The Wildcat Roar Issue 4

The

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Warren Smith and other Teachers as Coaches p.18

December 2014

From Page to Screen: a Review of Mockingjay p.15

VOLUME XII

ISSUE FOUR

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Opinion

From the Editors

A Response to Ferguson The original purpose in writing this article was to quantify the issues in Ferguson, and respond in a way that every student, faculty, and community member could gain from, regardless of race. After drafts and drafts of writing, we realized our mistake: our editorial staff is mostly white, and as such have not lived the life of a minority. No matter how impartial or supportive we may be, we struggle to imagine a life where we need to put things directly into shopping carts at the grocery store in order to not arouse suspicion. We struggle to imagine why someone would raise an eyebrow when we tell them we go to a private school. We struggle to understand the challenges a person of color lives with.

There is more to the issues in Ferguson than just race. There is the issue of groups using this event as an excuse for violence and rebellion. There is the issue of officer Darren Wilson not having a nonlethal weapon to use. There is the issue of politicians, racial activists, and celebrities using this calamity as a tool to slingshot their own agendas and ideas into the public eye. These issues, and others like them, have helped to catapult the situation into full view of the world and opened it to every level of scrutiny and Monday morning quarterbacking. Monday morning quarterbacking is easy.

It feels simple. But now that we’ve realized the situation, addressing it is anything but simple.

By watching the burning buildings and violence from the comfort of our living rooms, those outside of Ferguson it is easy to begin to develop a fishbowl viewpoint of the situation. Fingers are pointed towards violent extremists for being narrow sighted and

overblown. Often this is done out of unintentional ignorance. In a predominantly white community, bias is an easy pitfall to tumble into. It’s something that took us awhile to think about about because it is not something we come across every day. The obvious consequences are insensitivity and bigotry, which are symptoms that are rearing their ugly heads after being aggravated by such an extreme national issue.

Realizing that our our own lack of empathy led us to oversimplify a complex issue we came to the conclusion that people need to work hard to understand the position people of other races are in. We need to talk to them and listen to their opinions, instead of arguing with them and refusing to see the world from their point of view. If we want to resolve these conflicts, we need to understand the other side’s position. It is good to pursue relationships with those who don’t hold the same opinions as us. We don’t have to agree with them, but we ought to be empathetic.

And we also need to be willing to be corrected, too. If we are willing to acknowledge that we can be wrong, and if we understand the other side’s point of view, then it is more likely we can reach a compromise and resolve the issues this country is currently facing.

Hundreds of years of racial tension have been released in one week and the effects have been far reaching. These issues are massive, ugly, and not easily consoled. The answer is not a rush to judgement. The answer is not ignoring or shying away from the issue. The answer includes being informed on all sides, knowing the facts and empathizing with points of view not your own.

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Wildcat Roar Staff Staff Writers: Caroline Agan Jack Andrews Michael Alldredge Mary Grace Barber Markus Cicka Tessa Copeland Ryan Davis Katherine Galvin Abi Hackman Chase Lottmann Sarah Ragsdale Tierra Reese Mike Richardson Benjamin Sems

Print Editors: Audrey O’Neill and Mary Heyl Design Editors: Maggi Eachus and Ashley Klein Broadcast Editor: John Pottebaum Online Editor: Katherine Yenzer Sports Editor: Jake Schroeder Feature Editor: Bria Paxton Opinions Editor: Juhyae Kim News Editor: Lauren Ramos Entertainment Editor: Becca Eis Business Manager: Andrew Montgomery News Features Editor: Cate Hoogstraten

Newspaper Editor-in-Chief:

Megan Galvin

Publications Executive Editor:

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Advisor:

Scott Vonder Bruegge

The Hypocritic Oath Hypocrisy: The practice of for such hypocrisy in the WCA claiming to have moral standards community falls to complacency, or beliefs to which one’s own be- the idea that kids want to do what havior does not conform. is easy and what makes them Let’s get to the root of the comfortable because they may problem. Everyone is hypocriti- not want to go out on a limb to cal. Atheists, Christians, and expose their faith. It is easy for others of different religions. But students to be sucked into worldChristians get a lot of the dirt ly things like TV shows and muwhen it comes to being labeled sic that don’t reflect the Christian as hypocrites. Westminster is no worldview. Lots of mainstream exception. I am friends with a few music have catchy beats and apnew students pealing tunes, this year and compared to conMany teens at one has said temporary Chrisplainly, “peo- Westminster are tian music. These ple are really things are easy to putting on a mask listen to or watch fake here.”

This hy- at school, trying and can be so pocrisy in our entertaining that c o m mu n i t y to fit in with the students don’t recan be boiled Christian ideals. alize that the lyrdown to two ics or content are main issues: degrading. Stuthe pressure to live up to expec- dents give off hypocritical vibes tations and the complacency that when they listen to Hoodie Allen, often comes as a result of living then turn around and say, “Oh, out the faith. and by the way, I’m a Christian.”

Many teens at Westminster So are there any solutions to are putting on a mask at school, our problem of hypocrisy? trying to fit in with the ChrisFirst of all, it is important to tian ideals. Not everyone here is understand that a Christian coma Christian. There are students munity is called to be set apart. who do not believe in God, but My hope is that members of try to act according to what is ex- Christian communities, particupected in the Westminster com- larly this one here at WCA, begin munity. With this comes the fears to think about how their actions of judgement. If a student does reflect their identities as Chrisnot act “Christian” at school, he tians. Since WCA is a Christian is looked upon as a rebel and school, it should be set apart. My wears a label on his forehead that mission is to make us as a Chrisblatantly states, “NonBeliever.” tian school aware of the dangers These are the pressures that kids that hypocrisy brings. We can of our community are living un- never fix the problem because it der. Because of this, once students is part of the human condition. are outside of school, there is this Let’s work towards diminishing sense of freedom to act without the bad name often attached, bethe stigma of our Christian com- cause of hypocrisy, to Christians munity that holding them back. here at Westminster and in the The second probable cause community.

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Consider This:

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When I was younger, I threw fits and got upset at my parents for buying cool presents for other children at my church while getting me cheap, lame toys. In the back of my mind, I knew that the gifts weren’t supposed to matter--I had always been lectured by my parents and at church that Christmas wasn’t all about the presents. But I figured if I was going to receive them anyway, why not ask for the best things possible?

It’s pretty normal for kids to place lots of value in their Christmas gifts and to be jealous of the presents other kids receive.

Little things like these can easily excite and upset children, and parents can take this opportunity to show their kids that there are things about Christmas that are more important than the presents.

But there is something that bothers me about the anti-materialism sentiment during the Christmas season. It’s when I see parents tell their kids not to focus on the presents, yet spend hundreds of dollars each year on gifts and perpetuate the very materialism that they teach against.

Recently, a family who “canceled Christmas” was featured in CNN.com. The parents had been working to teach their kids not to be entitled about gifts for the few months leading up to December, but seeing how it wasn’t working, they decided not to buy gifts for their own children and to spend that money on service projects to help others in need. They will still celebrate the birth of Christ and the kids will receive presents from friends and relatives, but the mother said her kids are learning to think of others instead of wallowing in self-pity.

It’s not necessary for every family to give up Christmas presents completely, and the tradition of giving gifts will always continue. But there is something to learn from this family who “canceled Christmas.” If people say holiday materialism is wrong, I hope they live out that belief. Whatever method that works for each family is fine, but having a small act that shows that spending lots of money isn’t the only way to express appreciation for friends and family would be a nice reminder to have.

-Juhyae Kim, opinions editor

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Photo by: Mary Grace Barber

Opinion

Dunk it Once Was

Photo by: Mary Grace Barber

In chapel on November 12, Nile Heefner, Bible teacher, stood up in front of the school and spoke difficult, personal truths about his childhood. He was vulnerable.

Vulnerability means more than being open to attack or unprotected. Vulnerability is knowing that a situation is uncomfortable or scary to discuss, but nevertheless asking questions or voicing an opinion about it.

Vulnerability is risking personal security to be open and honest. Everyone can agree being open and honest is healthy, but the only way a person can get better at vulnerability is to share frequently and deeply, and that is scary.

Opportunities to be student leaders in the community such as Spiritual Life Team or to engage in Crosswalk on Thursday mornings encourage students to be more vulnerable among their peers. This year, Spiritual Life Team made it their goal for chapel to be real and honest.

“I hoped by exposing myself, I would provide a place where other’s vulnerability can be received with acceptance and love,” said Heefner.

Although everyone agrees in private that being vulnerable is good, once in public, whether or not it is “all talk” is put to the test. Starting small is the best way to combat this insecurity. If you can share with one person, you can share with two, then five, and so on.

Photo by: Mary Grace Barber

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A Call for Vulnerability College Isn’t the Slam

Steven Howell, senior, and Joi Malloyd, junior

“Spiritual Life Team has definitely allowed me to put what I think out into the open. It has encouraged me to be secure in myself and my ideas, and I’ve grown in deeper relationships with my peers,” said Joi Malloyd, junior.

Maybe it’s not time for anyone to stand up in front of his church and pour out the darkest secrets of his heart. However, it is time for change.

“When sin and shame is left in the dark, it has power over you. When you bring it into the light, you can be free,” said Heefner. In his opinion, vulnerability provides a life-giving opportunity to be free from sin.

Start small. When a teacher asks for prayer requests in class, say something real. When a friend asks you how you’re doing, tell them the truth.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable,” said famous author, C.S. Lewis. If you are to love others well at all, you must put your heart at risk of being “wrung and possibly broken.” Raise your voice. Say what needs to be heard.

Nile Heefner and members of the Spiritual Life Team

Drawing by Caroline Agan

It’s generally around this time of year that seniors stop appreciating the well-intentioned college question and instead feel the dire need to rip the inquiring party’s head clean off their shoulders. Violence is never the answer, folks.

It speaks volumes of our culture that people not only expect the graduating class to have their lives planned out this early, but they figure college will be a part of those plans right away. Rather than promoting higher education as a means to an end--whether that end be extended learning or preparation for a job--college is now just the next big step in the average American’s life.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Westminster is a college preparatory school, so chances are the jobs students pursue will demand some kind of degree.

But while those jobs are more likely to pay well, there is no guarantee that students will be able to shake off their debt.

Unfortunately, college debt is starting to appear unavoidable.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the class of 2014 will graduate with an average of debt of $33,000 per student. With average prices from $8,893 (for

in-state public universities) to $30,094 (for private schools), going to college isn’t always a wise financial decision.

If going off to university is going to cost this much, it had better be worth it. But in these days, there’s no guarantee of a solid job waiting on the other side of your education.

Our generation is trapped.

We have to choose between two less than ideal options: going to college and building up debt, or not going to college, which seems to automatically eliminate the highest paying jobs and most streamlined opportunities from our future. Both are risky.

So, is college worth it? Frustrating as it is, it largely depends on the individual. College can be valuable even if you’re not sure what you want to study when you begin. College can be beneficial even if you end up a stay-at-home-parent with a degree in biochemistry. College can be necessary even if you have to take out loans.

It really comes down to this: college should be more than just the next step everyone and their mother expects you to take.

That much money shouldn’t be thrown at a possibly unnecessary, definitely pricy education without a good bit of thought.

Opinion

The average American watches 5 hours of TV per day, according to the NY Daily News.

Safe to say, morals depicted by these TV characters that we spend so much time fixated on have inevitably crept into our lives.

In the 20th Century, many shows highlighted the importance of family and of instilling good morals. Shows such as Leave it to Beaver and The Brady Bunch emphasized the importance of family, depicting happy families eating dinner and spending time together.

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Shows today stray from such ideals. Even the names of popular shows today including Revenge, Scandal, Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars reveal how the moral fiber has declined.

Additionally, popular shows nowadays highlight dysfunction experienced by families. In almost every popular TV show today characters are divorced and are shown having broken, unhappy families.

Perhaps the most apparent example of a twenty-first-century family is the show Modern Family. Through a comical yet somewhat tragic lens, the show depicts the broken state of the definition of family today. The

main characters, the Pritchetts, are often shown fighting or avoiding family time, the exact opposite of what the Bradys and Cleavers illustrated.

Another quality that is no longer displayed by TV shows is the importance of having good morals. Early sitcoms taught a moral lesson in each show. For example, each episode of the Andy Griffith Show contained some element of teaching morality as Andy, sheriff of Mayberry, taught his young son how to become a truth-telling, respectable young man.

Contrast this with a popular TV show today, Pretty Little Liars, in which there are no good morals taught. In accordance with the name, PLL is about four friends who continually lie to cover up their dark secrets. The show has nearly three million viewers, all of whom cheer the girls on as they break all kinds of moral codes.

Not only do most TV shows

today not instill healthy morals into their viewers, they glamorize the opposite. For example, the show Scandal revolves around the affair a White House aid is having with the President.

What was once an effort to instill good morals and champion healthy families has now become an attempt to allure viewers to every type of depravity known. One of the problems with this is that we do not realize we are encouraging such unhealthy behavior. In almost every popular show aimed at teens, dishonor is abundant, making it impossible to choose a role model.

The type of behavior that is glorified in today’s TV shows includes things such as infidelity and disrespect as opposed to strong families. Although it is easy to cave to these morals, we should not accept this “new norm”.

A look into the complexity of the English language

Language is a fascinating and complex concept. People string together sounds and gestures to effectively communicate and converse with others; allowing them to change opinions, give directions, and form relationships based on the usage of vocal cords and movement.

Not only is language an amazing concept when thought about, it also is constantly changing with the needs and culture of the people by which it is spoken.

The English language, like any other form of communication, is complex and in a constant state

of flux.

Westminster itself has a strange sort of sublanguage. Inside jokes, specific ways of communication, and demeanor are all an intrinsic part of Westminster’s culture. Many students and teachers have had their names become synonymous with feelings or actions in various classes and grades. Nicknames for teachers that only one going to Westminster Christian Academy would understand are common

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vernacular. And despite all of this, communication with people outside of this dialect is effortless and easy to understand. It would be absurd to say that any of these are invalid forms of communication, and there needs to be a greater understanding that the English language is constantly evolving and changing.

On November 12th, 2014, TIME released an online poll that asked readers: which words did they want to ban for 2015?

Among these were bae, bossy, literally, and yaassssss, words which had gotten a massive surge of popularity in the last few years. Many of these are abbreviations or even complete redefinitions of words that previously meant something else entirely. For example, in the 1500s, the term bae referred to the sound a sheep makes. Fast forward five hundred years and

it means someone or something beloved, precious, or cool.

Words often change based on cultural or popular usage.

Weird used to mean “having the power to control the fate or destiny of human beings.”

Since then, the commonly used definition has changed. Instead of having to do exclusively with the supernatural, weird is now used to describe anything that is unusual or against the norm.

So why is it that so many refuse to allow the English language flexibility? Dialects, accents, and culture specific turns of phrases sometimes make conversation difficult, but anyone can adapt to and learn quickly the nuances of language.

Whether or not people realize it, they are actively participating in one of the most multifaceted and ever changing forms of communication in the world.

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Responses to the Ferguson verdict expand internationally

Mid-evening on November 24th, the news was released that police officer Darren Wilson had not been indicted to any of the charges pressed against him by the grand jury. At 8 p.m, the county prosecutor, Bob McCulloch, set up a press conference to publicly announce the decision.

After the announcement, many places in Saint Louis became sights of angry riots, even a week after the verdict.

However, riots were no longer unique to Saint Louis at this point: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles to Oakland, California were some places that experienced crowds gathered to protest the verdict.

More than 170 protests popped up across the country tuesday night.

Thousands of protesters rushed the streets of New York the night of the verdict, shutting down at least three bridges.

Protestors marched from Union square to Times Square, then proceeded to gather on the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Triboro bridges. Some police officers sustained minor injuries, and several arrests were made, including the arrest of a protester who threw fake blood at NYPD Bill Bratton.

In Chicago, more than 200 protesters marched from the city’s police headquarters and moved north, blocking sev-

eral major streets, such as Lake Shore Drive, and closed off the majority of roads in the business section.

In Oakland, California, hundreds of protesters shut down Interstate 580. A large bonfire was lighted, and several stores were trashed and looted.

Windows of office and bank buildings were smashed, and graffiti was sprayed onto the walls of buildings downtown.

In Los Angeles, 130 protesters were arrested for unlawful assembly and failure to disperse after marching along streets in the downtown area the morning of the verdict.

Britain and Canada were countries also experiencing angry protests. In London, protesters gathered outside the American embassy before dispersing to march down different areas of the city, waving signs and carrying candles.

In response to the protests, President Barack Obama has proposed for a $263 million project to be issued which includes the mandate that police officers must wear body cameras that record their communication and interactions with civilians, as well as expanding training for law enforcement and more resources for police department reform.

The 100 day cough, the epidemic, the party cough, the whoop: with it circulating throughout Westminster for the past two months, whooping cough has garnered a few names for itself. According to the Saint Louis County Health Department, pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious, airborne bacterial infection that causes a persistent cough.

Despite all students at WCA having been given a vaccination against whooping cough, it entered the school in early October.

“This is a breakthrough illness,” said Susan Haverstick, school nurse.

The disease spread like wildfire.

“There have been one hundred and sixty five days of abscences collectively among those students diagnosed,” said Haverstick.

The nurses began sending kids to the doctor to be evaluated and tested for whooping cough if it was at all suspected.

“We wouldn’t typically send kids with just a cough to the doctor. Once there is one confirmed case of a student testing positive, you become hyper aware,” said Haverstick.

The nurses’ office became a war-zone to avoid. Warnings about entering the doomed room floated around.

Photo by: Sarah Ragsdale

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Whooping Cough Protesting the Verdict cause of 165 absences

Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons

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News

“People go into that office and never come back. You go in and ask for a cough drop, and you are a gonner,” said Lane Penberthy, junior.

However, the nurses did not enjoy having to assume the role of “cough Nazis”.

“It’s awful when all you are doing is walking the halls listening for the cough. You get a bad reputation,” said Haverstick.

Students had different reasons for not wanting to go to the nurse. Some were afraid of having to miss school until the test results came back.

‘Kids are driven here, so they often come to school sick,” said Haverstick.

Others did not believe they had whooping cough and did not see the point in going to be tested.

“Because the illness was milder, many kids reported ‘feeling fine’ in spite of their cough. However, the nurses were required to follow the guidelines and protocol for exclusion as set forth by the health department,” said Haverstick.

Although whooping cough was an obvious burden on students, it was likewise exhausting for the nurses.

“Whooping cough has dominated the time and energy in the nurse’s office,” said Haverstick.

Although whooping cough seems to have left WCA, Haverstick warned another illness may be coming to the school: the flu.

Features

Focus On: Robotics Volunteers

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Photos courtesy of Drew Port

On Monday, Dec. 1, WCA’s Robotics team, the Cyborg Cats, volunteered at Connections to Success. Connections to Success is a nonprofit that seeks to break the cycle of poverty by serving individuals and families.

The Cyborg Cats went to Connections to teach children from these families about robotics.

Every Monday for 4 weeks, the Cyborg Cats sent a team of five students to Connections to teach the kids about what robots are, what robots can do, and how to build robots.

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Photos by: Azaria Foster

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“It’s important for us to get to know others,” said Morley.

“The greatest disease in the Moreover, the resulting West today is not TB or leprosy; conversations and relationships it is being unwanted, unloved, are priceless. and uncared for. We can cure “I talked to a man who physical disease with medicine, shared that when he was in his but the only cure for loneliness, forties, he fell off a roof and despair, and hopelessness is thought he would be paralyzed love.” for the rest of his life. Now, The truth of Mother Teresa’s he’s walking with a cane. It’s an words is exemplified in nursing amazing story,” said Morley. homes, institutions containing Since she was a freshman, lonely residents with a hunger Morley has been working to organize a club to visit the nursing home.

“The residents are right next door; they are part of our community. We forget about people in certain areas of life, and this is one of them,” said Michelle Morley, sophomore, at Delmar Gardens West Morley. for love.

Just recently, Larry Hughes, Although nursing homes are upper school Bible teacher, not the first place kids think of agreed to sponsor the group. going when they have free time, Now, Morley and other students they have one of the greatest travel to Delmar Gardens West needs for young people. Michelle every Thursday afternoon to play Morley, sophomore, saw a place bingo with the residents. she could impact and decided to “My vision for the club is do something about it. that we go out to see God in the Morley started going to Del- residents, and they see God in mar Gardens West nursing home us,” said Morley. in fourth grade with a family Morley does not see what friend from church. For the past she does each week as service. It seven years, she has traveled ev- has become a part of her life-ery Wednesday night to talk and and something that she enjoys. play games with the residents.

“It’s nice to sit down, take a What sort of motivation drives break from the craziness of my someone to spend their time in a week, and just listen to somerather depressing place? one. To see another person’s “To me, nursing homes gaze, that I’m not the only one seem like a place where many on the planet, and that there are of the residents are just waiting others struggling puts things in to die. Visiting is a good way to perspective,” said Morley. bring a smile to someone’s face,” None of this earns Morley said Morley. serivce hours or any sort of Morley understands the medal. Her motive is incredibly value of using her time to do a simple yet profoundly real: she seemingly simple thing. loves people, so she seeks to love

Photos by: Azaria Foster

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Loving Others - A Way of Life for WCA Sophomore

Screen Addictions A Poll of WCA Students’ Favorite TV Shows

The Walking Dead: The zombie apocalypse. Simple as that.

Orange is the New Black: A popular Netflix-only drama set in a women’s prison.

Once Upon A Time: Forget everything you thought you knew about fairy tales; these are their true, twisted stories.

Big Bang Theory: Who knew a couple of nerds could be so hilarious?

Pretty Little Liars: How far can friendships go when all your lies catch back up to you?

Grey’s Anatomy: Grab your barf bags, because this series is gorier than the darkest crime show.

Sherlock: The greatest detective comes to the modern world, played by the one and only, Benedict Cumberbatch.

Impractical Jokers: A show about 4 lifelong friends who compete to embarrass each other.

Arrow: A gritty version of the superhero Green Arrow.

Features

Meet Me in Saint Louis A list of holiday activities around St. Louis.

By: Rebecca Eis

NEW YEAR’S EVE A St. Louis tradition, families, friends, and couples will come together at Grand Center to celebrate the “First Night” of the new year. St. Louis citizens were invited to vote for the theme of the celebration this year and decided on “St. Lou-minous.” This will close St. Louis’ 250th birthday celebrations. Pokey LaFarge and his band will open the night’s performances of St. Louis performers to celebrate the arts of St. Louis. There will be activities for all ages including music, dancing, magic, comedy and two firework displays. The event will be from 6p.m. to 12a.m. Wednesday, December 31st.

Admission is $10 before the event and $12 the day of.

Steinberg Ice Rink in Forest Park

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MUSIC Trans-Sieberian Orchestra: The Christmas Attic

Always a classic, the Trans-Sieberian Orchestra will be performing at the Scottrade Center on December 26th at 3:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. However, the tradition is taking a new twist this year. The Orchestra’s website advertises a completely new show entitled “The Christmas Attic: A Rock Holiday Tradition for a New Generation.”

Tickets start at $47.

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo

Mannheim Steamroller at the Fabulous Fox

This Christmas season, Manneheim Steamroller is celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary of the Christmas Tour and its release of its Christmas album. A popular family tradition, the orchestra will perform at the Fabulous Fox theatre on December 9th and 10th at 8pm.

Tickets start at $37.50.

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo

LIGHTS

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park

PERFORMING ARTS St. Louis Ballet: The Nutcracker

The classic Christmas story of Clara and her beloved nutcracker will be performed by The St. Louis Ballet at the Touhill Performing Arts Center from December 18th through the 23rd. Tickets start at $22 for students.

A Christmas Carol

Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, this beloved Christmas tale will be told through a production by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan. Shows will be performed at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on December 12-14 with tickets starting at $20.

A Christmas Story

Inspired by the 1983 film, A Christmas Story: The Musical, will run from December 16th to January 4th, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Delightful for all ages, this show follows the holiday season of Ralphie Parker leading up to Christmas day. Tickets start at $25.

This well-known light display started in 1987 and has been a local favorite for more than two decades. Tilles Park, located in the heart of West County, is decorated with over a million lights and a variety of holiday scenes. Winter Wonderland is open from November 26th- January 1st, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Though most choose to drive through Winter Wonderland for $10 per vehicle, a horse-drawn carriage can be reserved for a higher price online at MetroTix.

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo

For a cheaper option, the St. Louis Zoo hosts an animal-themed holiday light display on weekends from November 28th- December 14th at 5:30-8:30 p.m. and nightly from December 19th-23rd, 26th-30th, 2014 and January 2nd and 3rd from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for the general public and will be sold till 8pm each night.

OUTDOOR

Steinberg Rink

Located in Forest Park, this seasonal ice rink proves to be a fun option for holiday activities, especially if you do not mind the cold.

Unlike many holiday activities, Steinberg Rink is not only open on holidays, but also offers extended hours. All day skate admission is $7 and skate rental is $5.

Design by: Rebecca Eis, Maggi Eachus, and Ashley Klein

News/Features

Student Builds Acting Career Up A New Human on High Ground Thomas, junior, pursues her passion for acting on an up Upgrade Sydney and coming television series, “Up on High Ground.”

We film pretty sporadically, it really just depends on how many scenes I have in certain episodes.

Last fall and this fall I have filmed about twice every month.

When we do film,

3. What is the role of your character?

1. How did you get involved with the show?

About three or four years ago I was involved in a student film.

To be completely honest, it did not turn out well, but that’s where I met Bryan Kreutz, the producer and one of the writers of Up on High Ground. We were on set a couple of times together and he was able to see me working and acting. A couple months after the finished product of the student film came out, during the summer before sophomore year, Bryan contacted me and told me about Up On High Ground. He said that they were going to be filming the pilot episodes of a small TV drama, which they would then pitch to networks. Apparently he had written a character with me in mind, and wanted me to come in to read for it just to be sure. I read some of the lines for them and then they said they wanted me to be a part of the show as a main recurring character.

12 | THEWILDCATROAR.COM | 12.9.14

My character is Sydney Ashdown and she’s kind of a mean girl. She pretty much runs things around her school. Also, she is very motivated and she loves to sing.

I like playing this role because I can relate to her in a few ways because of her motivations in pursuing her passions such as school and music.

4. What are the benefits of being a part of “Up on High Ground?”

Photo Courtesy of Sydney Thomas

A person can inject it under his skin and no one will ever notice. Using short-range radio frequency identification signals, it could transmit someone’s identity as they pass through security at an airport or check a person in when they go to a Cardinals game. It could eventually carry all of one’s health statistics, helping doctors perform their duties faster and better. If someone was kidnapped in a foreign country, it could save their life.

Microchip implants like the ones pet owners use to track their dogs and cats could find their way under the skin of humans in the next decade.

Implantable microchips provide more of a connection with technology than that of any other electronic device because the chip becomes a part of a person once it enters the body. One problem is that the chip cannot be easily removed without cutting the hand open entirely according to Stanford’s University’s Peace Innovation Lab. Also, the security of human microchips to cyber attacks is a major possibility.

These technologies are also being used for payment services, such as Google Wallet where people just swipe their phone instead of using a physical credit card. As technology becomes more hi-tech, why would people be carrying a phone around when they could do all these things from our own body.

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2. How often do you film?

Sydney Thomas, junior, is starring in the television show, “Up On High Ground”. This is a dramedy (drama and comedy) about an amicable college psychology student who is forced to make many difficult choices about both friendship and relationships. It also focuses on the student-teacher interactions at a school in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. The program airs on CW at 5:30am on Saturdays.

Photo Credit: Sydney Thomas

From opening doors to starting motorbikes with a wave of the hand.

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Currently, I am not getting paid for acting in this TV show. However, there still are many other benefits. It is a great way to get my feet in the water and to get my name exposed in the world of professional acting. It’s also helping me become accustomed to the long days of filming. Most importantly, I am doing what I love and enjoying every minute of it!

Sydney Thomas, junior, acts on the set of Up on High Ground.

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YouTube is Becoming YouTeacher Technology is changing the needs of students in the clasroom

With the advance in technology over the past decades, access to information has become available for students as it never has before. If its a fact or information it can be found on the internet (along with plenty of non-facts). Channels on Youtube are free to anyone with access, and can give a student almost any information needed for a class.

“I watch YouTube videos because it’s a lot easier for me to listen to content and learn it that way. It helps me by teaching me the content over and over again”, said Jordan Hawkins, junior.

Information of all kinds can be found online. Youtuber and writer, John Greene and his brother Hank, run the channels: CrashCourse, Vlogbrothers, and SciShow. Students can watch and rewatch different videos until they get a grip on the material. Other sites, like Khan Academy, are drastically increasing in popularity, and refers to itself as a non-profit with a goal of providing a worldwide education.

“I use videos online to help me understand the topics that the teacher may not have gone over or to find extra information on the topic. It helps because I can go back and rewatch a section as many times as I want”, said Nathan Duke, junior.

The easy access to information on Youtube and online changes the needs of a student in the classroom. They no longer need someone to spill out information for them to memorize. They can find that information online. The students need someone to make sense of the information and teach them how to use what they have learned.

“Every once in a while during our unit in my AP U.S History class, we will watch a John Greene Crash Course over the subject. It is a quick and interesting video that clearly explains the topics we are discussing”, said Adam Barbee, history teacher.

While the internet is changing today’s schooling system, it will never be a full replacement. Online sources, while helpful, miss the personal aspect of schooling. As technology continues to improve, the internet will continue to be a common source for information, but the classroom will consist of projects, collaboration, and making connections with the information.

Operation Christmas Child

time, and efforts to making Christmas a little merrier for these children. One such group Each November, Operation to support Operation ChristChristmas Child gathers millions mas Child was the Fellowship of shoeboxes filled with gifts to of Christian Athletes, whose deliver to children in need. These members took a trip to Target to boxes are packed by volunteers purchase items for the boxes. across the country, and provide The charity behind the operaChristmas presents for kids tion, Samaritan’s Purse, isn’t just living in poverty in over 150 dif- interested in providing boxes full ferent nations. In the 20th year of toys. In addition to presents, of operation, the charity gave it’s the North Carolina based orga113 millionth package. nization offers kids information In addition to donating items on the Christian faith, leading during ITSOG, many Westmin- one of the largest discipleship ster clubs, organizations, and PC programs in the world, with 2.8 groups have given their money, million kids participating.

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QUESTION: Any wacky or fun Christmas traditions you would like to share?

Sarah Nolting, Sophmore “We all go over to my grandmother’s house and she is allergic to pine trees, so we all have to put the branches on the aluminum pole and just attack it with ornaments.

Follow the link below to see personal interviews of some staff members that deserve some recognition for making our lives easier.

Daniel Welker, Senior “We always put our Christmas tree in our living room in a corner. I would always get into said corner with my dog and a book--lots of books. And my parents would never know. That’s my Christmas memory.”

Entertainment

TWITT MINSTER

No Matter the Wreckage: A Review

I feel like Motivation solid -27 every girl at atasome point tweeted “overthinking will be the death of me”

Publishing this year. It was featured as a finalist in Goodreads’ “Best Poetry of 2014” against If trite rhymes and flowery works by Maya Angelou, Mary verbiage give you a migraine, Oliver, and many other wellyou’re not alone. Even I in my respected names in the poetry love of words and writing have genre. caught myself rolling my eyes There has over the worn“You do not need to not been a single out patterns of poem in the book “traditional” po- look very hard to find your shadow here. Your that I have not etry. Free verse poetry, however, fingerprints are on these thoroughly enpages. So many of your joyed. Whether is a completely she is creating different story. In footsteps in the snow.” a make-believe my experience, a special authenticity of thought romance between a toothbrush and feeling shines through when and a bicycle tire or writing a tribute to the sari-clad elementapoets write without rules. ry school teacher who taught her Sarah Kay is the first freeto love words, Kay never fails to verse poet I ever encountered, project her reader into the story. and remains my favorite to this I cried with her. I laughed day. While she had previously been known only for her mastery with her. Her emotions became mine. Certain verses have stuck of the spoken word, she put out with me since the first time I her first book, No Matter the read them simply because they Wreckage with Write Bloody

Kevin Stump

Art Heart

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It’s a good life

Watching teachers try to work technology of any kind truly makes my brain hurt Emily Sulewski

Many have heard the news that Art A La Carte is not happening this holiday season. Instead, there will be a much larger show in the spring.

Normally, there are two showings-- one during the holidays and the other in the spring.

According to Laura Goeke, art teacher, the fine arts department moved the event to the spring so that there could be much more art to showcase. In its place there was an art show that occured the week before Thanksgiving, displaying many art students’ hard work. photo by Mike Richardson

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14 | THEWILDCATROAR.COM | 12.9.14

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so perfectly describe my own encounters in life.

Even if traditional poetry’s not your thing, give No Matter the Wreckage a shot. You might see yourself in someone else’s story.

Rating: 5 Paws

Great Harvest Bread Company Great Harvest Bread Company is a quaint little bakery tucked away in the heart of downtown Kirkwood. The staff freshly bakes dozens of different flavors of bread each morning to sell fresh and hot that day. In addition to bread, this bakery has a small café where you can sit down and grab a bite to eat. They have gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, and plenty of dessert options as well.

The customers’ favorite part of the Great Harvest experience, however, is always the warm bread samples. The comforting scent of fresh baked goods greets the customers as they walk through the door.n The Great Harvest staff seems to read their

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customers’ minds and greets each customer with a gracious sample of warm, buttery bread.

However, the giving doesn’t stop here. Because they only sell bread made fresh that morning, there are often leftover loaves at the end of the day.

Instead of throwing away these loaves or even selling them for a lowered price, the Great Harvest team donates leftover bread to food banks and local organizations that can put these products to good use.

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Mockingjay--Part One Flies Into Theatres The third installment in the Hunger Game film series soars on top with its portrayal of the book.

For fans of the first and second books in the Hunger Games series, the third installment, Mockingjay, was highly anticipated to be portrayed on the big screen. The book was less fascinating and not an easy read. The story line was stretched out making it difficult to remain interested in the plot. However, the movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1 keeps the viewer absorbed in the screen.

The director, Frances Lawrence, does an outstanding job of turning the dull Mockingjay into a thrilling, action-packed film. Even if the viewer has previously read the book, he is still left on the edge of his seat from the suspenseful and dark scenes. Also, the actors had to portray the scary personalities of their characters, they still managed to perfectly portray the essence of the geniusly thought out characters by the trilogy’s author, Suzanne Collins.

The darkness of the film is matched by the gothic soundtrack which features Lorde and other talented artists who embraced the intense feelings expressed by the cast.

Compared to the book, the movie eliminated unnecessary details that stretched the book out, causing it to be boring for some readers.

Therefore, it is not essential to have read the book previously due to the directors brilliant portrayal of a mediocre novel.

The newest film installment to the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay -- Part 1, shortened a slow, painstaking read into a two hour amusing flick. Although the unsatisfying cliffhanger does not conclude the film as the viewer expects, the movie is the edgiest installment of the Hunger Games films and is a must-see for book-lovers and movie-goers alike.

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Rating: 3.5/5 paws

Mockingjay--Part One can be summed up in two words: pleasantly surprising. Frankly, after watching the first two attempts to adapt the Hunger Games trilogy to the big screen, most viewers were not looking forward to this movie. The third book of the trilogy, Mockingjay, is arguably the least enjoyed book in the series. So, it stands to reason that the movie would be equally long and devastating.

Readers of the book were not excited for this film, nor did they have high expectations. The first movie lacked character development and a stable camera. While the second movie was doomed by bad casting and a lack of suspense. Mockingjay, however, got it right.

Not to say that it was a perfect movie, because that would be far from the truth, but it is by far the best movie of the trilogy.

Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as Katniss Everdeen was perfect, as usual. Liam Hemsworth, who was hardly in the first two movies, played the heartbroken part of Gale Hawthorne well. The chemistry between Lawrence and Hemsworth perfectly depicted Katniss and Gale’s torn relationship which is portrayed in the book.

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta did not receive much screen time this round, but his pained looks and sickly appearance demanded sympathy. Overall, the acting was well done. The minor characters added to the story rather than taking away from it with bad acting or an overplay of emotions.

The film as a whole was fairly in line with the book. What really sets this film apart is the way it captures the suspense presented in the book. Despite its length, the film keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The movie takes its time when carrying out the plot and introducing characters which allows the audience to really connect with the story. The special effects were impressive, and the soundtrack for the movie adds to the darkness presented in the novel.

Mockingjay Part One was a solid movie. Despite some awkward pauses and long silences, I was engaged throughout the entirety of the film. Perfect for the teenage audience, Hunger Games super fans and movie-goers alike will be pleased.

Rating: 4/5 paws

Play with Passion Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Let’s be honest, we’ve heard this cliche said hundreds of time, so much so that we often overlook it as just another statement. This saying even makes its way into the sports world, and is just as easily tossed aside and taken for granted. This is unfortunate, because these two simple, Latin words can be so crucial to how a person plays a sport.

Success in sports doesn’t always come from skill (as much as you’d like to think it). Ok, skill is still very important, but it is not the most important aspect that makes up a good athlete. In truth, good athletes are passionate athletes. They play as hard as they can, not caring about injury or who is watching them. They just go out and give their very best effort.

Passionate athletes aren't perfect athletes, either, mostly because it is impossible to be perfect at anything. One thing that preys on all athletes is the drive for perfection. It is, in fact, a healthy drive, but it can be easily taken out of place.

Many players try so hard to be perfect that, when they make mistakes, their entire effort and focus drops. When this happens, it is extremely hard for any player to get back to where they were before the mistake occurred. However, a passionate athlete knows their imperfections, but doesn't care. They play simply because they love it, not because they want to be perfect and be the best.

One thing that is not being said here is “As long as I’m passionate, I can do whatever I want”. As easy as this is to fall into, it much be avoided. Passion is necessary, but it must also be matched with a drive for success. Yes, a passionate player may play for the fun of it, but they also will play to win, regardless of the cost.

It's sad to see how many athletes become disheartened in their sports. It happens to all of us at some point, and I'm no exception. For the longest time I played to not make mistakes, and that was selfish. This went on for a long time until my coach said some very simple, yet extraordinarily important words one night before a game. "Play with passion, gentlemen, because you've only got one shot. Don't waste it. Don’t worry about what happens, just play." In other words, don't worry about your skill or your mistakes: just play, and do it with passion.

On October 17th, Blake Sutphen got to suit up for his first football game of his senior season. Although he knew that his playing time would be limited, he was ecstatic to even be dressing out for the game because just a few months ago, he had suffered a tragic injury that was thought to have ended his season.

Back In early June, Sutphen participated in a football combine for the University of Illinois, hoping to show off his abilities.

Pitted against a cornerback in a one on one drill, Sutphen was jammed at the line but wrestled with him to break free. Eventually the two got tangled up and Sutphen got pulled down awkwardly on his leg. Immediately, Sutphen felt immense pain in his left leg. The doctors at the combine checked him out and told him that they thought that he was going to be okay.

“They told me that they didn’t think that any serious damage had been done so I thought that I was going to be fine,” said Sutphen.

A few days later Sutphen got an MRI on his knee. When the doctor came back with his results Sutphen knew immediately by the doctor’s demeanor that it he had bad news. It was his worst nightmare; he had torn his ACL and was told that he would not be able to play football his senior season “At first my mind was numb, I could not wrap my mind around the fact that I was done, that I would not get to play a single snap of football. Eventually though, it did hit me, and when it did I was devastated. I felt robbed of my senior season,

robbed of all the hard work I had put in. I had an ideal picture for my senior season and I felt like it was ripped away from me in that one moment,” said Sutphen.

Shortly after having surgery on his knee on July 18th, Sutphen heard a story from a teammate’s father, coming back from an ACL tear in 3 months. This inspired Sutphen to not only come back for his senior season, but to try and come back in less time.

“Although I knew most of my senior season was lost, I still needed a goal, a way to compete.

So I decided that I would make my goal my rehab. I was going to work as hard as I could to get back as soon as I possibly could,” said Sutphen. Sutphen put in incredible amounts of work into his rehab. He worked six days a week, three to four hours a day on rehab. After 2 months and 27 days of rehabbing, he was finally cleared to practice again. Sutphen’s hard work enabled him to play in five games including the state quarter final game against St. Charles West High School, where he played a major role on offense and even caught a touchdown.

Blake Sutphen’s drive to not only get back and play the sport he loves but also to be at his best at whatever he does is inspirational. He has shown that he is committed to excellence is whatever he does, his competitive drive fuels him in all aspects of his life. Sutphen has shown that determination and hard work are the key to conquering seemingly insurmountable problems.

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Photo Credits: Mary Grace Barber

Jake’s Take

Sutphen Beats ACL Setback

Photo Courtesy of David Williams

Sports

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Grade: Junior Sport: Wrestling

At the 126 pound weight class, Gion won his second straight WCA tournament title.

16 | THEWILDCATROAR.COM | 12.9.14

Photo credits: Mary Grace Barber

Aaron Gion

Photo courtesy of Jake Schroeder

Athlete of the Month

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Muscles tensed. Toes curled around the edge of the block.

With the sound of the buzzer, eight girls launched themselves into the water and the race began. High-pitched cheers bounced off the tile walls and the foaming water.

At 4:00 sharp on December 4th, the Westminster Girls Varsity Swim Team had their first meet against Nerinx The Cats scored 130-53 for a crushing victory. Winning relays included the 200 Medley, the 200 Freestyle relay, and the 400 relay.

Individual winners included Mackenzie Wieberg, Kaitlin Terschak, Katie Myers, Megan Galvin, Kaitlin Kittelson, and Carmen Verbeke in swimming and Izzy Haupfear in diving.

The team is at their largest

yet, with fifty-one swimmers.

Although this number is unprecedented at any other school, Coach Kent Kehr ensures all of the girls swim in each meet.

“This year, I challenged the girls to ask themselves if this is a commitment they really wanted to make, because we’re not making cuts. If the answer was yes, they were on the team,” said Kehr.

“Even though we have such a big team, I’m close with most of the girls. Swim provides a unique experience to be friends with girls who aren’t in the same grade or friend groups as you,” said Kaitlin Terschak, junior.

The season started on November 10th and will end in late February. Their second meet is against Villa on Dec. 10.

However, the Cats came out swinging for the third and final game and did not disappoint.

The Varsity Boys Basketball Taking the lead early on, the team opened the season well Wildcats ramped up the intenwith an impressive performance sity and never looked back. By at the Troy Invitational Tournahalftime the score stood at 25-14. ment. Featuring a host of bigger The Cats contiuned their streak public schools, the Wildcats of dominance in the second half, held their own and managed roudning out the score at 63-46 to capture 2nd place overall. by the time the buzzer sounded.

Already the key components of “Passing the ball well, a successful squad are falling into rebounding, and spirit from the place. bench really helped us get a win “For our first tournament against Francis Howell,” said I think we played well with good Degroot. team chemistry for our first few An opening tournament games as a team,” said Jordan says a lot about a team. With Hawkins, junior. new guys rising up to the varisty The Cats started off the level, new plays in the playbook, tournament on a high note, and maybe an entirely differcapturing a win against the hostent team dynamic, the opening ing team, Troy. The score swung games can be a difficult adjustto both sides in the first half ment for some teams. This was with the Cats trailing early, then far from the case for the Wildcats picking up steam in the second though. With a slew of talented quarter. An exciting first half underclassmen like Steve Webb, ended with a tie at 28 a piece. sophmore, and Degroot, and imThe second half proved that pressive performances from the defense can win games as the big men such as Weber and Zach Cats stopped Troy in their tracks, Hughes, junior, the potential is leading them to 59 to 45 victory. limitless. It will most definitely The Wildcats, relying on fast be an exciting season for the guards such as Nick Cacciarelli, Wildcats and they have set the junior; Aaron Cook, junior, tone for top notch basketball.

Cliff Degroot, sophomore; and Hawkins, proved that size does not determine the outcome of a game. The young and talented squad rose to the occasion.

The second game proved more difficult, as the Cats faced a difficult Fort Zumwalt South.

Despite a close game at halftime, the Wildcats lost 47-73.

Rebounding was the name of the game and the Cats, with Matt Weber, senior, as their only big man, lacked the height to pull both offensive and defensive boards.

Photo by Jack Andrews

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Wildcats Take Troy Wildcats snatch 2nd place in opening season invitational

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Fifty-one girls take on Nerinx Hall

Photo credits: Mary Grace Barber

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Bigger Is Better

Sports FACES IN THE CROWD Slade Johnson | History | JV Baseball I love the game. I played here at Westminster and went on to play some in college. Coaching was a way for me to keep baseball in my life and enjoy the competition. Of course I want the guys to enjoy the game as I do and just have fun while they're out there. But I also want them to be intentional about playing the game as worship. It's a reorientation - the game is not just an end in itself for my sake; it's a means by which I can honor Christ. As a perfectionist, in season I have a hard time with the fact that I can't do both as well as I'd like to. Something has to give. And actually the biggest sacrifice is the time that I give up at home in the evenings. Sports allow for experiential learning and character formation in a way that the classroom cannot. In coaching I have more opportunities to engage the whole person. Coaching is also easier in one sense because there is automatic 'buy-in' that’s difficult to create that in the classroom. I enjoy it because I often have a closer relationship with those guys than I do with my other students. I have to remind them at times that class time is not time to discuss the lineup or practice plan. It gives me an opportunity to hold my guys accountable for their character and work ethic off the field.

COMMITMENT

Coleman Leads The Way “I wanted to coach ever since I was 16. I coached the middle school team for Westminster in the summer between my Junior and Senior year. I think we lost every game we played, but I fell in love with the challenge and thought how fun this would be. And I have not been disappointed since.

The way that I try to impact my players lives changes from year to year. This year our team has developed daily themes that help us in our overall goal of becoming good people first then good basketball players. On Monday's we discuss our long term goals as a team. Tuesday its Tough Tuesday. Wednesday is a very special day for our guys; so I will keep that one a secret, but Thursday's are training. Thursday is where our guys work to find a younger player in the program and help them with either basketball things or life things. Fridays are called fun Friday where we basically play games.

It is not hard at all to balance my time. I am a teacher first. Coach second. Just like at home I am a husband first. Dad second. But I will admit this; I love to teach. I love to be in the classroom.

When my players are in the classroom; they know what I expect.

Smart in class = smart on the court; I am often more firm on them in class. Sometimes the players are too loose or lazy in their academic classes. Some...not all. I think my guys will tell you that I care about them as people most. I expect each player to work as if for GOD.” -- D.C.

Faces in the Crowd

18 | THEWILDCATROAR.COM | 12.9.14

| Edited By M I C H A E L A L L D R E D G E MICHAELALLDREDGE@WCAPUBLICATIONS.COM

BENJAMIN SEMS BENSEMS@WCAPUBLICATIONS.COM

Steve Bradley | STEM | Girls Golf I grew up playing all sorts of sports and playing on teams. As long as I can remember I wanted to be a part of a team. Coaching was one way I could do that I like to impact my athletes by trying to be a positive role model. That is done by showing them how to conduct themselves on and off the field, also how to win and how to lose. I hate that my team starts practice at the beginning of the school year.

I go from a leisurely life of summer to all systems go when practice begins and then school after that. It is hard to change gears from one to the other. I love watching my athletes "get it" when I have been teaching something and they try it and it changes their level of success in some fashion or another.

Warren Smith | Biology | Soccer I played soccer from the time I could walk so I wanted a job that would allow me to stay involved in soccer. Doing things the right way and working hard will impact players lives but it's not something I'm intentional about...I give it a little thought but it doesn't consume me when I think about how I do what I do… I am worn out physically and mentally by the time practice starts. I don't have near the energy I want when I get to practice. Coaching a team requires more preparation than teaching a class. The most rewarding part of coaching for me is the satisfaction of winning. It's a feeling that teaching rarely (if ever) produces. I like having players in class they understand me and I understand them. It's fun.

Wishing You Joy, Peace and A Happy New Year

314-401-7620 jbakewell@cbgundaker.com Award Winning Buyer/Seller Agent Town & Country Office • 1100 Town & Country Crossing Drive • Town & Country, MO 63017 • 636-394-9300

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This Holiday, Give the Gift of Learning!

Calling all Moms & Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Extended Family and Friends!

Give your students a gift that they’ll benefit from for years to come − the proven results they’ll get from Sylvan Learning!

Tutoring Gift Certificates!--as gifts or donations!

To take advantage of this great holiday offer, call today!

Sylvan Learning Centers located in Ballwin-Eureka-Cheserfield St Peters-Wentzville-Washington info@sylvantutors.net or call 314.753.7071

Offer valid until Jan 30, 2015. Valid at participating locations only.

20 | THEWILDCATROAR.COM | 10.16.14