May 18, 2012

the CH

17050 Clayton Rd. Wildwood, MO 63011

EUREKA

In FOREIGN

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HIGH SCHOOL

Y E A TT E F A L

TERRITORY S D OO

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Three reporters armed only with cameras, pens and curiosity headed to the other Rockwood schools to separate fact from fiction...pages 8-9.

M I M T U

Volume 43, No. 10 5.18.2012

lhsimage.com

5.18.2012

ROCK

HS

Lafayette High School

C GH S HOOL HI

MA R Q UE T T E

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May 18, 2012

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4 in the neighborhood

4

Lafayette’s neighbors might be accustomed to the sounds of Friday night football games and 3:05 p.m. traffic, but what kind of neighbor is the school?

photo by Brendan Donahue

5 the science guy

5

The Image profiles 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year, Chris Lofgren.

10 fast and furious photo by Sydnee Stottlemyre

16

Both the boys and girls track teams are on pace for their best season in the past 15 years, thanks to consistency and leadership.

16 chillin’ out

Can’t choose between the wonders of frozen custard and frozen yogurt? Let our guide lead you down the path to the perfect dessert.

photo by Gian Wessel

cover sounds

Three Image staffers were given the opportunity to spend a day at another Rockwood high school.

Armed with cameras, recorders and notebooks, they took on the challenge of facing a day in the life of a Mustang, a Wildcat and a Falcon.

Photo illustration by Max Thoman

theimage people&policies Max Thoman................. ..................Editor in Chief Leanne Beasley...................................Managing Editor Grace Bueckendorf......................................Webmaster Jessica Zadoks.....................................Campus Editor Hannah Boxerman..............................Lifestyle Editor Sarah Greenlee......................................Opinion Editor Christine Jackson ...................................Sports Editor Mia Schenone.............................Entertainment Editor Danielle Slauter ..............Asst. Entertainment Editor Gian Wessel ...............................Online Sports Editor McKayla Treat ...................................Asst. Webmaster Maddie Henning ..............................Asst. Webmaster Kelly Carpenter ...............................Business Manager Mrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ...............................Adviser

Staff:

Paige Antolik, Katherine Blackstone, Anisha Chellaswami, Dylan Corbet, Dominic Corvington, Brendan Donahue, Abby Gwin, Robert Hiller, Alyssa Knowling, Alex LaMar, Gabrielle McDaris, Claire Norfleet, Sydnee Stottlemyre, Karrie Wagner and Molly White

Information:

The Image is published nine times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2010-2011 Image received a rating of First Class with three marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction.

Philosophy Statement:

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.

Contact Us:

Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com

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A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.

the

Three staff members opt for retirement Shaffer reflects on 26 year career

kelly carpenter

campus editor

After working as the Secretary to the Assistant Principal in the the Senior Office for 26 years, Donna Shaffer is retiring.

Assistant Principal Tim Jones said, “Mrs. Shaffer has been here long before I have and has been a great aid to the Senior Office. This is my ninth year working with her and she is very skillful at her job and obviously keeps the Senior Office moving. She definitely helps the seniors get from point A to point B.” Shaffer is a resident of the community and is a parent of two Lafayette graduates.

Shaffer said she will miss the students and the parents the most after leaving. She has been involved in planning of several events for the Senior

Class, including the Open House at the beginning of the year to Graduation.

“My favorite moments are the activities for the seniors – student and parent events and student events [such as trips to] Six Flags, the City Museum and the Cardinal games,” Shaffer said.

Jones said that Shaffer has been a favorite of the Lafayette community and that she has been very skillful at her duties.

“She is very knowledgeable at dealing with parents and students,” Jones said. “We have established a great friendship. [Shaffer] has a great sense of humor and is steady like a rock.”

Jones added Shaffer is faithful to all her duties and is somebody who he loves to work with. “[My advice] for students as they make their way through high school is for them to keep their grades up and enjoy all the special activities that the parents plan for you because your senior year goes by fast,” Shaffer said.

After retirement, Shaffer plans on relaxing and going to Disney World.

Guidance office says goodbye to two at end of school year Barb Kavanaugh Position: Counselor’s Secretary for seven years.

Favorite Part of Job: “Every day is different. I like coming in never knowing what the day is going to bring. And I like the people.”

Memorable Moment: “I received a note of appreciation from one of the counselors. It wasn’t for anything special but it was the first thing to come to my mind.”

Plans after Retirement: “I will work part-time babysitting for my grandchildren and I am expecting another one this July. Also, I will be taking a cruise to the Panama Canal and I plan on traveling. But my grandchildren come first.”

Marianne Stuart Position: Marquette Counselor for seven years; Lafayette counselor for one year.

Favorite Part of Job: “It is different every day and working with kids one on one, helping them plan for the future and helping them solve problems.”

Memorable Moment: “My favorite moment is when a student or parent thanks me for making a difference.”

Plans After Retirement: “After this year I will travel. My first trip is to Vietnam. After that, I will do some volunteer work, maybe for the presidential campaign. I plan to have a burial ceremony for my alarm clock.”

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May 18, 2012

Like a good neighbor?

Parking issues, litter, traffic among chief complaints by residents in surrounding Wildwood neighborhoods anisha chellaswami

reporter

For some, living next to a high school can be a nightmare. Troublesome kids, noise and traffic sound like the norm.

With the many activities that take place at Lafayette, it only seems natural that the neighborhoods ever bothered.

During big football games and other big events, Lafayette draws in traffic and crowds to the otherwise peaceful residential area.

And sometimes when the parking lot overflows, people park across the street in Dartmouth, outside the houses of the surrounding community.

Though they aren’t always made directly to the school, according to Jane*, there are complaints made to the police by some residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Jane, an adult who lives in Dartmouth, said if she opens her window during a football game she can hear everything clearly. Sometimes, the Marching Band even wakes her up in the morning.

Jane said there has never been vandalism and that though litter used to be a problem, the biggest issue is the unwanted traffic brought into her neighborhood.

“One day I had to leave for work right after school and there was a group of kids standing on my driveway.

When people are dropping off and picking up their kids, they are in the way of people trying to pull out of their driveways,” Jane said.

Activities Director Steve Berry only received complaints during his very first year at Lafayette.

“People were concerned because cars would be parked on both sides leaving no room to get through,” Berry said.

School Resource Officer Oliver Helbig is in charge of the complaints received about the school by patrol officers and the Wildwood community.

Helbig said parking is the number one problem.

“When I get complaints sometimes I’ll go out and get the students to move their cars, but sometimes I will have to issue a ticket,” Helbig said.

As years passed, alternate parking spots created more space and fewer complaints.

Sometimes surrounding households make complaints about the Homecoming Parade, though the streets are only blocked for about an hour.

“Periodically we receive complaints about students who are driving too fast or in a hazardous manner,” Helbig said.

He continued, “We try to work with the neighbors and overall people get along.”

Even though at times living by the school can be a nuisance, Jane sees positive aspects of it as well.

“I don’t mind it at all, it’s really convenient. It’s so nice to be able to walk over, especially for Key Club meetings or when I used to have cheer practice. I get to leave for school later, and even sleep in,” Jane said.

According to sophomore Zander Penney, the problems neighbors have with Lafayette are minimal.

“Aside from people coming through the streets after school, there really seems to be no issues,” Penney said.

People around the Wildwood area generally recognize Lafayette students as part of their community.

“Lafayette is seen more in a positive light than a negative light,” Berry said.

Surrounding businesses often give positive feedback on the students they employ and students in the CCE program.

“The school supports many community events, and the community likes to see Lafayette play an active role,” Associate Principal Nisha Patel said.

Lafayette also gets positive recognition for students who participate in community events such as Relay for Life and other fundraisers.

“We receive positive comments on how well our students present themselves,” Patel said.

While Lafayette often benefits from community resources and the support of local businesses and homeowners, the relationship goes both ways.

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TOP: The entrance to the Dartmouth crossing subdivision. BOTTOM: A view from the entrance of the Dartmouth subdivision shows its proximity to Lafayette’s parking lot. (Photos by Brendan Donahue) “Wildwood works with the school, and there is a lot of community pride,” Helbig said.

Community Service class and activities like Key Club and National Honor Society (NHS), are only a few of the means by which Lafayette lends a helping hand.

“There are also needy people in Wildwood, so it’s great to help within our personal community as well as the Wildwood community,” senior Maggie Bowman said.

“If you live next to a high school, you should expect it,” senior Drew Roither said. *Editor’s Note: name has been changed to protect privacy

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the

Teacher of the Year

Lofgren connects on ‘immature’ level abby gwin

reporter

LEGEND 2012

NOTICE

After 15 years of teaching science, Chris Lofgren was named the Lafayette High School 2011-12 Teacher of the Year.

Lofgren said, “The nomination was a very pleasant surprise.”

He went on to say it was a huge privilege to be honored among many great staff members.

“I think what sets me apart from the other nominees how I interact with my students,” Lofgren explained.

Lofgren was nominated by senior Joe Gebhart, who had Lofgren’s class when he was a freshman.

“He’s really funny and a good teacher,” Gebhart said. “He made class interesting and I enjoyed going into his classroom every day.”

Junior Anya Byers said, “Lofgren’s teaching style has helped me excel in his challenging classes.”

Byers took Honors Biology with Lofgren during her freshman year and decided to take Principles of Biomedical Sciences in order to have him as a teacher once more.

“He’s the best science teacher I’ve ever had,” Byers said.

Lofgren said he has made many friends and memories in all of his years of teaching.

“I have too many different memories from different years, all of which are far too great to choose a favorite. I’ve had a lot of good times sprinkled throughout my teaching career,” Lofgren said.

Science teacher Ginny Colombatto enjoys working with Lofgren on staff. “[Lofgren] is always good at lightening the mood,” she said.

Colombatto continued, “He finds funny cartoons for Biology teachers and makes some of our mundane meetings entertaining.”

Lofgren said a big part of teaching at a high school level is playing jokes on fellow staff.

Lofgren is not only known for his exceptional teaching style, but also for his quirky personality.

Sophomore Rennie Pettinelli said, “He always finds a way to make boring lectures interesting by telling funny stories.”

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You’ll want to see everything we noticed about you this year!

At the Academic Pep Assembly, Lafayette Teacher of the Year Chris Lofgren celebrates with his family. He has been teaching science at LHS for 15 years. (Photo by Alex Vanderheyden) When asked to summarize Lofgren in one word, Pettinelli said, “sarcastic.”

Lofgren replied (sarcastically), “No! I’m definitely not sarcastic.”

Lofgren said, “I truly enjoy the interaction with the students and all of their unique personalities.”

“I am able to form a good connection with my students because my matu-

rity level isn’t much different than the students. We connect on an immature level,” Lofgren said.

Other finalists for the 2011-12 Teacher of the Year included science teacher Mandy Kotraba, physical education teacher Denise Meyer and social studies teacher Lori Zang.

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May 18, 2012

Playing With Fire Gamble trains to become a firefighter, medic

paige antolik

reporter

Most people spend their time after school working on homework or hanging out with friends, but that’s not the case for sophomore Dalton Gamble.

Instead, Gamble likes to spend time at the firehouses she calls her second homes: the Metro West Firehouse and West Overland Fire Protection Department.

“I train at Metro West Firehouse every other Saturday for a three hour training session and I train at West Overland Fire Protection Department pretty much every spare minute I have.

Anytime I’m not at school, I’m there,” Gamble said.

Nadine Wenig, Gamble’s mother, said, “She spends all spare time at the fire house and when [she’s] at home, she is reading fire training books.”

Gamble says she trains for a variety of things, including entering a burning building and search and rescue.

“At West Overland, I actually respond to the 911 calls with the firefighters, so I’m either on the fire truck or I’m on the ambulance,” she said.

Currently, Gamble isn’t allowed to go inside a structure fire, but she can help by working the hose outside and helping the medics in the ambulance.

Though she’s more comfortable now, Gamble admits she was once a little nervous around fires.

“A lot of things scared me, but I was able to overcome them. When I was little I was scared of blood and I would pass out if I saw it, but the first time I walked into the Fire Department I saw a lot of blood and it didn’t phase me at all. I wanted to impress the on-duty men and women. I wanted to show them that I can do this,” Gamble said.

Mark Wilson, Captain and Medical Officer at the West Overland Fire Protection Department, said, “Dalton may not

always like the task she is given, but she always accomplishes the goal at hand.

She knows her firefighting teammates are relying on her at all times.”

Although Gamble can handle the pressure now, she never thought she would actually be a firefighter.

“I talked to the Chief of West Overland one day and he told me that I should come on a ride, just to check it out,” she explained.

After that day, Gamble knew she wanted to become a firefighter.

Now, Gamble said she has great respect for the men and women on duty.

“They are amazing at their jobs. They did everything perfectly and I stood there and watched them work and I fell in love with it instantly.”

“Dalton is a hard working individual who takes pride in her work and wants to be the best at what she does. She never settles for mediocricy within herself.

She strives for excellence at all times, no matter how hard the task may be.

She is truly dedicated to the job and all that it entails, the glamorous and not so glamorous, the fun and exciting and the boring and monotonous,” Wilson said.

Wenig agreed and said that her daughter has gained the respect of the fire-medics from her hard-working attitude.

Even though Gamble puts a lot of her effort into training and firefighting, she doesn’t lose sight of schoolwork.

“The firefighters take my schooling very seriously,” she said. “They tell me to sit down and do my homework when I’m at the firehouse. One of the firemen is my chemistry tutor, so we sit at the kitchen table and battle over chemistry.

They just want me to succeed in every way possible, not just the firehouse.”

“We never have to tell her to do her homework. School, grades and going the extra mile are important to Dalton,” Wenig said.

Sophomore Dalton Gamble spends all the spare time she has at the firehouse.

Amid all the duties she has to do when she’s there, she loves what she does and the people she works with. (Photo courtesy of Dalton Gamble) After high school, Gamble will continue helping people through firefighting.

At 18 she plans to apply to the St. Louis Fire Academy and get her fire license.

She also wants to get her EMT license, which allows her to work more in the ambulances.

Gamble admires the men and women who made her into the strong firefighter she is today.

“My favorite thing about firefighting is the relationship I have with the on-duty men and women. Everything goes back to them,” she said. “They train me in every way possible and go over

everything. I go in and we have a 911 call and they’re training me during it. I’m not just standing on the outskirts.”

“Dalton is equally concerned with the well-being of others as much she is with her own. She has a natural propensity to help others and she has a true giving spirit. This kind of self-sacrifice is what is expected of everyone who calls themselves a firefighter and it is a rare and unique trait, that which our ‘sister’ Dalton possesses,” Wilson said.

“It’s not something you do. It’s something you are. I love every minute of it,” Gamble said.

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Around The World

In 16 Years

Diz prepares to move to China; reflects on past homes katherine blackstone

reporter

After living in two foreign countries, sophomore Carolina Diz is moving this summer to the other side of the world to start a new life in China.

“I’m excited about going, but at the same time I’m sad I’m leaving here. I’m ready to enter a new life, a new culture and to learn new things,” she said.

Diz has had experience living in foreign countries before, living up in Argentina and having lived in France before moving here in 2006.

“My dad’s job requires him to move a lot, pretty much all over the world,” Diz said.

Because of this, Diz and her parents will spend her last two years of high school in China.

Diz is preparing for the move by learning Mandarin Chinese. She is already fluent in French and Spanish, but Chinese offers a different challenge.

Diz said, “I have a tutor at home. She comes every week to teach me and it’s a very difficult language.”

“At least French, Spanish and English all have the basic Latin roots, but Chinese is completely different, with all the characters and how to pronounce it,” she added.

Diz also faces the problem of keeping up with friends, as most social networking websites are blocked in China.

“First, I heard Facebook was blocked and I got scared, but my dad said there’s a program you can buy from the U.S. that

At the age of 4, sophomore Carolina Diz visits Patagonia, Argentina with her family. She visited Patagonia many times before moving and saw various wildlife including these Magellanic Penguins. (Photo courtesy of Daniela Diz) allows you to use Facebook, so I’ll be using that. If that doesn’t work, I’ll use email. And I’ll be back to visit,” she said.

Despite the communication problems, Diz’s friends are very supportive of her move.

“I’m going to miss her so much. I know it’ll be an awesome experience for her, but I’ll miss my best friend,” sophomore Molly Garrett said.

Sophomore Danielle Christian agreed. “I think it’ll be really cool and

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different, but also difficult to learn everything. But I know she’ll be able to pick up everything quickly.”

Diz also travels often with her family around the world and has visited 18 different countries.

“I haven’t been to Argentina for a while, but I love to go back there and visit my grandparents and my cousins.

It’s always a fun time together,” she said.

Diz is eager to continue to travel and explore more when she gets older.

“I think it’s very interesting how the people think and where their culture is derived from,” she said. “Everyone is so different in every country.”

Diz doesn’t believe adjusting to life in China will be too difficult because of her previous moves to France and the U.S. “I’m ready to learn and I think it’s really fun to learn about the different cultures,” she said. “[In China] I have to understand it fully before I can live it out.

I’m very excited.”

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In Foreign

mckayla treat

Territory jessica zadoks

campus editor you’ve got the split between Lafayette and Marquette. I think we’re pretty similar so that’s probably why [we’re rivals]; we’re on the same level.”

Junior Sam Brown added, “We grew up together. You want to beat your friends.”

When I asked about stereotypes of Marquette, Kreitman said, “They kind of think we’re the rich West County kids but it’s not really like that. We’re just normal kids. People think we’re mean sometimes but we’re not, we just get into our sports.”

Brown shared that sentiment, saying, “I think we’re the ‘normal’ school. A lot of schools are great at one thing, we’re just average. Like Lafayette is great at basketball and Eureka’s great at football. Marquette is good at everything but not great at any one thing.”

Interestingly enough, many students had similar things to say about Lafayette. Senior Mitch Hollander said, “Lafayette is just a lot of rich kids who really don’t like us. And all the guys wear khaki shorts and half-calf socks.”

I objected to that one; he then gave me several examples of people he knew. I shut my mouth after that.

They then brought up another point. “Isn’t Lafayette more concerned with dueling Eureka now? So you guys rival-broke up with us.” junior Mary Baker said.

I explained that nobody needed to get their feelings hurt; we have plenty of energy to devote to beating both Marquette and Eureka.

To round off the list of stereotypes, Jung said, “I think that there are a few different perceptions. You guys are the rich kids. You have the nicer building and the nicer parking lot. You have nicer everything.”

In fact, many students shared gripes with me about their building.

Baker said, “We have construction on every corner.”

Jung explained, “They’re adding onto the library. That’s supposed to be completed by the end of next year. I know earlier this year they did a new staircase. There’s also some construction going on over by the fields.”

And walking around the building, I can tell you that they weren’t exaggerating. Hallways were boarded up and blocked off, and there seemed to be many places that forbade student entrance.

Marquette also has specific staircases labeled for going up and down.

Jung said, “We have up only and down only to make sure that things don’t get too crazy. It’s to make sure that people aren’t running each other over. If you try to go down an up staircase or up a down staircase, it’s usually pretty difficult to get anywhere and you’ll get yelled at by an administrator.”

All in all, I found that Marquette was surprisingly similar to our own school; lots of driven students, lots of competitive athletes and lots of stuff going on everywhere you turn.

I think Kreitman summed it up best. She said, “Why can’t we be friends? Lafayette’s a great school; bring it on.”

Among rumors, rivalries and stereotypes, three reporters spent a day at another Rockwood school to confront the differences and discover what makes each school unique.

I was given the opportunity to visit Eureka High School to see what it is like to be a Wildcat.

My first impression of the school was muddled by a confusing parking lot. The lot is split up into several smaller lots, so it took me nearly five minutes to find the visitor parking spaces.

I decided to remove my Lafayette parking pass, fearing someone may see it and take out rivalry angers on my car. However, after meeting students from the school, I realize that was probably unnecessary, considering everyone I met was pleasant and most people understood why I was invading their school.

Some people thought I was “stealing secrets”, but I reassured them I was there just to compare and contrast our two schools.

When I walked through the front doors, one of the first things I noticed was the difference in the lockers. Most of the lockers are half size, similar to the ones most people had in middle school. Some, however, are full length but very narrow. The seniors get the full length lockers and all underclassmen get half lockers.

I was told most students do not use their lockers, partly due to their size, but also because there is no time to get to them between classes.

EHS is a very large school, and it is all on one level, excluding the math classrooms which are in a random second story hallway.

At one point, the girl I was shadowing, senior Hannah Wischmeier, had a class in the science hallway followed by a class in the math hall.

These two hallways are on completely opposite sides of the school. Passing periods are six minutes, just as they are at LHS. Despite this, we were late to her math class, but the teacher did not count us tardy because teachers understand the school is spread out.

Despite the large size of the school and the fact that it is very spread

Rockwood Summit

grace bueckendorf

Marquette

On April 27, I crossed over enemy lines. I stowed my Lafayette parking pass in the glove compartment and pulled into the Marquette parking lot.

What stood out was the school’s monumental size.

Driving down Clarkson Road, it’s hard to miss, but I’d never quite realized just how much ground the school covers. Walking into the school to meet junior Melissa Jung, the girl I was shadowing for the day, I was both anxious and excited.

The first thing I encountered was the bridge connecting the gym area and the rest of the school. A point of pride to many Marquetters, it was bragged about to me by a couple different people throughout the day. And yeah, it’s really cool.

The giant glass windows, not only allow for a great view, but also make the area a nice warm temperature, something that many appreciate. Not unlike Lafayette students, fluctuating building temperatures are a favorite complaint. I guess we all have that in common.

Academically, Marquette seemed the same. I went to two AP classes, where students were reviewing for the impending AP exams and then several more classes that overall made up a schedule very similar to the average Lafayette student’s.

I learned about the properties of waves in physics, reviewed my knowledge of the British legal system in AP Government, and got utterly lost and confused in French 3.

During that class, two girls from MHS TV came calling to interview a student. I followed close behind with my camera and recorder in hand.

They explained that every Friday a student-run newscast plays on classroom TVs at the beginning of 3rd Hour. Junior Megan Kreitman, MHS TV student, said, “We mostly cover sports or different clubs; anything that’s going on that week during school.”

Most people I encountered were more than willing to share their views on my school.

However, wary of my recorder, the majority of initial reactions to my questions were things like, “I don’t want to insult you,” or, “Is this really going in the paper?” and my personal favorite, “Can I use profanity?”

However when I asked why they hated Lafayette so much, I got a lot of awkward silence and shifty eyes and more than one, “We just do.”

Jung said, “A lot of people went to Crestview and then

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campus editor

Going into Rockwood Summit High School, I had no idea what to expect. It's on the opposite end of the district, and while I've heard stereotypes and stories, I know those are oftentimes inflated and untrue.

As I drove up the long driveway to the school, the first thing that caught my eye was the building. RSHS is a young school, and it showed.

The front of the building, a glass box, was shiny and much more updated than our own simple brick façade.

And when I walked in, the inside matched the outsidenew and shiny. The ceiling of the entrance seemed limitless. And then I was nervous.

Looking out at all the new faces, it hit me. I was the new girl—and not just the ordinary new girl. Armed with a recorder, notepad and camera, I hit the halls ready to interview and record every experience.

Since it was an unfamiliar setting, I couldn't find the office. So I circled the Commons more than a couple of times until my friendly guide, junior Taylor Strader, came.

She welcomed me eagerly and led me over to a table of faces that all looked unfamiliar. After being asked if I was an 8th Grader (and answering in the negative), she led me off to the Auditorium for AP Registration.

RSHS is a smaller school. Since there are fewer than 1,500 students, the whole school seemed more spacious without the hustle-bustle and traffic jams common in our halls.

At AP Registration, the same routine I had sat through a week previous was repeated, and when everyone was finished I had an opportunity to interview several unsuspecting students.

They were quick to assure me they weren't poor and 'hick-ish' as

stereotypes may suggest, but then asserted some stereotypes of my own school that I've never heard of.

For example, junior Jaime Staengel exclaimed when she first saw me, “Another tall person! Your school's so much taller than Summit!"

This was her explanation for her belief that LHS is better at sports.

Still on the subject of sports, junior Nicole Sparks said she preferred not to buy into any of the stereotypes even though she does admit that we are major sports competitors, and that much of the animosity between the schools stems from that.

"I just want to clear up that we're not all poor," Sparks said.

She explained just like any school, there are richer and poorer neighborhoods.

I didn't even know that was a stereotype of RSHS. I also learned Lafayette is the labeled the 'rich kid' school, and that, although they disliked their stereotype of being poor, they followed the stereotype that I was rich.

The rest of the day went on in much of the same way as I sat through class after class.

Since it was the day of the Academic Pep Assembly, the schedule was shortened, and rather than holding class on such a hectic day, many teachers opted to have study halls instead.

Because of this, Strader was able to give me a tour of the school instead of sitting through her English class.

I sat through precalculus where I not only learned about limits, but also how to do the “sock bun” the teacher was currently wearing, in addition to all of her previous hairstyles for the week.

Then, I sat through newspaper, where they were making their music video for viewing at the banquet, dancing funny dances and making funny faces in the spirit of tradition.

We do not have anything like that at Lafayette, so it was interesting to see age-old traditions from a different school.

History was next where the substitute teacher contemplated all aspects of extra-terrestrial life and what the consequences would be if

out, I was still able to find my way around by the end of the day.

The clocks at EHS are analog clocks, where the clocks at LHS are digital. This may seem like a small difference, yet it makes a big impact in some classes.

Each classroom has a different clock, and they are not all in sync.

Students do not pack up early, teachers continue to teach until the bell rings and no one complains about it. It is just the norm.

Also, teachers are fairly relaxed and chill. During AP U.S. History, we were learning about the fact that men could be exempt from the draft during war time if they are injured. At that moment, a student walked past in the hallway carrying crutches.

Everyone laughed and the guy carrying the crutches came in to the classroom and talked with everyone for a few minutes. The teacher did not seem to mind and it provided a funny and ironic aspect to the class.

While in classes and at lunch, I had the chance to ask students about their school and what they think about LHS. Some people in Rockwood call Eureka the “hick” school, and they are aware of it.

“Eureka is known as the farm school and I don’t know where that came from. If you look around you don’t see people walking around in cowboy hats, boots and flannel shirts. You probably see the same things walking around Lafayette and Marquette,” senior Brendan Vogel said.

I found this to be true. Students don’t look or talk like farmers or hicks.

On the other hand, people told me about the stereotypes that people say about our school.

“The stereotype that is usually thrown around is snobby and rich. And I know from personal experience that’s not always true because I have a bunch of friends that went to Lafayette and they’re all super nice. Really Lafayette is just more towards the nicer neighborhoods but there’s really no difference at all,” Wischmeier said.

In general, there are assumptions made about each school, but most of them are not true. Despite these stereotypes, students at EHS take pride in their school, just as students at LHS take pride in our school.

Eureka we actually found it.

I found this class very interesting and unlike anything I have ever experienced. He brought up many good points that I had never even considered.

Overall, the day was an interesting and memorable one, but my main focus going there was comparing it to my tenure at Lafayette.

The academic climate of RSHS was extraordinarily different.

For example, it was considered almost suicidal to be enrolled in three AP classes at the same time. At Lafayette, it is commonplace to have at least four-- andmore than that is not even close to unheard of.

At Lafayette, it almost becomes a competition of each student’s number of AP classes, but RSHS seemed to take pride in even a few. It’s not a negative thing (in fact, it seems healthier), but it is very different from the climate at Lafayette.

In comparison to the stereotypes of RSHS being overall poorer and, as Nicole put it, more 'hick-ish,' I found the people at RSHS were much the same as Lafayette.

They're interested in school, friends and being successful- basically, they're just ordinary high school students like those at Lafayette.

All in all, Lafayette and RSHS are similar, but like any pair of two schools, they have their differences.

However, both schools are academically motivated, have good sports programs and overall, are great schools.

Strader also paid a visit to Lafayette. For her personal story, check out:

lhsimage.com

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May 18, 2012 10 sports Depth has Lancers on track for State gian wessel

sports editor

Every so often, a team has a season when everything goes right and winning becomes a habit. Both Lafayette track teams are having that kind of season.

Together the boys and girls teams have combined to win 11 of 15 meets.

Boys head coach Matt Warren attributes this to his team’s depth, because track requires all-around success.

“We had a lot of kids [come] out this year and we have a lot of excitement, so the recruiting process went well.

We have talent in running, jumping and throwing which allows us to win,” Warren said.

He added that seniors Chris Caldwell [2011 State champion, 110-meter hurdles] and Chris Orange help by earning points in nearly every sprint race.

“That’s huge because you can count on them [to place high] and they also run relays, too,” Warren said.

Including Conference, the Lancers have dominated the competition by winning seven of their first eight meets.

In the meet they didn’t win, they finished second in the Dale Collier Invitational where Caldwell and Orange didn’t run in

the 110-meter hurdles.

“I’ve been coaching track for 15 years and this is probably one of the best teams I’ve ever been around. Nobody’s selfish and everybody works hard and that’s what it takes to win meets. We went into the season preaching ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,’” Warren said.

The Lady Lancers have been impressive by winning four of their first seven meets, including Conference on May 4.

“Girls track has done this more than once, but we haven’t won Conference in three years, so that was a major feat for the girls,” Coach Rick Voss said, “We’re a team but each individual has to come prepared to do their best. Track is a very unique sport in that regard.”

The Lady Lancers have also had strong seasons from individuals like senior Patricia Miller.

She has posted top local times in the 200-meter, 400-meter, triple jump and was part of the 4x400-meter relay team that broke the school record on May 4.

“It takes determination, I guess that’s it. We all go in positive…it takes practice and hard work. Our Monday workouts are tough but they get us where we need

to be,” Miller said.

After a first place finish for boys and third place finish for girls at the District Meet May 12, both teams will send athletes on to Sectionals May 19 at Poplar Bluff High School.

(Above) Senior Chris Caldwell runs a 110-meter hurdles race at Conference on May 5. (Right) Senior Patricia Miller competes at Districts on May 12. (Photos by Gian Wessel and Max Thoman)

the

2012 Summer Olympics bring Team USA fans together claire norfleet

reporter

With the 2012 London Olympics rapidly approaching, students at Lafayette share their love and support for Team USA and one star athlete dreams to someday be a part of the worldwide competition.

The much anticipated Team USA basketball team will be a little shorthanded this year, with the absence of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (back) and Chicago Bulls reigning MVP Derrick Rose (ACL).

Senior Abdullah Sufi has always been a huge fan of the NBA but isn’t too worried about the injured stars.

“I believe the team won’t struggle as much as everyone thinks because there are so many great point guards that can fill in for Rose, but they might

struggle a little on the low block without Howard,” Sufi said.

He and his dad loved watching the Bulls in the late 90s when his family moved to the United States.

Sufi added, “It’s kind of fun for me to watch my favorite players through their whole career as I get older. I’ve been a Tim Duncan fan since second grade.”

While Sufi and many other fans of the Olympics enjoy watching the events from their own homes, some have dreams of being a part of Team USA. Senior Chris Caldwell is a member of the Lafayette track team and displays his incredible talent during every meet.

Caldwell hopes to be a member of the 2016 Olympic Team and participate in the 110-meter high hurdles and run a 4x400 meter event.

“I decided to pursue that dream when I watched my first one on TV in 2004 and I fell in love with the hurdle races because it’s one of the most technical events,” said Caldwell.

Due to the height limits of the

hurdle events in the 2012 London Olympics, Caldwell was unable to participate.

Caldwell added, “I have an opportunity to make the USA World Junior team. It’s like an Olympics for 18 and 19 year olds and younger, which is also huge.”

The anticipation of the 2012 Summer Olympics has Sufi and other supporters of the USA filled with excitement. But having to sit back and watch the events has Caldwell motivated to be a part of history in the years to come.

For senior swimmer Lucas Bruder, the Olympics are not a part of his dream, but he still enjoys watching the events.

“In the Olympics, you see what new stroke techniques are being used and have the chance to try out those adjustments and see how they work,” Bruder said.

The Olympics provide a wide variety of events that can apply to anyone’s interests, and the excitement brings Team USA supporters together.

sports 11 2012 Summer Olympics A Quick Glimpse

-Games will take place in London from July 27- Aug. 12 -USA Basketball team coaching staff includes Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim -NBC sports network will show all USA team events -The London Olympics will be the 30th Olympiad -England is the first country to host the modern Olympics three times -181 countries have qualified at least one athlete -There will be 26 different sports and 39 events -For the first time ever there will be Women’s Boxing -In this year’s summer Olympics baseball and softball were dropped from the agenda -The Olympic Committee had to get special dispensation for the shooting events, otherwise they would have been ruled illegal by the UK’s gun laws

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May 18, 2012

‘Old school’ meets new school

Students form croquet league for the summer dylan corbet

reporter

Baseball and basketball headline the most popular sports to play during summer; however, freshman Brett Boggs has different plans.

Boggs has recently formed his very own summer croquet league for anyone who wants to join.

Already a two-sport athlete, Boggs decided adding croquet to his repertoire wouldn’t be so difficult.

“I was talking with my friend in the middle of one of our baseball games and the idea just hit me,” Boggs said.

The league consists of 13 two-man teams competing in a round robin tournament, and the number of players joining is steadily increasing each day as the league’s popularity grows.

“It’s always fun to gather and compete in a physical activity, especially croquet,” sophomore Joey Morando said.

Croquet is a recreational lawn game involving hitting plastic balls through hoops, also called wickets.

Sophomore Luke Pidcock, who was one of the first teams to join the league, expressed his excitement to get involved with such a unique sport.

“Playing in this league is going to be awesome. It’s an honor to be one of the first teams to join this league and I’m just going to go out and give it my all,” Pidcock said.

A common theme associated with croquet is its classiness, which is an aspect of the sport Boggs greatly appreciates and is willing to keep intact.

Boggs made it clear there is a strict dress code for participants, consisting of a lax penny, pastel shorts and dress socks.

“I am very passionate about croquet, it brings out the classiness in me,” Boggs went on to say.

Many of the participants are also eager to demonstrate their ability at croquet, and more importantly, win first place in the round robin tournaments.

“I consider myself a pretty smart player when it comes to croquet. I expect nothing less than first place in these tournaments.” Morando said.

The tournaments will start up after the school year ends and will take place every Tuesday at the Boggs residence.

Sophomore Stephen Johnson said, “It’s going to be a lot of fun, we have a great head of the program in Brett Boggs and I just feel like the league is going to be insanely classy.”

Recreational sports such as wiffleball seem to be most popular amongst teenagers, but Johnson feels that croquet won’t be that far behind after this summer.

“It’s really exciting to see the great sport of croquet being brought back,” Johnson said.

Attention Seniors - Juniors Spring2011 2011 Fall

Spring 2012 one-on-one

ACT/SAT Tutoring Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 for appointments Tuesday/Thursday evenings or Saturday/Sunday afternoons

www.JackArnold.org

the

staff editorial

Students unaware of privacy policies on social networking sites, posting personal information As teenagers, it is our job to communicate, and in this “New Age” of technology, the ways we communicate have made some drastic changes.

Email has replaced the Post Office and texting has taken over phone calls.

Communication is no longer as personal as it use to be and almost everything is online, making it quicker and more readily accessible.

But how about the disadvantages of having almost everything online?

All of your personal information is now just a click away from someone you barely know.

When you click accept to someone’s friend request on Facebook, you are accepting that they now have access to your personal information.

Sure, there is not much someone

can do with your favorite books and the kind of music you listen to.

But how about your phone number, the school you go to and where you work?

What if someone named Suzy Harriston sent you a friend request?

You check out her profile and see that she is friends with many of the people you go to school with, so you accept.

But what you dont know could hurt you.

Suzy Harriston is a fake profile allegedly created by Clayton High School Principal, Dr. Louise Losos.

Losos is accused of creating the fake profile so that she could spy on her students.

We are not saying that you should watch out for Assistant Principal Matt

Dieckhaus creating a fake profile in order to spy on you, but rather, we mean to warn you that anyone, even those you don't expect, can use the internet and social networking sites in order to find out your personal information.

And even if you do, pay close attention to who you accept as your friend on Facebook.

Your personal information can still be easily accessible to complete strangers and you may not even know it.

New Facebook apps such as Viddy and Socialcam allow you to watch videos on Facebook.

But if you are not careful and check the privacy settings, every video you watch is shown to everyone you are friends with.

More and more employers are searching through social networking sites just for these reasons.

And now, the privacy settings on Facebook are changing constantly.

In fact, from March 2010 to August 2011, Facebook made eight different changes that affect privacy settings.

In March 2010, a change was made allowing third party access to any profile data.

And, in January 2011, third-party applications were given access to public addresses and phone numbers.

If you are not careful with what you make accessible online, you could find yourself in trouble.

So remember, keep your personal information personal, and if someone named Suzy Harriston ever sends you a friend request, DO NOT accept.

Graduation leads to personal reflection on accomplishments, missed opportunities

Unfiltered Sarah Greenlee

Most columnists desire to be original and unique when coming up with a column idea.

They want their audience to have an epiphany while reading the column, or feel like the column's main idea is a brilliant and insightful one.

But, looking back on the past four years here, I don’t have a whole lot more insight than anyone else would. I don’t have some great revelation to spit out.

What I do know, though, is that I wish I had appreciated my time more in high school.

Yes, I’m excited to be graduating, but I can’t help feeling as though there’s a lot I’ve missed out on.

There are so many things I

never did while I was in school.

I didn’t join any art clubs or even take any art classes for that matter.

I never got into any community service projects and I never tutored anyone even though I was more than capable of it.

Instead, I joined Marching Band and that took up so much time that I didn’t have time for really anything else. I spent about 15 hours every week either at rehearsal or performing at events with the band.

And as much fun as it was, I didn’t have time to enrich my high school career with diverse experiences.

By choosing to become totally involved in such a demanding program, I, in turn,

gave up so much.

If that had been my only interest, I’d have no regrets, but I enjoy doing so many different things that I feel as if I mismanaged how I filled my free time.

Not only did I miss out on in-school activities, but there are a lot of typical high school experiences I’ve just never been able to experience.

And at some point, you have to accept that once you’re done with high school, you’re just too old to still have those experiences.

Being a teenager is a chance for us to screw up and make stupid decisions and still have a chance to fix them.

Our parents are here to help us and guide us now, whereas

in a few years, we’ll have to be fully responsible for our own actions.

High school is the best time to take leaps and experiment with trying all kinds of things.

I realized I’d have much rather tried new things and failed at them than not done anything at all.

So, while you’re in high school, realize that you only have these short four years to do what you want while still having a safety net.

These four years go by in an instant, so don’t hesitate to do as many things as you can while you’re here.

When you look back, feel like you couldn’t have had a better high school experience.

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May 18, 2012

Stories, legends graduate with Class of 2012 as a new era begins Well, we’ve come to the end.

For seniors, it’s the time of year for planning, for memories, for pictures and for family.

But most of all, it’s the time for lasts-the last half day of high school, the last school spirit dress-up day, the last time you’ll eat lunch at those tables in the Commons.

And for me, the last column.

As the Lifestyle Editor for the Image, I spent a lot of time looking for stories.

For columns, this would be anything that made me mad or caught my attention.

But for the Lifestyle section, this would be the stories of memorable events and especially the stories of individual students.

I’ve written about extraordinary acts by these students, who’ve excelled in overcoming personal problems (like anorexia), set and achieved high goals (like running marathons and starting businesses) and participated in amazing events (like an outdoor throwback hockey game, the first in Lafayette’s

Take a Minute

Hannah Boxerman

history).

And that’s what makes our school unique. Everyone here has a story.

Off the top of my head, I can think of dozens of these stories.

Students here are known for their skills, eccentric activities, leadership,

resilience and more.

Students whose stories we’ve explored in the Image have overcome disease, created charitable organizations and excelled in both athletics and academics.

Collectively, these stories come together to form the crazy, enthusiastic and talented Class of 2012.

The Class of 2012 is not afraid to be themselves, and resolutely so.

And as long as they were themselves, with all of the passion and zeal that being yourself entails, we were here to make them noticed.

As the Class of 2012 heads off into the future, scattered every which way, my wish for you is to take your story with you, into college or the military or the workforce, wherever you may go.

And for the Classes of 2013, 2014 and 2015, be ready to come into your own.

Because the next crop of Image writers are waiting and ready to write your story.

Thanks for a great year.

Volunteering opens eyes about taking simple choices for granted and helping others Soup or salad? Soup or salad?

It used to be such a trivial question to me.

Choosing one or the other never even caused the slightest quiver of judgment, or the slightest bead of sweat.

Either way I’d end up full. Either way I’d end up happy. Either way I’d end up warm.

But as I posed the question to helpless strangers, I couldn’t help but notice its actual significance to them. Soup or salad?

This, like many other questions, caused them more discomfort, more concern than many others.

They were faced with a meal tonight—this wasn’t always the case.

They had to make the right call.

It made them sweat.

As they thought, I offered a consolatory smile—a slight, comforting grin that I had engendered to display comfort, to show them that they had all the time in the world.

I was going to be there all day. I—like them, and yet, vastly unlike them—had nowhere to go.

Eventually, each of them arrived at a decision: soup or salad. I doled out both with a large plastic ladle with a green handle onto tan trays that seemed as though they had lasted since the days when they served baby boomers.

A small boy was next in line, followed by a woman—presumably his mother— who was missing the majority of her

On the Contrary Max Thoman

teeth and hair. Both grinned as they shuffled down to me.

“Soup or salad?” I asked.

The boy furrowed his brow, thinking hard. He was hungry, that was for sure, but was he in the mood for his favorite chicken noodle, or was he craving his mother’s praise for choosing the healthier salad.

His stomach won out—“SOUP!” he shouted as an even bigger, beaming grin emerged from his lips. His mother rolled her eyes.

“He’ll have the salad,” she said, dousing her child’s excitement, though she was just looking out for his well-being.

But as he walked away with his head hung low, I made sure to give him helpings of both. Everyone deserves soup

and salad…everyone should be happy and full.

A simple choice for me is a serious point for those in shelters.

Eating isn’t a right, it isn’t a guarantee…it’s a privilege. It’s luck.

But here, I feel like we all want something.

Right now, it’s the same thing—some storybook ending to the year, some great sitcom finale.

One where we walk out of a deserted room for the last time, look back longingly to a past we never relished in, but that will always define us, switch off the light and sentimentally move on.

One where we meet all the faces from that year, where we wryly exchange smiles and somehow find the perfect final words to sum up this chapter of our lives.

And we can want. We have this privilege because there’s a sense of safety and security that surrounds us.

And we crave it.

But for those in the shelter, there is no such thing as safety or closure.

There’s only tomorrow and what that might bring.

It makes you think existentially and, in the end, arrive at the fact that they’ve taught me so much: the value of a dollar, the importance of loved ones, the significance of life’s every day moments and the value of a choice.

Even if it’s just between soup and salad.

stars & gripes Stars To:

• Dress code rumors being false. Luckily, the one good thing about going to a public school is not being taken away from us.

• The dance-off at Prom, won by senior Tom Unruh. No word yet on whether Dancing With the Stars has called.

• Seniors leaving before everyone else, meaning teachers get an extra week to get through to students without the force-field of senioritis.

• President Barack Obama for speaking out in favor of gay marriage. The government has better things to do than decide who people can marry.

• The Community Service class for raising nearly $200, bringing us that much closer to knocking out cancer. What a great idea for a great cause.

Gripes To:

• The passing of MCA from the Beastie Boys and Dick Clark. The music industry lost two greats who both inspired their generations.

• End-of-year finals, the only thing with better curves than Jennifer Lopez.

• A Clayton High School principal allegedly creating a fake Facebook profile to spy on students. Shouldn’t there be an age limit for Facebook?

• The incredibly high standards of cleanliness for our lockers at the end of the year. That mark has been there since 1990. It’s not going anywhere.

Keep Up! @lhsimage lhsimage.com

Keep In Touch!

Bring letters to the editor to Room 137A or comment on lhsimage.com

the

Picks of the Month

Reporter Brendan Donahue gives his top picks for May

Movie:

Chernobyl Diaries

Set in the abandoned city of Pripyat in the Ukraine, this horror flick is directed by Oren Peli who produced the Paranormal Activity movies.

The film follows six tourists who go explore the town and area where the plant workers of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion lived, despite the many warnings posted.

The area was evacuated due to concerns of nuclear radiation effects. After a short time, the group becomes stranded, only to discover they’re not the only beings in the town.

It opens nationwide in theaters on May 25.

TV Show:

Album:

Event:

Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan offers a never before seen view into the lives of a Navy EOD team.

Cameras follow Navy EOD Mobile Unit 3, part of Platoon 342, while on a deployment to Afghanistan.

An EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) Unit is responsible for taking care of any explosives found or placed by the enemy.

New episodes air Tuesday evenings on G4.

Seven-time Grammy award winner John Mayer is set to release his fifth solo studio album on May 22.

Titled Born and Raised, it will set a new direction for the songwriter. The new record is produced by Don Was (B.B. King, Rolling Stones) and contains 12 tracks, featuring other contributing artists throughout.

On July 5, the 18th annual Vans Warped Tour makes its stop in St. Louis at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

This year’s Main Stage bands include All Time Low, Falling In Reverse, Four Year Strong, Miss May I, Of Mice & Men, Pierce the Veil, Rise Against, Taking Back Sunday, The Used, We the Kings and Yellowcard. There will be seven stages including an acoustic stage.

Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan

John Mayer—Born and Raised

Warped Tour

Book:

Point of Impact

Point of Impact is an action novel written in 1993 by awardwinning author, Stephen Hunter.

The story follows Bob Lee Swagger, a former Vietnam sniper who gets framed for an assassination from within the government. Swagger commits his life to receiving absolution for the crime.

Point of Impact spawned the 2007 film Shooter starring Mark Wahlberg.

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May 18, 2012

sweetthings

Variety of area fro-yo, custard options offer tasty treats as summer begins alex lamar

reporter

With so many names and logos in the frozen treat business, it can be hard to chose which will best satisfy the need for taste, atmosphere and availability. This month, the Image takes a look at the most popular frozen yogurt and frozen custard shops in the area in search of the best.

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Orange Leaf exhibits many superior qualities such as the largest flavor selection (14) and most appealing atmosphere. Its impression is artfully composed of modern design, luxurious indoor seating, desktop computers available for public use and available outdoor seating.

Not to mention that all of Orange Leaf’s great flavor options contain either low fat, or no fat, which means that calorie-counters can enjoy their frozen goodness at ease. This, paired with the beautiful atmosphere, puts Orange Leaf at the top of the list as the number one frozen treat shop in the West County area.

Location: 15877 Fountain Plaza Dr, Chesterfield, MO Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. / Friday-Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

When it comes to taste, Sheridan’s Frozen Custard reigns superior. Equipped with a drive-thru, it is definitely the best choice for getting frozen custard to-go. Not only does Sheridan’s offer signature concretes, milkshakes, cones and sundaes, but ice cream cakes, floats and soda as well. There is no indoor seating, which may pose a problem for those attempting to escape the Missouri summer heat. An appealing aspect of Sheridan’s atmosphere is its pet-friendliness.

Small free ice cream cones, or “puppy cones” as they call them, are available to those who bring a canine companion with them during their frozen dessert run.

Location: 155 Hilltown Village Center, Chesterfield, MO Hours: Monday – Friday: 7– 10 p.m. / Saturday – Sunday: noon – 10 p.m.

With 12 available flavors, indoor and outdoor seating, modern design, and traditional topping bar, Twist follows the same pattern as most frozen yogurt shops in the area. It tastes great, but it is also nothing unique.

The main reason that Twist finds itself rated below Orange Leaf and Sheridan’s is mostly due to its staff and location. The place was not very populated due to its poor location and even with such a shortage of inhabitants, the workers still found a way to ignore every customer in the shop as best as they could.

Location: 2432 Taylor Road, #5 Wildwood, MO Hours: Sunday – Thursday: noon – 9 p.m. / Friday – Saturday: noon – 10:30 p.m.

Similar to Sheridan’s, Silky’s Custard offers cones, sundaes, floats, concretes and soda along with a few “featured” sundaes and concretes. There is a drive-thru, but no indoor or outdoor seating whatsoever. This being said, what Silky’s lacks in establishment, it makes up for in quality.

Location: 16043 Manchester Road, Ellisville, MO Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. / Friday – Saturday: 11:30 a.m – 11 p.m.

Froyo ranks highest when it comes to customer service. There is a hand sanitizer station located by the serving bowls and a water cooler by the cash register for refreshment free of charge. There are 10 different flavors of frozen yogurt (all either low fat or no fat) and a fairly extensive topping bar.

Its quality does not exactly rise to the level of its adversaries, but it is still worth a try.

Its convenient location in one of the nation’s largest strip malls definitely does it justice; the shop is usually packed with locale, which can either come off as a warming sense of community or an annoying surrender of elbow room.

Location: 17408 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, MO Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. / Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11.p.m.