Issue 5 Liberty Ledger

Liberty Ledger

Volume 3 MAY 17, 2016

Turn to page 9 to take a closer look at Prom

ISSUE 5

Liberty’s First Prom

2 news

Liberty Ledger

MAY 17, 2016

Faking CERTain Death

Thespians participate in tornado reenactment ZOE FLESCHMAN The only noise heard is screaming.

Screaming for a friend, a sister, a teacher and a student. Sprawled across a field after a terrible accident lies an entire class, heavily injured. And saving the lives of this class was put in the arms of these students in training. Thankfully, it’s all fake, used in preparing our future doctors and help.

On April 9, this exercise was demonstrated using volunteers from our theatre team. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) gives a group of young teenagers a scenario and has several “extras” act out the scene with injuries they must treat.

Sophomore Connor Pisczek, who is an employee of the CERT, needed to recruit victims. He spoke to a member of our theatre club and they said that they’d love to participate. Pisczek was proud of the outcome of our participants.

“They were some of the best victims we’ve had,” Pisczek said. “They got really

into it and made it difficult for the workers to concentrate through the chaos. It was good. Really good.”

“The event went really well,” theatre teacher Ms. Shelton said. “It was interesting to see the comparison between our gore makeup and the way the company did theirs. It was a really great training because many of my students had realistic reactions.

My students had to learn how to develop a character in an impromptu manner.”

The victims’ injuries differed from terrible burns to spilled intestines. The victims were told what their injuries were and were then told whether they would survive or not. Then, they were thrown into the experience immediately causing them to have to think on their feet.

“I felt like it was real,” junior Dakota Barnett said, who had a severe injury that led to his death. “The workers did the best that they could for the situation they were in. They had about 21 serious injuries

photos by Zoe Fleschman Bottom Left: Ms. Shelton and Kennedy Hennessy cry in fear playing mother and daughter. Top Left: Julia Wolz and Abigail Klausen wait for help in fear.

Right: After being pronounced falsely dead, Dakota Barnett watches the world around him fall apart.

injuries, and they adapted to the stress of it all.”

The CERT does events like these frequently, but encourages people to try to take breaks in between. The intensity can be too much for some people.

Sophomore Julia Wolz had a rod coming out of her arm with severe bruising.

The director of the event told her and a few others to make the experience difficult for

Curtain Call

Hard work pays off for Trouble at the Talent Show cast emma rudolph If you ask any of the theatre students what they like most about being a part of theatre, they will all say it is like a family.

Their latest production, Trouble at the Talent Show, took almost four months to prepare and the hard work ended up being worth the effort. The photo by Emma Rudolph annual spring play debuted April The Lunch Ladies, Julia Wolz, Mykaela Reiland, Alyssa Fay and Abby Falgout sing their edition of Don’t Stop Believing for the talent show.

14. show, including the lunch ladies and janitors. One Preparation began with of the lunch ladies ends up getting poisoned from auditions in January and their challenging times her sister. along the way.

The environment in the theatre is something “Overall, everyone working together, and the fact that not everyone will be prepared at the same very special, according to cast members and other production workers. time and that you will have to deal with other “I wanted to try out for the play because it people and their pace,” Austyn Kloth said. “It’s the would be a new experience with new people and hardest part because you have to understand not I thought it would be a fun opportunity,” Sam everyone will be exactly like you.”

Clynes said. This was Clynes’ first play in high There was a tremendous amount of work school. She was nervous for the tryout, but Sam that went into the production with all the memorization, choreography, long daily rehearsals, was happy when she found out she had made it.

Kloth offers his advice for students interested but those are just some of the things drama in participating in a play. students are committed to.

“Be confident. Confidence is everything,” he Trouble at the Talent Show is about various said. “If you’re kind of frightened about standing groups and cliche “cliques” in high school. Of in front of people, you’re not going to notice it course, you’ll have the jocks, the popular girls and the grungies. They all participate in a school talent once you’re in character.”

the workers.

“I felt like my blood pressure was high,” Wolz said. “It was very intense. I was determined to be in critical condition, but I was left on my own. I thought the event was really cool, because it made us all think on our feet. It taught us all to be ready for anything.”

Safe and Sober

Juniors learn about the dangers of drinking OLIVIA HOLLER The Wentzville Fire Protection District and Safe & Sober Inc. put together an assembly to teach the students to be safe while at parties and making smart decisions on April 22, the day before juniors take on prom.

“We wanted to convey being safe and making good choices; no matter what you’re going to do, make a good choice and don’t make a choice that you are going to regret later or that will screw up your life,” Michael Scott said, who is Battalion Chief of Wentzville Fire Protection.

The Drama club acted out a skit and recreated a drunk driving car accident.

“It seemed really life like,” junior Katie Coyle said. “It was a typical high school scene so it really related to us.”

Juniors were informed that the car that was in the skit was from a real accident and they learned the story behind the accident. The fire department had mentioned that the person who was in the accident was a kid their age.

“It was pretty surprising, it was cool to hear about a real story, to know that this actually happens and it’s a real problem in our society today,” junior James Dotson said.

The assembly was an eye opener for many students and encouraged them to be safe and smart about their decisions. photo by Emma Rudolph Maria Hufford attempts to walk in a straight line showing the dangers of getting behind the wheel.

Liberty Ledger

Born to Toss

Winter Guard takes first at the MCCGA State Championships Jessica Gibson Winter Guard is tossing wins left and right.

On April 2, the Guard came home with a win at the state championship competition in Springfield, Mo. at Washington High School.

At the end of the day when it came down to the award ceremony, they were all holding hands in a line waiting for the announcer to announce first place. When they announced Liberty Guard, everyone started jumping and crying.

“I cried so hard my false eyelashes fell off,” said freshman Kayla Peters. “We were all in tears.”

The team left Friday, April 1 for

Photo submitted by Aria Ellis Winter Guard’s show this season was inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

News FCCLA and FBLA Students Bring Home the Gold

MAY 17, 2016

Springfield and competed that Saturday.

“We’ve competed in four or five competitions so far this year,” said sophomore Rylie Martin.

This year there are 12 members of Winter Guard: Bailee Hunt, Erica Lopez, Brianna Hill, Ashleigh Matthis, Aria Ellis, Bobbie McGlaughlin, Kayla Peters, Vicky Parkes, Rylie Martin, Hannah Jones, Jenna Fallert and Christian Tebeau.

Color Guard is the interpretation of music via the synchronized work of flags, sabres, rifles, the air blade and through dance.

“It’s a performing arts,” said Peters.

“It’s a way to express ourselves through dancing.”

It’s even a confidence booster for some students.

“Guard has helped me express who I am,” said sophomore Ashleigh Matthis.

Winter and Color Guard performs during the halftimes of mostly football and basketball games.

Winter Guard practices on almost everyday of the week from 5 to 9 and sometimes even on weekends. Halftime is their time, and the field is the stage.

3

FCCLA and FBLA students compete at the state level Maranda Flod

S

ophomore Claire Roberts took home a silver medal at the FCCLA state conference in late March.

To win this medal, Roberts Photo submitted by Mrs. competed against 2,000 Pizzo other high school students. She helped with a service project for homeless teen moms. She and the rest of FCCLA members traveled to Tan-Tar-A at the Lake of the Ozarks. Sponsor Ms. Pizzo was very happy and exited for Claire when she got called for first place.

“I was so excited. I felt like a proud mom,” Pizzo said.

T

wo of Liberty’s FBLA students placed at the state FBLA competition on April 26.

Nicholas Raphael took first in Advanced Photo submitted by Mr. Jarrett Accounting while Cameron Dierks placed second in Accounting 1.

“I was kind of nervous to go on stage, but I was very excited and happy for our school,” said Raphael.

To advance to state, Raphael and Dierks both had to take an accounting test.

“Taking accounting at Liberty has been a great experience and Mr. Jarrett is a great teacher,” Raphael said. Although Raphael can’t take anymore accounting classes because there are no more to offer, Dierks plans to take advanced accounting next year. Dierks was very happy for Raphael.

“I kind of knew he would win because I knew he was good and I’m happy for him,” Dierks said.

The competition was in Springfield Mo. and although Dierks wasn’t physically there, he still got second place. “I was expecting to do well, but not second place. It was a good finish,” Dierks said.

National Qualifiers Today, Medical Professionals Tomorrow Liberty HOSA students take the cake at state and 11 students to nationals Chasteanne SAlvosa While some students have no clue to their careers, others excel in their desired field. As early as their childhood, these students have learned about their interests and have even been recognized for their excellence in those interests.

That recognition came when 11 students placed first, second, and third at Missouri’s HOSA state conference, which was held on March 28-29 in Rolla.

The following students have been recognized as national qualifiers on Liberty’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) team: Alexis Kayser, Emily Gharabegi, Addison Donnell, Sami Childress, Colette Linden, Cameron Graham, Ben Collins, Daryn Adler, Alexis Guffey, Addison Haddock and Madison McGuire. All students were under the guidance of Mrs. Aydelott, Liberty’s HOSA sponsor.

The hard work that the team put in this year showed at state by sending 11 students to nationals.

“There’s definitely a correlation, the kids who worked really hard and took the initiative to ensure that they were prepared and knew what they were supposed to be

doing and rehearsed and practiced their events,” Aydelott said.

Students compete in various events that are made to test and challenge their knowledge and skill set. For example, students competing in clinical nursing may be asked to know how to hook up an oxygen tank to a patient while other events may be a challenging knowledge test or a presentation.

Students are continuing to practice and perfect their skills as nationals approach, which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee on June 22-25. These are skills that will carry on to most of the students’ dream careers, which are largely in the medical field.

“HOSA is a co-curricular club like DECA, for students interested in the healthcare field,” Mrs. Aydelott said.

With only one Project Lead The Way Biomedical teacher here at Liberty, HOSA is fully supervised by Mrs. Aydelott, who also organizes the state conference. In charge of registration, paperwork and running the entire show, Aydelott merely supervises the students, while they work hard at honing their healthcare skills.

Aspiring to be orthopedic surgeons, pediatric doctors, anesthesiologists and more, these students are preparing themselves for the future by enrolling in PLTW classes and participating in HOSA, for the pure eagerness to learn.

Sophomore Addison Haddock, whose dream is to work in the medical field, joined HOSA for its hands-on experience.

“It honestly feels amazing,” Haddock said. “I am doing this (HOSA) mostly for experience and just meeting all the new people. You feel proud of yourself and gain so much more knowledge just talking and bouncing ideas off of other people.”

The road to joining HOSA led even farther back for some students, whose love for the medical field stemmed from childhood, like junior Ben Collins.

“When I was younger, my parents always said, ‘Oh, you’re so smart, you should be a doctor.’ So I always kept that at the back of my mind and throughout middle school, I really liked my science classes. And because I was so big on science when I came into high school, I heard that PBS (Principles of Biomedical Science) was this huge medical science class that could

Photo provided by Daryn Adler

Eleven out of the 80 HOSA students would later place in the top 3 and qualify for nationals.

really get me learning about a future career where I could use science,” Collins said.

As for what occurred at state, these students will also remember as part of their past too.

4 NEWS

Liberty Ledger A New Installment Liberty’s new auditorium addition and the impact it has on students and teachers MAY 17, 2016

Angel flores The auditorium is just the latest installment to Liberty in a school year full of construction.

Construction on the auditorium began the week of April 10 and is slated to be finished May of 2017.

Liberty has been constructing and adding new sections to the school for most of the current school year.

The new academic wing, which will extend the 300 and 400 hallways and the second gymnasium are on schedule to be completed in July. The academic wing will feature social studies, business, Project Lead the Way and child development classrooms.

The auditorium will feature approximately 700 seats and be next to the band room. It will serve many purposes to

Photo by Angel Flores Construction on the school auditorium began in April and will be finished May of 2017.

the school.

School performances will take place there and the theatre classes will get a lot of

Construction on the auditorium began the week of April 10th and will take 13 months to complete.

Hats off to Ally Liberty put on Hat Week to raise money for Ally Schany MCKENZIE BARTELS

$2,100 is needed for Ally $300 was raised

Ally Schany qualified to go to Internationals for DECA by winning her Cameron Jones event at state, hospitality and tourism. To raise enough money for her to go to Internationals, Mr. Barnes came up with the idea of hat week.

For $1 you could wear a hat for the day and for $3 you could wear a hat for the whole week. The students in marketing did all of the advertising for Schany and with all the help Samir Abouelhana from Liberty $300 was raised.

“I really appreciate all the support LHS has shown Ally in her run to internationals,” Mr. Barnes said.

Kentessa Lawson & Emma Lough

benefit from it.

“I am very excited about it and my students are very excited about it too. They will experience more here, since Liberty will have a full-blown theater here,” theatre director Ms. Shelton said.

“It’s beneficial since the auditorium will be used by us and for a bunch of

different events.”

School performances are not the only events the auditorium would be used for since it would also be used for school meetings or +400 large ceremonial events.

Other schools will also use it too as elementary schools may use it for theatre or their graduation ceremony.

With the school growing to approximately 1,400 students by next school year, these new areas are needed.

“We’re hiring 17 more teachers to work for the school and a lot more staff workers,” Mr. Nelson said. “Plus, with 1,400 students that will be here by the start of next year shows that the school is growing. I am amazed of how many students we have here.”

As long as there are no major weather problems that could delay construction, it’s possible that the construction of the auditorium will be ready to go for the 2017-18 school year.

Sumos Smashing Boom! Down go the students Tanner davies The Sumo smash was a big hit as teachers battled students on April 22 in the gym. The gym was packed full of many students and families. The event helped raise around $3,000 for the LHS wrestling program. There was a total of 24 matches fought.

The winner of the drawing to wrestle Mr. Nelson was freshman Nick Gilpin.

“Even when I lose I always win,” Gilpin said.

Gilpin ended up winning the match after a defeat in his first match.

“It was an incredible event even when he (Mr. Nelson) lifted me up and I tried to sweep his feet from under him,” Gilpin said.

The students lost to the teachers, but everyone had a great time with the wrestling and raffle drawings.

“It was really funny seeing people bounce around in the sumo suits,” sophomore Vicky Parkes said.

photos by Tanner Davies

“It was really funny seeing people bounce around in the sumo suits.” - Vicky Parkes (10)

Liberty Ledger

Giving Back

News New Bright Beginnings

MAY 17, 2016

Liberty’s Clothing 2 class raffles quilt at Relay for Life Emma bobbitt about 300 people throughout the day, the Liberty’s very own Clothing 2 class raffle for the quilt raised $75. The winner sewed a quilt that was raffled off at Relay for of the quilt raffle was the Relay for Life Life event on April 23 at Timberland High accountant named Sheryl.

School’s track.

“The event was very well organized Relay for Life is an organization that and all of the students who helped out were holds overnight community fundraising great,” Pizzo said. walks. All of the money raised at the event Thanks to Relay for Life, we are one goes to the American Cancer Society. The step closer to having a cancer free world. Be event included a candlelight ceremony at on the lookout for any future Relay for Life the end of the fundraiser in honor of all of events that you can make a contribution to the people who lost their battle to cancer, and help end cancer. those who have defeated cancer and those who are currently battling cancer.

“It was a good thing to do,” Brooke Rush said on making the quilt for the Relay for Life raffle.

The quilt took about two weeks of hard work to make and turned out beautifully.

“The color of the quilt was pink in honor of breast cancer,” Mrs. Pizzo photo submitted by Mrs. Pizzo said.

Liberty’s Clothing 2 class sewed a quilt that raised $75 for the American Cancer Society.

With a turnout of

The Talented of LibARTy

Students are chosen to have their artwork displayed at the Foundry Art Centre Sarah martin Several talented Liberty students were selected to be featured in a showing at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles. The students’ artwork was displayed for several days, with a closing reception on Sunday, April 17. The few high schools in the St. Charles County area were able to choose photo submitted by Mrs. Moore their favorite art pieces to be displayed.

The selected Liberty students were: Dominic Reyes, Emilee Reed, Maria Mory, Emma Ingle, Chad Bailey, Ally Schany, Tyler Melvin and Cat Frank. The students were chosen by art teachers Ms. Bond, Mrs. Biere and Mrs. Moore.

“Selection can be very tough, and this year followed suit. We chose our ‘best of the best’ from the students,” Moore said.

The closing reception included refreshments and several supporters of the arts.

“There were a lot of aspiring artists and very colorful, creative looking people,” Bailey said. “For a lack of better description, it was really cool.” photo submitted by Mrs. Moore The showing was a great way to Several Liberty students were chosen to have their artwork celebrate the talent of these young students. displayed at the Foundry Art Centre.

5

Inductions into KEY Club leads to a fresh start Zoe fleschman

Kiwanis Club, or KEY club, elected a new board and inducted about 50 students into membership on April 21 in the Liberty Commons.

Una Selmanovic, former president, and Emily Gharabegi, former vice president, passed on their positions to the newly elected students. Sophomore Haley Sante was elected president of KEY Club with sophomore Maya Schnable to stand by her side as vice president.

“Going forward, I want to incorporate more service into our meetings to get everyone more involved,” Sante said.

The two leaders had been friends for awhile, meeting in fifth grade on the same softball team.

“I think that the two of us will balance each other out really well, creating a great team to run the club,” Schnable said.

Both girls have a strong connection

photo by Zoe Fleschman Liberty’s KEY club elects a new board and inducts 50 students into membership.

to the club and want to see more faces involved in helping to serve the peers and the community.

“To me, the club is being able to help others like me with people like me. You never know what impact you can make on someone’s life,” Sante said.

In the coming year, changes will be made. All good changes. Beneficial to everyone around because of these young ladies and gentlemen.

No Worries Coyle and Fuller as president and vice president

“They run in pairs zemriya bright so you can not just Kathleen Coyle choose one person,” and Caylin Fuller were Ms. Sutherlin said, announced as Liberty’s who is in charge of the new class president and voting process. “If you vice president following vote for one, you must a school-wide election on vote for who they are April 29. also running with.”

Student council However, 15 (STUCO) sponsored the percent of the outcome first-ever school election was automatically and the result produced a decided by student close vote. council who voted Juniors Coyle and during class.

Fuller promise to spread photo by Zemriya Bright Coyle and Fuller’s love and friendship as well as make Student Council Kathleen Coyle and Caylin Fuller were announced as theme during the Liberty’s president and vice president. election was Hakuna stronger.

Matata which means “no worries” when “The best way to accomplish our goals they are president and vice president. is to lead by example and put ourselves out Coyle and Fuller plan to bring a worry-free there,” Coyle said. environment to Liberty.

The president and vice president want Both teams promised several ideas if to create new opportunities at Liberty. they were to be elected president and vice “We will also work with SOMO president.

(Special Olympics Of Missouri) to get Junior Blake Phillips and sophomore events and fundraisers started,” Fuller said.

Abigail Falgout ran against Coyle and The winners (Coyle and Fuller) were Fuller and promised to get the school more previously officers in student council which involved in the community and create a gave them plenty of experience for the safe feeling atmosphere at Liberty for the positions. students.

“I am currently a STUCO officer “Blake and I have discussed getting and attend STUCO conventions,” Fuller the school more involved with charity said. Both Coyle and Fuller have been in events and the community in general such STUCO since their freshman year.

The voting took place April 29 on a as creating a walking team or to create Friday during lunch where students and fundraisers for different charities,” Falgout teachers were allowed to vote. said.

6 features

MAY 17, 2016

The Many Sides of Mr. Morris

Liberty Ledger

Liberty’s well-known custodian lives a life of hard work and is named Support Staff Employee of the Year CHASTEANNE salvosa We all know him. The man working away at the cafeteria floor, riding a large gazebo that waxes the floor or maybe you’ve seen him in uniform, the veteran that was behind the custodian all along. But have you ever talked to him? Heard his story?

The journey that took Luther Morris right here to Liberty High School began across the country in a small Baltimore neighborhood.

“I did a lot of farm work,” Morris said. “I grew up in a small town called Jonestown, Maryland and graduated high school in Federalsburg.” In addition to the hard work, Morris played a lot of sports, including track, cross country, baseball and basketball.

But despite juggling an impressive slew of sports, Morris began working as a custodian at the age of 19.

“For the Wentzville School District, three years. Off and on, 35 years,” Morris said, recalling his past years as a custodian.

Beginning at 19-years-old in the Federalsburg Middle School in Maryland and working his way across the country, Liberty High School is the first high school Morris has worked at in Missouri. But shortly after starting his career as a custodian, Morris left to enter a military career, that many Liberty students recognize today.

Working as a photographer for the Marine Corps, Morris was able to travel, capturing history behind the lens of a camera.

“I’ve been overseas, I’ve been to Iraq as a combat photographer and supervisor. I’ve been in the Pacific countries, doing humanitarian work and also as a photographer/supervisor,” Morris said.

But the inspiration of joining the military wasn’t the prospect of capturing history in a photograph. The actual inspiration of joining the military was derived from the

photo by Mr.Hall Mr. Luther Morris (left) with principal Mr. Nelson after Morris was named the Support Staff Employee of the Year.

want of joining his friends in the Army.

“I actually wanted to sign up for the Army because my friends were in the Army and I saw a Marine Corps recruiter in his dress uniform and that inspired me to become a Marine,” Morris said.

Morris retired from the military to the Midwest, far from the Baltimore neighborhood he grew up in, with the intent of staying with his wife in her hometown.

Teaching him anything from self discipline to preparation with people skills, the inspiration that led to the choice of joining the military, which taught him those skills, rewarded him on April 4, when Morris was named Liberty’s Support Staff Employee of the Year.

“So the way this works is with the support staff nominations, we just put it out there for everybody and people vote,” principal Mr. Nelson said. “And it wasn’t even close. The entire staff of the building; teachers, other support staff members felt like he was the best candidate and I think it was the right choice. There was no doubt in my mind.”

Being able to relate with Morris through similar military backgrounds, Nelson thinks highly of Morris and truly believed that he deserved this award.

“I think that the best leaders or mentors lead by example. So it’s not, ‘Do as I say, it’s do as I do.’ So Luther (Morris) is not going to talk to you for 70 minutes and tell you how great he is and how to get the job done. Luther just rolls up his sleeves and gets the job done,” Nelson said, describing Morris’ character.

Living up to that character, Morris has an impressive agenda of keeping up with the school each day. Opening the school at around 6:05, he begins his routine cleaning the cafeteria, the bathrooms, sweep and buff the common area, unlock the front entrance of the school, clean the cafeteria tables, and then attends to anything else that may need to be done. With all the hard work that the agenda demands, many believed that Morris truly deserved the award and he was truly in awe.

“Surprised. I appreciate that my fellow staff thought that I was worthy of the award,” Morris said, recalling the moment he was awarded Support Staff of the Year where he was presented with the award early morning as the students began to trickle in before school.

As for the veteran that captured history behind his lense, Morris still enjoys photography, documenting weddings, church events, and even guest teaching photography at his church. His eldest daughter, who is following in her father’s footsteps by joining the military, is currently in the Navy. His two other children, two daughters and a son, are currently enrolled in Wentzville School District schools.

But the former veteran and photographer, is also the man that Liberty High School knows as our custodian, who will still be working away day after day.

Making a Difference

Maya Schnable talks to adults and kids about adoption maddie baker

Adoption is something Maya Schnable is very passionate about and it has changed her life for the better. Every summer for the past two years, Maya goes to Korea Camp in Oklahoma where she helps change the lives of many kids and adults by speaking of adoption as a whole. At this camp, she shares her opinions and how adoption has impacted her life, to adults who are looking to adopt or adults who have adopted kids themselves.

“There have been some people who aren’t happy with some of the answers we give because we are very honest, but most of the time it’s incredibly positive,” Maya said.

“People like talking to someone who lives with adoption everyday so they respect us and our stories.”

Not only has Maya impacted the lives of other people, but also the lives of her

parents and friends around her daily.

“I was very, very proud of her. I love that she embraces who she is and is able to share that with other people,” said Maya’s mom, Christine Schnable. “I think it must be difficult to be a different race than her parents. By her willingness to share that with other people it lets her educate people about what an interracial family is and she’s teaching other adopted children how to embrace who they are by the example she leads.”

Although Maya has had some struggles throughout her life, she has lived and learned from it all and has learned to love that she is adopted.

“I love adoption. I could go on forever about how blessed I am to be adopted.

Being adopted from South Korea and have parents that don’t look like me made being

adopted not a surprise for me,” said Maya.

“But when I think of adoption, amazing things come to mind. It’s a bond that brings my other adopted friends and I closer.

I’ve met some of my best friends who are basically my family, through adoption.”

Not only does Maya talk to adults about adoption, but her mom does as well.

Since Maya herself is adopted and her younger sister, Aleigha Schnable, her mom has also talked to adults about what it is like to have adopted children.

“I enjoy the opportunity to share my positive experience with the people especially if they are interested in building their family through adoption,” Christine said.

Maya has not only made a difference photo provided by Maya Schnable in her parents lives, but the lives of many Maya Schnable helps share information about adoption to interested parents. “I love adoption. I could go on forever children and adults as well. about how blessed I am to be adopted,” Schnable said.

Liberty Ledger

FEATURES

MAY 17, 2016

Eat, Sleep, Breathe...Ballet Deaglan Erhart dances with the St. Louis Ballet

mckenzie bartels Deaglan Erhart’s life has always been a cycle of eat, sleep, breath and ballet for the past 12-13 years.

At just the age of 5, he began taking ballet. He first found his passion for ballet from his sister.

“When I was 5, my sister danced at a studio and I was always up there. That’s what got me started,” Erhart said.

He immediately started taking ballet lessons as soon as he could. By watching his sister dance, he found out how much he loves ballet. Now, he dances 4 to 5 nights a week.

His normal studio is the St. Louis Ballet. This is the only studio he has ever attended since he was 5 but he also enjoys attending intensives during the summer.

Along with practices 4 to 5 hours a week of ballet, he also does performances throughout the year.

To Erhart, a junior, the performances are Photo submitted by Deaglan Erhart the best part. After working hard at the studio Erhart performs in front an audience. for multiple weeks and preparing hard for the performance, he says he feels so much joy when he gets up on the stage. His most recent performance was of Swan Lake.

Erhart has many dance coaches but his favorite is Mrs. Laurie. She always give him a tough class with great critiques.

Being a ballet dancer isn’t always easy. Most of the time when he dances it isn’t competitive but sometimes it can get competitive for him.

“Flexibility has been a huge struggle for me,” Erhart said. “I’m flexible in general but as a dancer I’m not that flexible.” Being a dancer is in his blood and dancing brings him into a whole new world.

Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.

Rather Be Here

Brandi Rector was homeschooled, but is now happy to be at Liberty

zoe fleschman Each and every student has a life before Liberty, but Brandi Rector’s is different.

Rector, a freshman, was homeschooled up until her eighth grade year when she joined Wentzville School District.

“It was a big change to go from not seeing anyone, to seeing filled hallways everyday. I could go to school in my pj’s and I could sleep in. I miss it, but my friends are here,” Rector said about homeschooling.

Photo submitted by Brandi Rector Rector prefers to be here Brandi Rector (lleft) and Kayla Peters sit close and spectate a MMA fight rather than still be homeschooled, over spring break. and she’s learned to have empathy and more understanding because of her experience of transitioning into the public school life.

“My dad and I would go on trips to different places and that just got my curiosity going to move everywhere else,” said Rector. Her dream is to travel the world, specifically Australia.

Lights, Camera, Action

7

Jake Denunzio makes short films in his free time

Photo submitted by Jake Denunzio

Jake Denunzio hopes to pursue a career as a film director.

olivia holler From a young age you never know what you want to do with your life, but for junior Jake Denunzio this was completely different.

Denunzio has had aspirations of making short films since he was 4 or 5 years old.

“I would just start playing with video cameras and just went with it,” Denunzio said.

He has been inspired by directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

Denunzio takes his time making the short films. It usually takes him up to one week or a couple months depending on how complicated the effects are.

Denunzio has been working to improve and learn new skills by taking and Film & Lit. with Ms. Shelton.

“Film and Lit. is where we watch

movies and some of them are already books and some of them are not but we use them to analyze and to kind of learn that you can analyze films the same way you can analyze novel or nonfiction,” Ms. Shelton said.

They work on a lot of different varieties of things in the class like camera angles, types of lighting, types of shots that a director can use and also storyline and character development.

He is also taking a multimedia class with Mr. Barnes.

“Multimedia class is a class that we introduce students to everything that goes into multimedia, everything from print publications, videos and podcasts. We talk about how it’s used in the business world for advertisements and commercials,” Mr. Barnes said.

Denunzio makes his action films on his own and knows a lot of different techniques from teaching himself and learning from these classes. He likes to make the films with a lot of animation and stunts.

“He probably knows more about film than I do,” Ms. Shelton said. “He does a really good job. He has made quite a few films and commercials for my class like theater arts and helped make the commerical for our show last year.”

Jake wants to continue to do this and hopefully make a career out of it and become a director.

Now You’re Talking!

Susan Jiang knows multiple interesting languages TAYTE SANDERS How do you communicate with people? Susan Jiang can communicate using more than one language. Not by social media, not by talking over the phone, but by speaking multiple languages. Six to be exact.

Jiang is a junior with the talent of speaking many languages. Susan can speak Mandarin, Spanish, Taiwanese, Cantonese, English (obviously), and Hokkien, just to name a few.

Her parents are big influences with her languages.

Speaking multiple languages around the house as Susan grew up is what influenced her to learn new languages.

Her parents continue to speak multiple languages around the house, which helps Jiang practice her speaking.

Her parents are proud owners of Happy China, a local restaurant some may know. Not only are they able to use different languages at home, but at work as well.

Photo by Tayte Sanders Jiang is interested in taking her speaking talents with In addition to English, Susan Jiang is fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, her throughout her college career.

Taiwanese, Cantonese and Hokkien.

“Spanish is becoming more and more popular, and if I can use not only English in my career, it will help my business as well,” Jiang said. No doubt she will thrive not only in college, but even beyond.

8 features

MAY 17, 2016

Everyone has a story

Liberty Ledger

Liberty is a good fit for sophomore Schwartz

Zemriya bright Everyone has a story worth telling with no exception when it comes to 16-year-old Zachary Schwartz. Raised in Michigan, Schwartz moved to Missouri in 2006 when he was around 6 years old.

Even though he is not old enough to remember much of Michigan, he expressed how he still misses it since most of his family lives there.

“I like the people and neighborhood there, but I like the people and environment here,” said Schwartz.

This is Schwartz’s first year at Liberty.

He used to be home schooled until the second grade by his mom, which consisted of mostly reading books and teaching himself.

“I prefer public school better,” said Schwartz Schwartz had a more difficult time

learning his colors than other children but at first he didn’t understand why.

“I remember my mom getting frustrated when I mixed up my colors,”said Schwartz.

When Schwartz turned 8, he found out he was red and green color blind.

Red and green color blind means that the person has difficulty distinguishing between reds, greens, browns and oranges.

Being colorblind is more common in men. According to the National Eye Institute, about 8 percent of men are colorblind, which is one in 12 men. Sadly, colorblindness can not be cured, however many times medication can help.

It took him awhile, but once he understood how to distinguish colors to an extent, he overcame the obstacle. Tristin Schanuel, who sits next to Schwartz in art class, is amazed on how good Schwartz is at

Determination is the main GOAL

Fruehwirth wins nationals with her club soccer team

photo provided by Kalle Fruehwirth Fruehwirth keeps her head in the game.

Jessica Gibson Hard work pays off as long as you give it your all. Junior Kallie Fruehwirth, along with her club soccer team, Missouri Rush, won nationals at Overland Park, Kansas City in July 2015.

“I was a defender,” said Fruehwirth, “and still am for high school soccer.”

Fruehwirth plays for the Liberty varsity soccer team. Even after making a recovery, Fruehwirth still plays with her heart and soul.

Last year, she tore her ACL and is now making a full recovery. Fruehwirth went to rehab for multiple months after surgery. The ACL is is one of the four ligaments that help stabilize your knee. When the knee is hyper-extended and pivoted simultaneously, it can cause a tear.

Fruehwirth wasn’t able to start running around when the high school season came up.

“She was easing back into things,” said Coach Kleekamp, coach of the varsity soccer team for Liberty. “Now she plays all the time.

She’s back in full swing.”

Kallie’s number for Missouri Rush was 12 and her number for Liberty is 16.

“My biggest inspiration is my dad. He also played soccer all throughout high school, which really helped me pick the sport I wanted to play,” Fruehwirth said.

Although she had a couple of minor setbacks, Kallie Fruehwirth was able to pull through with her team, Missouri Rush, and Liberty soccer and now is on a road that only goes up.

art or anything artistic.

“Zach has a really good artistic talent,” said Schanuel.

Since being at Liberty, Schwartz has already made junior varsity in wrestling. He has also done several other extra activities in previous years including basketball, football, photo provided by Zachary Schwartz taekwondo and wrestling. He has Zachary Schwartz poses in what he calls home, LHS. won most improved and most power competition where people go and show off in taekwondo when he was only 14. what they can make out of Legos. Then if Out of all the things he has done, he is the they are good enough they are awarded a most enthusiastic about wrestling. prize.

“Zachary broke a bone during When Schwartz is not building Legos wrestling season and he didn’t give up. That or wrestling, he is playing video games, shows a lot that he has strong character,” especially first person shooters like Halo said assistant coach Mr. Flores. and Black Ops. Other than wrestling, which takes up Schwartz has many talents and most of Schwartz’s life, his other hobbies passions from art to wrestling and is are playing video games and building determined to overcome anything.

Legos. He once even went to a Lego

Going up?

Freshman Caleb London calls himself an elevator enthusiast emma bobbitt Everyone has their own little niche. Freshman Caleb London thrives with his passion of elevators.

After seeing the glass elevators at the Mid Rivers Mall, London instantly became interested in elevators and how they worked.

His passion increased when he found out he was not the only person who enjoyed elevators. When he found a Youtuber Dieselducy, who shared his love for elevators, he considered himself an elevator enthusiast.

There are many Youtubers online who share the hobby of elevators. Dieselducy was actually the one who started the phrase “elevator enthusiast.”

Some characteristics of an elevator enthusiast include riding the elevator up and down, sometimes taking photos or videos while riding it, recording the speed of the elevator, finding places with interesting elevators, focusing on the leveling of elevators, watching and identifying the elevator fixtures photo provided by Caleb London and doing lots of research on elevators and the Caleb London is an elevator enthusiast and wants to become an elevator technician or engineering aspect of them. systems engineer.

“I have always liked elevators and I just really started getting into it when I found out that other people like them as much as I do,” said London.

London even wants to turn his hobby into a career. He would like to become either an elevator technician or an elevator systems engineer. He plans on riding some of the older, historic elevators in the St. Louis area. He hopes to get near an elevator machine room (the machine that runs the elevator) and to also get on top of an elevator and ride it in inspection.

For the future, London is planning on creating a youtube channel soon about elevators. On the channel, he will be making videos of him riding the elevator and explaining all of the engineering aspects of the elevators.

Liberty Ledger

MAY 17, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

9

WELCOME TO NEW YORK: A Night in the Big Apple Take a look into Liberty’s first prom

A Look into PROM Tickets Sold: 182 Prom King: Ross Hewitt Prom Queen: Maria Hufford Favorite Food:

Photos by Maddie Baker, Olivia Holler and Trotter Photo

“Prom was insane everyone had an amazing time together, dancing, singing, sharing laughs and just taking it all in!

Definitely a moment I will NEVER FORGET”

Cookie dough bites -MariaHufford

Maddie Baker

10 interactive

MAY 17, 2016

Liberty Ledger

First one to complete the word search WHO’S and riddles and brings it to room 239 READY wins a QT gift card! Second place and third place also win a box of candy!

Riddles FOR SUMMER! Complete this sequence of letters O, T, T, F, F, S, S, _, _, _ __________________

Tom’s mom has 3 kids. Two of the kids names are Dime and Nickel. What is the third kid’s name? __________________ What do the letter “T” and an island have in common? __________________ You have 10 fish. 5 drown and 3 come back to life. How many fish do you have? __________________ How long is the answer to this question? __________________ What kind of room has no doors or windows? __________________ Paul’s height is 6 feet. He’s an assistant at a butcher’s shop and wears size 9 shoes.

What does he weigh? __________________ A man is pushing his car along the road when he comes to a hotel he shouts “I’m bankrupt!” Why? __________________ A certain five letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? What is the word? __________________

1. Summer 2. Six Flags 3. bbq 4. Swimming 5. Vacation 6. Relax 7. Zoo

8. Water Park 9. July 10. June 11. Klondike Park 12. Camping

13. July Fourth 14. Ocean 15. Picnic 16. August 17. Sunny 18. Flip Flops

19. Fugitive Beach 20. Lake of the Ozarks

Liberty Ledger

MAY 17, 2016

Is it worth the risk?

The dangers of drinking and driving

Summer

Olivia Holler It’s been the night of your life! You have been with your friends all day, laughing and talking but it’s almost curfew.

You’ve only had a few drinks, so you think you’re fine to get in the car and you go. It’s you and your best friend right next to you jamming to music and having a good time and not really paying attention to the road. When you make a turn and “bam!” In an instant your life is completely changed, because you had just ran a red light and got into an accident with another car all because you thought it was okay to drive.

Is it really worth your life or put others in danger because you drink and drive? According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 9,967 people died in drunk driving accidents in 2015, one every 53 minutes and 290,000 were injured in drunk driving crashes.

Think about what you’re doing before you get in that car and drive. It takes an instant for your life to change or potentially others.

Most car accidents happen within five miles of your house. Some people may find this shocking. It is scary to think of it that way. You never really think of bad things happening to you. You see yourself as very lucky. It’s so unreal to think of losing someone you care about or hurting yourself because of a poor decision.

If you do choose to make those decisions at a party, make sure you are thinking about yourself and how well you are feeling. You should make the right choice and call a parent to come get you. Never have a friend drive you that has been drinking either.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and about a quarter of those crashes involved underage drinking.

Next time you get in a car, think before you do. Make the safe choice.

Times Have Changed Social media is a great tool, but is it really worth it?

Emma Bobbitt Social media has become a huge part of our society.

We now have the technology to be able to connect with others on the other side of the world instantaneously.

Nearly everyone has a smartphone or some sort of electronic device that they use for social media. We as a society have become attached to our cell phones.

We don’t seem to live in the moment anymore. If you go to a concert, all you will see amongst the sea of people in the crowd is a bunch of people holding up their phones so they can take videos and pictures.

Yes, it is nice to have pictures and a few videos to remember the concert, but we

aren’t living in the moment anymore. People are more concerned about taking photos and videos that they don’t get to enjoy the concert and get the full experience. Social media and smartphones are amazing things, but in moderation.

Today, we are defined by the amount of followers we have, the amount of likes we get on a picture and how many retweets we get. According to CNN, the average American teenager spends more than nine hours on social media a day. That’s more time than we spend at school.

Social media is a great tool to meet new people, connect with people you don’t get to see all of the time, and even set the stage for a career in the future, but it’s also tearing us away from reality. Life was so much simpler without social media.

The question for the future is: How is social media going to expand and change in the future? Will we continue to create different social media sites or will be simply drop the idea of social media and start to enjoy life and go exploring instead of being glued to an electronic? The choice is up to us.

OP-eD

11

Fun

Do something other than sleeping in during summer MarandA flod What do you plan to do over the summer? Going on vacation? Visiting family? Or just sleeping in? Sooner or later you’re going to have a day with nothing to do. So here’s some fun places to go.

I’m quite the adventurous person. I enjoy being outside during the summer and try to get out as much as possible.

I like to go new places and see new things. People say how boring Missouri is, but if you find fun places to go, or find new things to do, it’s not all that bad. Here are some of the places that I enjoy visiting, and some fun ideas for you to go too!

St. Louis Zoo

Art Museum

Elephant Rocks Park The St. Louis Zoo is a fun place to go see animals.

Klondike

Klondike is a park in Augusta that has scenic trails where you can enjoy nature.

The art museum has tons of artifacts.

Fugitive Beach

Fugitive beach is in Rolla. It’s a bit of a drive but only for $8 you can swim and cliff jump all day.

Elephant Rocks State Park is my favorite place to go by far. It’s about a 2-hour drive in Belleview so it’s kind if a long drive, but it’s so fun and definitely worth it!

2015-16 Ledger staff for issue 4

Maddie Baker McKenzie Bartels Emma Bobbitt Zemriya Bright Tanner Davies Maranda Flod Angel Flores Jessica Gibson Olivia Holler Sarah Martin Zoe Raye Emma Rudolph Chasteanne Salvosa Tayte Sanders Jenna Schwandner

Mr. Hall - adviser

Liberty High School 2275 Sommers Road Lake St. Louis, MO. 63367 636.561.0075 www.wentzville.k12.mo.us

12 PEOPLE

MAY 17, 2016

A Change for the Better

Liberty Ledger compiled by

Liberty’s grass field will soon be replaced with turf

Jenna Schwandner Activities and athletics director Mr. Eldredge is anticipating “I like grass because the turf gives you bad turf burns and next fall when Liberty’s football field will have artificial turf. All it hurts and plus the turf heats up and gets super hot,” said three district high schools will have this installed in a project that freshman Chase Roellig. cost a combined $2.3 million. The field will be ready for use by Liberty’s turf is going to be approximately $766,666 plus the start of fall. $355,000 for shock pads underneath the turf to help minimize Having turf opens up more opportunities for all the students the potential for injuries, particularly concussions and joint at Liberty, not just the athletes. trauma.

“The turf is really awesome because it will allow students to By transitioning from grass to turf, the district estimates do so much more,” Eldredge said. there will be approximately $90,000 in annual savings from field The band students who have practice in the morning won’t maintenance that will no longer be necessary. have muddy shoes from the grass due to the rain from the night before. In P.E. classes, students wouldn’t have to worry about tearing up the field during class.

Other advantages to having turf include: a smoother surface for all the athletes, the field will be in better shape, it’s low maintenance meaning there would be no more having to cut the grass or water it. The district also wouldn’t have to line the field because that’s already permanently done.

“It will be a better surface for athletes to play on,” said freshman Peyton Carroll.

Mr. Eldredge provided some disadvantages for grass that include: it’s weather dependent, always has to be provided by Wentzville Schoo l District maintained, and can get super muddy and affect the Liberty has purchased artificial l turf for the football field. players.

Some students would prefer a grass field though.

Dominance

Dalton Nilges dominates the varsity baseball scene with 22 scoreless innings Tayte Sanders Bottom of the 9th inning, tied game with all eyes on you.

Do you crumble under pressure? Not junior Dalton Nilges.

His performance on the varsity baseball team has not only impressed his coaches and teammates, but has helped the team win games.

Nilges had an amazing start to this season. With an impressive 22 scoreless innings, the left-handed pitcher held a record of 3-1 before surrendering a run. He also had 24 strikeouts. He had three starts and one relief appearance until he finally let up runs in his fourth start.

Nilges began playing baseball at the age of 4, and his love for the baseball spawned from the competitive nature of the game. He enjoys the competitive atmosphere.

“I love the competitiveness and I have lots of fun with it,” Nilges said.

Usually, Nilges dominates the competition when he’s in control. Topping out at about 81 to 82 miles per hour, Nilges looks to get ahead in the count early with his fastball, and looks for the out with his curveball.

Freshman Chase Krogman was impressed with Nilges’ ability on the mound.

“He’s a really good pitcher, he’s really good at getting outs,” Krogman said. “He makes the other team look pretty powerless when they bat.”

Nilges’ go-to pitch is his curveball.

“It catches people off-guard and it’s the best way to get them out,” Nilges said.

This varsity stud has a lot of potential, not only is this known by his coaches, but the press as well. His impressive start

Baseball

Record: 10-3 Team Achievements: Chase Krogman was invited to participate in team USA tryouts, and Dalton Nilges was nominated for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch player of the week. Eagles have three pitchers with under a 1 ERA (Earned Run Average) Statistical Leaders: Chase Krogman .397 batting average, 29 hits, 2 HR, 16 RBIs. Dalton Nilges 5 earned runs in 42 innings pitched; 0.83 ERA

Maddie Baker

Girls Soccer

Record: 10-8-1 Coaches Favorite Game: “One of our best games was against St. Charles West that went into double overtime and we ended up losing with a minute and a half left of play. They kind of took it to us last year, so it was good to see that we turned around this year and were able to compete with them,” Coach Kleekamp said.

Statistical Leaders: Beth Roberts, Tori Harris and Kylie Seaton lead in number of points scored. Harris has a team best 5 goals while Beth Roberts leads in number of assists with 6. Tori Harris has 3 game-winning goals.

Amy Carnahan has 8 shutouts as goalkeeper.

Boys Tennis

Team Achievements: Won against Fulton, Hannibal, Brentwood and finished third at Holt Tournament.

Player Achievements (at GCA’s): Daniel Holmen and Evan Sacks took 3rd place in doubles. Dominic Reyes, Josh Roberts took 3rd place in doubles. Rishi Kondapaneni and Adrian Prezezdziecki took 4th at 4th doubles.

Colin Stuerman took 3rd place at 8 singles, Levi Fuller took 3rd place in singles in 7 singles, Daniel Holmen took 4th place overall for singles and Josh Roberts took 4th place at 6 singles.

Boys Golf

Achievements: Won Elsberry Invitational and finsihed second in GAC Conference.

Player Achievements: Nick Scognamiglio qualified for the sectional golf tournament. He shot a 79.

Boys Track

Photo by Chasteanne Salvosa

Dalton Nilges wheels and deals to the first inning. He leads the Eagles pitching staff with a 4-3 record and a 0.83 ERA.

to the season has caught the eye of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last month as he was named athlete of the week April 20.

Nilges respects many Major League Baseball pitchers and players who compete today. He says he doesn’t necessarily have one certain player he takes after, but he is influenced by many professionals’ work ethic and love for the game.

Nilges strives to further improve his game. With many hours put in each week through practice, he’s focused on finishing this baseball season on a high note.

Achievements: The boys varsity team won the GAC North title with 132 points, finishing ahead of Warrenton (121).

Top Runners: The following Liberty athletes took first at conference: Wesley Hines in long jump (21 feet, 8.5 inches); Wyatt Lake in the 1,600 (4:43) and the 4x800 team of Wyatt Cleveland, Wyatt Lake, Donovan Arrington and Seth Webb (8:28).

Girls Track

Achievements: The girls varsity track team finished second place at GAC North Championships.

Top Runners: The 4x800 meter relay team of Lexi Kayser, Allana Guffey, Marjori Russo and Alexis Guffey took first at the conference meet with a time of 10:31. Phoebe Helton won the 3,200 meters (13:09) and Lexi Kayser took first in the 800 (2:30).