Liberty Ledger - Issue 2 - January 2022

The Ledger | Vol. 9 | Issue 2 | January 2022

Table Of Contents News

Looking For A Job? 6 Local Dierbergs Celebrates Grand Opening 7 Britney Spears: Finally Free 14 Dr. Cain Recognized As Missouri Superintendent of the Year 16 Jolliff Receives Teacher of the Year Honor 16 Student Council Decks the Halls 17 What is happening to our water 18 Another COVID-19 Milestone 19 School Board Introduces Attendance Incentive to WSD Staff 19

Arts &Entertainment

Review: ‘30’ 4 The Decoding of 13 Hidden Messages In The ‘All Too Well’ Short Film 5 64th GRAMMYs 15 Complete Works of William Shakespeare Did Not Disappoint 21

2

Content | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter

Cover design by: S. Ramesh

Sports

Liberty Features a New Hockey Team 8 Winter Sports Update 8 Shining on Signing Day 9 The Madness Returns 22 Athletes Who Drip 23 Student Athlete Feature 23

Feature

Working in the Woodshop 20

Opinion

‘Squid Game’: A Capitalist Cautionary Tale 12 True-Crime: America’s Sick Pastime 13

Interactive Horoscopes 24

In-Depth

Tides Of Change 10

LetterFromTheEditors-In-Chief Welcome to Issue 2 of the ninth volume of The Ledger! As we delve into the unknown depths of the next semester, we want to take a moment to reflect on where we are. It feels like we just got here and we’re already facing final exams, a new semester and some of us are already looking ahead to graduation. But rest assured, we’re not done yet! As we continue through this year, we’re looking anywhere but the present. We’re learning from the past and looking forward to the future. Like water, we’ve changed and will continue to change. We all feel the change in the air, the change in the mood, the season may really be getting you down. We hear you and we feel you, so we hope you can pick up this issue and escape a bit, enjoy your astrological readings, and dive headfirst into the teacher’s high school realities.

Water is the element of change. It’s the raging sea and dewdrops of leaves, the slashing of storms and fog in the trees. Water changes with and thus thrives in its environment. As we sail through stormy seas and calm water alike, we too must learn to shift with the environments we meet. So as you continue your journey through this school year, reader, remember that when you’re in a new situation, you are invited to shift, to change, to grow.

Enjoy!

Volume 9 Issue 2

The Ledger Liberty High School 2275 Sommers Road Lake Saint Louis, MO. 63367 636.561.0075 ext: 28039 jonathanhall@wsdr4.org

Editors-In-Chief Paige Bostic Elizabeth Hamby Reporters Mollie Banstetter (Layout Editor), Sruthi Ramesh (Photo Editor), Ally Schniepp (Sports Editor), Avery Schlattman, Elaine Thimyan, Sean Bruce, Gavin Block, Fiona Flynn, Kay Copeland, Sam Knickmeyer and Abbie Luker *Each editor also serves as a reporter

Content | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter

3

Review: "30"

photo via Wikimedia Commons

Adele takes listeners on emotional rollercoaster in her long-awaited album

by Gavin Block, Reporter After a six-year absence, the outstanding, soulful and virtuosic English vocalist has returned to charm our ears once again.

Adele, with 15 Grammy Awards and having reached five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, had stolen the show for the former half of the last decade. The mighty voice—along with widespread acclaim and a strong relationship with her fans—has made Adele one of the most popular musicians in the world.

30, in line with her previous albums 19 (2008), 21 (2011), and 25 (2015), reflects the age Adele was when she wrote it. This concept puts more focus on the life experiences and conditions she was in during the construction of each record rather than when they were released.

Adele has said that her divorce in 2021 with then-husband Simon Konecki largely influenced the themes of the album.

Recordings for 30 began around 2018 and ended earlier this year. It was originally set to release in September 2020, but production of the record was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The singer finally announced on Oct. 13 that the fourth studio album was scheduled to release on Friday, Nov. 19.

The two-hour CBS-exclusive “Adele One Night Only” aired on Sunday, Nov. 14 and was shot at Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory. The concert’s setlist consisted of quintessential numbers such as “Make You Feel My Love” and “Rolling in the Deep,” along with four songs from her newest LP, which included the lead single “Easy on Me.” The event went on to garner an audience of over 10 million viewers.

In merely the first week that it had the pre-save option, 30 broke the record for the most pre-added album of all time on Apple Music. The single “Easy on Me” shot up to the top of global charts and has reigned in the position for an imposing four weeks. The song has obtained the most streams in a single day on both Spotify and Amazon Music.

A variety of producers helped contribute to the development of Adele’s new album, including 25 collaborators Greg Kurstin and the ubiquitous Max Martin.

Piano-driven songs like “I Drink Wine,” “Easy on Me” and “To Be Loved” evoke feelings of pensiveness and solemnity but also bring out the majesty of Adele’s incredible vocal prowess.

“Cry Your Heart Out” concerns dissatisfaction with one’s circumstances and the hopelessness brought on by it, all disguised with an upbeat pop-reggae tune.

The folksy “Can I Get It” incorporates acoustic guitar and strong backing vocals. It lyrically deals with the anticipation of being liberated by love, presented with a bold and airy tone from Adele.

The nocturne-like interlude “All Night Parking” samples late American jazz pianist Erroll Garner and integrates elements of lo-fi music. Adele’s soft and deep vocal performance fits very well here and adds to the soothing atmosphere of the song.

The cinematic instrumentation and optimistic lyrics in “Hold On” create an impactful message of how even though things may seem rough when going through a struggle, one will find the strength to push through and eventually encounter the beautiful things that life has to offer. Adele’s voice combined with the strings, choir, and percussion all complement each other to create a whimsical symphony and exude true hope in musical form.

The final track, “Love Is a Game,” is a ballad seemingly inspired by bossa nova with its string accompaniment providing a unique chord progression and soaring vocals from Adele. Its lyrics speak of how love can be confusing and even frustrating at times. The song is able to sweep the listener off their feet into an enchanting and divine vortex of sound, all delivered by Adele’s voice and the variety of instruments backing her.

Overall, 30 is a monumental piece of work that showcases Adele’s musical versatility and continually magisterial presentation in her singing. The album explores subjects such as heartbreak, sorrow, fear, and hope, with the songs being mainly presented in a romantic yet melancholic manner. Both the eloquent, reflective lyrics and wonderfully intriguing harmonies come together

to make this another truly great album by Adele.

4 design by: G. Block

Arts & Entertainment | lhstoday.org

The Decoding of 13 Hidden Messages A breakdown of Taylor Swift’s music video for her new re-recorded hit

by Mollie Banstetter, Layout Editor

It’s been a while since Taylor Swift released her re-recording of Red (Taylor’s Version) along with the release of the “All Too Well (10-minute version)” short film. The 14-minute music video, full of hidden messages and allusions, left her fans scrambling to decode every little detail.

By now, I am sure that rewatching the video has been an emotional rollercoaster that will have to be talked about in a therapy session. So with the help of this story, decoding some of Swift’s sneaky hidden messages will ease your mind.

I would like to believe that if you’re reading this story you know the gist of the song, but just in case, here’s my elevator summary: around 10 years ago, Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal (local scarf stealer) dated for three months. Swift was 20 and Gyllenhaal was 29. They dated, she left her scarf at Gyllenhaal’s sister’s house, he didn’t go to her 21st birthday party, they broke up and he may or may not still have her scarf…the jury is out on that last point. After this breakup, Swift has gifted us many bangers, this one being the easiest to link to the relationship.

After rewatching the music video many, many times in the name of journalism, and scouring the Internet to present you with what I believe to be the 13 best and most important hidden details.

The Signs Point to Jake: Swift cast Dylan O’Brien, age 30, to play the male love interest, and Sadie Sink, age 19, to play the female love interest. Sink is supposed to represent Swift, and many fans speculate this song is about Gyllenhaal, who was 29 when the pair was together, the similar age difference between the actors could be a signal of confirmation. Many fans believe that Swift cast these two intentionally to make the audience uncomfortable regarding the noticeable age difference, especially when the songs have lyrics that say, “And I was never good at telling jokes, but the punch line goes, ‘I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age,’” as well as “You said if we had been closer in age, maybe it would have been fine.”

When the couple walks into the male love interest’s family home, eyes are pulled to a quick shot of a window by the stairs. The small stained glass window has a design that closely resembles the Gyllenhaal family crest, once again another clue to who exactly the song is about.

The infamous red scarf. Of course, I couldn’t mention “All Too Well” and Gyllenhaal without mentioning the red scarf. It’s speculated that the scarf Swift wore in paparazzi photos where she was spotted with Gyllenhaal is the scarf she left at Maggie Gyllenhaal’s according to the song.

During the chapter of the short film, we see O’Brien’s character first, as he sauntered down the sidewalk. This visual implies that the flashback scenes we see in this chapter are him remembering the relationship.

During one of the flashback scenes we see the two characters share a kiss, one that the male love interest initiates, the kiss looks a lot like the iconic Spider-Man kiss in the Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst version.

In the movie, Dunst’s character, MJ kisses Spider-Man to see if there are any sparks between them two, in their case, there were. This may seem just like a trivial Easter egg to a popular movie until a) you remember it’s Taylor Swift and absolutely nothing is by accident, and b) that Gyllenhaal and Dunst started dating in 2002, and had a relationship for two years; they even shared a home and a pet dog. Once you look more closely at it, you could see that Swift may be implying that not only is this song about Gyllenhaal but that she feels like he was trying to recreate what he had with Dunst, with Swift.

The Chapters: The video is separated into five different sections: the upstate escape, the breaking point, the reeling, the remembering and 13 years gone. Each section represents different chapters of her relationship, alluding to the reveal in the last chapter, that this retelling was all for the protagonist’s (Sink’s character) autobiographical book.

The Kitchen Argument: In the middle of the video, the music stops as the characters begin an argument in the kitchen. Within this scene, there is plenty to unpack.

Within this scene, Sink’s character shares her frustration over O’Brien’s character dropping her hand in the previous scene. She yells at the male love interest, saying “you dropped my…hand!” As soon as she said this, I remembered a lyric, not from that song but from “Champagne Problems,” from her album Evermore: “Because I dropped your hand while dancing / Left you out there standing / Crestfallen on the landing / Champagne problems.” The way O’Brien’s character reacted, claiming he doesn’t remember the moment she’s referring to, showing that it meant so little to him, it was a champagne problem for him.

As the couple is having this discussion, Sink’s character is cleaning the dishes as O’Brien’s character keeps handing her dirty dishes, not helping but just adding onto her pile. This visual brought me back to the lyrics in her song ‘Tolerate It” from her album: “I take your indiscretions all in good fun / I sit and listen / I polish plates until they gleam and glisten / You’re so much older and wiser.” She’s telling him that him dropping her hand was a big deal to her, and as he’s brushing it off calling her selfish, as she’s cleaning up the mess all by herself.

The Book: In the final chapter of the short film, the main character, 13 years later (played by Swift herself ) is at her book launch, the book of course being titled “All Too Well.” The short scene where we see the cover of the books on the table immediately reminded me of the cover of “The Giving Tree.” Like the cover of Swift’s book, Shel Silverstein’s book cover is an illustration of a tree with an extended arm. However, on Swift’s cover, the extended arm bears a red scarf. The cover illustration is just another visual insight into the relationship she is sharing with us. The cover is implying that Swift felt like her relationship was very one-sided, she gave everything she could to the relationship until she was left with nothing else.

The Next Re-Recording: Within the short film, there were details that pointed to Speak Now being the next re-recorded album… but there was an obvious detail linked to 1989 as well.

Starting with “Speak Now,” the most obvious detail being the fact that the short film/relationship is divided into chapters just like the song “Story of Us.” During the chapter of the short film, “The Reeling,” Sink’s character is seen curled up in her bed wearing the same flannel O’Brien’s character was previously wearing. This visual can be linked to the line in the song “Last Kiss”: “But I’ll go sit on the floor wearing your clothes / All that I know is I don’t know how to be something you miss.”

The most notable and obvious detail linked to her album 1989 is the opening shot, a visual of the trees from a person’s point of view as if they were looking up at the sky, the same visual from the “Out of the Woods” music video.

Although it is still quite unclear what the next album will be, it’s clear Swifties are ready to re-listen, re-experience and observe every action with careful eyes.

Arts & Entertainment | lhstoday.org design by: G. Block

5

Help Wanted

Retail and food service jobs are on the rise

by Elizabeth Hamby, Co-Editor -In-Chief of The Ledger

Target

Panda Express Grayce Page (11) works the window at Panda Express.

Chloe Stenger (11) finishes up a holiday shift at Target.

Marcus Theatres Julia Wiley (11) celebrates their bithday with their coworkers at Marcus Theatres.

Whether you want to make a little bit of money on the side, or seriously prepare for college, a job has many benefits. Having a job in high school offers the opportunity to help out a company, learn time management, communication skills and provide you with some cash. There is amazing news if you are in fact interested in acquiring one of these positions. Retail jobs and food service jobs are on the rise wherever you go, looking for candidates just like you. I have compiled a list all in one place, if you are interested.

Even if you don’t want to travel far, you can stay close to Liberty with a job right on the corner, QuikTrip. You must be 16 years or older to apply, and you could earn up to $13.50 an hour.

New businesses are popping up in need of help. On Bryan Road a new Mudslingers Drive-Thru Coffee has emerged and has posted a now-hiring sign on their window.

According to Indeed, a resource listing job opportunities, the Lake St. Louis location of Aldi is looking for part-time store associates; you must be 18 years of age to apply.

Starbucks is hiring baristas, Sonic needs carhops, and countless retail stores need associates.

If you are stuck, check out the help wanted bulletin board in the cafe of Liberty, or take a drive around town, help is very much needed.

Donatelli's Bistro Walmart

Now Hiring Dollar Tree Panera Walmart Subway Hobby Lobby Wendy’s Red Robin Kohl’s

6 design by: S. Bruce

News | lhstoday.org

TJ Maxx Panda Express McDonald’s Sonic QuikTrip Dairy Queen Heaven Scent Starbucks

Payton Bussleman (11) and Amanda Speciale (11) dress up spooky for work at Donatelli’s Bistro.

Chris Yeh (12) works at the Walmart Bakery.

Smoothie King

QuikTrip

Vincent Jarus (11) works at his new job at QuikTrip.

Tyler Metheney (12) and Morgan Feinstein (11) on shift at Smoothie King.

Local Dierbergs Celebrates Grand Opening Dierbergs’ 26th location opens in Lake St. Louis area

By Kay Copeland, Reporter

photo by Kay Copeland

Many people in our community are ecstatic due to the arrival of our brand new local Dierbergs market.

The highly-anticipated, brand new Dierbergs market has opened in Lake St. Louis as of Tuesday, Nov. 2.

The store had its grand opening ceremony at 8:15 a.m., then finally opened its doors to the public at 9:00 a.m. The new Dierbergs is located at the southwest corner of Ronald Reagan Drive and Orf Road, next to Lowes in the Shoppes of Hawk Ridge.

“It was an all-in effort to finish the project on time to open

by Nov. 2,” Dierberg Markets President and CEO Greg Dierberg remarked. “My family is incredibly proud of the drive and hard work from both of our teams and our many partners to create this beautiful new store.”

The 71,000 square-foot store showcases the transformation of Dierbergs shopping centers. It features a brand new layout, interior design, and reimagination of Dierbergs’ fresh food departments including: the Dierbergs Kitchen, Dierbergs Butcher Shop, and Dierbergs Bakehouse.

The beloved “Party Center” has been renamed “Bob’s Barn” and features a full-size wooden barn within the store. Some other highlights include the Mercy Pharmacy, pizza cove, sushi bar, and a new health and beauty area.

More than 100 associates will be employed at the new shopping center. Additionally, an all-store hiring day was held on Thursday, Nov. 4 at each Dierbergs location to keep up with recent hiring efforts.

The Lake St. Louis Dierbergs is bringing a few new businesses to the area. There are plans for the full site to include around 17,000 square feet of adjoining retail space, and two future building areas adjacent to Ronald Reagan Drive.

Dierbergs and Capitol Land have already begun securing leases with The Post Sports Bar & Grill, Mercy Go-Health Urgent Care, and Treats Unleashed.

Sophomore Ben Janssen is one of the handful of Liberty students employed at the new shopping center. He describes the work environment as “amazing.”

“My favorite part about working at Dierbergs is being able to see some of my friends that I made, you get to know everyone there by name,” Janssen explained. “I see so many people from school alone at the new store, at least in the past week since opening day.”

Sophomore Liz Hayes is also an employee at Dierbergs. Their position is a stock clerk, which entails working in nearly all of the food sections and helping out where need be. They noted how flexible and enjoyable the work environment is.

“It’s pretty chill. Obviously, they want things done right but at the same time you get the chance to walk around, talk to a friend, hang out and have a laugh,” Hayes expressed. “But you’re still focused on what you have to do.

Hayes also noticed the large number of high school students who are interested in working at the new Dierbergs. With the great benefits offered there, it’s easy to see why.

“It’s a union, which I know some people don’t like,” Hayes explained. “But when you really look at the benefits, it’s great because if I stay there for a year I get a free ride to college up to a bachelor’s degree.”

The new Dierbergs is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

News | lhstoday.org design by: S. Bruce

7

m a e T y e k c o H atures A New

L iberty Fe

inter sports

sw to add to Liberty’ m a te y e ck o h b s a new clu

Liberty ha

d Kaylin

by Mason Tillott an

photo by Sruthi Ramesh

Liberty went up against Timberland in their first game in program history.

Joey Smith Dylan Handlan Peyton Shreve Carter Crow Jordan Pelphrey Christian Visney Keaton Howarth Cole McCune Nick Vaughn Harrison Haddock Zach Chandler Luc Girard

L I B E R T Y

Garrett Katz Owen Johnson Caiden Darby Nathan Charnes Carson Brassel Quinn Meyer Zach Pruss Luke Dagenais Greyson Howarth Max Westhoff Jude Bill

F R O N T I E R

There is a new sport at LHS that is creating excitement among the school community.

Liberty now has a club hockey team that was recently established.

The newly formed team, which was formed from a Facebook group this summer, has already played two games. They tied Fort Zumwalt West and defeated Timberland. It is made up of 23 students from Liberty and practices every Thursday.

“The team looks really good and it’s exciting to be on a team for a school,” sophomore Zach Chandler said.

Prior to this season, those students from Liberty who wanted to play high school hockey, played on Timberland’s team.

The team is still in its early stages and the coach and team members are still finding out strengths and weaknesses. However, some members have already played together on different teams creating a stronger bond. They are currently playing other teams in nearby schools, with more official games starting this spring.

“It was really fun to see everyone show up to play,” sophomore Jordan Pelphrey said about the Eagles’ first practice. “Everyone was really proud that we finally had a team to represent.”

The team practices at Wentzville Ice Arena every Thursday night and is coached by Grant Haddock.

“The coach is really understanding of our different levels but still pushes us really hard to improve,” Pelphrey said.

Girls Swim: Coach Whitmore

Wrestling: Coach K ling

Record: 8-0 What goals do you have for your season?

Win Conference and Districts.

How is your season going?

Very well. A lot of good things to look forward to.

Girls Basketball: Coach Walterbach photos by Jaxon Drezek, Kira Radic, Sruthi Ramesh, and Monica Reyes

8 design by: A. Schniepp Sports | lhstoday.org

ters

Schwander, Repor

Record: 2-3 What goals do you have for this season?

We are in a new division this season and we are hoping to have a strong showing at GACs and state.

How is your season going?

We have had multiple state consideration times and have had strong showings against all of the teams we have competed against.

Boys Basketball: Coach Sodemann

Record: 2-7 Record: 6-3 What goals do you have for this season?

What goals do you have for this season?

Stay healthy, have fun, win games.

Get better each day. Be playing our best basketball in How is your season going?

March.

We are learning. It’s good to How is your season going? have a mix of upperclassmen We are competing hard but we need to do a better job and underclassmen. Our of paying attention to detail. numbers this year are What is your program’s motto? great.

Be The Standard and Chop Wood Carry Water.

Shining on Signing Day

Liberty student athletes make their futures clear in official signing day ceremony

by Gavin Block, Reporter

Nine student-athletes, along with their families and coaches, gathered at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, in the main gym to announce their collegiate commitments.

This was the first time in over two years that a signing day congregation was organized; the last one was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cary Eldredge, Liberty’s athletic director, opened the ceremony by recognizing the students and the people who have supported their journeys along the way.

“Today is an opportunity to celebrate these student-athletes who have done whatever it takes to continue on athletically and academically at the collegiate level,” Eldredge said. “These students are before you as a testament to the hard work and dedication needed to sharpen their skills and the perseverance to make it at the college level.”

Eldredge provided a microphone and each student-athlete took turns in a Q&A to give further insight to student-athletes and their collegiate choices. Athletes celebrated amongst each other and their families, LHS Publications took group pictures and breakfast was provided for the attendants.

Of the nine athletes, three were playing soccer, two were playing softball, and two were for baseball with one athlete each for archery and

track/cross country.

Senior Hailey Jolliff was one of the soccer athletes at the college signing. She will be attending the University of Central Missouri.

When asked about the recruiting process at UCM, Jolliff noted, “It was very short. UCM was one of my first options. The school, the coaches, the people, I knew immediately it was the right pick for me.”

Senior and track/cross country state champion Ally Kruger is heading to the University of Kentucky.

“Start early,” Kruger said in advice to those looking to become student-athletes. “Take all of your official visits in the recruiting process because you never know what you love until you see it.”

Senior Riley Laws is the sole athlete competing in archery and will be going to Lindenwood next year.

“When I went to Lindenwood, I could just tell after I left that it was the right spot,” Laws said. “The atmosphere was just amazing.”

When asked what aspects of archery instilled his love for the sport, he remarked, “I get to do it with my family, and I want to stay close to home. I have always loved the accuracy part of it as well.”

The colleges are sure to gain quite some talent next year as the student-athletes will look to make a name for themselves at an even higher level of competition.

photo by Alix Queen A total of nine student-athletes, some going to local colleges and others out of state, signed on commitment day.

Moberly Baseball

Southwest Baptist Softball

Ella Evans

Riley Laws

Bellhaven Softball

Kentucky Cross Country/Track

Central Missouri Soccer

Amira Khayyat

Lindenwood Archery

Ally Kruger

Hailey Jolliff

Cooper Swift

Kylee Orf

Quincy Soccer

Cole Vance East Central Baseball

Tess Roberts Concordia Soccer

Sports | lhstoday.org design by: A. Schniepp

9

Tides Of Change

Teachers share their high school experience and advice

by Avery Schlattman, Reporter & Mollie Banstetter, Layout Editor

High school is the four years students have to explore what they want their future to look like. With finals creeping upon us like a storm on the radar, it can be hard to remember that our teachers have endured similar struggles that we are being met with.

Although this is the time to buckle down and set yourself up for future success math teacher, Ms. Alcorn reminds students that the stress is manageable. “Don’t sweat the small stuff, most things that happen aren’t gonna matter in a year,” Alcorn said.

“Focus on the big picture. What that really means is to remember that you’re not a number or a letter. You’re a person and you mean much more than what your grades tell about you.”

As the first semester of the school year is coming to a close, it can prove to be a challenge to keep hold of motivation. Mr. Jarrett advises students to find classes that spark an interest. “Try and find what you’re interested in while you’re still in high school. Look to see what classes you can take with that and find a way to fit them in your schedule,” Jarrett said.

Ms. McFarland shares a similar piece of advice saying, “Just enjoy it. Find your niche and enjoy it because you’re gonna miss it. You make your experience what it is, make it fun. Make sure to participate and just get involved.”

With four years of homework, tests, essays, and projects, feelings of being overwhelmed are bound to take hold. How you handle it and learn to manage it, is a window to your future and Mr. D’Antonio reminds students just that. “Life doesn’t get easier, you just improve your skills. I think every student should understand that life is never as good as it seems or as bad as it seems, reality is always somewhere in the middle.”

The tides of change are on the horizon, but with the advice of Liberty teachers, navigating the uncharted waters can become less daunting.

D' A n t o n i o

McFarland

Jarrett

10 design by: M. Banstetter & A. Schlattman In-Depth | lhstoday.org

photos by A. Schlattman

Alcorn

“I worried way too much about things that really didn’t matter.

Focus on the big picture.”

-Alcorn

“Learn how to study better in high school so when you go to college it’s not so different.”

-McFarland

“Take the ACT more than once. I left a lot of money on the table. I could have tried to take it again and gotten a much better scholarship.”

-D’Antonio

“Certain things aren’t as funny as they seem. I won’t go into detail, but I wasn’t exactly a model student, that’s for sure.”

- Jarrett -

What advice would you give your high school self?

“I would say the technology and social media. That wasn’t a thing when I was in school.”

- McFarland

1992 Alcorn

1984 Jarrett

what year did you graduate?

2005 D’Antonio

What’s the biggest difference between your high school career and high school today?

“There are a lot more clubs and activities, so students are a lot busier after school. When I started teaching, I was still writing on chalkboards and taking attendance on Scantrons.”

- Alcorn

“Probably social media. All we had was AOL Messenger.”

- D’Antonio

2009 McFarland

“There’s a lot but I think one of the biggest ones is the work ethic. When I was in high school there were no extensions or late work.

If something was due, it was due.”

- Jarrett

photos submitted by teachers

In-Depth | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter and A. Schlattman

11

True -Crime: America’s Sick Pastime Has gruesome crime become the next bingeable sensation?

By Sean Bruce, Reporter Investigative journalism and the power of media have been instrumental in solving criminal cases and bringing justice to the victims. The local news aided in catching Richard Ramirez, “The Night Stalker” who had terrorized California in the summer of 1985, and Facebook groups aided in the capture of murderer Luka Magnotta, who had famously eluded authorities at every turn in Canada. Countless examples could be cited to prove the usefulness of crime media.

However, this had led to the rapid growth of the true-crime genre into an extremely saturated one. The informational and scientific programs like “Forensic Files” and “Catching Killers” have been cast aside for more sensationalized and dramatic storytelling shows and documentaries. With new bingeable case studies popping up every day, the public has become heavily desensitized to horrifying crimes that are happening in the real world.

Modern consumers have become completely incapable of separating television from reality to the point where it disrespects the victims of the criminals they watch. These victims often become throwaway sentences and faceless numbers in death tolls, time is spent more on the brutality of crimes rather than the lives of the victims.

Most people could identify Ted Bundy, Ed Gein, and Jeffrey Dahmer from a photo, but I doubt they could name a single victim of theirs.

Elisa Lam will never be remembered by modern culture as a Canadian college student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver or as the loving daughter of immigrant parents. She is forever remembered as the girl in the water tank or the girl in the weird elevator footage at the Cecil Hotel. Mary Louis Cannon will never be known as a kindhearted grandmother, but rather another body to attribute to the “Night Stalker.”

Even in recent cases, the deceased are completely disregarded and turned into headlines and avenues of relevance. The tragic disappearance and death of Gabby Petito in late August has been desecrated by true-crime-obsessed Twitter users who have turned a manhunt into a lighthearted topic of conversation. I myself have heard incredibly disrespectful comments in passing. Comments like ‘do you know the girl who got murdered?’ and a conversation about theories of how it happened would follow.

Even locally, wide buzz has surrounded the arrest of a suspected serial killer who has been tied to four murders and two attempted

murders all over Missouri. The obsessed public has already sprang into action, commenting on how exciting it is that we have our very own serial killer, as if four people didn’t lose their lives and this isn’t the real world. Pam Hupp has lingered in the headlines after committing murder in O’Fallon, Missouri in 2016. Instead of supporting the families of her victims, a TV show, starring Renée Zellweger, about Hupp’s involvement in the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria is in production for NBC. In addition, the resurgence of the “I-70 Killer” has whet the appetites of our seemingly bloodthirsty community.

What has happened to us? Has death become our new pastime?

Has America developed a bloodlust? We have become a society that craves suffering on our screens. Production studios are hiring actors to recreate the ultimate crime for public consumption, but where does this all end? We have already reached a point where the media has cast aside the story of the victim in exchange for more photos of their last moments on earth.

Are we giving the criminals exactly what they wanted by keeping them in the spotlight? Has social media and streaming platforms become a morbid gallery for a killer’s twisted ‘art’? Yes, we can deny it no longer. Our nation has become hungry for its next tragedy and a subsequent Netflix show giving us all the gruesome details, we’ve propped up the villains of the world as TV stars.

All we can hope for now is that parents are raising their children as if the hulking beast of a true-crime genre never existed. And that we’re not raising the next generation of serial killers.

graph by Sean Bruce

The growth rate of True Crime viewership on Youtube has doubled since 2017.

"I get that people died and that's sad and stuf , but isn't it so cool that we have a serial killer?"

-Anonymous 12 design by: K. Copeland Opinion | lhstoday.org

‘'Squid Game': A Capitalist Cautionary Tale The breakout series depicts issues regarding poverty, social class and a money-obsessed society

By Kay Copeland, Reporter photo via Digital Spy

How far are you willing to go to win? Is monetary gain worth more than your family and friends? Is it ethical to step on others in order to get ahead in life, or are ethics not even a part of the conversation? All of these questions are in relation to two seemingly unrelated things: capitalism and the new hit Netflix series “Squid Game.”

The show follows Seong Gi-hun (player 456), a middle-aged Korean man with a gambling addiction and crippling debt. He, along with 455 others, is (sort of ) consensually drugged and taken from the streets of South Korea to a secret island, where they will compete in six games for a total jackpot of 45.6 billion won (approximately $38,460,271 USD). If players can finish all six games without being eliminated, the cash prize is theirs. The only catch is that elimination doesn’t have its usual connotation: when you get eliminated, you die.

The capitalistic parables within “Squid Game” are hidden in plain sight, the most obvious being the competition aspect. One of the direst principles of a capitalist society is consistent competition.

Businesses compete to provide goods and services that are better, faster, and cheaper than the business before them. Citizens compete to make the most money and secure the best job positions.

Consumers compete to find the best items at the lowest prices.

Competition thrives in a capitalist society and economy, much like how it does in “Squid Game.”

The desired end result is the same in both the games and capitalism: to obtain money. The difference is that “Squid Game” depicts its competition as a brutal blood bath. Players even willingly continue to compete for the lump sum after seeing their fate firsthand. Almost all players have an extreme debt to pay off, some living in the utmost poverty, so much so to the point that they put their lives in jeopardy. Most players would rather compete to the death for a chance at money, since their debt has chained them to a life they’d rather not have outside of the games.

In the fourth episode of the show, Jang Deok-Su (player 101) puts to the test just how fair these games actually are. When the players in the game are fed, the organizers of the game only bring in just enough for one helping per player. Jang steals an extra helping of food, and once the man deprived of his meal speaks up, Jang kills the man. As the contestants spectate in horror and Seong (player 456) hollers for the masked guards to do something, the cash prize is increased and we see the number of players decrease by one. Jang is not punished for his victim’s murder instead, his action reveals that, everyone is free to kill anyone, whenever. All of the games have a facade of fairness. In actuality, very little about “Squid Game” is fair. The games are packed full with seemingly random advantages and disadvantages amongst players. This is most prevalent in the dalgona candy game and the glass bridge game, where players are instructed to choose a shape, number, etc. prior to the game, without knowing what they’re playing.

The VIPs we encounter in the later episodes of “Squid Game” are an allegory for the upper class and their privilege to act unjustly.

In the dalgona candy game, an upset player who is about to be eliminated takes a staff member hostage. He angrily exclaims how some players got easy shapes like a triangle or circle, while others were stuck with difficult shapes such as an umbrella or star. In a capitalist society, we are all given certain advantages and disadvantages in life. This ties into the issue regarding social class.

We’re all given different starting points, and no, it’s not fair.

In episode seven we meet the VIPs. The VIPs are spectators of the game who watch and bet money on the lives of the players.

They all dress glamorously and have the image of wealth. They throw around money like it’s endless, betting millions of dollars on who the winner will be. The VIPs are representative of the rich elite that live comfortably without any worry. They get whatever they want and have plenty of money to do so. The top .1% in the United States continue to get richer as the lower classes continue to get poorer. Money rules their lives while they benefit from the lower classes.

“Squid Game” provides some important commentary and metaphors on the dangers that capitalism brings on our society today. The series showcases the human instinct of self-preservation and just how far people are willing to go to survive. It shows to what extent capitalism drives the lowest and highest classes of our society. Players are encouraged to betray and manipulate their teammates, the people they have grown the closest to.

The capitalist parables within “Squid Game” are open to interpretation, and they bring forth a long-awaited conversation.

The scornful critiques that the series makes aren’t merely a dramatized reflection of our capitalist society; it is our society.

Opinion| lhstoday.org design by: K. Copeland

13

Britney Spears: Finally Free

Judge votes to end pop star Britney Spear’s abusive conservativeship after 13 years

by Avery Schlattman Reporter

14 design by: F. Flynn

News | lhstoday.org

After 13 years of what the star refers to as a “traumatizing and abusive” conservatorship, Britney Spears was freed on Friday, Nov. 12. In the United States, a conservatorship is the appointment of a guardian by a judge to manage the financial affairs (estate) and/or the daily life of another person due to old age or physical/mental limitations. Britney Spears’ conservatorship started as temporary after a breakdown was made public by paparazzi, back in 2008. Her father, Jamie Spears, was appointed the sole conservator of Britney’s estate and being, leaving him in charge of every aspect of the young star’s life.

The conservatorship placed several limitations on Britney’s life, sending her into what she claims was a worsened depressive state. Spears was unable to speak to the press herself, and began posting to Instagram in a cryptic fashion, causing fans to theorize about Britney’s wellbeing. Fans created what became known as the #FreeBritney movement.

Supporters of the movement took to the streets of LA, protesting outside of courthouses in an attempt to make their voices heard. The movement escalated, gaining attention from the press eventually resulting in the New York Times Documentary “Framing Britney Spears” to be released. While Jamie Spears made sure his daughter’s voice was silenced, fans made sure their advocacy for the stars’ freedom would not go unheard. “I heard about the movement through instagram” sophomore Mitchell Luker shared. “I’m just happy that it’s (the conservatorship) over. It wasn’t deserved at all, especially since Britney remained a prominent pop figure.”

English teacher Mr. Schaper shares the confusion as to why the conservatorship continued for so many years. “She’s been a Vegas staple the past 5 years. No one in a desperate mental state could handle a job as demanding as that.”

The lyric “my loneliness is killing me” from Britney’s late 90s hit “...Baby One More Time” now appears to foreshadow the past decade of her life. Spears has been deprived of a social life throughout her conservatorship, restricted from seeing her friends, family, and even her children.

While the isolation Britney faced was a strong factor in wanting to disband the conservatorship, it was not her only one. The singer confessed in her June trial that she had been forced into performing at her Vegas staple show for over four years. Despite her constant objections, Jamie Spears maintained his power over Britney, with threats of sending her to rehab facilities or putting her on drugs she didn’t need. In 2018 Spears was forced into taking the highly addictive drug, Lithium, after a refusal to perform. She shared how the drug made her feel drunk and drowsy, and she was unable to even hold a simple conversation. It was tactics like this that instilled fear in Britney Spears.

So, what’s next for Britney? The now 39-year-old star has many things to look forward to with her freedom. “I’m excited to have the keys to my car and just finally feel like an independent woman,” Spears shared on Instagram live. Spears also has some more momentous events in the works. In September, Britney and her boyfriend of five years Sam Asghari were engaged. While in court, Spears brought up her intentions to sue her father for conservatorship abuse. The case is expected to be brought to the courts sometime soon.

And as for her fans? Britney continues to express gratitude for them daily through social media. With the insane amount of love Spears has for her fans she surprisingly made the announcement that she doesn’t plan on performing possibly ever again. The conservatorship drained her, taking away her love of performing and turning it into a torturous chore. A fan from the beginning, Ms. Braswell expresses the bittersweetness of the announcement. “It just makes me think about all of her concerts that I went to, and whether or not she actually wanted to be there.” Fans anxiously await the future hoping the best for their beloved pop star, but most of all just excited to see a #FreedBritney. photos via Creative Commons

Though the prestigious GRAMMYs have been under heavy scrutiny in recent years, artists in all genres still revere the award show as a marker for annual musical achievement. The nominations for the 2022 GRAMMYs were recently released, with many chart-topping and new-coming artists in the mix. The music eligible for consideration of nomination must have been released between Sept. 1, 2020 through Sept.

30, 2021.

The full list of nominations can be found on the Recording Academy’s official website “grammy.com”.

Liberty students seem to believe that Rodrigo will sweep the major categories as Eilish did in years past. In a survey of 160 students, 35% believe that “drivers license” will win Record of the Year, 33.1% believe that “Sour” will win Album of the Year, 31% believe that “drivers license” will win Song of the Year, and a resounding 61.3% believe that Rodrigo will win Best New Artist.

Artists such as Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and Billie Eilish all received a nominations within three of the four major categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

In 2020, Billie Eilish won GRAMMYs for all four of the major categories, even though it was her first ever year of being nominated for any GRAMMYs. Following in Eilish’s steps, breakout pop star Olivia Rodrigo has gained nominations within all four categories for her first year of Grammy Nominations. In total, Rodrigo has 7 nominations at the 64th GRAMMYs.

Among students, other major contenders include 15.6% for Doja Cat & SZA’s “Kiss Me More” for Record of the Year, 16.9% for Taylor Swift’s “evermore” as Album of the Year, 15.6% for Kanye West’s “Donda” for Album of the Year, and 21.9% for Lil Nas X’s “Montero” as Song of the Year.

The 64th GRAMMYs Award Show were been postponed on Jan. 5 due to risks regarding COVID-19.

News| lhstoday.org design by: S. Ramesh

15

Dr. Cain Recognized As Missouri Superintendent Of The Year

By Fiona Flynn, Reporter Dr. Curtis Cain was announced and honored as the 2022 Missouri Superintendent by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) on Nov. 6 and will be recognized as such in February 2022 at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference on Education.

Dr. Cain has served as the Superintendent of the Wentzville School District (WSD) since 2013 and is the current president of the Missouri Association of School Administrators. As well as working on the Missouri Commissioner of Education Advisory Council, he also serves on the Kansas/Missouri Superintendents Leadership Forum Advisory Board and

the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).

“Dr. Cain is personable, accessible, and well respected in Missouri by his colleagues and peers,” stated the Executive Director of MASA, Doug Hayter. “As the leader of the fastest-growing school district in the state of Missouri, Dr. Cain has spearheaded avenues for growth in facilities, staffing, and communication.”

Dr. Cain is also responsible for overseeing the educational performance and the wellbeing of more than 17,300 students and 2,600 staff members of the Wentzville School District. He and his educators try to meet the instructional needs of the most

diverse generation this country has seen by building school improvement plans and goals embedded into the principal evaluation process.

“We’ve purposefully brought diverse opinions to the table,” Dr. Cain said. “I have a superintendent’s roundtable which brings PreK-12 parent representatives from each school as well as community members to the table to converse with and inform me on critical issues in our school and the greater community.”

Cain collaborates with first responders on community projects and works with faithbased partners to meet the needs of students and families.

Dr. Cain named Missouri Superintendent of the year. photo provided by @WSDinfo on Twitter

Jolliff Receives Teacher Of The Year Honor

By Kay Copeland, Reporter

Since the origins of Liberty High School in 2013, only a handful of first-wave LHS teachers are still going strong. Special education department head, Denys Jolliff is one teacher out of that handful. Since the very first stages of Liberty, Jolliff has significantly paved the way for our school culture and brought plenty of light to its halls.

“She has been instrumental in developing everything around Liberty as far as our culture and that goes for the students and the staff,” math teacher Toby Glavin said.

On Thursday morning, Nov. 18, staff members and students alike gathered at 7 a.m. at the main entrance of Liberty as Dr. Nelson announced the recipient of Teacher of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year. Many were nominated for such an honor, but ultimately Mrs. Jolliff took home the win.

Jolliff has been teaching at Liberty since the school opened its doors in 2013. Prior to working at Liberty, she taught over at Timberland for 13 years. Currently, she’s in her

16

News | lhstoday.org design by: A. Luker

25th year of teaching.

“It really is an honor because there are so many good teachers here at Liberty and to be put in a category with anyone in this building is amazing,” Jolliff admired. “To receive this honor is even more exceptional.”

Jolliff is the special education department chair, which entails coordinating the entire department. She also helps co-teach several math classes.

Math teacher Mr. Glavin had many more nice things to say about Jolliff. This school year, the two of them are co-teaching a class together for the first time. “Mrs. Jolliff has been awesome since we have opened the school, since I’ve known her. She’s a great teacher, she’s also a great coworker,” Glavin said. “She is definitely very deserving of this award.”

Building principal Dr. Nelson also shared some kind words about Mrs. Jolliff during the award ceremony. He exclaimed how she is “awesome with two exclamation points.”

“Mrs. Jolliff is our special education

department chair and she’s really really good,” Nelson praised. “She cares about kids, she helps her colleagues, so she’s about as awesome as you can possibly be.”

All of this celebration and admiration is highly deserved, and thoroughly earned.

Congratulations to the new Teacher of the Year!

Special education department head Denys Jolliff receives Teacher of the Year award. photo by LHS Publications

Since Liberty's infancy, the Student Council has taken it upon themselves to get students into the holiday spirit during the last month of the calendar year. “Deck the Halls” is a tradition that started when the building only consisted of two hallways and has now grown into a major affair on Liberty’s expansive campus.

“As a school, I think it keeps the spirit alive especially when we nearing the end of the semester,” said Student Council sponsor Mrs. Shafer. “Things can get kind of challenging and dreary as it gets colder and darker so I think all the doors and the decorations bring a little more spirit into the end of the semester.” photos by Sruthi Ramesh Allie Quirk (11) hangs up a door decoration that reads “We are smitten for winter”.

Student Council Decks The Halls Liberty continues the tradition of celebrating the holidays through hand-painted signs and hallway decorations

Each member of the Student Council is responsible for painting and creating 2-4 door covers for teachers.

These, along with other hallway decorations, are then hung up right before the student goes on Thanksgiving break.

When students return, the entire school is transformed into a festive holiday-themed wonderland.

This year, the council began their painting efforts on Nov. 8 and had a goal to finish all decorating by Nov. 23.

This includes door decorations, hallway decorations, and foyer decorations.

“I like the holiday season and I know [the decorations] bring[s] everyone here joy,” said senior Anna Weber. “It’s a new scenery that invites the fun of the holidays into school life.”

By Sruthi Ramesh, Editor-In-Chief of LHStoday Weber was a part of the Student Council her sophomore year in 2019, which was the last time that students and staff saw the school campus decked out in the holiday decorations.

Because of the time elapsed since the last round of door decks, many don’t remember what it looked like, and most have never seen it before.

Reintroducing this tradition to Liberty is another way for the council to increase spirit within the school, as they have been aiming to do this entire school year. 11 Each of the hallways are given specific themes, to which their doors fit in. The themes this year are: 100 Hallway: Christmas Movies 200 Hallway: Rockin’ Around Liberty 300 Hallway: Winter Punderland 400 Hallway: Everything under the Christmas Tree 600 Hallway: Welcome To The North Swole Aleigha Schnable (12), Brody Marino (9) and Carly Torbit (12) work together to hang up a decoration for Mr. Tutterrow’s door.

News| lhstoday.org design by: S. Knickmeyer

17

What is Happening to Our Water?

Recent effects of climate change on the water cycle

by Sammy Knickmeyer, Reporter

Climate change is frequently considered a major threat to our Earth. The Earth’s climate has already warmed by 0.5° C over the past century. Recent studies show that global warming could be affecting environmental systems. Sea levels are rising and oceans are slowly becoming warmer.

Climate change is likely causing the water cycle to speed up. This is due to warming global temperatures increasing the rate of evaporation. Higher rates of evaporation and precipitation are not even around the world. Some areas are receiving a higher than average amount of precipitation, and other areas are experiencing droughts.

More rain and flooding •More extreme drought •Stronger hurricanes • Heat waves

•

As climate change continues to affect the Earth, our weather will continue to change. Some changes include the following: Globally, the sea levels are rising. In the past century they have risen 4-8 inches. Not only are the levels rising due to melting glaciers, they are also affected by the temperature of the water. As our oceans get hotter, they are also expanding.

Warming waters in shallow oceans have led to the death of about a quarter of the coral reefs. Many corral animals are dying due to coral bleaching, which is directly caused by warming waters.

As sea ice melts, warming increases. Warmer temperatures have caused more ice to melt in the summer, and less ice to form in the winter. With less ice, there is less light being reflected back into space, causing even more warming. Rainfall is expected to increase for most land areas. Daily extreme precipitation will most likely increase by 7% for every 1 degree celsius that temperatures rise.

Here are 5 things you as an individual can do to prevent further global warming:

1. Use your voice.

Educate the people around you, and make the issue more known.

2. Reduce water waste.

It takes a lot of energy to pump, heat, and treat your water. Take shorter showers

and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.

3. Invest in energy efficient appliances.

When shopping for refrigerators, washing machines, and other appliances, look for the Energy Star label. It will tell you which are the most efficient.

4. Only buy food you will eat.

About 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing, processing, packaging, and shipping food. About 40 percent of which just ends up in the landfill.

5. Drive a fuel efficient vehicle.

Gas-smart cars, such as hybrids and fully electric vehicles, save fuel and money. Once all cars and light trucks meet 2025’s clean car standards (averaging 54.5 miles per gallon) they’ll be a common way of transportation.

18 design by: P. Bostic

News | lhstoday.org

Another COVID-19 Milestone Two COVID-19 Pills are Introduced in the US and UK

by Abbiegail Luker, Reporter

About a year ago, three COVID-19 vaccines were approved and released for use in the United States. They were a massively controversial topic, and now that there have been pills introduced, it is likely to be a similar case.

We now have not only one, but two COVID-19 pills. Pfizer has created one in the US called “Paxlovid”. Merck, a company in the UK, has also produced a COVID-19 pill, “Lagevrio.”

While the COVID-19 vaccines are meant to prevent infection, the pills are meant to lessen COVID-19 symptoms.

Merck announced on Oct. 1 that their pill lowered the chance of hospitalization/death by 50% in patients at risk of critical illness.

Lagevrio won regulatory approval on Nov. 4.

On Nov. 5, trial results from Pfizer stated that their pill had lessened the chance of hospitalization/death by 89% in patients at risk for critical illness.

Merck’s and Pfizers’ pills work very differently from each other. Merck’s pill is designed to inject itself into the virus while it’s replicating so that the infected cells are tricked into making ineffective copies of the virus. Pfizer’s, however, designed their pill to introduce a new compound that can bind to enzymes in the virus, effectively stopping reproduction.

The FDA is currently working on whether or not Pfizer’s pill should be approved, while Merck is currently working on getting the pill distributed around the world. We are expecting to have access to these pills by the end of this year (2021).

School Board Introduces Attendance Incentive To WSD Staff Teachers can now expect a bonus of up to $700 depending on their attendance for the remainder of the school year

by Paige Bostic, Co-Editor-In-Chief of The Ledger

As the Eagles continue soaring through the school year, they may notice a staffing struggle among the teachers. Bus reassignments over the intercom have become a daily ritual and teachers seem to be stepping in as substitutes during the plan period. This staffing shortage has led to attendance incentives from the district to the teachers to encourage them to be at school as much as possible. The district sent a now-closed Google Form to the teachers, detailing options for them to vote on to determine which incentive would be the best.

Option one of the incentives covered Nov. 29 to the end of the student calendar. Teachers who miss six days will receive a $200 incentive, teachers who miss five days will receive $300, teachers who miss four days will receive $500 and teachers who miss three days or less will receive $700. Teachers who miss over six days will not be eligible for an incentive. This option does not count absences due to COVID-19 quarantine days.

Option two of the incentive covered Nov. 29 to winter break, return from winter break to spring break and return from spring break to the end of the student calendar. Teachers who have one or fewer absences from Nov. 29 to winter break will receive a $200 bonus and a $250 bonus for one or fewer absences in between the return from winter break to spring break. Teachers who have one or fewer absences between the return from spring break to the end of the student calendar will receive a $250 incentive.

There were 1,723 staff members who participated in this survey on which option they prefer, and the most popular option will be put into place on Nov. 29. The running was close, but the most popular option was Option Two with 851 responses. Option One received 843 responses.

The survey faced criticism from some school board members for “forcing” teachers into work at the sensitive time we are in, and for not providing a clear date for a day off. The board voted approve option two and also to provide a mental health day non-attendance day for staff on Feb. 18.

News | lhstoday.org design by: P. Bostic

19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jack Meyer uses the bandsaw to cut out his cutting board project . .photo by Emma . Carter. . . . . . . . . . . . . or.learn how . If you’ve . ever .wanted to . build .wood projects . . to manage a home, Mr. LaBrot is the person to talk to. LaBrot . . . to work . in the. woodshop . in room . 309.. teaches students how . “I get.different. groups.of kids..Some years . I get.a lot of.kids from the art department,” LaBrot said. Not only do the kids . . . . . . . . learn from him, but he also learns from them. “It opens me up . . a different . light . too.” . . . to.seeing projects in classes working in. . LaBrot. offers three . different . . involving . . the woodshop. Woods I is a basic class where you learn how . all the. different . machinery. . Woods . II is. for the. to .work with more . advanced . wood . makers, . using.mostly .hand tools. . Home .

Management is for all the students who want to be self-sufficient . . . . . . . . when it comes to fixing their homes. . LaBrot. also mentioned . .that he.only has. nine girls . in all. three of his classes combined.

This is an unexpectedly . . . . . . . large . number in comparison to previous years. “Most years I have . two.or three.throughout . my .day.” . . . about (9), . One of . LaBrot’s . students, . Berkley . Lamarque . . is . currently making a pen from scratch. . “I think . the pens . are really . cool . and . . . . definitely . going . to be using . them . a lot.”. . .

I’m Lamarque is in Woodshop I, which is an all-year . . . . . . . . class. . Tess Roberts, . . is also . in Woodshop . .I, is . . who the. only girl . in the.class. . . . . .

“It’s fun because I’ve never met anybody . in the . class and . it got.me to be . friends.with . . who’s a bunch of.underclassmen.” . . . . . . .

LaBrot explained that his Woodshop I classes . . . . . . . . go through a safety unit, builds cutting boards, . and .picture frames . . . . pens, in.the first.semester.

This, . along. with Woodshop . . II, is a.very hands-on . . . class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mr. LaBrot teaches students how to build different . . . . . . . . . . projects using the woodshop . . . . . . . . . .

by Kyndall Stubblefield, Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Junior . Vito.Signaigo.said his.favorite.project .was making . . . the cutting board. He got to use all of the different machines on .one project. . . . . . . . . . . In Woodshop . . II, you . start the . year by . building . mallets, . . . which you will use for later projects. In the class Home . . . . . . . . . .

Maintenance, the students go through different units which start .with electricity . . move. on to plumbing. . . You get . to cut.PVC . . and pipe . and.learn how . to drywall. . . . . . . .

You’ve probably seen the works of the Woodshop classes all .around the . school. without . even noticing. . .In the past, . Woodshop . . . .was in charge . of .making .the props. for theatre . and.pieces for . the . .

Homecoming dance. . . . . . . . . . .

Lamarque also made sure to mention that “(LaBrot) is really .nice. This . is definitely . . . . . my. favorite. class.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nathan Mohr focuses on his pen woodworking project during class. . . . . . . . . by Emma.Carter . photo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Working in the

S

Woodshop

20 design by: E. Hamby

Feature | lhstoday.org

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The theatre program performed an amusing and lively performance in which these . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . thespians entertained the audience with a play of Shakespeare’s most brilliant works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

by Ally Schniepp, Sports Editor, Elizabeth Hamby, Editor-In- Chief of the Ledger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Senior Ashley Haberberger entered stage right The natural chemistry of the cast was infectious . .on Friday, . Nov 19 . and provided . .the audience . with. . definitely . cracked . the audience . .up, especially . . and a strong introduction of the play being performed, Madeline Claravall, and . . . . . . . . . . . Anna Wright . . Sean.Bruce. .

“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare The trio carried the second half of the play with . .Abridged.” . . . . . . . infectious . energy . that.never failed . to bring . a . their smile . . You.definitely . wouldn’t . believe . it if you . . . to our . faces.. . . . . didn’t see it but Shakespeare can and has been Absolutely no cast member disappointed, from . .made modern . . . . . . . . . . . . . and hilarious and interesting, and Titus and Andronicus represented by a cooking . .Haberberger . did.an excellent . job.of luring. the . . to the . collection . of histories . . . by a . show represented crowd into the fun and silly nature of the play. football game, . . . . . . . . . . or the . comedies . dramatically . . read, .

In this play, that features all of Shakespeare’s 37 there was nothing to not enjoy for the audience. . .plays, shortens . . parodies . them . to fit in . an hour . . Even.the crew. putting.out props . put on .a . and and a half show.

The audience is heavily relied on, performance . . . . . . . . . . for the . crowd.bringing . out pieces . for . so each performance was different in its own way. the stage and dramatically staring and hesitating . . Months . of .work were . put into . the production . . . . . . . . . before scampering off the stage. .and the .result did. not disappoint. . .Throw .in some . . The moral . of the . story.is if you.missed .this play,. . non-scripted laughs and falls by the cast and you you missed . . . . . . . . . . out on.an amazing . opportunity . .to laugh. have the recipe for laughter and a unique touch of your head off. Thank you fellow Liberty thespians! . .our theatre . program. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Although nothing about this play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . screams ordinary, the unconventionality . .of the performance . . was almost . . best . . . . . . . . . the . .part. Not . only did . the actors . reside . on . . . . . . . . . stage but were often running off into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the audience, out the theatre doors and . .jumping.back onto . the stage. . . . . . . . . . . .

I admire the physical effort it must . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . have taken for the cast despite . .being out . of breath . they.carried . . . . . . . . . . . .on with.their performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sean Bruce carries a basket of flowers for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the performance of Hamlet the Prince of

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Complete Works of William Shakespeare Did Not Disappoint

Denmark.

Photo by Alix Queen

Opinion| lhstoday.org design by: E. Hamby

21

photo by Sruthi

Ramesh

shoots a long range Senior Kylee Orf ee point contest at thr the three in .

Midnight Madness

The Madness Returns

After a year-long break, the excitement of Midnight Madness returns to kick off the basketball season

by Megan Geisler, Reporter

As the lights go down, the spotlights turn on, and excitement fills the air, students get ready for the return of Midnight Madness. Due to COVID-19, this event was canceled last year, meaning that the last Midnight Madness was two years ago.

“It was just an overall really fun experience,” senior Molly Marino remarks.

To kick off the event on Nov, 23, the boys and girls varsity basketball teams were introduced both as a team and one by one.

After introductions, the night headed straight into the 3-point contest.

Three boys and three girls were chosen to shoot 25 baskets and attempt to make as many as they could. Then finalists Hailey Jolliff (12) and Carter Ashby (10) were chosen to compete against each other in the finals. It was a close game with Ashby winning with 16 baskets and Jolliff close behind with only 13.

“It felt great to represent the boys in the 3-point contest. It could have been any of us who competed, it just happened to be my night,” Ashby said after the contest.

After the 3-point contest, things were kicked into high gear as the boys rushed the court to begin their very own dunk contest. At first, no one could sink one until junior Nate Bobikiewicz stepped up and dominated the floor with an amazing dunk.

“It felt really good having my first dunk in front of a bunch of people,” Bobikiewicz said afterward. Soon after, many other boys followed suit with dunks of their own.

As the dunk contest concluded, two athletes from both the boys and girls teams began gearing up for a relay race. Athletes had to dribble through cones, make a layup, and a 3-pointer before passing to their teammate to do the same.

The boys dominated this event winning both of the relays.

It was after the relay that things got interesting. Students were pulled from the crowd to participate in their own competition. They were tasked with making a free throw, a 3-pointer, and a half-court shot.

Molly Marino, one of the participants said, “It was really cool feeling like a part of it when I wasn’t supposed to be and I thought it was really cool that they included that.”

Then came the final competition. A giant shooting contest between the boys and girls ended with the winner making a half-court shot.

The girls took a lead early on with the boys close behind but it all came down to the final half-court shot. Tensions were running high as shot after shot missed but then, due to the combined efforts of Jolliff and Tess Roberts (12), the girls made their half-court shot and secured the win. When asked what their strategy was, Roberts jokingly said “Everyone I think just chucked it.”

The night rounded out with an amazing performance from the Belles and Bros, which is the combined efforts of the varsity dance team and a couple of senior and junior boys. They practiced every AI for 4-5 weeks to prepare for their performance and it turned out amazing.

“It’s fun doing something that’s not serious and competitive,” varsity dancer Marino remarked.

Midnight Madness has gotten people excited for the basketball season and even helped the athletes too.

“It was fun being in that type of environment with the student section back in the gym,” Ashby said. “We are all looking forward to having that continue for the rest of the season.”

22 design by: A. Schniepp Sports | lhstoday.org

photos by Sruthi Ramesh

Athletes Who Drip

An inside look on the passion of a few winter athletes

by Ally Schniepp, Sports Editor As the winter season heats up, the passion of the athletes for their sports starts to shine through. Whether that is on the court, in the pool, or on the mats, each athlete here at Liberty is passionate about their sport in their own way. Sophomore Mariah Mhandu and junior Nathan Bobikiewicz are passionate about basketball and junior Elektra Lowe and Senior Ali Hasan are passionate about wrestling.

Ali Hasan

Senior Ali Hasan has been wrestling for only a month and a half, and he has recently earned first place in his second tournament in his career.

“I already got first, I’m feeling pretty accomplished,” Hasan said. He currently has a record of 6-3. Hasan wrestles in the heavyweight weight class, which is 220-285 pounds.

“I’m doing pretty good right now,” Hasan said. “I was on a three losing streak, then I won four in a row.”

Hasan plans on continuing his streak throughout the rest of the season and is excited to keep learning from his coaches and his teammates.

Junior Elektra Lowe started wrestling in eighth grade and is currently in her fourth year of wrestling.

She has been one of the first lady wrestlers for Liberty and is a big part of building the girl’s program up for wrestling.

“I’m glad to be a part of the team and see it grow over time,” Lowe said. “For my senior year, I hope there are more girls out there than the five this year.”

Lowe has a record of 82 wins and 29 losses so far in her high school career. Earlier this season at the Liberty Girls Invitational Tournament, Lowe had the fastest pin of the night, clocking in at 12 seconds.

“I love wrestling because it lets me grow as an individual and also grow confidence,” Lowe said. “I love showing that girls can do the same thing as guys.”

Lowe plans to continue building her skills and working hard the rest of the season, and the rest of her high school career.

Nathan Bobikiewicz

Junior Nathan Bobikiewicz has been playing basketball for nine years, since he was around 7 or 8 years old. He has been on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year.

“I just love playing,” Bobikiewicz said. “I love the environment of basketball. I love the people it brings me around. That’s why I keep playing.”

Bobikiewicz shows his passion on the court, from his aggressive offense that has earned him an average of 12.8 points a game so far this season to his rebounding, which he averages around six rebounds a game, it is obvious how much love he has for both the sport and his teammates.

“Definitely winning,” Bobikiewicz said when asked what his favorite part of basketball was. “But also growing with your team and building chemistry with your teammates. Learning from your mistakes, learning what you can do better.”

Bobikiewicz embodies what it means to be a good teammate and a strong player at the same time.

Sophomore Mariah Mhandu has played basketball for around five years, since she was 11. Mhandu has also played on the varsity team since her freshman year.

“I like how it’s a team sport,” Mhandu said. “Everyone is always involved, super fast sport, I like the environment it creates.”

Mhandu is a strong defender for the Eagles team, with 21 rebounds so far this season. She is a young player for the program and is much like a graduated player for the program, Toni Patterson.

Mhandu enjoys being a part of a team and playing with her teammates. One of her favorite memories of the program was a team building exercise she did her freshman year, where the team had to communicate with each other to get the task done.

“It feels like a family,” Mhandu said.

Mariah Mhandu

Elektra Lowe

Sports | lhstoday.org design by: A. Schniepp

23

Nurturing

Your

Heart

Your moon sign needs special care, just like you

by Elaine Thimyan, Reporter

A Cancer moon as your ruling planet allows you to be very empathetic. When thrown out of balance, you put your worth on how well you can take care of others. Nurturing your moon sign means having an environment where you can take care of yourself. Light candles to balance out your strong waves of emotions.

Scorpio is the most intense Zodiac sign. Lunar Scorpios value the truth and love. Scorpio moons can keep their emotions tucked away, only trusting few with their heart. To nourish your emotions, having a cleansed space is important. Try reading mystery novels, crime shows, documentaries, etc.

Don't bottle up your feelings and have a trust system.

A Taurus, traditionally ruled by Venus, loves to feel comfortable in their environments and with themselves.

Nourishing your moon sign is a great way to practice self-love. Taurus rules the throat, so when your moon sign is out of balance you may contract an illness there.

Having a warm cup of tea can do you wonders!

Virgo moons are focused and express their emotions through projects and communication.

Virgo moons need intellectual conversations and love to learn.

To nourish your moon sign, drink lots of water and keep your room or environment clean to keep your mind stress-free.

W

A

E

A

Gemini moons are intellectual and crave depth in their relationships. People with Gemini moons need lots of mental stimulation, so if you’re out of balance you might get brain fog. Nourishing your moon sign can include doing a puzzle, coloring or painting. Meditate on how you feel rather than how you think.

A

Aries moons are engaging and often very honest. People with Aries moons tend to become easily irritated and offended. Aries emotions burn quick and take time to fizzle out. Aries rules the head, so perhaps when fired up you may experience migraines or cramps. To nourish your moon sign, practice being still, brush your hair or get a head massage.

F

T

E

R

T

As a Pisces moon, you're a daydreamer at heart. You tend to find unique ways to create a peaceful escapism. Innocent, compassionate and creative, you can always find the bright side of things. You can become drained easily, so to nourish your moon sign make sure to establish emotional boundaries and spend time with friends.

R

Capricorn moons are focused and don’t like to dilly-dally in fear of not completing their tasks. They tend to get lost in their passions of productivity. To nourish your moon sign, investing in a planner or some type of goal-setter will be helpful. Take a break and have fun!

That project will be waiting for you when you get back.

H

Libra moons need a sense of fairness. If a lunar Libra doesn’t feel appreciated they can become passive-aggressive. Libra moons like harmonious relationships, as with tension they become indecisive. When it comes to nourishing your moon sign, practice grounding, carry important crystals, and dress up even if you aren’t going anywhere fancy.

Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of chaos, sudden change and news. This means that your emotions can change very quickly without any reason. When trying to go above human emotions, you can become detached. To nourish your moon sign, do some charity work, volunteer and help your community.

Lunar Leos are a very powerful placement. The moon is your opposite, but it doesn’t hold you back. Lunar Leos are creative and love to be in the sunlight. To nurture your moon sign, channel your creative energy to put it on display: try joining a play, selling art, making music.

Lunar Sagittariuses are adventurous and like spending time having fun. They wear their heart, and their mind, on their sleeves, which is why many feel tense if they have to keep a secret. To nourish your heart, go for a walk, spend time in nature and practice mindfulness with yourself.

I

I

R

R

E

Interactive| lhstoday.org design by: E. Thimyan

24