Pano April 2024

Editors’ Note

cover

Lathan Levy

Editors’ Note and front cover photos by

Managing Editor

Lathan Levy

Copy Editor

Katie Myckatyn

Design Editor

Emily Liu

Art Editor

Kelly Zhang

Photo Editor in Chief

Vincent Hsiao

Web Editor

Josh Devine

In-Depth Editor

Arti Jain

Arts & Entertainment Staff

Jay Heintz

Sara Rohatgi

Madeline Awad

Nyla Weathersby

Features Staff

Ella Braig

Ira Rodrigues

Marie Demkovitch

Maya Matthew

In-Depth Staff

Alzhraa Mahmoud

Will Kodner

News, Health & Sports Staff

Cindy Liu

Aaron Lin

Mason Eastman

Ryan Snyder

Ishaan Pandey

Opinions Staff

Ella Bender

Grace Kweon

Grace Huewe

Frank Chen

Web Staff

Nitya Nara

Sylvia Hanes

Luke Lochmoeller

Laura Shareshian

Celina Zhou

ID Editors in Chief

Mac Huffman

Annie Zhao

Rory Lustberg

ID Staff

Michael Zegel

Mimi Zhou

Riley Coates

Photographers

Kayla Chan

Jax Bespalko

Mia Gourtzelis

Senior Editors in Chief

Tarek Al Husseini

Riley Coates

Mimi Zhou

Olivia Chen

Advisers

Sarah Kirksey

Abigail Eisenberg

SCAN FOR the full Panorama newsmagazine policy

Vincent Hsiao. Front

design by Emily Liu. Back cover design by Olivia Chen.

Katie Myckatyn

Issue

The Rodrigues Family

Ariel Premium Supply

Steve + Ginger Lochmoeller

The Awad Family

Lisette and Bill Odell

Ladue Blue

Anonymous

The Snyder/Rosenberg Family

Olesia + Michael Myckatyn

June Collings Ogden

Heidi Long Real Estate

Jim and Kathy Davis

Demkovitch Family

The Mathew Family

Jennifer Poindexter

The Armbruster Family

Bill and Rowena Coates

The Hsiao Family

Ying Du

The Levy-Thomeczeck Family

The Cross Family

The Patney Family

The Devine Family

Gold

Nagarajan-Toon Family

The Luetje Family

Myckatyn Family

David + Karen Kurtzman

Ellen Levy + Carl Desenberg

Dennis + Judy Holcomb

Southern/Lochmoeller Team

The Chang Family

Jeanette Daun

Kathryn Ward

Blair Keltner and TJ Tenison

Silver

The Biernacki Family

C. Joyce

The Gellman Family

Shelly & Barry Milder

Sponsors

Rick & Ardell Oliver

The Kurtzman/Levy Family

Anonymous

Emmett Davis

The Arun Family

The Antony Family

The Mathew Family

Marc + Krista Luckett

Noah Weathersby

The Poindexter Family

Pat and Jerry Coates

The Brooks Family

Alan + Donna Rosenberg

Anonymous

The Gyawali Family

The Harkonen Family

The Lackey Family

Friendly

The Hartrich Family

The Saleeby Family

The Zhao Family

Anonymous

Anonymous

The Kekec Family

Anonymous

The Goldstein Family

Becky Vasta

Hannah Vaughn

Leslie Fortner

The Hofer Family

Arnold Kelly

Yuwei Zhang

Hongxian Zhang

The Gong Family

The Su Family

The Liu Family

Daphne Lui

The Chen Family

The Larrew Family

The Hawkins Alumni

Anonymous

Viragh-Mayo Family

Schlamb Family

Teri Haugen

Anonymous

Mrs. Fletcher-Johnson

The Shack Frontenac

The O’Keefe Family

Judy W. Levy

Olivia Hu

Emmi Walker

The Derdoy Family

Lynne + Mike Lippmann

Ed Fliesher

Mimi’s Aunt

Lisa Litvag

The Claybaugh Family

Anonymous

Anonymous

Paula Hammonds

The Turner Family

Anonymous

Widjaja Family

Saravana Ganesapandian

The Reinheimer Family

Tai Moore

The Moore Family

The He’s Family

The Chode Family

The Ellis Family

Anonymous

The Saleeby Family

Avery Anderson

Allen You

Anonymous

The Husseini Family

Bill Moore, Queenie Moore & Gina Hua

Cathy + John Hoehn

Kodner Art Gallery

The Popu Family

The Rothman Family

The Kodner Family

Marsha and Larry Rothman

Alexandra Signore

Linda Null and Denise Kist

Mrs. Tracy Ward

Sydney Collinger

“Every concert is always so fun because I get to do what I love, with people I love,” Loynd said. “But this show will be extra special since it’s our last spring concert with our seniors.”

Viva Voce

Viva Voce hosted their spring concert in the Black Box Theater May 4, their last performance of the year. Seniors made their final appearances on stage for Viva Voce and the group began auditions for next year May 7. The members showcased various songs such as “No Tears Left to Cry,” which they have performed internationally. If you missed this performance, you’ll have to wait until next year for their next show!

News to Know

Important events that have occured in April or are coming up in May

DECA ICDC

DECA competed in Anaheim, California at the International Career Development Conference April 27-30. 18 out of 24 Ladue qualifiers attended this year. “I’m very excited,” marketing and business management teacher Jessica Kennedy said. “This is the largest group we’ve ever taken to [ICDC] from Ladue, so that increases the likelihood of them becoming finalists.”

BELOW: Adaeze Loynd (10), Khamari Davis (10), Kate Sheley (11) and Emma Bangert (11) warm up during their weekly rehearsal to prepare for their show. The show took place May 4 and the Viva Voce seniors took their final bow.

STORY BY CINDY LIU

PHOTO BY VINCENT HSIAO

Crisis Coastal

Going Deeper

Plastic at different depths of the ocean

0 m

269,000 tons of plastic float on the surface. That’s about two particles per cubic meter.

300 m

At the highest concentration in the ocean, there are 12 plastic particles per cubic meter.

1,000 m

Despite pressures at over 110 times than at sea level, there are 2 plastic particles per cubic meter.

10,924 m

56% of the planet’s whale, dolphin and porpoise species have consumed plastic.

Crustaceans tested in the Mariana Trench have been shown to have ingested plastic. 2

From Sea to Table

The impacts of ocean pollution on human health

55% of fish species commonly

consumed by humans have been found with microplastics

1 in 20 adults will become sick after a single exposure to contaminated water

Plastic found in the ocean could cover our Earth, with a radius of 3925 miles, 400 times.

1 3 4 of marine mammal species 1/3 get found entangled in litter.

It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight.

Counting Plastic

Ways to reverse ocean pollution

Support legistation to curb plastic production and waste

Participate in a beach or river cleanup

Most common items found in ocean clean-ups and their decomposition times Cigarette Butts Plastic Bottles 10 years 450 years 20 years

Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Our World in Data, Pew Research

Reduce plastic usage and recycle properly 1. 2. 3.

SCAN FOR locations eligible for store drop-off recycling

Center, UNESCO, Washington Post,

E(clip)se It

Students and staff watch partial solar eclipse over St. Louis April 8

of the partial

with an 18-stop

ECLIPSE 99% 2 p.m.

are

Sunspots are visible after the eclipse. They are temporary concentrated cool areas of strong magnetic fields that regularly appear on the surface of the sun.

FOR more solar eclipse coverage

PHOTO STORY BY VINCENT HSIAO

SCAN

Phases

eclipse

captured

solar filter from Ladue High School’s football field April 8. (Photo illustration by Vincent Hsiao)

ABOVE: Maxwell Crane (12) looks up to view the sun. The eclipse reached a peak of 99% over St. Louis as the path of totality was about 30 miles south of the metro area. “Last time [in 2017] I drove out to achieve [full] totality, which was really really cool,” Crane said. “Obviously this time it was less of a spectacle but I thought it was really cool being able to see it with my friends at the school.”

MIDDLE LEFT:

A graphic on the scoreboard created by broadcast teacher Don Goble and his students is shown as students gather on the football field during seventh hour. Short excursions across the entire district were made for students and staff to view the partial eclipse.

LEFT: Jason Shi (10), Aiden Qian (10) and Alex Wang (10) stand beside each other as they talk and view the eclipse from the field.

Dousing the Flame

SLEEK SOLAR PANELS

adorn rooftops like shimmering scales, wind turbines spin gracefully atop hillsides and verdant parks intertwine with bustling cityscapes. Pedestrians stroll tree-lined streets, breathing air as crisp and clean as a mountain breeze, while wildlife frolics in revitalized habitats. Yet, when gazing upon our current reality, the stark disparity between this utopia and the harsh truth of the present climate crisis becomes painfully evident.

coined by Wallace Broecker in 1975, refers to environmental shifts largely affecting temperature and weather patterns. While the Earth’s climate has always varied, humans have accelerated these changes, culminating in an unprecedented climate crisis.

BACKGROUND

Temperature variation affects everything on the planet, from sea life to severe storms. One such area is agriculture, a sector often overlooked. Social studies teacher Kelley Krejnik is well versed on the science and history surrounding climate change, as she obtained her master’s degree in sustainability and has since pioneered a new class, Sustainable Investigations, at Ladue High School.

“

Instead of seeing [the environment] as a disappointment, see awe in what is going on on that day.”

KELLEY KREJNIK

However, it would be an oversight to say that no one is improving the situation. Every day, governments, large corporations and individual citizens maintain and create environmentally-conscious standards. While some believe that even this amount of action will not be adequate, others continue to innovate, hoping to one day avert the climate catastrophe.

“Missouri is largely a rural state so [farmers] are starting to be concerned about the crops they traditionally have grown, [thinking about whether they will] continue to thrive and produce the same meals as they have previously,” Krejnik said. “A couple of degrees can make a big difference between not enough time for freezing or germination.”

Elliot Kellner, Director of Commercial Innovation at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, is similarly concerned with the implications of modern agricultural practices.

“At the Danforth Center, we’re working on making all of these important crops more drought tolerant [and] more pest resilient,”

Climate change’s impacts and potential solutions

Kellner said. “In an environmental setting of changing climates, and effective at producing food to make sure that people still have just as much food available as doing so in a way that is more environmentally conscious.”

Regardless of how Kellner and the agricultural industry hope to innovate science, many agree that environmental changes, no matter how small or large, will be felt.

“Some of the things that we take for granted as being part of our life rituals are going to change,” Krejnik said. “The climate, the weather [and] the environment are such instrumental parts of our social fabric and our cultural fabric that we have to think about. What do we want to hold on to, what do we want to preserve, what do we want to start anew, what do we want to prevent and how do we want to be resilient?”

ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSISM

Ultimately, climate change will affect everyone on the planet. However, the means and intensity of such an exposure differ widely throughout the world, and often falls upon socioeconomic divides.wards western crops such as corn or soybean. However, the cassava plant, a major staple in the de-

STORY BY ARTI JAIN & ALZHRAA MAHMOUD

PHOTO BY VINCENT HSIAO

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WILL KODNER

Panorama surveyed 196 students April 19

Corporations

Government

Individuals

None of the above

bring my own cloth bags when I go grocery shopping.”

RICHARD RAMIREZ (STAFF)

“I wish I didn’t use the car that much. Maybe [I would] learn how to bike and do that for local transportation instead.”

ALEX WANG (10)

“I wish I recycled more. I don’t really do much for climate change, [but] I’d start talking about it more. I don’t really talk about it a lot.”

“I wish I advocated for my environmental issues in St. Louis. I wish I spoke more for the trees, like my idol the Lorax.”

BETLEHIME GEMA (12)

‘Due for a Change

Ladue student and staff opinions on climate change

BELOW: Eva Busker (12) (right) speaks about SAGE at a booth at Rams Aroud the World, a student led cultural festival, April 24. The club focused on their project of implementing a native pollinator garden and handed out plants grown in Ladue High School’s greenhouse. “It’s really important for people to know the things that Ladue is doing to work on how [it is] sustainable,” SAGE director Ella Marks (12) said. (Photo by Mac Huffman.)

Paging

STUDENTS

AT LADUE

High School are initiating sustainability projects through SAGE, a club founded in 2019. Every year, the club participates in the Green Schools Quest, a state-wide challenge presented by the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council.

“This year, the theme was biodiversity — to promote animals and plants, things like that,” sponsor Kelley Krejink said. “A pollinator garden was an idea that was presented by the group, so that’s what we’re going to install.”

A pollinator garden can increase native biodiversity and community engagement. SAGE also participates in educational endeavors, hoping to instill an interest in the environment early on.

“We’ve been reaching out to people who are younger and teaching them about sustainability,” SAGE director Ella Marks (12) said. “So, they’ll understand those concepts early on, and they go into their classrooms with that understanding that there is an issue in our world and there are things that we can do to address it.”

EVELYN ROBERT (9)

“I wish I got less plastic bags from the grocery stores. Those things are horrible. [I would]

veloping world, lags behind in such genetic developments.

“There are [about] 365 million people in sub-Saharan Africa that are functionally dependent on cassava for their food security,” Kellner said. “But, until about 15 years ago, cassava had never been the target for any kind of genetic improvement because people in the United States don’t eat cassava and neither do people in Europe. There’s no market for it, and all of high-tech work are in the West.”

For economic reasons, for-profit companies tend to focus on crops with higher monetary value. The Danforth Center is uniquely situated in this regard, as they are on crops such as cassava withouttheless, this is merely one form of environmental classism — another is present within the United States itself.

“In Mississippi, there are petrochemical plants that create a lot of toxins that have increased the rate of cancer,” Krejnik said. “People who live there have lived there for generations and they don’t necessarily want to leave. They [also] didn’t build the chemical plants, are suffering and don’t to relocate. We get into a lot of these interesting ethical debates about who’s responsible for what, how do we help people, how do we repair the harms that could be caused, how do we prevent those harms [and] who is responsible for all of this. They’re not easy answers.”

FALSE INFORMATION

High schoolers are often asked about such concepts in their classes, leading to climate change’s popularity on social media platforms. While this creates an op-

portunity for promoting education and awareness, it also leaves ample room for misinformation.

“[There is] a lot of backlash perpetuated against the renewable energies that we have now,” SAGE director Ella Marks (12)

— it’s not perfectly clean energy. I think that can be very damaging, especially when people think renewables are worse for the environment. [However], that’s not necessarily true unless you only look at one component of it.”

A popular example of misinformation is electric vehicles. According to the MIT Climate Portal, EV manufacturing produces 80% more emissions than the production of their gas-powered counterparts. However, that singular statistic paints an incomplete picture of EVs. Most sources covering sustainability paint an idealistic picture of environmentalism that ignores the true reality. SAGE leader Gabe Bernstein (12) especially notices this through his own climate research. Bernstein has taken two environmental classes at Ladue High School as well as completed internships with theington University in St. Louis.

“[Greenwashing is] where products try to [appear] sustainable to [cater to] that demographic of people who want to be sustainable,” Bernstein said. “When you really look into it, it’s not sustainable at all. It’s really harmful because people don’t always have the drive, motivation or time to do product] is sustainable.”

Amidst the attempts to move towards environmentally-friendly practices is the concept of overrated methods of improvement. For example, reusables and the zero-waste movement are often considered one of the best ways to stop climate change. In reality,

CANCER ALLEY

A region in southeast Lousiana containing about 150 petrochemical plants. According to the National Air Toxics Assessment in 2015, citizens in this region are more than 50 times more likely to develop cancer. This area is predominantly low-income African Americans.

THE CENTRAL CHILE MEGA DROUGHT

Drought in Chile from 2010-2020 caused 9 million people, or approximately 51% of the population, to live in water scarce regions.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC GARBAGE PATCH

Similar to the more commonly known Pacific Garbage Patch, another garbage patch lies dormant in the North Atlantic Ocean. Contrastly to the Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean contains extremely small microplastics harming marine wildlife health and safety.

BRA-CHILL, IT’S NOT ALL BAD

According to the U.S. Embassy in Brazil 2023, Brazil plans to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2028, greatly reducing Brazil’s carbon footprint.

Institute of Technology, reusable tote bags must be used over 104 times to counteract the environmental costs of their production.

“It’s important to keep in mind that sustainability isn’t completely perfect,” Marks said. “Ideally, in the future, our practices can be environmentally friendly without any sort of harm to other areas ofways linen-wrapped and pretty.”

SEEKING SOLUTIONS

Amidst the sea of misinformation, trends, advice and research, it to the climate crisis.

“There needs to be more of a cohesive effort towards sustainable practices,” Bernstein said. “Obviously, it’s not very realistic if we just want to convert everything to electrical or solar power in the next few years. There are a lot of things that the government can be doing — it’s just that people don’t have enough force to drive the government to [action].”

While some believe that the government is responsible for climate change, others argue that it is up to individuals and that the government cannot mandate sustainable choices. Kellner believes that there are limitations to the impact that individual decisions have.

“Everybody should be out there doing everything that they can do to improve the situation,” Kellner said. “But, at the end of the day, there’s a real limit to what one individual can do. [For example], if you ceased all [of] your own greenhouse gas emissions personally or in your household, does it change something? Yes, but it’s not observable.”

al-technology companies, he has found another way to adopt envi-

“We see very limited adoption of technologies that come out of the public sector,” Kellner said. “However, technologies that are actually taken to market by much higher rates of adoption.

Most students lack the opportunity and resources to invent new are alternative ways to contribute.

“Instead of seeing [the environment] as a disappointment, see awe in what is going on on that day,” Krejnik said. “[Take] the bees that were in the tree [April 1 at Ladue High School]. That might seem like a nuisance to some people, but it’s incredible when you stop and think. Those are bees, and the world needs those pollinators. There could be a day and a place where that type of thing is so rare and so unheard of that you’ll be telling that story to somebody. I don’t want that to be the case.”

Small changes, from plants blooming earlier to changes in animal migration patterns, show a result of changing temperatures. Citizens tend to take notice when effects are observable from their backyard, school or wallet.

an uncomfortable human will do to be comfortable,” Kellner said.

Having worked alongside federal agencies in the public sector, Kellner understands the govern-

“There are technical solutions to the climate crisis. Some are expensive, but through innovation we can make them cheaper. Or, through public action, we can fund or subsidize them. So, we’re going to make it. It’s going to be weird, but we’re going to get there.”

Panorama Perspective

Students need to carefully consider their purchases to prevent overconsumption

22 OUT OF 22 PANORAMA STAFFERS AGREE

IN THE PAST, TRENDS ROSE TO popularity after their debut in fashion shows or on admired celebrities and stayed popular for around 20 years. Now, trends can be introduced by almost anyone on social media and last only a matter of months. These new trends are more accessible than ever. As soon as a product gains popularity, people can click a link and have it arrive at their doorstep in just a couple of days.

Once a new product goes viral, many discard last month’s barely-used purchase to stay in style. This creates an immense amount of waste that accumuFoundation, around 101 million tons of textile waste -

Some trendy items, such as clothing from Shein, aren’t even made to last. They fall apart after just aly, increasing the amount of items produced, and enabling consumers to pay low prices. In turn, sales increase, growing corporations and ultimately damaging the planet from the waste created.

Products that are made to last are treated by many more sustainable than plastic bottles, but it defeats the purpose of owning a reusable water bottle if a person owns 20 of them. Just because Stanleys are popular now doesn’t mean that a Hydro Flask can’t

hold water anymore. Inevitably, Stanleys will be abandoned at some point, leaving an insurmountable amount of unnecessary waste in their wake. Ironically, sustainability is also a trend due to the of climate change. However, sustainable products are usually expensive, making them an unreasonable alternative for many. Furthermore, many items are falsely marketed as “sustainable” to align with trends, meaning a product labeled as “sustainable” isn’t always the best option for the planet. The most sustainable product is the one that you already own

for the environment than getting a new plastic one every day, if you already have plastic bags, you should use them until they break before replacing them with a reusable alternative. The plastic bags will end up in

throw them away after one use.

When students are tempted to buy a new popular product they see on social media, they should consider if they actually want it or if they just want to keep up with a trend. Will they still like the item in a few months? Will it fall apart after only a couple of uses? Would they buy this product even if it wasn’t popular? Do they have a similar item already? Students must take the time to consider purchases in order to prevent unnecessary waste from being generated. Overconsumption is not worth the irreversible destruction that it causes the planet.

Editorial Note: Each editorial, Panorama selects an issue that the staff thinks is important to address and expresses a view that belongs to the majority of the staff. Panorama welcomes the opinions of its readers, and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311 or email Panorama at publications01@ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions for length as long as original intent remains unaltered.

ILLUSTRATION BY KELLY ZHANG

SCAN FOR sustainability rankings of clothing brands

Zoned Out

Zoning laws increase housing prices, encourage gentrification and impose racial and economic barriers

ISTORY BY GRACE KWEON

F YOU’VE EVER SEEN THE numerous triple-decked mansions with the way to school, you probably know that the city of Ladue is rich. Like, really rich. But what you probably don’t know is that due to the high and rising housing costs, this city has indirectly displaced the economically disadvantaged, reduced its racial diversity and due to rising home prices, become millionaire-exclusive. Reforms to zoning laws, which govern how our land is used, could prevent further separation of economic class and the exclusion of minority demographics.

In a developing America, zoning laws determined the size, parking space, appearance, sidewalk measurements and number of amenities of buildings, dividing cities into residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural zones. They prevented incompatible buildings from being grouped together, limited building size and organized and preserved natural resources, neighborhoods and recreational areas. But for decades, these laws have been outdated, unchanged and cardependent, consequently struggling with

In most cities, the residential zone is split 75-to-25 between two sectors: single-family and multi-family housing. For single-family housing, each home has a mandatory minimum lot size with no maximum, which means that only one family can live in a space that could host four. This low-density housing increases property values and separates lowerincome from higher-income populations.

For example, if a neighborhood sells single-family homes in a location with close access to a strong job market, school and convenience stores, more people would want to live there, increasing demand. Prices will then rise, leaving wealthier buyers able to afford these homes and poorer buyers with homes that have second-rate access to jobs, stores and schools. Single-family zoning laws increase the exclusivity of housing by reducing the number of homes that can be in one area. This can displace poorer established communities through economic shift of an urban area due to wealthier people moving in.

Additionally, one of the reasons zoning laws were implemented was because of the support for class and racial segregation. For instance, it was only 1948 when the landmark Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer outlawed racial covenants, which restricted racial minorities from moving into certain neighborhoods. Nowadays, these age-old laws have support from wealthy landowners, whose interests lie in the rise of real estate values.

But as Generation Z is entering the workforce battling high costs of living, student debt, job competition

majority of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck. So, buying a home has

Despite being infamous for the racial and economic segregation of the Delmar Divide, St. Louis has yet to reform its zoning laws. By addressing the power these laws have on our city, policymakers

towards making housing affordable and rid our title of being one of America’s most segregated cities.

dimensions (picas):

W: 11p5.265 H: 44p1.322

$75,000

third opinions color

$310,000

ZHANG

Parking Lot Pandemonium

BSTORY BY GRACE HUEWE

Y THE TIME THE bell rings at 2:30 p.m., most students are relieved that school is over. However, for the students whose cars rest in an assigned spot in the north parking lot, that bell means that it’s go time. People scramble, some even run, through the halls and out the door with no remorse. They squeeze past anyone in their way with one objective: to avoid being held captive in the parking lot, because at 2:30, it becomes a madhouse.

For those fortunate enough to have never experienced the student parking lot, it consists of 389 cars grappling to secure a spot in one of two lanes that lead onto Warson Road. The few who get out quick are lucky, but in most cases, students will be stuck for 15 minutes, or even double that, if they aren’t strategic. For many students, their experiences in the student parking lot can be described as nothing less than traumatic. Each day, new victims of the lot are taken, their

The student lot system should be reworked to accomodate for the amount of students leaving at once of students take more than 10 minutes to leave the parking lot student drivers have been in an accident in the parking lot 1 in 9 of cars do not get out before the buses

vehicles added to the long list of those that have been damaged. The numerous accidents, sounding of horns and frustration, that characterize the student lot make for chaos each afternoon, and, frankly, a new system is more than necessary at this point.

Some may blame the immaturity of student drivers for the madness, and yes, it’s true that sometimes we forget to check our rear view mirrors or accidentally cut people off when in a rush. However, the rush that causes people to drive recklessly could be avoided by reducing the amount of people leaving the parking lot at the same time. If seniors were dismissed -

lier, then this number would be senior drivers would have time to navigate the hallways without the massive mobs of younger students during dismissal time. Most of all, the seniors would be able to get out of the lot much more quickly without juniors contributing getting into accidents without as many people driving into the same two lanes at once.

LOT

SCAN TO support a new student parking lot system

For juniors questioning whether or not this system will leave them stuck in the lot for even longer than normal with seniors at an advantage, remember that seniors will clear out quicker than it usually takes by avoiding factors that typically consume time. For one, the buses won’t hold up the majority of students if seniors are dismissed earlier. When it’s time for the buses to depart from school,

for multiple minutes, trapping the students who failed to get out before the buses and contributing to the long wait. Additionally, at 2:25 on Warson Road without underclassmen who carpool with their parents, thus, making it easier to secure a spot on the main road.

So, with few seniors left by the time juniors make it out of school and to their cars, much of the parking lot would be empty, making itmenting this new system will sigof leaving school. It will be moredents who have places to be or just want to get home.

PHOTO BY LATHAN LEVY LOOKING AT THE

TikTok on the Clock

Attempts to ban TikTok are misguided, shortsighted and authoritarian

ASTORY BY FRANK CHEN

BLACK SCREEN

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

million small American businesses used TikTok to generate 7 $14.7

billion in profits in 2023 alone

As of December 2023, only of American adults and 38% 18% of teens would support a ban on TikTok

Sources: CBS, Oxford Economics, Pew Research Center, Washington Post

73% of Ladue students would oppose a ban on TikTok

Panorama surveyed 196 students April 19

As

politicians try to crush TikTok, will it survive? (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

Say Yes to the College

Steps to take throughout high school to finalize plans for the future and maximize opportunities

STORY BY NYLA WEATHERSBY ILLUSTRATION BY KELLY ZHANG

1. Starting the Search

Students should actively explore their interests during their freshman and sophomore years. They can participate in various clubs and activities, which may help them discover their passions. A club is an effective way to explore interests while also being easily accessible due to their general affordability. By exposing themselves to a broad range of interests, students can discover a love for something they never expected. Also, students should participate in precollege summer programs that suit their interests. Exploring these interests can provide insight into potential college majors and academic pursuits.

Local Universities

The top three Missouri universities attended by the Ladue class of 2023

proper steps to get into college? Panorama surveyed

Washington University in Saint Louis University of Missouri Saint Louis University

As juniors, students should categorize potential colleges as reach, target and safety schools based on their academic performance, which can differ from student to student. Vital factors to consider during the college search include the size, location, majors, student body, atmosphere, tuition costs and financial aid opportunities. They should also start exploring different colleges by attending fairs, visiting campuses and contacting admission counselors. All of these things can help narrow the search for the perfect college. Towards the end of the year, students should ask core teachers to write their college recommendation letters to ensure that they have enough time to prepare.

3. Ending the Search

By the time students reach senior year, they should have a clear idea of which colleges that they are applying to and feel confident in their options due to the work they did throughout high school. As seniors, it is crucial to establish a formal connection with future aspirations through internships and other programs. After college decisions are released, the hardest part for many students is deciding where to take their talents for the next four years. The factors previously mentioned can influence this decision, but, ultimately, it is vital to remember that a college does not define capability and future success.

SCAN FOR college admissions tips and tricks

SCAN FOR summer programs and internships

Effective Study Methods

Long Term Spaced Repetition

Work back from an exam date, spacing out 7, 5, 3 and 2 days between study sessions. At the start, intervals are spaced close together but become longer as one learns the content.

SQ3R Technique

1. Survey 2. Question 3. Read 4. Recite 5. Review

Preview study material Create questions from preview Read over past notes Brain dump after reading Review all steps

Short Term: Cramming

Blurting

Take notes on your topic. Then, take a five minute break and brain dump everything onto a piece of paper. Cross-check your notes to see if there are any areas you missed and study further.

Pomodoro

1 2 3 4 5

Pick an assignment Work for 25 minutes Take a five minute break Repeat four times Take a 15 minute break

Brain Fuel

Fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants to keep your brain functioning optimally.

Hummus, falafel and pita bread are a great balanced source of protein and fiber.

Nuts provide healthy fats and protein for energy and focus.

Study Smarter, Not Harder

Tips to make studying for AP exams and finals less stressful

Academic Beats

Students share the playlists they swear by for studying

STORY & ILLUSTRATION BY SARA ROHATGI

Lillian Plumb (10)

Emaan Waheed (11) Jason Kuhstoss (12)

PHOTOS BY SARA ROHATGI

What’s the Scoop?

1 CLEMENTINE’S

I picked up a scoop of gooey butter ice cream from a small to-go window. The building had a cozy outdoor seating area with heaters, perfect for a chilly day. They offered a variety of flavors, including vegan options and unique ones like naughty, which was alcoholic, and nice, which was non-alcoholic. The best part was the quick service; I got my ice cream right away. It was filled with small chunks of gooey butter, which added great flavor to each bite. The presentation might not have been fancy, but the taste more than made up for it.

The parlor had a welcoming atmosphere, with a display of colorful ice cream flavors upfront. Trying out the raspberry gelato was a pleasant surprise. Its smooth and velvety texture stood out compared to typical airy ice creams. The flavors were rich and satisfying, especially the concentrated raspberry taste. What impressed me most was the diverse range of unique flavors that they offered. Overall, it was a cozy and delightful experience that I would recommend to anyone in search of a tasty treat.

MADELINE’S MENTIONS

3

OBERWEIS

The dessert was an exceptional treat for my taste buds. The interplay of textures was a delightful surprise, as the crunchy nuts perfectly complemented the creaminess of the ice cream. However, the ice cream was a bit too soft, probably due to the hot fudge that was poured on it. Although the service was a little slow, the dessert was definitely worth the wait. The ambiance of the establishment was impeccable, with its clean and bright atmosphere.

FROYO: The enticing array of flavors and toppings promises a treat that caters to every palate. The freedom to customize your experience and pay by the weight of the dessert is what truly sets them apart. Upon arrival, dessert lovers are met with hundreds of different possibilities of frozen yogurt combinations. The self-serve system allows customers to mix and match as many flavors as they wish to create a new concoction every visit.

FOR an

SCAN

in-depth review of ice cream in St. Louis

PHOTOS BY VINCENT HSIAO

Madeline Awad reviews and ranks St. Louis ice cream stores

BELOW: Social studies teacher Conner Katsev wears his medal, commemorating his achievement of winning the James Madison Fellowship Award. For Katsev, this medal represented everything he worked towards throughout his career. “Some advice would be, don’t get discouraged if you apply once and you don’t get [the fellowship],” Katsev said. “The [effort] to get [it] makes it that much more rewarding when you do get it.”

Made for Madison

Social studies teacher Connor Katsev wins James Madison Fellowship Award

STORY BY IRA RODRIGUES

PHOTO BY VINCENT HSIAO

FREE ADMISSION TO

a summer institute at Georgetown University, $24,000 to fund a graduate degree and a trip to Washington, D.C.

These are the accolades that social studies teacher Connor Katsev looks forward to after winning the James Madison Fellowship Award, something that he’s been working towards for three years.

However, it’s not just the rewards that Katsev anticipates. What makes this fellowship truly special to him is the opportunity to further explore U.S. history and share his hard-won knowledge with his students.

“[The award surrounds you with] other people, other fellows who are just as like-minded as you and think like you,” Katsev said. “Hearing from what they have to say and getting ideas is going to be helpful. I’m really excited to say [that] this is my job. I have to learn the material the best [that] I can and then bring it back for my students.”

Katsev learned about the award from a former recipient when he was student-teaching at Marquette High School, but didn’t seriously pursue it until he joined Ladue High School’s social studies department two years ago. He was inspired to attempt it by the community around him.

“The department around me, we are always looking to grow, we’re all like-minded and self-starters and want to be involved,” Katsev said. “When I fell into this depart-

in and wanting to do that kind of stuff. And [the James Madison Award] is in that ballpark.”

At Ladue High School, Katsev has found three mentors to guide him: social studies teachers who have won the fellowship previously and could give him advice. One of these mentors was social studies teacher Riley Keltner, a 2019 James Madison Fellow, who encouraged Katsev to apply.

“It was inspiring to me how adamant [Katsev] was to improve his application year after year,” Keltner said. “He did all the right things and he contacted the right

FELLOWSHIP FACTS

1,706 Ladue history teachers have been awarded the James Madison Fellowship Award

1 fellowships have been awarded to date

SCAN FOR more on Ladue teachers who have previously won the fellowship person per state is awarded the fellowship every year

people and tried to be really present with people at the fellowship. [It] impressed me to see his work ethic on perfecting the application.”

For both Katsev and Keltner, winning the award meant more than just a medal. It was an opportunity to improve professionally in their careers.

4 P

“We don’t go into teaching for the money,” Keltner said. “At the end of the day, we are professionals. To be able to improve your craft at no cost is sim-

is the one area where if you can get this fellowship, it changes not only your career, but your life.”

After earning his master’s degree in U.S. history, Katsev plans to bring his deeper understanding of the curriculum back to the classroom for his students.

“In teaching, trying to learn and do something while I’m teaching the content helps,” Katsev said.

“When I’m getting this master’s in U.S. history, every class I take is going to be early American history. I’m teaching that stuff while I’m learning that stuff. I know I’ll become a better teacher.”

The Director’s Cut

Three seniors successfully cast, block and stage One-Act plays over two months

CAST MEMBERS STAND in the dimly lit Black Box Theater, awaiting their cues. Their director sits at the table, watching their production come to life. Only a few weeks ago in the same seat, they were watching the now show-ready cast audition for their roles.

April 26-28, Ella Hamlin (12), Lily Warenberg (12) and Jessica Steinberg (12) put on the Senior-Directed One-Acts that they had been perfecting since March 4. Between the three shows, the entire cast included 19 people and the full performance was two hours long. Before rehearsals could begin, the cast for the One-Acts auditioned in front of all three of the directors.

“It was kind of stressful; I’d never run an audition before,”

was a lot of calling up people to see what worked and what I thought and then I was a lot more prepared to come on the second day already knowing some stuff.”

Prior to auditioning, the casttors what roles they wanted. This aided directors in the audition process, as they were able to select a cast based on their own thoughts as well as the cast’s preferences.

“It’s a matter of who you want in what role because actors are allowed to put down their preferences,” Warenberg said. “When you’re dividing up a cast between different directors, people who are better suited for certain roles go into that cast.”

The ability to collaborate -

rectors greatly. Their understanding of each other’s thoughts allowed them to cast people into the One-Acts more easily.

“When you’re passionate to other directors and distributingly hard to make the calls or ‘Hey, this person I really want in my show, but is better for your show’, so juggling that part was hard,” Hamlin said.

After school each day, cast members were expected to be in

the black box theater to start rehearsing their plays. Before splitting off into their individual OneActs, the three casts performed vocal exercises and warmups together. After that, one stayed in the Black Box Theater and the two others went to the choir room or the hallway.

“With my cast, I continue warming up with a shakeout, which is another movement-based warmup, and we also do clearing which is something I really enjoy,” Hamlin said. “It’s [a] chance for everyone to share something that’s keeping them from being in the space or something that’s on their mind.”

A unique aspect of the Senior-Directed One-Acts is the versatility of rehearsals and different ways that they are conducted. Each director takes an individual approach to preparing their actors for their performance.

“One time, I had them step on different colored pieces of paper that are called rasa boxes [which] are supposed to represent different characterizations,” Warenberg

SCAN FOR the Ladue Thespian website

STORY BY MARIE DEMKOVITCH

RIGHT: Ella Hamlin (12) observes her production of Much Ado About Nothing. Hamlin greatly appreciated the opportunity she was given to direct the show. “I feel like [directing is] one of those things where each time is better than the last,” Hamlin said. (Photos by Vincent Hsiao)

ABOVE: Jessica Steinberg (12) takes notes during rehearsal. Before rehearsals could begin, she ran auditions for the first time. “[All of] the directors saw the auditions,” Steinberg said. “Everyone was watching.”

Why Did You Audition for the One-Acts?

LAUREN DAMMAN (9)

“I love theatre and I’ve been doing it for a long time, [so] I thought it’d be fun.”

said. “It’s pretty routine and just really [helps] develop characters while going through the motions of the show.”

One of the main jobs of the director is to properly block and stage each scene of their One-Act. In order to do that, they take notes throughout running the play.

“

With acting, you’re focused on yourself, but when you’re directing, you focus on [every] actor.”

LUCA PINON-DICKEY (11)

“I auditioned for the OneActs because I thought [all of our seniors would] make good directors.”

Before directing her One-Act, Hamlin had mainly worked in lighting design while participating in theater at Ladue High School. Directing provided her with a completely different perspective on stage production.

ELLA HAMLIN (12) student

“For the rest of rehearsal, we just run the show and work on blocking and where people are supposed to be,” Hamlin said. “If there are any notes about how I want actors moving their bodies or standing, I take notes and I go through them at the end of rehearsal.”

“It’s completely different because of what you’re focusing on,” Hamlin said. “You’re no longer focusing on how the show is going to look physically, it’s more so the message and the story that you’re getting across.”

For Steinberg, watching each character develop their dynamics with other characters during rehearsals has been one of the most rewarding parts of the directing

JOAN GAFFIGAN (10)

“Since I [was in the] crew for the musicals, I wanted to be in the cast [for the one-acts].”

Much Ado About Nothing Camp Bear Lake

Boise, Idaho

SCAN FOR more on the One-Acts SHOW ORDER

process. She ensures that her cast is provided with the freedom to craft their characters in a way that is unique to them.

“I really like to see progress day to day, especially when [the cast doesn’t] use their script,” Steinberg said. “[I like] seeing the little touches they’re putting on things, making their characters their own.”

For all three directors, the Senior-Directed One-Acts was theirduction. Collaborating to create a stage-worthy production was an experience not easily forgotten.

“My favorite part is seeing the progress that my actors make because they’re such talented people,” Warenberg said. “During rehearsal and especially getting off focus is when you get to see them grow the most and see the show come together.”

ABOVE: Chloe Lang (10) rehearses with Lily Crabtree (9) and Grace Pinex (10). The students were casted in the production of Camp Bear Lake. “I love [all of] the seniors directing the One-Acts,” Lang said.

LEFT: Lily Warenberg (12) gazes at her cast practicing their bows. She directed the production of Boise, Idaho. “My first experience with theater was during freshman year,” Warenberg said. (Photos by Vincent Hsiao)

In-Sync

STORY BY MASON EASTMAN & RYAN SNYDER

PHOTO BY VINCENT HSIAO

Sophie Miller and Claire Malone develop a joint passion for Syncronized Skating

SOPHIE MILLER

AMID THE GLIMMEring ice of the Webster Groves Ice Rink, Sophie Miller (12) is caught etching her morning before school, Miller -

“My biggest goal is to skate for Team USA and represent it in at least one international compe-

SOPHIE’S SCHEDULE

Millers Wednesday schedule

5:20 a.m. Wake up and get ready for practice

“I’m going out of state for this Then, there are off-ice tryouts, can do, sit-ups, and then it’s a mat-

Miller is a senior level skater at her club and often compares this rank to earning a blackbelt in ka-

Miller started syncronized later, her once-impossible goal is joined the Crystallites, a brandto attend college, practice sessions

el of skating her club offers to try and boost her likelihood of being

5:50 a.m. arrive at ice rink and warm up for five minutes

6-7 a.m.

First practice of Miller’s day

4:50 p.m. Arrive at ice rink and warm up for second practice

5:10-6:40 p.m. Second skating practice of the day

“[Miller] is not going to make you feel bad for not being able to do a skill that she can,” Miller’s-

dreds of competitors, making a national skating team such as Teamcoring to her teammates, Millers

in the past couple of years actually

club that has already asked you

LEFT: Sophie Miller (12) and Claire Malone (12) interlock their arms as they glide over the ice. Miller and Malone have been skating together for years. “Ive been skating with her [Malone] since I moved here,” Miller said.

ABOVE: Miller (12) waves her arms into the air. She had been dreaming of Team USA since she was 10. “My favortie part [about figure skating] is just the determination we [the team] all have,” Miller said.

CLAIRE MALONE

SENIOR PROM IS A NIG(12), her long term vision and outlook on synchronized skating opted to miss her Senior Prom for Synchronized Skating Team, a testament to her commitment to her

It takes most people a very long time to determine their passion, if the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,

Rather than focusing on indisynchronized skating is built uponbers organize themselves into -

MALONE’S MOMENTS

3x National Syncrhonized Skating Competitor

2022-2023

Midwest Synch- ronized Skating Champion

BELOW: Malone (12) and Miller (12) focus while they skate together. They have both worked for years to perfect their skills.“[the Syncronized skating team] is kind of like my second family and my second home,” Miller said.

LEFT: Miller (12) extends her leg into the air while skating. In addition to Syncro, Miller can also perform in individual competitions“I’d like to see how long I can do something with syncro until maybe I go off to do something with Disney on Ice or I start coaching,” Miller said.

“Whenever I’m skating, I get

Malone’s passion for skating has helped her develop a mindset that breeds success in the skat-

friend and former teammate Kyan

Malone has developed these

successful skating journey before transitioning into coaching, simi-

Synergy Service Award Winner

2023-2024 2023-2024

3rd Place at Kalamazoo Kick Off

SCAN TO Read this story on the web

“She keeps a very open mind inspires younger skaters and is

This mindset didn’t come to and former teammate Sophie Miller (12) has made a long lasting im-

“Sophie [and I] have similarsince then, so I kind of think of her

While Malone plans to contin-

super compassionate and helpful,

In addition to furthering her skating career at the collegiate level, Malone is in the midst ofhas already achieved plenty in the -

“It’s putting 110% into everythingthing, I’m gonna do everything in P

The boys varsity tennis team is looking to achieve a three-peat state title after winning it the last 2 years. As of April 29, the team’s record is 13-to-1, with their only loss to Hinsdale Central, the number 1 team in Illinois. “One thing I love about my sport is the team bonding I get to make with people, which are instrumental to shaping our identities, both on the court and off the court,” Adireddi said.

As of April 29, boys varsity golf has a record of 1-to-0, winning against Northwest R-1. “One thing I love [about golf] is being able to play whenever I want," Burrus said. "Whenever the weather’s good, going out with buddies during the weekend and having fun.“

Spring into Play

A brief overview of current spring sports' seasons

As of April 29, the girls varsity soccer team is 10-to-4. One factor contributing to their success is their team spirit. “One thing I enjoy [about soccer] is being with my teammates and getting along with each other,” Heil said.

Sarah Heil (9)

STORY BY AARON LIN & ISHAAN PANDEY

As of April 29, the varsity water polo team’s record is 2-to-15, with their wins against Christian Boys College and University City. Last year, the junior varsity team made it to the Final Four, placing 4th in the state. “Its going alright, we’ve had a few wins, some losses. it’s been pretty up and down recently," Widjaja said. "I chose to play water polo because I had a family friend who did it and they got me into it. I just tried a camp over the summer and I almost died in it, but I stuck with it and I’ve loved [water polo] ever since.”

Sanjay Adireddi (10)

Jackson Burrus (11)

PHOTO BY KAYLA CHAN

Glen Widjaja (10)

PHOTO BY JAX BESPALKO

The varsity girls lacrosse is currently undefeated, with a record of 10-to-0 as of April 29. “I have been playing it since middle school, so I just decided to stick with it," Margulis said. "[The season] is going really well, we’re undefeated. I love the atmosphere of the sport, like we have a really close team and we just have fun.”

This is the second year of the boys volleyball at Ladue. As of April 29, their record is 2-to-13, with wins against Fox High School and Confluence Preparatory Academy. As a very new team, they hope to improve their record. “One thing I really love [about volleyball] is the environment," Logan said. "Everyone’s super nice, and it’s super fun since I’ve played one year before.”

AK Logan (10)

April 13, Ladue hosted one of the biggest track meets in the state of Missouri. Around 50 schools partook in this tournament, running a variety of events. So far, boys varsity track and field has competed in six meets, while girls track and field varsity has participated in seven. "I love the discipline and how much it makes me want to do better, but I hate whenever I don’t get the results I want," Jones said.

Bella Jones (11)

Kate Margulis (12)

PHOTO BY VINCENT HSIAO

PHOTO BY MIA GOURTZELIS

Acai at Home A punny andsweetrecipe

for a fun, homemade summer

...and see berry great shows at Blueberry Hill to end the night!

Grab some paint and a canvas, try to become Vincent Man-gogh

ATIONBY OLIVIACHEN

Explore the granola lifestyle by swimming at Johnson’s Shut-Ins and attending the Green Living Festival at the Botanical Garden June 1

Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays

Get a taste of fresh smoothies, juices, açaí bowls and a variety ap-peel-ing healthy superfoods at the newly opened

during the Cardinals games at Busch Stadium all summer long