open to all kinds of vehicles.

PAGE BY SOPHIA SCHMIDT

End Date: Dec. 30 Times: 6-9 p.m. on weekdays, 9-10 p.m. on weekends Cost: $10 per car

End Date: Jan. 1 Times: 5-10 p.m.

Cost: $18 per adult, $10 per child

“There’s always a big variety of lights, and sometimes it gets to the point where you just don’t know where to look because there’s so many.”

-Sarah Maye, 11

“I like the lights because they always make interesting displays and it’s very beautiful.”

- Emily Butler, 11

“I like all the interesting ideas they come up with for the displays.”

- Noah Moore, 11

“I like how my family all goes out together to see the lights.”

- Ben Stack, 11

ENTERTAINMENT | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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DRIVE-BY LIGHTS

Every year Tilles Park offers a drive through light show at 9551 Litzinger Road, Saint Louis A snowman light display sits at the front of Tilles Park. Tilles Park’s annual Winter Wonderland display will be open from Nov. 22 until Dec. 30. The park offers horse drawn carriage rides through the park by reservation. Tickets are available for purchase online, over the phone, or from the Fox Theatre Box Office.

A sign with the prices sits at the entrance of Tilles Park. At Tilles Park you can bring used or broken Christmas lights and they will recycle your lights for you. (Photos by Alex Rowe)

IT’S LIT Tilles Park’s light display has many smaller displays within it. There are sections dedicated to both the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Saint Louis Blues. It had a display with each of the reindeer moving across the grass. There are displays of moving bears and a tunnel of lights over the main road that cars drive through to view the display.

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE BY ALEX ROWE

WILDLIFE TO WILD LIGHTS This year the Saint Louis Zoo is displaying their Wild Lights display on Government Drive until Dec. 30

The Saint Louis Zoo sign is illuminated by a blue light in front of the south entrance.

The Saint Louis Zoo Wild Lights display is sponsored

by US Banks.

Wild Lights takes place on select dates through Dec. 30.

Other activities at the zoo include roasting s’mores, listening to animal storytellers, and watching the live carolers.

A light up tree stands in the south entrance in front of a pond.

Some of the displays include, Southern Entrance Safari, Swan Lake and Jungle Bell Rock. The penguin and puffin exhibit remains open during Wild Lights along with the sea lion and insect exhibits.

(Photos by Alex Rowe)

ROARINGLY GOOD DISPLAYS

The Saint Louis Zoo has several themed areas of Christmas lights but within these are small intricate displays. There were several bears, swans, and other animals made from lights. The Zoo sign was also illuminated in a red and green light.

PAGE BY ALEX ROWE

ENTERTAINMENT | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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Winter Fashion Trends Of 2017 Here are two outfits to spark some inspiration for the winter Outfit One: Modeled by junior Gavin Atkinson

Short-Sleeve Black Tee Where: Target Price: $7.99

“COCO” IS BEAUTIFUL AND DEEPLY EMOTIONAL

Woven Leather Belt Where: Target Price: $19.99

Long White Socks Where: Target Price: $13.99 (package)

White Nike Sneakers Where: Plato’s Closet Price: May vary

High-waisted straight-leg jeans Where: Plato’s Closet Price: May vary

“Coco” is a Disney/Pixar animated movie that takes place on the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead. It tells the story of a young musician named Miguel, but his family refuses to let him play music. He runs away from home only to be sent to the land of the dead, where he seeks help from his ancestors.

This movie is beautifully animated, and has a wonderfully written script.

Animation has been evolving, and Pixar has been up to speed.

From the buildings, RATING to the trees, to the 5 out 5 stars graveyards and to the skeletons, everything and everyone was exceptionally designed. For example, Miguel’s great grandmother looked amazing. She had so much specific detail in her wrinkles, her hair and her fingers to the point where I thought there was an elderly actress on the movie screen.

A crucial part to the design of the film was also very well done: Mexican culture. This film is about a boy in Mexico, so it was nice to see the movie accurately represent Mexican culture.

According to The Guardian, Hollywood has had a huge issue with accurate portrayal of different ethnic groups, and “Coco” is a huge step forward.

The story is well-written; however, the plot is cliche.

The plot twists were pretty predictable, but they worked. The story has depth, and it gives the audience very relatable and loveable characters.

The message of the movie was also very tastefully handled. It was about how people shouldn’t forget the ones that came before them. The story is set on the traditional Mexican holiday The Day of the Dead. Death is a very sensitive subject, but “Coco” took the subject and turned it on its head.

“Coco” is definitely one of the best animated movies to come out within the last decade.

(Review by Jake Price)

“My favorite part [about winter fashion] would have to be dressing comfortably and casually. I really like wearing sweaters and jackets all the time so winter is the time I kind of get to show that stuff off.”

- Gavin Atkinson

WATCH

Want more on this topic? Follow this link to see more about winter fashion trends: goo.gl/uiGHos

(Photo by Juliet Borgschulte)

Outfit Two: Modeled by junior Moe White Black Short Sleeve Peplum Top Where: Platos Closet Price: $10

Gray Cardigan Where: Walmart Price: $14.96

Black Velvet Choker Where: Icing Price: $9.50

Fishnet Stockings Where: Walmart Price: $6.95

Ankle Boots Where: American Eagle Outfitters Price: May vary

Ripped Skinny Jeans Where: Zumiez Price: $34.95

“My favorite part of winter fashion has to be the different colors and the way all the textures combine to make this great winter outfit. Winter fashion isn’t really that hard to follow, even if you don’t have the most trendiest clothes.” - Moe White (Photo by Jenny Blanchard)

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(Infographic by Sydney Wise)

FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE BY SYDNEY WISE

NEW HALL MONITORS FOR FHN

Jesse Stewart poses by the FHN sign outside the front of the school. Stewart, along with Cara NoahAvalos, is a new hall monitorsat FHN. The school has hired more hall monitors to keep the halls more secure and safe for the students. (Photo by Paige Westermann)

Jesse Stewart and Cara Noah-Avalos became the new hall monitors on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Because of the many fights that had occurred the first few weeks of school, the school hired Stewart and Noah-Avalos full time.

“I make students have passes and that they are going to their actual destination and not just roaming the hallways,” Stewart said.

In order to be a hall monitor, applicants must have a substitute teacher certificate, 60 college credit hours of training and a degree. Both monitors have completed all of these

requirements.

“It was easy to adjust because I have been working here for years, and knowing my way around is very easy,” Stewart said.

The responsibilities of hall monitors are to keep track of students without passes and anyone who might be in the school that shouldn’t. Stewart monitors the main floor, while Noah-Avalos monitors the top and the bottom floor.

“I get kids who come and talk to me, and that’s fun,” NoahAvalos said. “I like building relationships with them.” (Brief

by Ashya Roberson)

COMPUTER SCIENCE CLUB CONTINUES ON Computer Science Club is in its second year at FHN. It was created last year to let students interested in the subject learn and practice computer science, and was continued this year by a different student.

“They [the students] started the club last year because we didn’t have one and they were really interested in computer science, and then I saw that it wasn’t getting continued, so I thought that I would pick it up cause I love computer science and that’s what I’m going to college for,” Bernadette Kornberger, a member of Computer Science Club, said.

Since there wasn’t a specific student continuing the club, Bernadette Kornberger decided to take responsibility. The club is largely student run, with its goals and activities being chosen by its members.

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Seniors Riley Kampf, Josie Landers and Bernadette Kornberger laugh while they play with a members soundboard app. FHN’s new computer science club will act as a unique way of applying knowledge gained from FHN’s many programming class. (Photo by Jared Kinnard)

“The truth is teachers, we help out with it; it’s more of a student led organization,” Mike Freedline, a PLTW teacher and sponsor of the club, said.

This year, the club is creating and setting goals for the year; they are

FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | NEWS

working on programming languages and other topics that its members choose and hope to set up more longterm goals.

“We really want to participate in a local hackathon, and we’re looking to

just get more people into computer science and getting people away from the thought that it’s really hard to get into and you have to be super smart to do it,” Bernadette said. (Brief by Daniel Xiang)

PAGE BY ASHYA ROBERSON & JAKE PRICE

UPCOMING EVENTS December

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Thursday

December

15 Friday

December

17

Sunday

December

18

Monday

December

19

Feminist Club Meeting Time: 2:30 p.m.

Where: Room 09

North Pole Attire Time: All Day Where: FHN

Tuesday

December

20

Wednesday

Choir Performance Time: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Commons

Hat Day Time: All Day Where: FHN

December

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Thursday

First day of finals Finals for hours One, two and seven

Board Meeting Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Admin Building

How to calculate what to get on finals to keep a certain grade

STEP 1.

Add first and second quarter grades together Board Meeting Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Admin Building

December

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FINALS CALCULATOR

Winter Break

Friday

Example: 97.2 + 87.5 = 184.7

STEP 2.

Multiply the sum of the first and second quarter grade by two Example: 184.7 x 2 = 369.4

STEP 3.

Subtract the product from the number with the desired grade 450 for an A 400 for a B 350 for a C 300 for a D Junior David Hernandez works on the table change exercise at a tech challenge meeting. The Tech Challenge Team goes to state every year. The team is made up of five students that will compete in a variety of competitions against other schools.

(Photo by Jordan Milewczik)

DRAMA CLUB GOES TO STATE CONFERENCE Drama Club will attend the Missouri State Thespian Conference Jan. 11-13 at the Marriott Grand Hotel in St. Louis. The Thespian Conference is an annual meeting for students interested in theater to compete in events and learn. Events such as monologue competitions and improvisation contests let students practice and use their skills, while conferences there allow students to learn things about theater that they can’t in class.

“I think that it’s the most fun event that everybody does,” drama teacher Kim Sulzner said. “They can attend workshops for things I can’t teach [them], because they have to have different types of

PAGE BY ASHYA ROBERSON & JAKE PRICE

insurance. They could go and train in stage combat, they can be trained in stage weaponry, they can explore a whole lot of different things that we just don’t have time to cover in here, so it’s really important for them.”

The conference also allows people with similar interests to meet and interact, relating to each other based on their common interest in theater.

“To me, being in a hotel space with a bunch of people that have the same interests as me just kind of makes me excited but inspired to do theater,” Bree Williams, a member of drama club, said. (Brief

by Daniel Xiang)

Example: 450 - 369.4 = 80.6 If the teacher rounds, subtract the product from these numbers 448 for an A 398 for a B 348 for a C 298 for a D Example: 448-369.4 = 78.6

STEP 4.

Start studying for finals

NEWS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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Senior Kim Brooks works on a Photoshop assignment in Desktop Publishing during fourth hour. Working with Photoshop is one of the many softwares that are used in CAPS. CAPS is an off-campus program during school where students face real-world technology problems and situations. Students have the opportunity to job shadow, work with companies and help with all things technology, such as web design, video, photography and many more. (Photo by Kamryn Bell)

CAPS: A TASTE OF THE REAL WORLD The CAPS program coming to FHSD helps to bridge the gap between school and the business world

by Paige Prinster

having students do some career exploration in high school to see if possibly this may be an area they would like to pursue for college education.”

The course was promoted to students, specifically targeting PLTW, multimedia APS, or Center for Advanced Professional Studies, will now be offered to and journalism courses, looking for students passionate about technology and FHSD students this upcoming semester. CAPS is a business immersion interested in pursuing a career in technology. program that provides real-world experiences for students interested in “I’m excited because this program allows me to get first-hand experience in business fields. Due to the class running like a tech class, with a morning session the field I want to work in,” senior Jenny Blanchard said. “As of right now, I plan from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and an afternoon session from noon to 2:30 p.m., the on majoring in business and minoring in marketing. This course will help me course will only be open to 2017-18 juniors and seniors who are determine if business is the right path for me because I will currently on track for graduation. have the opportunity to work with real companies.”

ALL CAPS STRANDS “This is an exciting time for me because I want to see students Omoresemi, as well as Nicole Whitesell, FHSD’s Chief being successful, and we want to prepare them for the future,” BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURSHIP Academic Officer, Dr. Chris Greiner, Director of Student John Omoresemi, CAPS Technology Solutions instructor, said. Offers students opportunities to work with local, Learning, and Content Leader Kara Dalton have been working regional, national and possibly even international “So I see my role as a way of helping bridge the gap between alongside with the District with other school districts in the businesses for marketing and advertising work. what the businesses and public education can do working area, such as Wentzville, Orchard Farm and St. Charles, to TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS together.” perfect the program and learn how to run it. In the future, The CAPS program, which has already been implemented into Students get to work with businesses and learn these districts may come together for the CAPS program. With many schools around the nation, has three strands: Business/ about technology careers in the business field. each district offering different strands of CAPS, students may Entrepreneurship, Health Care and Technology Solutions. The They will work with things like design and video. have the opportunity to take different strands at different District has decided that out of those three programs it will schools in future years.

HEALTH CARE implement the Technology Solutions strand. In the course, The District will work with businesses in the area to provide Students explore health care careers, with students will learn technical skills for technology careers in the opportunities to simulate medical situations and classroom space, mentors, field trips, internships and real chances to meet and work with mentors all across world projects. This allows students to get experiences that a business field. They will receive hands-on experiences with the medical spectrum. the opportunity to work with businesses with internships and normal classroom environment can’t provide. With businesses projects. like Spectrum and Mastercard being partners, the program will “As a district, we feel like Technology Solutions is a great way to meet the needs be able to work with these companies to set up field trips and bring in speakers of the community,” Omoresemi said. “St. Charles County is becoming a hub for the class, as well as Spectrum providing classroom space for the class in their for quite a few technology companies, and it’s an area of a lot of employment building at Riverport. opportunities where jobs go unfilled. We want to look into how can we prepare “It’s definitely been a group effort, and it wouldn’t have happened without our students now for the work force of the future. So we can start in terms of everyone working together,” Whitesell said. pepprin11@gmail.com | @p_prinster

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PAGE BY PAIGE PRINSTER

Officer Travis Scherder is the new resource officer replacing Officer Brueggeman. He started on Nov. 7 during second quarter. (Photo by Delanie Bradbury)

THE NEW SRO

by Ronald Joel

ronaldt.joel@gmail.com

Feminist Club President Bernadette Kornberger talks about how the members are going to make a difference in the community for the holidays. Feminist Club had their first meeting on Nov. 4 after school in room 09. (Photo by Abagayle Johnson)

FEMINIST CLUB FIGHTS FOR EQUALITY Newly-formed Feminist Club hopes to advocate equal treatment for all genders and change the way people view feminists

by Madeline Lamb

know, if you like shop class and you’re a girl, it’s OK. It doesn’t matter. Or if you’re a guy and you love to cook or sew or be in fashion, it’s fine.” very day, senior Bernadette Kornberger The club usually meets once a month on sat in her computer science class hearing Tuesdays in Barlow’s room. Meetings consist of about how rape was OK. She made this planning activities, fundraisers and currently, club after being told to her face by a boy that a poster to hang up around school teaching he was allowed to rape women. Upon hearing viewers what feminism looks like, encouraging similar stories, she decided to students to pursue interests regardless form Feminist Club as a way to of gender and breaking down gender make a difference. stereotypes.

“I feel like that if we make the The club is also collecting toiletries, Follow this link to club and get a representation, that clothes, food items, and other watch more about maybe we could change some necessities for a women’s shelter over Feminist Club: goo.gl/CNfZxp people’s minds,” Kornberger said. the holidays. A poster has been hung Feminism is the theory of up around the school with further equality amongst genders. details for those who would like to A feminist is someone who advocates and donate, and all donations must be in by Dec. 18. supports this. One of the primary goals Club members encourage students who hope to of Feminist Club is to tear down stigmas aid in progression towards equality to join the surrounding feminism and feminists, such as the club. The next meeting is Dec. 14. belief that feminists are anti-male.

“I know that there’s some people who are a ”It’s a positive message that we want to put out little scared to come, but I think they should there, that everyone is important,” said sponsor because we’re fighting negative stigma,” Amy Barlow said. “If you like something, you Kornberger said. madelinelamb0@gmail.com

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WATCH

PAGE BY MADELINE LAMB

Travis Scherder is the new full-time school resource officer. Before working here, he filled in as SRO for schools in the Zumwalt district.

Now assigned here, this is his first full-time SRO position. Scherder was assigned to FHN on Nov. 6.

“I think he’s going to be a great new SRO,” sophomore Connor Kuhlmann said. “I really am hoping to see a change, which I know will happen.”

For the time that Scherder has been here, he has enjoyed the school for the people, both staff and students, as well as working in the school. As it is his first full-time SRO position, he can start to see for himself how the school can be kept safe by bringing in his expertise from his previous years.

“I’ve only been here for about a month,” Scherder said. “But I already like this school as it is. Both teachers and the students are welcoming. I’m really looking forward to the year.”

Scherder went to the police academy and graduated in 2006, getting hired for the St. Peter’s Police Department. For the time that he has been here, he says he has had a great time and really likes the generous admin and teachers.

“I am confident he will do a very nice job,” Principal Andrew Downs said. “We are grateful to have a resource officer in our building, as the SRO helps to keep the building safe and secure by sharing his or her expertise and by acting as a liaison between the school and the police department.”

WATCH

Follow this link to watch a video about the new resource officer: goo.gl/NfsneL

NEWS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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FHSD board members talk at the board meeting Nov. 18. The board discussed many topics, including new classes being brought to the school district next year, strategic planning and fiscal responsibility. They also touched on budget cuts and addressed parent concerns. (Photo by Michaela Erfling)

a new and IMPROVED PLAN

The Board of Education and FHSD’s strategic planning committee will look over their core values and visions in order to create a strategic plan for the next five years in the district

by Sammie Herr

sammieherr17@gmail.com | @ouchthatherrt

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trategic planning is making new goals for the district by reviewing past goals and plans. This year, the Board of Education and FHSD’s strategic planning committee are looking over their current strategic plan and making a new one for the next five years in the district. The strategic planning team helped with the plans from August to December. The committee is made up of 60 members from all over the district, including staff members, students and parents. The Board of Education and some district staffers will take over for second semester to work on implementing the strategic plan.

“The vision of the district is any fine details that we can set for the long term,” Chad Lange, vice president of the Board of Education, said. “We tend to focus on things that revolve around students so we can set goals for them.”

There are five goals set in place in the new strategic plan. The strategic planning committee met several times and planned the district’s mission, values, visions and goals to make strategic action plans for the next five years. They planned this out with a three-step process of asking questions like, “Where are we now?”, “What do we want to be?” and “How will we get there?”

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | NEWS

The first goal is centered around college, career and life success. This is to prepare students academically and involve them in college and career discussions so they can be prepared for what’s to come when high school ends.

The second goal is aiming toward engaging learning environments. The committee wants to cultivate a learning environment that can be collaborative, innovative and inclusive for the students.

The third goal is going to be concentrated on the staff, leaders and organizational performance. This is so employee development, leadership and rewards systems can be improved.

The fourth goal is to engage family and community partnerships to extend learning opportunities between home and school.

The final goal is to ensure facilities are safe, secure and well-maintained to meet the needs of 21st century learning.

“These goals that we’ve set are the draft of the strategic plan,” Matt Deichmann, chief of communications and community related officer, said. “This is the big picture. These are the things that we want to do and if everybody’s in agreement to that then we will look at how we accomplish these goals. That’s what we will focus on second semester.”

The plan will voice the opinions of the strategic planning committee and some

PAGE BY SAMMIE HERR

Principal Andy Downs introduces senior Grant Argent to the Board. Argent was FHN’s student representative. (Photos by Michaela Erfling)

UPCOMING MEETINGS

With next semester just around the corner, there are many meetings coming up to discuss the new strategic plan 12/15/17

additional parents, teachers and students of the district. Throughout fall of 2017, meetings were held at FHHS, FHN and FHC to gather some views from the community. From there, the District sent out various surveys to students, parents and the community. This was by social media and the district website to get any other information from people in the district they might need to make changes to the strategic plan.

“We like to be a data-driven district,” Deichmann said. “We like to make decisions based upon hard facts. That was sort of the context for our community as we sought their input in the process moving forward.”

First semester was dedicated to making the goals and plans. The Board of Education will lead second semester’s planning, which will be focused around how the goals will be carried through and implemented into the district.

“Strategic planning will be the most important thing that the district will be doing this year,” Rene Cope, president of the board of education, said.

“It’s very important to know what we should be focusing on for the years coming. The district needs to have an organized plan that will benefit us and help us grow. We want students, teachers and staff to benefit from these new goals.”

PAGE BY SAMMIE HERR

The strategic planning committee will meet for a refinement/recommendations meeting. The committee will go over all feedback and make plans final.

1/4/18

A board meeting work session will be held to consider the approval of the strategic plan.

JAN-FEB

Action plans are developed by action strategy teams.

2/21/18

The communication and roll-out plans gets approved by the BOE and is in the works of being developed.

NEWS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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Jeff Strickland, Agent

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FHNTODAYTV’S LATEST PODCAST Watch here: goo.gl/ekaPuq In this edition of FHNtodayTV, anchors Trey Dehesa, Madi Shinault and Liz Wagner showcase some top stories from the month of November. Stories for this edition include a recap of this year’s Veterans Day assembly, a feature on the new Feminist Club

and what their goals for the year are, the results of the 2017 Sodexo Culinary Cook-off and how the winning team worked their way to success and lastly a preview on the start up of winter sports. (Podcast Producer: Emily Hood)

HUMANS OF FHN: KAMRYN BELL Watch here: goo.gl/nndwt2 Junior Kamryn Bell shares her story behind how she started aerial silks. She has been doing silks for two years and in that time she has learned new tricks to help improve her skills.

Having this unique talent gives her the motivation and passion to keep doing it for many years to come. Although she plans on having a career in photography or nursing, she hopes to do silks on the side. (Video by Reide Pearson and Lupe Medina)

DIY STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SKEWER Watch here: goo.gl/6bza2Q • This is a small appetizer for any gathering this holiday season.

• Only five ingredients are needed to make this sweet treat.

(Video by Kelsey Decker)

LEARNING COMMONS COFFEE FRIDAY Watch here: goo.gl/vtNC5w Every Friday morning, the Learning Commons hosts Coffee Friday at an affordable price. They sell many different types of coffee, lattes and hot chocolate to help invigorate students in the morning. They use these funds to help financially support the Learning Commons area, such as buying new lounge furniture, televisions, board games and books. (Video by Lily Sontheimer)

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A WALK AROUND WAPELHORST PARK

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• Features the fun things to do around the lake at Wapelhorst Park.

(Video by Taylor Perry)

PAGE BY KELSEY DECKER

MAKING A FAMILY STRONGER

The Besse family welcomes their second daughter

by Grace Bowman

graciebowman310@gmail.com | @_gracie__b_

M

ath teacher Tim Besse and his wife, Tiffany, sit their 5-year-old daughter, Evelyn, on a red loveseat in a hotel lobby in Springfield. As Tim holds the camera in front of his daughter, Tiffany holds a small baby toy out to Evelyn. The 5-year-old sits, confused as to who the baby toy could possibly be for, until her mother tells her she will have a baby sister as of tomorrow. Evelyn jumps into her mother’s arms, as she thanks her repeatedly, and tears are shed at the once in a lifetime moment in the hotel lobby.

The Besses adopted their second daughter, Stella, on Aug. 25. Because the Besses cannot have children of their own, the family adopted their first daughter, Evelyn, as well. Influenced by their faith in God, Tim and Tiffany decided adoption is the best method to grow their family.

“We live a lot by our faith,” Tiffany said. “We wanted to make sure we were honoring our faith. We prayed a whole lot about how we were supposed to build our family, so we did not use any alternative methods to try to have children. We felt like God was telling us to adopt.”

Tim, Tiffany and Evelyn waited for years for their fourth family member, but after they were chosen to adopt Stella, the family had her home in a span of just three days. On Tuesday, Aug. 22, Tim and Tiffany were told to drive to Springfield that following Thursday. They met Stella’s birth mother on Aug. 24, met Stella on Aug. 25, brought her home that night and legally adopted her on Sept. 1.

“It was unbelievable that in 48 hours our lives had completely changed,” Tiffany said. “Our family had increased by one. It was exciting, it was like being a new Tim,Tiffany, and Evelyn Besse poses for a family photo with their new daughter Stella. The parent all over again, it was in a very rewarding way, overwhelming. There were Besse family is overwhelmed with how fast they got Stella. Their other daughter Evelyn is so many emotions all in one time. Happiness, joy, a little bit of fear. With all those excited to have a new baby sister. (Photo Submitted) feelings happening at once, it felt abnormally happy being that uncomfortable.”

PERCENTAGE OF MALE AND FEMALE amazing at that time to believe it all happened so quickly.”

The adoption process is different for everyone, in terms ADOPTIONS AROUND THE WORLD The process of adopting children is full of rewards and of wait time, preferences and steps the adoptive parents hardships, according to Tim. Sometimes, birth mothers take. Parents can wait months to years for news about pick parents to be their child’s forever families, but then a child. They can choose to host foster children before they change their minds last minute. Parents don’t adopting. Parents can adopt close to home, or out of the always qualify to get picked for adoption. country. When filling out paperwork, parents can choose “It’s worth it,” Tiffany said. “It’s worth the pain. It’s every detail about the child, or be as lenient as they’d Male: 38.7% worth the disappointment. It’s worth the wait. We’ve like. Each adoption is unique. had disappointments before, but with lots of prayer and “Everyone’s story is different,” Tim said. “This is our Female: 61.3% lots of support, you can make it through anything. It’s so story, but I’ve talked to others that have adopted, and amazing.” theirs is a whole different story.”

Though the family went through difficulties, Tim Adoption is a long, thorough process. It takes years and Tiffany had the opportunity of growing their for adoptive families to fill out paperwork and schedule family. Without adoption, they wouldn’t have their two home studies where social workers look at the adoptive daughters, Evelyn and Stella. With all the support from parents’ home. It also takes time for adoptive parents families and friends, they were able to create a beautiful (Source: travel.state.gov) to be chosen by birth mothers. Tim and Tiffany waited family. about two to three years for news about their fourth “When I look at my family, my two kids, and when I look at Tim and know how family member, which is around the average wait time of two to seven years. happy and the joy that we feel and this amazing blessing we’ve been given, it’s “It’s a very tedious process, but it is worth it,” Tim said. “It’s worth the time just amazing,” Tiffany said. “I think we have the best family ever. We’ve been because in the end you have someone to love and someone to give your love to incredibly blessed. Our marriage is stronger because of it. Our family is stronger again. You don’t realize how much you can actually love somebody. It’s absolutely because of it. I would never take another path on this journey.” overwhelming. The joy, the happiness, the tears. It’s just amazing. It was just

PAGE BY GRACE BOWMAN

FEATURES | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

17

Junior Isabella Gledhill helps a student perform a mule kick. She helped her students develop skills on bars, high beams and trampoline. (Photo By Jordan Milewczik)

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | FEATURES

PAGE BY SOPHIE CARITE AND GRACE BOWMAN

Flipping INto the future

Junior Aslee Addison poses in front of a map with pinpoints of several places she’s visited around the world. With Addison regularly traveling, she has become familiar with the countries and think of it as a “home away from home”. (Photo by Kamryn Bell)

Junior Isabella Gledhill coaches gymnastics with hopes to pass her passion for it onto the kids she works with

by Sophie Carite

svcarite@gmail.com | @iovefromsoph

S

he took a deep breath and walked through the familiar glass doors into the gym at GT Gymnastics in late November 2016. Only this time, it was different.

Instead of her usual leotard, she wore leggings and a T-shirt, and instead of going to practice gymnastics, she was there to teach it.

After nine years of participating in gymnastics, junior Isabella Gledhill made the choice to quit and become a coach at the same gym where she had spent so many years competing and practicing. Becoming a coach was the easiest way for Gledhill to stay close to the sport she loves.

“I really like this job because it helps me to stay active, and I get to help kids do something I loved and hope they do too,” Gledhill said.

Gledhill’s experience as a gymnast has made becoming a coach an easy switch. According to gym owner Gary McGinley, coaches need to be energetic, good at working with kids and have a strong background in gymnastics.

“She checks all the boxes,” McGinley said.

“Her passion is exceptional, she was always an excellent student, which makes her a good role model for the kids, and her positive attitude really comes through in her work.”

Gledhill started doing gymnastics just for fun in second grade, and it’s been a serious passion of hers ever since. Deciding to coach recreational gymnastics was the obvious choice for Gledhill because of how much fun it had been for her. However, like many of the kids she now coaches, it didn’t take long for Gledhill to want to step it up from doing recreational gymnastics and start competing in a team at GT gymnastics.

“As a kid, I loved learning new routines and getting to hang out with my friends at practice,” Gledhill said.

Gymnastics has been one of the most important aspects of Gledhill’s life since she started. Joining a team and practicing all the time motivated Gledhill to have a healthy

WATCH

lifestyle and put effort into everything she does.

She tries to pass these traits and lessons onto her students, who generally range from 6 to 12 years old.

Gledhill also hopes that the kids she coaches form some of the same long-lasting friendships she had growing up. One particular friend that she has stayed close to is junior Megan Puhse, who did gymnastics with Gledhill in the past, and currently works with her at GT Gymnastics.

“I just remember talking about new skills we could do as kids, and now we can talk about coaching stuff,” Puhse said.

The part of the job that Gledhill enjoys most is getting to work with younger kids, and trying Isabella Gledhill, to pass on her passion for a new Coach at the sport by giving them GT Gymnastics the same experience she teaches kids how to perform had. She enjoys helping routines: those she coaches grow goo.gl/hzNHAr into better people.

According to McGinley, being a coach has helped Gledhill grow as a person as well.

“When she first started coaching, her personality wasn’t coming through,” McGinley said. “Now she motivates everyone around her, and you can really sense her positivity.”

Gledhill plans to continue to expand on her abilities by learning to coach competitive team gymnastics. Recently, she has started helping out and observing how teams are managed by a more experienced coach. According to McGinley, competitive gymnastics is much more complex and harder to teach because the skills the kids need to learn are harder to do both mentally and physically, but he believes Gledhill will be very successful in doing it.

“Coaching a team would be an exciting challenge, but it also takes a lot of work,” Gledhill said After working at GT Gymnastics for a year, Gledhill still feels the same sense of excitement she did when she just started out. She loves the positive, upbeat work environment McGinley has created and likes getting to talk about new ideas on improving her coaching style with Puhse.

“It’s a job I’m very happy to have,” Gledhill said. “I don’t know that I’ll do it forever, but I’m grateful I have the opportunity to do it now.”

PAGE BY SOPHIE CARITE AND GRACE BOWMAN

13 COUNTRIES, 1 DREAM Germany, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, China and six more countries. Junior Aslee Addison has traveled to 13 countries, inspiring her to find a job overseas in her future.

“Every time I go somewhere new - you can read about it, hear about it, watch about it, but it’s not the same as getting off the plane or however you traveled there, and taking it all in,” Aslee said. “At home, not much changes, but there everything is different and that’s what I love about it.”

Aslee has been traveling since her elementary school years. Going to new places like Ecuador, Germany and China has always been a part of her life. With her family’s traveling history, she’s been surrounded by it for as long as she can remember. Her desire to work overseas was influenced by her interest in traveling.

“I went to Mexico when I was 5 years old, so pretty much my whole life I’ve been traveling,” Aslee said. “It’s a pretty big thing in my family. My aunt’s traveled, my paternal grandfather’s brother’s kids grew up in China, my maternal aunt has two children adopted from China. Traveling is instilled in my family.”

Aslee has devoted some of her school life to preparation for her future. She has taken Spanish since middle school and will continue to learn more through her entire high school career. While it was offered, she also took Mandarin Chinese. In her free time, she is teaching herself Korean and has attended summer camps to learn the language.

“She’s been able to experience a lot in the world,” Aslee’s father, Aaron Addison, said. “She has her own expectations and understanding of the world. She has the interest and drive to learn new languages, which will be a major asset to her.”

Aslee hopes to find a job in business or business psychology overseas after college. Whether she’s living in Asia or Ecuador in the future, according to Aslee, the language wouldn’t be the target of her life, it’d just be a part of her everyday lifestyle.

“I think traveling has helped me understand what quality of life I’d be living, and what kind of jobs you’d expect to find,” Aslee said. “I don’t have unrealistic expectations. I know I’m not going to have the dream job, but knowing how happy I am when I travel, I know I’m going to wake up every day and love my job.”

(Brief by Grace Bowman)

FEATURES | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

19

Substitute teacher James Edwards shakes hands with sophomore Naomi Goodloe at FHC. Before each class he personally greeted each student with a compliment and a hand shake.

Edwards performs a magic trick using a rope in front of the students. Toward the end of class, he likes to show off his magic tricks, telling a story along with it.

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | FEATURES

Edwards writes an inspirational quote on the dry erase board. When class started, he has the whole class repeat it after him. (Photos by Kaitlyn Snyder)

PAGE BY ANNA LINDQUIST

WORDS OF WISDOM Substitute teacher James Edwards’ past shapes how he addresses the classrooms he substitutes for, his well-known saying a staple among students

by Anna Lindquist

Edwards says. “She said that over and over and over.”

It isn’t until his last semester of his senior year in Algebra II alindquist709@gmail.com | @annalindquistt with Ms. Burgmann that he questions what people have been ames Edwards stands outside the door of a classroom, saying to him for years. as he does every time he substitutes for a teacher. His He bonds with his teacher, enough so that Edwards and palm is outstretched, and he shakes every student’s the rest of the class challenge her and her bowling team to a hand, asking for a name. Students call him the ‘Handshake tournament. Edwards and his team win by one pin. That class Sub’ and smile as they walk into the class. makes him realize he isn’t stupid.

The saying is penned in red on the whiteboard, his neat By the end of the year, he has a B. It’s his first one in a core handwriting visible from every seat. When every student is at class. a desk, he asks them to repeat it back to him.

“That second semester of my senior year when I found out I “I’m quick! I’m sharp! I’m bright! I’m smart! I’m rich and wasn’t stupid, I looked to my mom and said ‘Mom, you know, good looking and a major blessing!” if I don’t get going here, I’m going to end up digging ditches or “I have this feeling that I want to reach kids with this,” in the army and she said ‘Really? How about that?’,” Edwards Edwards says. “I’ve had numerous chances to work full-time says. “She told me that later. Eventually, it wears through your somewhere, but I’d rather do this.” thick scull.”

He can remember back to one moment Graduation passes, and Edwards I’m quick! I’m in 1949. One moment that specifically is amazed that he has been accepted sharp! I’m bright! into Kendall College in Evanston, IL after influences why he prints those words on I’m smart! I’m rich graduating in the lowest quarter of his class. the board of every classroom he substitutes for. and good looking After years of believing he wasn’t smart Edwards sits in a classroom at Greenbriar enough, he is determined to do well in his and a major Elementary School in Northbrook, IL. Wooden postsecondary education. blessing! chairs are in rows in front of a black chalkboard Later in college, a professor named Keith with writing scrawled along the surface, the Moore makes his students repeat a phrase, classroom looking like one out of “A Christmas one with the purpose of raising students’ Story.” morales. The saying soon spreads across campus, eventually “You’re stupid,” someone says. to Edwards. It resonates with him, and he decides to write it After one student says it, others follow suit. The kids around down. him repeat the phrase throughout his time in school, and it I’m quick! I’m sharp! I’m bright! I’m smart! I’m rich and good doesn’t take long for him to start believing it. looking and a major blessing!

“I was buying the lie somebody had told me way back After graduating from college, getting his master’s and when,” Edward says. working as a choir teacher from 1965-1979, he works as a A few years pass and “stupid” becomes his trademark. He salesman until 2004. After 2004, he becomes the substitute plays off the old insult by being goofy and pretending not to teacher that students at FHN knows him as. care. In sixth grade, the school attempts to fail him, but with “He makes sure that everyone is recognized, and he his father on the school board, they can’t. They decide to give appreciates everyone for being who they are,” junior Riley him time to redo his tests and quizzes for two weeks over Lawson says. “He is hands-down one of the best people here.” the summer with no air conditioning. He spends most of it Edwards hopes that, with this saying, he can positively longing to be with his friends, at the pool or on vacation. influence the kids he sees every day. He wants them to think He’s 15, and his report card comes out, Ds covering the better of themselves so they can do better as a result, unlike sheet. The only classes he excels in are band and gym, but he how he was in his childhood. does poorly in every other class at Glenbrook High School. It “I just think it helps everybody,” Edwards says. “I love seeing doesn’t bother him. all these people. I love the whole bunch of them. I am crazy “A single thing that my mom told me monthly, I never about the kids. My goal is to have kids feel positive about listened, but she said, ‘Jimmy, you better start getting better themselves so they can have a positive life. I just want them grades or you’ll end up digging ditches or in the army,’” to do well.”

J

“

“

PAGE BY ANNA LINDQUIST

FEATURES | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

21

Some of the students involved in baking DECA cookies pose for a group photo.

Sophomore Maddie Rowe, along with everyone else that helped make the DECA cookies, enjoyed baking cookies and got a free one in exchange for the work she did for DECA. (Photos by Jenny Blanchard)

Senior Sammy Huges takes chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. “I like the smell of the cookies when I pull them out,” Huges said.

BUILDING COMMUNITY COOKIE

BY COOKIE Students with special needs in Juli Smith’s class help bake cookies for DECA every morning

by Noah Slaughter

reader524@gmail.com | @ngs524

T

heir gloved hands scoop out the brown disks and set them on trays: 12 to a tray, eight trays of cookie dough. They move back and forth from the cardboard box of dough to the trays lying nearby. Their movements are smooth, creating their own beat. In this cramped room, they manage to maneuver around one another, never colliding. They’ve had practice.

It’s their morning ritual now, performed every day in the room next to Melissa Hanrahan’s. This time, it’s a Tuesday morning and while their classmates rush past to get to first hour, Maddie Rowe, Alex Connely and Eddie Wahwai are here to bake cookies.

They are just a few of the students in Juli Smith’s work experience class for students with special needs, which teamed up with DECA this year to bake their cookies every morning.

“Our students are performing a really important job because I know a lot of students rely on those cookies,” Smith said. “It shows how every student with special needs can be a part of the school community, the school culture.”

Smith and DECA co-sponsor Melissa Hanrahan came up with the idea two years ago. They spent the last couple years investigating FHC, which does the same thing, and figuring out the logistics. When would the students arrive in the morning? What jobs would they do? How would the students rotate? Finally, all the ingredients fell in place this year. It was time to turn on the

ovens.

“I think it’s awesome,” Hanrahan said. “I’m just really thrilled that we’re able to do something where we’re connecting with others in our building - our own building - to be able to work with our DECA students, work with them and vice versa. I just think that it builds a sense of community here at North, and I think that’s what we’re striving for. Instead of just being known as the ‘Cookie Club,’ we wanted to do something a little different.”

DECA students lay out the trays every morning, and one of Smith’s students comes in at 7 to turn on the ovens. With everything prepared, three to four other students in the class go to the room next to Hanrahan’s to bake every day in first hour. A new group takes a turn every two to three weeks.

“Every morning, there is a group of kids learning skills and on-the-job trainingbasically, it’s kind of like a work program for them here in our building - and they’re providing these for you every day,” Hanrahan said. “They do a great job.”

Hanrahan and Smith plan to bring these students into DECA in the future. They hope to make them full DECA members next year, and Hanrahan wants them to help run district-level competitions the year after that.

“It’s amazing,” Hanrahan said. “Knowing that we are partnered up with those kiddos makes it even more exciting - that we’re giving back, they’re giving to us, I mean it’s just a win-win for everybody involved. I think that it just builds even more of a sense of community with our DECA students.”

Besides this sense of community, Hanrahan has noticed other changes: cookie sales are up, waste levels are down and inventory updates are more timely.

“The reliability that we’ve had this year - by far, amazing,” Hanrahan said.

They’ll be back tomorrow. And the day after that. They’ll take the cookies out of the box, put them on trays - 12 per tray, exactly 12 - and slide them in the ovens.

Ready to sell. Ready to eat. Ready to do it all again tomorrow.

“It makes me feel good because I see the students building confidence in a skill,” Smith said. “I see them being a part of the school community. Everyone knows about the cookies being sold downstairs through DECA, but I don’t know if everyone knows that our students help bake those.”

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A CLOUD OVER TEENAGERS One in eight. That’s how many American teenagers in 2015 had a depressive episode lasting at least two weeks, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Despite the numbers, depression often goes untalked about. Teenagers are left alone, covered by a cloud that won’t clear. (Design by McKayla Bogda, photos by Alex Rowe)

IF WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT, WE CAN SUPPORT IT FHSD works with students with mental health concerns to accommodate their needs

by Anna Lindquist

[talking about myself with my counselor],” junior Eve Abuazza said. “I think a lot of students feel that way, especially when talking about their personal issues. It Acting out. Grades dropping. Difficulty sleeping. would just make them uncomfortable to share all that.”

Isolation.

While counselors work directly to help students Mental health concerns affects, about 20 percent of with face-to-face conversations, this year FHSD has teens in the U.S., according to the National Institute of implemented a new program in the elementary schools Mental Health, and at FHN specifically, just last year about called Inspire that helps young students indirectly. The 12,000 students visited counselors for personal issues, the program focuses on the social-emotional needs for majority being for mental health. students, staff and family. Its goal is to advise teachers and Counselors can meet with students once or twice a counselors on how to help the students who are in their week if that’s what the student feels he or she needs. classrooms or the students they meet with. The Inspire Counselors talk to each student differently, because program helps those in a student’s environment be there each student copes with mental health in a different to support and adjust to a student’s needs to best help way, though counselors do have a common them with mental “Our goal is to build capacity method. health. for the student and the family “We talk about what went well in your day “That comes and when was the last time you felt good, when to handle trauma crisis and through training was the last time you exercised, are you eating students by giving stress,” -Adam Corbitt, special right, are you getting away from the negative them the tools to education teacher effects of social media if that makes you feel handle and react in low,” Head Counselor Lisa Woodrum said. “It’s really casea way that is healthy,” Adam Corbitt, special education by-case, because maybe that person is depressed and teacher for the Inspire program, said. “I meet with has straight A’s or maybe that person is failing everything teachers and look at students’ social history and possibly because of their depression. There are so many different create a trauma plan and for the students in general we ways to approach that conversation, and we try the best also have safety plans. Instead of a reaction team, we are a we can to find that.” prevention team.”

Sometimes, teachers may notice a change in the A trauma plan and a safety plan for younger students are classroom without a student coming to them. For things like zones of regulation. The zones hold pictures of example, if grades drop, participation decreases or a emotions that a child might be feeling, and it helps them student becomes more irritable, they may report it to identify the emotions that might be bothering them. the Student-Teacher Academic Intervention Team, a “It’s teaching them what the word is and what the team made up of a counselor, an administrator, a special feeling is about and then how to manage it,” Corbitt said. education teacher and a diagnostician used to determine “It’s working through some of those feelings when you what should be done to best help a student in need of know what it is and so teaching kids that are younger, the intervention. The counselor then will schedule a time goal is that they are aware of it, and they can keep working to meet with the student and a parent or guardian. If through it so when they get to be, if it’s still a condition meeting once or twice a week isn’t enough, the student they are working with, it becomes more manageable.” can meet with Emotional Support Counselor Barry Both Corbitt and Morrison think the Inspire program Morrison, who can dedicate more time to the student. should be expanded to the high school level and hope “I meet with students individually,” Morrison said. “I do it will in the future. Even without the program in higher group work with students, and I handle crisis situations. levels of education, FHSD has still made mental health a I also work with students to create new techniques and bigger focus, especially with the hiring of a mental health strategies to handle situations. Some kids I meet with director, Cherie Magueja, whose sole job is to focus on because of substance abuse, so I work with them to see mental health in the district. Schools are working to help what that’s about. It’s really looking at the underlying students the best they can to inform students and people things that are going on and working with them on those in their surrounding environment. to help them be successful as students.”

“A lot of people believe that kids are doing these things Though the counselors are available, promote a positive on purpose or that kids are just mean or that kids are just environment and spend a lot of time with students to participating in poor behavior just because,” Morrison make them comfortable, students may choose not to ask said. “I think a lot of it is understanding that sometimes a for help anyway, either because they find another way to reaction to something or the symptom of something of a cope or because they feel uncomfortable. diagnosis is really part of why they are doing what they are “I know it took me over a year to feel comfortable doing. If we can understand it, we can support it.” alindquist709@gmail.com

CENTER | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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Q&A: COUNSELOR ANN HERMAN (Q&A by Sarah Zimmerman)

What should students know about depression if they don’t have it themselves?

What are some misconceptions about depression?

What are the signs of depression?

How should students respond when they find out someone has depression?

What should students do to understand depression?

I would say that depression is not an uncommon experience, and that it can affect anybody at any stage of their life. It’s important that we understand it to help remove any stigma that people fear might be attached to it.

Some common misconceptions are that it is something that you can just get over, that if you just think happy thoughts, it will go away and that it only affects people that have bad things happening to them in their life.

The signs of depression can vary according to the person, but some common signs we see, especially at the teenage stage, would be things like withdrawing from friends and withdrawing from activities that somebody once found fun and enjoyable. It might include things like feeling sad or irritable. Sometimes, we might see an impact on grades or a sudden change in activity or performance for that student.

I think as a general rule, it’s always appropriate to be supportive of the person, to offer to be there as a person if they feel like they want to talk. But also, because we are talking about teenagers, it is also important that the friend does not feel responsible to carry that burden by themselves, so I think talking to an adult or encouraging their friend to talk to an adult is extremely important and not being afraid that your friend is going to be angry because you went to an adult to try to get them help.

I think some of the signs are taught here at school in different classes like health and psychology and even some of the counseling lessons that we do here in the school. There are a lot of other resources out there in the community and online, and I would just encourage students to try to learn more about it through those resources, so they can be a support for anybody in their life that is going through that.

At what point should students bring the issue to an adult if they notice any of the signs of depression in another student?

If a student does want to help their friend, where should the student go?

How can students help other students with depression?

What can the school do to help create a better environment to prevent depression or to help students with depression?

How can students help change the stigma around depression?

I think it’s always a good idea to bring it to the attention of an adult to try to help get resources and support and help for a friend, but definitely if you have any concern at all that the person has any self-harming thoughts. That’s where I would want a student to never worry about getting their friend in trouble because that won’t happen, or their friend being angry with them because the priority is keeping their friend safe.

I would say any trusted adult, so if it is here at school, they could talk to a teacher, a counselor, a principal. If it’s outside of school, their parents, their friend’s parents or even calling one of those hotlines.

Try to understand it, and try to be a support to their friends while also asking for the help of a trusted adult.

Teenagers have a lot on their plates with the potential stressors of school and peer issues and social media and so many things that they have going on that I just think that it’s important that we collectively as a school community look out for each other, know the signs and know what the resources are in our building in our school to help anybody that might be struggling.

The stigma that is attached with depression is getting better than it was many years ago, but I think that we can continue to make it better by recognizing that it can affect anybody. It’s not a sign of weakness, and when we come to view mental health concerns in the same way that we do other physical health concerns, then we’ll be in a better place. We’re getting closer to that, but I think if we can all still continue to work on that, that would be good.

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | CENTER

PAGE BY MCKAYLA BOGDA

QUICK MENTAL HEALTH FACTS

40

(Sources: TeenHelp.com, National Institute of Mental Health, Mental Health America)

Over

1 in 5 adults have a mental health condition

million in the United States

18-25 26-49

to be depressed than adults 60 and older. The age group of 1825 is the most likely to have a major depressive episode.

50+

Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression over men

PAGE BY MCKAYLA BOGDA

Teenagers are more likely

56%

of Americans with depression do not receive treatment

Hispanic

Asian

American Indian/ Alaska Native

Black

White Other

Hispanic and white

teenagers are most likely to be depressed

CENTER | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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FEELING INSIDE OUT Almost everything can affect mental health today, from family life to educational life and even social life

by Sammie Herr

sammieherr17@gmail.com | @ouchthatherrt

Teenagers have a lot to do in their everyday lives. From keeping up with their grades to attending social events with friends, they can get stressed and isolated from the important things that shape them into adults. The group most prone to this stress is adolescents, specifically the ones who carry mental health concerns.

“The difficulty I have is this persona with this image of a protective layer that comes when I help patients,” Lia Roth, social worker, counselor and former clinical psychologist, said. “Then when you get to that point of someone opening up, it’s not about words so much. Learn to listen.

Sometimes listening is far better than 1,000 words. Sometimes just sit there next to the person and don’t say anything. Be open and non-judgemental.”

Family

According to Roth, when somebody is born, they automatically take after the person or people raising them. They learn from them. If that parent, who is supposed to be a role model to them, fights with their own mental health or other problems, it can reflect onto their child. Families who go through divorce or drug and alcohol problems, who have a genetic illness or who just aren’t taking on the role the child needs might have more of these issues.

“I do see that many parents blame themselves,” Roth said. ”And my suggestion is it’s not about blaming anyone. It’s about learning there is an issue and going through the process of finding help to solve the issue.”

Situational Issues

One of the main mental health concerns associated with genetics, and even family situational issues, is depression. Not every teen who goes through a family crisis is depressed. It’s the same for someone who has an

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | CENTER

ideal family. According to Roth, people who have split parents or who have families who aren’t as supportive are just more prone to having a mental health concerns.

“Parental depression affects kids tremendously,” psychologist Bart Andrews said. “It affects the entire family system. Even if parents don’t feel like their kids are depressed, they have to sense something isn’t right. When someone in the family is struggling with severe emotional pain, depression or anxiety, it affects everybody.”

Everyday Life

Stress caused by mental health concerns can lead to sleeping and eating changes. For sleep, it can lead to either oversleeping or undersleeping. It’s the same for eating: someone might not eat or may overeat. These changes are solely to isolate and escape from what the person is suffering from. The fatigue or loss of energy affects how the person acts in their everyday life.

It changes them as a person. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children aged 11-17 found a strong association between mood and sleep, and 73 percent reported not sleeping enough at night. These symptoms can essentially make more symptoms by making the person feel irrational or exhausted.

“Sleep disturbance is a big contributor to emotional distress and mental illness,” Andrews said. “Kids aren’t getting enough sleep anymore because they’re on their phones and that can lead to anxiety and depression.”

Education

When they go school, a lot is expected out of students. With depression, the stress can start with someone slowly slipping off their normal schedule.

School work gets behind, tests get failed and extracurriculars get skipped.

According to the National Institute of Mental Illness, approximately 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.

PAGE BY MCKAYLA BOGDA

“If someone is experiencing mental illness, it’s going to affect their school work,” Andrews said. “We know that anxiety and depression affect the ability for someone to retain information, concentrate and recall information. Depression especially affects somebody’s reaction time and long-term memory.”

WAYS TO COPE WITH DEPRESSION These day-to-day life changes can help with both mild depression and an everyday healthier life, but these will not necessarily help with severe depression Physical Activity

Social Life

Go for a walk Stretch and take breaks from homework Ride a bike

Social media can help and hurt mental health. Teens can be social, but they aren’t getting face-to-face contact. Andrews says that teens need to take breaks from phones to be healthy. On the flip side, teens who feel isolated or different can reach out to thousands of teens on the Internet who feel the same way.

“It’s a way for kids to not have to be alone,” Andrews said. “It’s a way for someone to never be alone. It’s a way to connect. If teenagers are having a hard time, I think it’s easier for them to reach out on the Internet. Social media can be good or bad. Kids do need structure around it. They need to put a stop to negativity and reach out to the good resources.”

Sleep

z z

Set Down the Phone

Helping a Friend

According to Andrews, if someone has a friend who is suffering from depression, the first step is to learn about what depression is.

Remember that standing on the sidelines and being there for someone can’t necessarily fix the problem, but in some cases it can help. Being a listener to a friend can help someone more than anything.

“When we feel bad, the reason we act differently is for people to help us,” Andrews said. “That is in fact the whole reason we have these bad feelings, is for people to reach out to us and see how we’re doing. This social interaction is very important when someone is suffering. It’s almost like getting out of that isolation stage.”

PAGE BY MCKAYLA BOGDA

Take a 30 minute nap Work on homework during lunch and in spare time

instead of staying up doing homework Do not use phone for at least 30 minutes before going to bed

Take a break from phone Get apps to limit time on phone Have a conversation instead of texting the person

...

Social Activity

...

Hang out with friends Have study groups instead of being isolated Don’t rely on phones as the only form of communication (Infographic by McKayla Bogda)

CENTER | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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MOST COMMON TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS Depression is sometimes referred to as the common cold because of how often it is diagnosed with it, especially in teenagers, but there are other mental health concerns. Here are a few other ones and the signs and symptoms for them (Infographic by McKayla Bogda, source Web MD)

DEPRESSION: A sustained chronic sadness where the

person feels hopeless, worthless and helpless for more than two weeks.

Symptoms: Lack of energy Feeling sad more often, especially in the morning Consistent feeling of guilt Difficulty with focus, remembering details and making decisions

Oversleeping or inability to sleep No longer finding pleasure in everyday activities Thoughts of suicide Feeling restless Losing or gaining weight

BIPOLAR DISORDER: Extreme changes of mood from depressed to mania, the complete opposite, with normal moods sometimes in between.

Symptoms: Increased activity Feeling energized Overwhelming number of thoughts

Aggressive behavior Rapid speech

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD): Inability to focus, control impulses

and control hyperactivity.

Symptoms of adults: Forgetfulness, causing lateness at times Anxiety and depression Anger control issues Lack of organization Procrastination

Frustrated easily Easily bored Mood swings Inability to focus Racing thoughts

ANXIETY: Feeling anxious more than the average person, overwhelming amount of constant worry and fear.

Symptoms: Panic and general uneasiness Feeling restless Tingling hands or feet Shortness of breath Inability to sleep

Higher heart rate Dry mouth Nausea and dizziness Tense muscles

FIGHTING THE STIGMA

Journalism students at Kirkwood High School hosted an event Oct. 24 to raise awareness for suicide and mental health, a precursor to a full week planned for the spring food truck night with the goal of bringing awareness to mental

by Noah Slaughter health. This year, they decided to add a whiteboard day in the reader524@gmail.com | @ngs524 fall, on Oct. 24, to start the conversation early.

Bridget Snider wants to end the stigma. Clutching a basket “It’s something that needs to be talked about year-round,” of yellow wristbands with the same message, this KHS senior senior Camille Baker, another SAW Admin Board member, said. helps other members of the Kirkwood Call, their school “It’s not something that we can necessarily only have a week for, newspaper, get ready for the morning ahead. It’s an important and we wish that we could always do something for it and we one. always try to, but it’s also something that we need to make sure They set out whiteboards and Expo markers on tables near we’re incorporating within the school year-round.” two entrances to their school, writing the prompt “I stand for…”

Despite the cold weather, students took a few moments to fill on all of them. They wait. out whiteboards on the day in October, including senior Dillon Not everyone will stop. Some students will rush by, the cold Thompson.

October morning or the weight of their textbooks driving them “It’s sort of a thing that everyone turns away from,” Thompson inside. said. “I know a few people who are affected and, to But others will. When they do, they will finish the be honest, not a lot of people like to talk about it. It’s prompt, take a picture and leave with a bracelet. kind of this ugly thing.”

Watch this to learn For Snider and other members of the Suicide With their fall whiteboard day behind them, about BHR, a crisis Awareness Week Admin Board, getting their SAW members will begin planning their week in hotline center for the teachers and peers to open up about mental health the spring, continuing to get people talking about Eastern Missouri: and suicide, even in this little way, is a victory. mental health and fighting the stigma. They hope to goo.gl/mxnpvR “There are a lot of kids on Call who thought that make everyone more comfortable with the topic so the topic was important and that it needed to be those affected can find help and understanding. talked about more,” Snider said. “A lot of the time, it’s forgotten “I would just love to see stuff like this happening more within in schools, and it’s not really something that they like to talk St. Louis, within the nation, within other schools,” Baker said. “I about because it’s such a heavy topic. We just kind of felt the hope that just by doing little things like this it can kind of spark need, that it needed to be a more open topic in conversation a bigger conversation, whether that be just within families, and wanted to get people more involved.” within our school community, wherever. Honestly, the more The SAW Admin Board at KHS, run by students from their we can talk about this topic, the better it will be. It is really journalism program, hosts a full Suicide Awareness Week uncomfortable to talk about these things right now and that’s every spring, with activities ranging from a guest speaker to a not how it should be.”

WATCH

WHERE TO GO IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS Behavioral Health Response:

agency in Missouri that provides 24/7 response to anybody that needs help

1-800-811-4760

KUTO- Kids Under TwentyOne: works to prevent suicide and provides resources

644-KUTO (5886) 1-888-644-5886

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: provides free 24/7 support to provide support or resources

1-800-273-8255

THE SPORTS STRIP

Seniors Maggie Hillmann and Katie Richardson and juniors Maddie Stock and Mackenzie Pugh pose while hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park. (Photo submitted)

Members of the team pose with a Ben & Jerry’s worker on Pearl Street. (Photo submitted)

The team warms up in the Rec Center at CU Boulder University. (Photo submitted)

The team poses at a go-kart track in Denver, Colorado after they raced. (Photo submitted)

MAKE IT COUNT

by Heidi Hauptman

heidihauptman9@gmail.com

“Enjoy it while you can.” I have heard this phrase so many times. I haven’t fully started to grasp it until now. With my cross country season having ended in November in my senior year, that phrase is far more prevalent in my life than I would like it to be. Now that I am seeing the effects of things that I value ending, I know that it’s the truth. For some people, it may still feel like a lifetime away.

It’s hard to imagine when something might end.

It’s always going to come as a shock.

Enjoy the small things. Enjoy all the time spent with teammates. Enjoy the early morning practices and the late nights that are spent with people that have come to be like family. Those are the things that people are going to cherish and look back on with fond memories. I know that people I have met through my sports have blessed my life in so many ways. Even though the 6 a.m. practices and hard workouts might not have always been fun, I will remember them fondly because I got to spend it with people I cared about and people I know who will stay in my life for a long time.

Try and be social in team or club activities.

Participate in team traditions and try to spend time with teammates outside of practice. I know that in my experience, I haven’t really realized how quickly things will come to an end. Now I only have one season left for high school sports, and I am still in shock. When the reality of it being my last cross country season hit me, I did my best to enjoy the rest of the time that I was given and I know that I will look forward to my upcoming track season with a new appreciation.

High school is the no-pressure place. It’s the time to have fun with sports and enjoy them. It’s the place to make memories of anything that happened within the hundreds of practices and games that took place. It is difficult to try and find that same atmosphere after high school. Once someone is out of high school, growing up is a reality and the atmosphere of being carefree isn’t as accessible.

Although it’s hard to imagine things coming to an end and it’s important to cherish things, it is also crucial to understand that the closing of a door means the opening of a new one. There will always be things in the future to appreciate. I love and enjoy running, but I also know that in my future, I will have better, more amazing things to put my passion toward.

PAGE BY HANNAH WILSON

TRAVELING AS A TEAM Girls’ basketball enjoys their team bond this season

by Sam Cary sam.soccerstl@gmail.com | @sam_slsg25

Over the summer, the Lady Knights basketball team had the opportunity to come together in a special way. They bonded by traveling as a team to the University of Colorado Boulder for a pre-season camp June 23-June 25 and have continued to bond into the season.

“We were able to form these new memories and experiences as a team,” Stevens said. “This leads to stronger bonds and friendships that are beneficial and translate well onto the court.”

This season the team practices six to seven days a week and they have the goal of becoming closer as a basketball family. They hope to work like sisters and learn to be there for each other on and off the court.

“This season I’m really just looking forward to seeing how everyone comes together throughout the season and just to see how everything we’ve worked so hard for comes together,” Richardson said.

The girls are excited for what the season has to bring. They currently feel that the team bond is stronger than they have ever experienced and this season’s results will be positive because of their sisterhood. This bond began with their trip to Colorado over the summer. Not only did this trip help the team on the court, they also believe it will help them in their future. Many players got to see a place they have never seen before and have new experiences.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to surround myself with a new atmosphere as far as basketball and life is concerned,” junior player Corinne Stevens said.

Overall, the team feels that continuing trips like Colorado will continue to grow the Lady Knights basketball program and improve their bond.

Experiences like going across the country allow the team to not only be just teammates, but truly friends.

“It’s a great way to bond and share new memories with our team while also sharing an adventure,” Stevens said.

SPORTS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

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SWIM COACH JOSH GALATI Q&A How many years have you been coaching swimmers?

“I’ve had quite a break in between, but I used to coach swimming around 20 years ago. I used to coach with the city of Hazelwood years ago, back when I was a lifeguard, and I also taught individual lessons and things like that. So in total, between that and working with my boys, I have a good six to eight years.”

Are there any swimmers we’ll need to look out for this season?

“We have a good handful of swimmers that I think we need to keep an eye on. A lot is determined on how much work they put in, and going from there. We have a lot of swimmers that maybe we won’t say to look out for, but are impressing not only themselves and the people around them.”

Senior Bon Jang wrestles in a match against Timberland on Jan. 11. The team lost this match with a final score of 15-54.

More than half of Timberland’s team points were earned because FHN had to forfeit matches due to not having a wrestler in a weight class where Timberland did. (File Photo)

MANAGE

THE WEIGHT

Boys’ wrestling has almost an entire weight class lineup this season

How do you hope your team does this season?

“I hope that we are better at the end than we are in the beginning. Everybody nowadays is big on wins and losses. I’m big on work ethic, character and individual accomplishment. All those go hand and hand, and I believe that Rome wasn’t built in a day. We have to work on building the program up and getting it to where it can be, and I have a great group of girls and I think we can lay a good foundation down this year.”

What are your thoughts about the team so far?

“They are a great group of girls. I enjoy every second that I spend with them and I look forward to try and build a program. They give me everything I ask of them, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Q&A By Joel Boenitz

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by Hannah Wilson hannahmae@691@gmail.com | @hannahwilson30

This year, the wrestling team has almost a full roster, meaning that they have a wrestler in almost every weight class. In wrestling, there are specific weight classes that someone can compete in. “[Having a full roster] always helps, every single time,” Dillon Lauer, junior and varsity wrestler, said.

“If you could fill all 14 weight classes, you have the best chance at winning, even if they’re not the best kids in every weight class.”

The weight classes range from 106 pounds to 285 pounds. The team has someone in every weight class except for 106 pounds and heavyweight, 285 pounds. Senior Bon Jang has been filling in for the heavyweight spot until he is able to drop a weight class. Head Coach Chris Brown has been at FHN for about 17 years, but he can’t remember a time when the team has had a full lineup. With it being so uncommon, he’s looking for ways to be more consistent in the future.

“That’s the culture I’m changing,” Brown said. “I’m trying to get more kids included in wrestling. We’re

FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | SPORTS

starting to see that with an increased numbers with kids trying the sport and staying out for it.”

The catch is that the wrestler has to stay in the same weight class, which means that his weight can’t change. Because a wrestler has to be within a certain range to be in a specific weight class, the team focuses on maintaining their weight. They do this by practicing every day, watching what they eat and getting in extra workouts, like running and weight lifting. “[Maintaining my weight] is hard sometimes,” Lauer said. “My mom gets a lot of junk food, so that’s hard. My freshman year I was really bad at it, but I learned over the years that it’s better to try and maintain your weight because if you have to lose the weight the day of, you’re going to be really tired during your match.”

It is common to find someone in every weight class at schools like FHHS, Timberland and FHC. With 13 of the 14 spots already filled, Brown is searching for the last wrestler to fill the roster.

“If you weigh around 106 pounds, I would love to have you on my team,” Brown said.

PAGE BY MACKENZIE PUGH

Alumni Michael Scanlon and Anthony Kristensen stand together in front of the net at St. Charles Community College. They’ve enjoyed the time they’ve spent with the SCC soccer team, with Scanlon and Kristensen joining the team in the fall of 2017. They were familiar with each other, which they say has really helped the team chemistry. (Photo by Devilyn Bedwell)

DIFFERENT TEAM, SAME TEAMMATES

After playing with each other during their beginning years at FHN, three alumni have moved on to play soccer together once again in college

by Zach Askew

zmaskew1@gmail.com | @Zach_Askew01

Being on a team is a bonding experience, especially for 2017 graduates Michael Scanlon, Anthony Kristensen and Torrion Robinson. They now play soccer for St. Charles Community College together. This isn’t the first time they have been on the same team, though.

They played on the same team for freshman and sophomore year of FHN. “I love the competition, and I just love being able to hang around all my friends,” Robinson said.

Junior year, Scanlon attended the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which didn’t allow him to play on a high school team. Senior year, Kristensen took a break from high school soccer and played scrimmages with friends, which included Scanlon and Robinson.

“I think it’s cool how Torrion, Michael and I are kind of going through this journey and getting better with each other, each step of the way,” Kristensen said.

They have all been playing since they were little and grew up to fall in love with the competition of the sport.

Soccer is very fast-paced and the players need to feel comfortable enough to talk to each other on the field.

PAGE BY ZACH ASKEW

Having played with some of their teammates in high school makes this task easier for all of them, claims Scanlon.

“I think that seeing each other every day and already having a friendship really helped us become better teammates,” said Scanlon. “We’ve played with each other for so many years which really helps build the chemistry and makes it a lot easier to play with them.”

When playing with SCC, their team didn’t have the season they had hoped for since they lost 2/3 their games (7-14). They had a slow start but started winning some games toward the end of the season. During regional playoffs, they were placed in the sixth seed out of eight. Their first match was an away game against the third-seed team and everyone expected them to lose.

This game ended up being all their favorite memories as they won with a score of 3-2 and were the only lower seed to move on to the semi final. They didn’t move on any further, but they all enjoyed playing for SCC. “My favorite memory was winning our first playoff game because we were the underdog and nobody thought we were going to win it and to come and win that game right off the bat really changed people’s looks on our team,” Scanlon said.

FUN FACTS ABOUT SCC SOCCER Team Name Cougars Year College was Founded 1986 Team Colors Maroon and Grey Home Field SCC Athletic Complex Soccer Coaches William Lancaster- Head Corey Loberg- Assistant Conference MCCAC Affiliation SCC Athletic Complex

SPORTS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

(Source: SCC)

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Jordan Milewczik poses with a Francis Howell North football helmet on. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a disease that attacks the brain overtime. It is caused by repeated hits to the head. (Photo Illustration by Wil Skaggs and Alex Rowe)

head to head

What started out as a theory in 1928 has now grown into one of the most talked-about conditions in sports today

by Jordan Milewczik jambrojordan@gmail.com

T

o a football player, a crack can be harmful to hear on the field. A crack in the leg is at least a torn hamstring. A crack in the arm is usually a broken bone. A crack in the chest is more than likely a broken rib. The crack of two helmets clashing is quite common but can lead to injury for the players.

Although it may get a crowd going, the effects of each individual hit can leave a lifelong impact on players.

A neurodegenerative disease has recently taken a prominent role in sports discussions around the world. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is described by the Concussion Legacy Foundation as a disease that degrades the brain. It is very common among those that suffer repeated head trauma, including athletes who make a lot of head contact, such as football, hockey and soccer players and boxers. The disease is caused by a protein called Tau

36

that forms clumps that spread throughout the brain, killing brain cells. As time goes on, the disease will continue to spread and attack the brain.

“It’s worrying me because lately it has been on a rise, in some cases in high school,” junior Dominic Griffero, varsity football player, said. “I have a bright future ahead of me, and I don’t want CTE to affect that.”

According to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, victims will start showing symptoms in their late teens to early 30s. The first symptoms displayed are behavioral and mood changes. As the patient ages, they begin to show signs of memory loss, confusion and progressive dementia.

Individuals can also never be certain that they have CTE. Currently, the only way that a patient can be officially diagnosed is by an autopsy. There is no known cure to stop the spread of the protein. The only thing doctors can do to treat the disease is to give the patients medicines to slow the spread and to

FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | SPORTS

treat the symptoms individually.

At FHN, athletes in contact sports are required to take an impact test. Impact tests are used to measure an individual’s memory and reaction. After suffering head trauma or a concussion, many athletes will take another impact test. If the results are significantly different, the athlete won’t be cleared to play.

Coaches also teach student athletes to change their tackle methods, decreasing the shock their heads receive upon impact.

“We teach to hit with the hard part of our shoulder pads,” Head Football Coach Brett Bevill said. “Where in the past when I was around football, we usually hit with our helmets.”

In late July 2017, JAMA, a medical journalism network, released an article on the source and effects of CTE. The study conducted in the article involved players from all levels: youth, high school, college, semi-pro and pro. Out of the 202 brains tested, 177 (87 percent) showed minor to severe cases of CTE.

PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

STUDENT TAKE:

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT GETTING A CONCUSSION?

“Yes. Getting a concussion would suck and I wouldn’t be able to play.”

GABBY DELARUE, SWIM, 11

“No, I’ve never really thought about that. You don’t really have a lot of chances to hit your head.”

EMMA DURHAM, SWIM, 12

“I have gotten one. I got my head slammed very hard.

It was at practice, someone took me down and we smacked heads. I had to stay out a couple days.”

HUNTER COLLINS, WRESTLING, 12

HIGH SCHOOL CONCUSSION STATS

1 in 5 33% 47% 33% 4to5

high school athletes experience a concussion during the season

“I don’t want to be around something that’ll be completely dangerous to these kids,” Bevill said.

The highest concentration was in NFL players where 110 of 111 (99 percent) brains showed signs of the disease. The article quickly gained traction in the sports world. The NFL was one of the first major sports organizations to react and release a statement on the article.

“The NFL is committed to supporting scientific research into CTE and advancing progress in the prevention and treatment of head injuries,” the NFL reported back in July of this year in response to the JAMA study.

Mississippi State University student researchers are working to make football helmets safer by taking inspiration from nature. The team is taking inspiration from the skulls of longhorn rams and woodpeckers. The team has been able to make a prototype helmet that decreases the odds of concussion rates three fold by making an outer layer of titanium and composite and changing the inner lining. Scientists like these hope to find a way to fight this disease.

of sports-related concussions occur at practice

of reported sports-related concussions occur due to high school football

of high schoolers with sports concussions report two or more in the same year

million concussions happen each year, with an influx in middle school athletes

(Source: headcasecompany.com )

PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

SPORTS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

37

The hockey team, with Blaine Longmore as number 12, huddles together after scoring a goal against the Francis Howell Vikings during the 2017 Gold Cup. The game is an annual event between the two teams taking place early in the season. The Knights would eventually drop the game 8-2. The matchup will happen two more times this regular season on Dec. 9 and Dec. 29. (Photo by Jordan Milewczik)

BACK TO THE ICE

Sophomore Blaine Longmore broke his collarbone during a game early in the hockey season

by Heeral Patel

heeral.patel03@gmail.com | @HeeralPatel12

T

here are five minutes left in the Nov. 4 Gold Cup hockey game. The varsity hockey team is losing to FHHS. By the time the game ends, the Knights will have lost 2-8. Defenseman Blaine Longmore goes to check an opposing player and misses. He crashes shoulder-first into the side boards and falls to the ice, leaving him unable to move without feeling pain.

“The events that led to it happened pretty fast, but I was sitting on the ice for a while,” Blaine said. “It didn’t feel that long, but apparently I was sitting on the ice for like three minutes. They helped me off the ice, I was able to skate a little, and then they carried me out on a stretcher. And I was passing out, fading in and out of consciousness.”

The crash and the fall broke his collarbone in two places, which caused the bone to separate. For Blaine, the rest of this season will be spent recovering, and he’ll come back to playing next year, or, if his recovery goes well, he’ll return for the end of the season.

“I didn’t really know what happened, so I ran out there to see if he was OK,” senior Bryce Longmore, Blaine’s brother and teammate, said. “I didn’t think he was hurt at first. I was thinking ‘Get up, get up. You’re wasting our time.’ But I obviously figured out later [it was serious] when the ambulance had to come and get him.”

Blaine went into surgery at 11:58 a.m. the Wednesday following Gold Cup. A few

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | SPORTS

hours later, his shoulder contained a titanium plate shoulder, replacing a piece of bone that had fallen out. The plate held the separated bone together.

“I guess technically [it was optional],” Blaine said. “It just wouldn’t have healed right, and I would’ve had to get surgery later. I just figured get it out of the way now.”

Whether or not Blaine will be able to return to the team depends on the condition of his shoulder and if it is healed in time. The broken collarbone can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks to heal. It won’t be until a follow-up doctor’s appointment, scheduled for Dec. 28, that Blaine will find out how long it is until he can start playing hockey again.

“He’s a good team player,” Head Coach Ryan Gannon said. “I do believe that Blaine will be trying his hardest to get back into shape. He’s still young, he’s got two more years, he’s what I deem to be a good leader on the team.”

Blaine’s absence has required the team to have other players fill his spot. Due to others being out because of serious injury and players traveling for other competitive teams, the team’s defense - Blaine’s position - has had the most gaps. The coaching staff has had to shuffle positions. With people taking roles they normally don’t, the coaches focus on which players play well together. While unable to physically help the team, Blaine does his part player by supporting them from the stands at JV and varsity games.

“It’s shown me that hockey is a dangerous sport, more dangerous than I thought it was,” Blaine said. “But I don’t really care, [in the future] I’m still going to play.”

PAGE BY HEIDI HAUPTMAN

Laughter and Layups

Junior Tyler Haynes is a manager and player on the boys’ varsity basketball team, who is known for his ability to lighten the atmosphere

by McKayla Bogda

the whole team erupted with excitement for him.

“The three pointer was an amazing moment,” Tonya said.

His parents are beyond grateful for the opportunities “North Knights, North Knights,” junior Tyler Haynes cheers to the Tyler has at FHN. They are especially grateful to the crowd at varsity boys’ basketball games. Since his freshman year coaches for being so kind and inclusive. Tonya Tyler has been a manager for the team and plays a few games a recalled one time she was running late with year. He is not the first student with special needs to be on a FHN Tyler to a travel game and Coach Davis sports team, but he has a special place on the team. called her to make sure everything was “He’s a key player in a different way,” Tonya Haynes, Tyler’s mom, alright and they were on their way. said.

She was astounded with how much Tyler’s parents wanted him involved in an extracurricular activity he truly cared. when he started high school, and with their help, he decided to play “I just want to thank the basketball. They talked with the coaches and the school. Students school, the students, the with special needs in the past have been able to be a part of sports team members, the teams, so the coaches were very open to the idea. He participates coaches, the staff, in all of the practices, attends all of the games, including away the custodians, games, plays one to two games a year, including winter warm-up, the cafeteria and gets to warm up with the team before games. When he is not on workers, the court he is on the sideline talking and laughing with the team everyone is just or giving out water or pumping up the crowd, while watching the so kind to Tyler game. and our family,” Tonya “It doesn’t matter what’s happening, because you can always said. “We couldn’t ask for count on Tyler to say a joke or make everything lighter,” Rizwan a better school and a better Hyder, senior teammate, said. group of people for From the inclusiveness to the sense of family, the team him to spend his high and coaches have had a great impact on Tyler’s life, school years with. He’s so Watch Tyler Haynes’ according to Tonya. Joining the team helped ease the happy.” shoot a three-pointer transition into high school for him and helped his morale, After high school, Tyler’s his freshman year: spirit and confidence. He loves everyone and feels very parents plan for him to attend goo.gl/CEsmPf embraced by the school. college. They hope to “He’s made to feel so important, that I think how get Tyler involved in a important he feels and how involved he is and how program like the one embraced he is offsets that he’s not a starter,” Tonya said. here at North, where he can play Tyler’s interest in basketball started from a young age. At age 6, with the team. If not, they will he started attending Camp Giant Steps, a camp for autistic kids, make sure basketball is where he played basketball. According to his mother, he has still an extreacuuricular always had an interest in basketball and tended to choose it over activity in his other activities. He also is a part of KEEN, Kids Enjoy Exercise Now, life through through SLUH, where he plays basketball. There is a basketball recreational court at his church where he likes playing as well. He also watches leagues, professional basketball, and his favorite team to watch is the but they Cleveland Cavaliers, his favorite player being Lebron James. believe “Everyone loves him. He loves basketball just as much as we do,” they will Rizwan said. “He works just as hard as we do. We love having him work it out. around, he’s a great guy.”

“He loves The first game that Tyler was put into his freshman year, Tonya everyone,” Tonya remembered some of the varsity members saying “Tyler’s going in” said. “He loves this and getting excited for him. She said this showed the true nature of school. He looks forward to the team. At this game Tyler ended up scoring a three-pointer and school each day.” mckayla5bogda@gmail.com | @mbogda5

WATCH

PAGE BY MACKENZIE PUGH

Tyler Haynes poses with his mother Tonya Haynes and father Teron Haynes. He has worn number 32 since his freshman year. (Photos by Michaela Erfling)

SPORTS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

39

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The Middle Class College Conundrum Students from middle-income families struggle to afford and attend universities as tuition climbs, but financial aid systems don’t help

by Madeline Lamb

receive grants and substantial financial aid, but not enough to pay the remaining costs of college, and madelinelamb0@gmail.com are forced to rely on merit scholarships which are he middle class is being pushed out of many instead given to students who can afford the full cost colleges and higher end institutions, because of of attendance. On the occasion that a middle class the great difficulty they experience in managing student does receive merit-based aid, it probably the large cost of college. Colleges should consider still will not be enough to close the gap. As disclosed changing their approach to financial aid in order to

by Brookings, in 2010, 15 percent of all households accommodate the needs of more students. in the lowest of annual income had outstanding The cost of college in the U.S. continues to increase student debt. The same was true for 16 percent of over time while the average income, when adjusted all households in the second fifth, 20 percent of all for inflation, has practically stayed the same. As households in the middle group, 23 percent of all recorded by the Department of Numbers, the median households in the fourth fifth, and 15 percent of the income in 2005 was $56,122. In 2016, according richest 10 percent. What this all means is that, at least to U.S.A. Today, the median income rose about 3 in 2010, the middle class had a higher tendency to percent to $59,039. Meanwhile, college prices have have outstanding student debt than either the lower been rising at a rate of about 7 percent for several or higher income households. decades, as published in Forbes, and the cost of Because of these issues, college campuses tend to education is over two and a half times have far more lower and upper the inflation rate. The middle class in class students than middle class particular struggles to keep up with students, particularly on the TERMS these changes. lower end. This happened at FAFSA - a form that can be Paying college tuition might be one Franklin and Marshall College prepared annually by current of the few instances in which lowand at other colleges and and prospective college income students have an advantage universities across the country students in the United States over the middle class, and one of in what is known as the “barbell to determine their eligibility the many in which wealthy students effect,” according to Daniel for student financial aid have an advantage over everyone.

Lugo, vice president and dean FINANCIAL AID - any grant, According to Brooke Prestidge, of admissions and financial aid scholarship, or loan, offered college and career counselor, at Franklin and Marshall, via the to help a student meet his or lower middle class students might College Reporter. her college expenses barely miss Pell Grants, federal aid This leaves many looking MERIT AID- monetary awards given to qualified students who for a viable solution. By no based on a student’s abilities means is this an argument for demonstrate financial need via the Free Application for Federal Student free college, as it is likely not Aid (FAFSA). On top of that, they a reasonable solution for the rarely receive grants from the schools themselves.

U.S. at the current time. Instead, a possible solution As described by the Washington Post, colleges lure would be to significantly decrease or even remove in low-income students with need-based financial merit-based aid, simply because it is too often aid and, in some instances, free rides. The same used to draw in wealthy students, as opposed to is done for affluent students but with merit-based its intended purpose of rewarding merit regardless scholarships. Merit aid used to allow colleges to keep of income. Some may argue against this because the middle class on their campuses and still bring they believe the reward of academic prowess is that in tuition revenue, but as tuition prices continue to of merit scholarships, but the true reward is the increase, it is being used more frequently to capture attendance at the schools for which these talented qualified high-income students in a merit scholarship students seek scholarships. If schools could focus on bidding war amongst colleges. Colleges sometimes allocating their money to the students who actually choose high-income students who meet the criteria need it, then more of these gifted individuals could for these scholarships over other candidates simply attend without fear of overwhelming debt. so that they can win them over to their school.

As reported by the Washington Post, Franklin Essentially, the middle class makes too much to and Marshall College, a liberal arts college in

T

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | OPINIONS

(Illustration by Madeline Lamb) Pennsylvania, actually employed this idea at their school and eliminated most merit aid beginning in 2008. This allowed the school to expand needbased grants, which not only increased the amount of low-income students on the campus, but also the amount of middle class students. Further, this enabled the school to focus on searching for highly qualified students as opposed to competing with other schools to offer the best merit aid to lure in affluent students. Because students who can afford it pay full price, they still get the money they need.

The current college system requires a lot of reformation. Until that happens, the various levels of income will continue to affect the ease with which some people from the middle class are able to afford college.

PAGE BY MADELINE LAMB

An OBSESSION WITH PERFECTION High school students today are over-pressured to get perfect grades in all of their classes, and it’s coming at a cost of their mental health and happiness

being one of the biggest contributing factors. kylahwoods27592@gmail.com | @kylahrw The pressure put on grades not only A, B, C, D, F. To some, these are just comes at a cost of mental stability, letters, but to others, these letters but, instead of encouraging learning, represent something most students it makes learning freak out about: grades. Grades on appear to be a tests, grades in classes and what some chore. We repeat consider as grades at how well they’ll this mantra do later in life. of “How can Though the grades do carry I get an A?” importance, the amount of pressure instead of put on students needs to be greatly actually trying reduced, and students need to to learn and remember understand that it is OK to not be the important information perfect all the time. It’s burned into that the teacher attempts to our brains from day one of freshman show us. The A becomes less about year that our grades and our GPAs are whether or not the student knows very important. But with the insanely the subject and more about how well competitive world we live in, doing they followed the rubric to get an A. “good enough” does not feel adequate For instance, writing an essay. Most anymore. times when tackling this assignment This pressure put on grades can students will see what they need to do bring about a constant feeling of to get the highest amount of points anxiety with students. As of 2015, and choose the easiest route. This about 6.3 million teens ages 12-17 doesn’t allow them to exercise a more had an anxiety disorder, according creative side and actually try to write to a study done by the National something new and learn from it.

Institute of Mental Health. There are Instead of parents and teachers stressors coming from several different constantly telling students that they directions in the common teenager’s have to get perfect grades to life, and grades play a large part. succeed at life, maybe simply Grades are supposed to represent the praising Bs as well as As could level of understanding of a concept, an show students that they A being an advanced understanding. are doing alright. Students Nowadays, colleges don’t only look themselves can try to take at GPAs so it’s okay to have a B or two a step back and realize that in a high school career. Colleges are high school is about learning focused a lot on well-rounded students and colleges don’t only look so if the reason the student got a B is at grades to determine focusing on another skill or passion, acceptance. Something colleges will see that. Instead, to the needs to be done to help student, the A signifies that they are prevent future generations good enough. They strive for these of students from being filled perfect grades so much that these with anxiety because of grades come at the cost of their mental school. We have to quickly health. According to Time Magazine, change the way we look anxiety within teens has been on the at or feel about grades before it’s rise since 2012, balancing schoolwork too late.

by Kylah Woods

PAGE BY KYLAH WOODS

D U N C E

(Illustration by Jake Price)

OPINIONS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

43

STUDENT TAKE:

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE FINAL EXEMPTIONS FOR AP CLASSES? “It’s unfair because everyone else can, and it’s a harder class.”

BAILEY HARRELL, 11

“I think they should because if you take AP classes and have the good grade, they should be exempted.”

FHN NTS E D U T S

KAREN PETE, 11

“Yes, because they’re already in a higher class and they shouldn’t need to take their finals if they put in the effort to be in that class.”

EMILY JUST, 10

NORTH STAR TAKE: “I think it’s OK. If they want to do it, they can.”

ISAIAH SMITH, 10

TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE AN ENORMOUS YELL

The student body voiced its opinions recently to get exemptions for finals in AP classes. Let’s do it again

“I’m so happy about it. I can end with an A and it takes pressure off me from studying for other classes.”

HANNAH DEGRAW, 11

“I’m very excited. It’s making my senior year a lot easier. AP classes are harder, and exempting allows me to keep my A and keep my GPA without blowing it on a final.”

CATY ARNOLD, 12

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FHNTODAY.COM | 12.13.17 | OPINIONS

On Behalf of the Editorial Staff yourfhn@fhntoday.com | @FHNtoday

Finals are nearly here. Review guides, final grade calculations and study groups. A panic is rising in the student body because they have a billion finals to take and exemptions left unused. AP students think about how life would be easier if they too could exempt their finals.

That was last year. This year, though, things are different. This year, AP students can breathe easy knowing that finals have been exempted after hard-earned As. Why? Because FHN students used their voices.

People often wonder if their individual voices or votes are worth anything. It’s a valid concern to have. How can my single opinion

matter among an entire nation of people?

A community? A school? A single voice can matter, though, because when they join collectively, small voices create an enormous yell.

Proof that a student’s voice matters lies right here in this school. By expressing to our teachers and principals our desire for a fair exemption system, we brought about awareness to an inequality in the district that might have gone unnoticed otherwise.

Students took to social media, calling upon their peers to ask why we don’t have the same privileges as the other FHSD high schools, which were already able to exempt AP finals like any other class. Students wanted the same advantages as their peers in other schools and

PAGE BY DANIEL XIANG

TU PS

X LE A FIN

S NT E D

A OR F NS O I PT EM

RT TIM A T S R LATE

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north | star

Editor-in-Chief: Carolynn Gonzalez Managing Editors: McKayla Bogda Noah Slaughter Copy Editor: Anna Lindquist Entertainment/Opinions Editor: Jake Price News Editor: Sammie Herr Features Editor: Heeral Patel Sports Editors: Mackenzie Pugh Hannah Wilson Rule of Three Editor: Heidi Hauptman General Staff: Zach Askew Rebekah Myers Grace Bowman Paige Prinster Sophie Carite Ashya Roberson Ronald Joel Sophie Schmidt Riley Kampff Sydney Wise Madeline Lamb Kylah Woods Patty O’Leary Daniel Xiang

Editor-in-Chief of Photography: Alex Rowe Newspaper Photo Editor: Kamryn Bell Sports Photo Editor: Sam Cary Yearbook Photo Editor: Savannah Wandzel Photographers: Devilyn Bedwell Kaili Martin Jenny Blanchard Jordan Milewczik Juliet Borgschulte Isabella Schneider Delanie Bradbury Wil Skaggs Michaela Erfling Kaitlyn Snyder Abagayle Johnson Tyler Tolliver Jare Kinnard Te’a Tonnsen Paige Westermann

LESS B

USY W ORK

(Illustration by Heeral Patel)

Business: Gavin Atkinson Jadon Herrman Dalia Gonzalez Carson Ramirez Jamie Sneed

FHNTODAY STAFF

even other classes within FHN. Just because how early school starts, how finals are worth a class is advanced doesn’t mean we should 20 percent of our semester grades. Instead of pile more stress on ourselves during an already complaining and whining about these issues, stressful season if we don’t have to for other why don’t we do something about them? classes. Emailing our principals like they are Our voices mattered when we rallied for the state representatives, expressing concerns, ability to exempt AP finals, so these cases, or hoping for change. That’s how we make a any others for that matter, shouldn’t be any difference in the school, in the different. workplace or in the community.

Don’t let this one instance This shows that we have the make us complacent. Our To read more about AP power to create change in this influence doesn’t end here exemptions, go to: school, so we should do it more with final exemptions. We’re goo.gl/QeL3Nw often. Our voices are powerful the students of FHN. This is things, though, so we must bear our school and our high school in mind that we must use them responsibly: not experience. Let’s make it the best it can be by by ranting on Twitter that something is unfair, taking the reigns of our own education and but by expressing our concerns maturely to lives, and instilling change wherever reasonable teachers and administrators. What could be and necessary. If not for us, then for future better about FHN? Teenagers are concerned students. Don’t let your voice go unheard. Use about a lot of things: our homework load, it now.

MORE INFO

PAGE BY DANIEL XIANG

Editor-in-Chief: Taylor Sheridan Managing Editor: Isaiah Bryant FHNtoday Editor: Madison Abanathie Sports Editor: Dominic Hoscher Web Staff: Stacy Beasley Tyler Rogers Joel Boenitz Fabian Schwuchow Jabari Cope Uma Upamaka Jacob Dulaney Liz Wagner J Pae Ethan Winchester Sarah Zimmerman Executive Producer of Video: Alyssa Barber Podcast Editor: Emily Hood Chief Photographer/Segment Producer Kelsey Decker Livestream Producer: Madi Shinault Chief Editor: Lupe Medina Video Staff: Carsten Adams Taylor Perry Trey Dehesa Lily Sontheimer Reide Pearson Nathan Williams Advisers: Aaron Manfull Jordyn Kiel

OPINIONS | 12.13.17 | FHNTODAY.COM

45

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Dec. 15 - Priority Application Deadline for 2018-19 Staff Jan. 11 - General Staff Application Deadline for 2018-19 Jan. 12 - 2018-19 Staff List Posted on FHNtoday.com See Mr. Manfull in Room 105 for more details.

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