December 2014

Parkway North High School

Norse Star

12860 Fee Fee Rd. St. Louis, MO 63146

Volume 53, Issue 3, December 12, 2014

Robotics Club prepares for upcoming VEX Robotics Competition See more on page 2 Also Featured:

Students use new stratagies to study for finals

See more on page 9

Winter sports begin practices See more on page 11

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NEWS

DECEMBER 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Robotics Club competes in VEX state competition Photo by Gabrielle Redfield

Gabrielle Redfield Staff Writer On Dec. 15, the Parkway North Robotics Club will attend the VEX robotics competition to compete with other schools across the Missouri state area.

According to the official VEX Robotics website, over 10,000 teams from 32 countries compete against each other in 750 tournaments. The competitions range from middle school, to high school, to university students, and each groups of students builds robots to compete against each other.

Sophomore Sean Harrigan is eager to attend the competition for the second year in a row. He joined the Robotics Club when he was a freshman.

“I enjoy it very much because you get to build something that you get to see go from a pile of metal to a functioning robot, and that’s a really cool transformation,” said Harrigan.

To compete, the team as a whole builds one robot that is entered into the competition where the robot plays a game.

“The game changes every year, and you get to build a new robot every year,” said Harrigan.

The game this year is called ‘Skyrise.’

Each of the robots builds towers with cylinder pieces and places hollow cubes on top of the cylinders. The higher the robot builds the tower, the more points the team earns in the game.

When students design a robot, they must use math and careful planning to engineer the robot. Harrigan said that when they do this, they have to be specific in order to ensure that the robot “knows what it’s doing and where it needs to go on the field.”

Once the plan is in place, they have to take the time to carry out the plan and build the actual robot. Once they finish building

Norse Star Staff Molly Thal ...Editor-in-Chief

Gianna Sparks

...Copy Editor

Sarah Butterfield ...News Editor

Zoe Schuver

...Community Editor

Lauren Sparks

...Centerspread Editor

Sarah Noble ...Features Editor Natalie Blue ...Features Editor

Freshmen Xiang Zhao, Lukas Hollensbe, and Raymond Chieu work on their in-class robotics project. Many students on the Robotics Team are also in the robotics class, but taking the class is not required to be a part of the team.

the robot, they are ready to compete.

“Most of it gets designed before it’s built. There are pieces that weren’t designed that came up later. They weren’t addressed during initial design, but those are getting built and put in as well,” said Harrigan.

New students in Robotics Club often aid other members in building the robots.

Ben Hansen is new to the robotics club and is helping the other members build the robot.

“I’m not doing a lot of programming yet; so, I’m just helping build the actual robot,” said Hansen.

Allen Daniels, sponsor of the Robotics Club, has been teaching science for 30+ years, but he has only been teaching engineering for two years. “[Engineering is] more hands on, and it applies science so I enjoy it,” said Daniels.

He also said that it’s “good enrichment”

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because students learn programming and may apply their skills to real life situations outside of the classroom during the competition.

“It keeps them motivated and sets them up towards a goal to finish and complete and to finish a competition,” said Daniels.

It offers a chance to compete and may interest students in potentially taking the career path in engineering.

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Community

december 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Teachers learn about themselves, how to Peer Teaching Retreat: Peer teach about their Safe and Drug-Free lifestyle Photo courtesy of Sarah Noble The 2014-2015 new members of peer teaching from all Parkway schools participated in a two-day retreat at Camp Wyman in Eureka on Nov. 20 participated to discuss their beliefs about drugs.

Gianna Sparks Copy Editor On Nov. 20, new members of the Peer Teaching program participated in a two-day retreat at Camp Wyman in Eureka. There, students prepared for teaching through team building activities.

“Peer Teaching is a teen tutoring program where 11th and 12th graders go down to 7th graders and talk to them about the dangers of alcohol,” said social studies teacher and sponsor Julie McMullen.

One integral part of Peer Teaching is the two-day retreat in November that includes Peer Teachers from all the Parkway High Schools. This retreat aims at helping Peer Teachers learn about themselves and enables them to be honest and engaging when teaching.

“We go on a retreat that’s two days [and] one night, and it’s kinda a self-discovery retreat where we talk about self esteem,

character traits, and where we fit personally in regards to our beliefs in alcohol,” said McMullen.

Started in 1985, Peer Teaching strives to engage middle schoolers and enable them to make wise decisions while helping upper classmen learn about themselves and how they can be a positive influence on the younger students in middle school.

“During the retreat, we went over a lot of situations with alcohol and drugs and what we would do in that situation. Also, [we did] a lot of team building and understanding what other people are going through and that you’re not in it alone,” said senior Jamie David.

Along with the retreat, students are also trained to teach the ideas they learned using specific methods and curriculum on a separate training day.

“There were training days with the retreat, which is kind of team building so you really come to trust your team. Also, there is a day where we go over to the ISC building

and receive formal training about how the program works,” said senior Douglas Fritz.

Following the retreat, students participating in the Peer Teaching program will learn about the specific material that is being covered in the program as well as how to present it effectively. Then, Peer Teachers will go to the local middle school on four separate occasions in February and teach 7th grade students. Lesson topics include decision making, information about alcohol, and how to teach others what they have learned.

“We dispel myths about alcohol and give them information that they need. Then, we teach them how to make responsible decisions, how to stay true to yourself and be honest, and then how to help others do the same,” said McMullen.

While Peer Teaching is open solely to upperclassmen, there are many other programs surrounding the Safe and Drug Free theme at Parkway. Programs such as High School Heroes and TryPOD also involve

student teachers leading discussions about a Safe and Drug Free Lifestyle. Additionally, the STARS program trains 9th graders leadership skills to help promote drug and alcohol-free practices.

“All of those programs fall under the Safe and Drug Free umbrella,” said McMullen.

For many students, Safe and Drug Free is about paying it forward and helping younger students by taking preemptive measures to ensure safe and healthy choices and lifestyles for their high school years and beyond.

“At the time [when I applied to become a Peer Teacher], my sister was a seventh grader and...there were a lot of issues, even at the seventh grade level, so I definitely felt the need to become involved,” said Fritz.

The Parkway North Peer Teachers will travel to Northeast Middle once a week during the month of February to teach and discuss drug and alcoholic related issues with the 7th graders.

“For our Key Club November event, we went to the Mercy Inn, which is a homeless shelter for women and children, where we helped organize supplies for the holidays.

We also adopted a family,” said Key Club President senior Joycelyn Botelho.

Adopt-a-Family is a great way to help those who are in need. Different clubs and departments adopt a family from the North area to give basic things that family needs and wants such as toys or clothes.

“I think it’s important to help families that are in need because when families have to make a choice between paying bills and buying presents, it’s stressful, so we try to take that stress off of them,” said social worker Alyssa Herrera.

During this time of year, many families may want to provide presents for their family but cannot afford it. Different activities such as Service Learning Projects and Adopt-aFamily help with this issue.

“This month, we are doing Adopt-afamily. In order to pay for items we need, we ran concessions for a week which got us $300 for the items. The kids are asking for

basic toys that we take for granted. Collecting them and getting together everything that one family needs can really help them make the holidays go smoother,” said Botelho.

Another major way to help those who are in need is through donations. At Parkway North High School, freshman and sophomore social studies classes were holding a competition as a Service Learning Project to see who could bring in the most winter wear.

Students at Parkway North help those in need throughout the year to bring the community together as one for a common goal to help all but help more during the holiday season. Students’ involvement through the year helps the community in many ways.

“I think it’s important to volunteer at all times but especially during the holiday seasons. It’s nice to support other people, especially the homeless, who maybe don't have a place to stay, and it’s nice that they get a place [and the means] to celebrate this close bonding time for the year with each other,” said Armstrong.

Senior Emilee Armstrong, juniors Monyelle Asher, Erin Armstrong, Adya Dave and sophomore Lucinda Snow gather food for Loaves and Fishes.

Parkway North gives back during the holidays Entertainment Editor

‘Tis the season for giving. During the holidays, students and teachers alike help their community and those who are in need through community services and donations. “[Homeless Helpers’] big thing this year was the Thanksgiving Drive at North.

Students brought in canned foods and boxes of stuffing and a bunch of Thanksgiving foods in order to bring those supplies to the organization Loaves and Fishes”, said Homeless Helpers President senior Emilee Armstrong. “They support two hundred families in the local area, and they spread those food items out to those families.

It ended up being a really big success at North. We brought several hundred items in collectively,” said Armstrong.

During this season, many students participate in various clubs that are geared toward helping those in need through community service projects including Key Club and Homeless Helpers.

Photo courtesy of Scott Moeller

Brianne Lewis

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December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

opinions

Parkway School District must make changes to safety, security protocol Photo by Ryan Lutker

Ryan Lutker Sports Editor On Thursday, Oct. 30, parents of Parkway North High School students received a startling e-mail from principal Dr. Jenny Marquart. The e-mail explained that several students had expressed concern that another student was going to bring a gun to school the following day, but that the district had investigated, contacted the police, and, as a precaution, added more police on campus Friday, Oct. 31.

The threat raised concern for many students and parents. Gun violence has been a national concern in recent years, due to what has appeared to be a rise in the number of mass shootings. Senior Sarah Williams said that, since the threat, she does not feel as safe at school.

“Before, there were isolated incidents that made me feel unsafe in certain situations, but something as big as what happened in October made me see a wider scope of what could happen,” said Williams.

In some neighboring school districts, safety precautions include a policy requiring students to carry school IDs with them or a metal detector at the entrance of the school.

Freshman Maddie James said that because of recent events, she has become more aware of the security at Parkway North, and has become increasingly aware of its faults.

“There’s a lot of doors here, and they’re not always locked. Someone could come in

A car drives into Parkway North on Nov. 21 during academic lab without being stopped because there is not always a police officer at the entrance to the school.

and start doing something that’s not safe here,” said James.

While there are some concerns regarding the safety at Parkway North, Parkway’s recent efforts to improve security are admirable.

Parkway has made some changes regarding security. Recently, all teachers

were required to partake in safety training.

This training prepared teachers as to respond in an emergency and ensure their students safety.

“The training has helped the students and the teaching staff to be more confident with the security here at the school: knowing that they themselves have been introduced to

certain measures that they can implement to make themselves safe,” said School Resource Officer Ezra White.

As school resource officer, White has a variety of duties, from community awareness initiatives to investigations into theft and abuse. However, White is always prepared to act quickly in the event of an emergency.

“I always have to be at the ready, knowing that there is a possibility that a threat can occur. It’s up to me, along with the St. Louis County Police Department, to investigate the seriousness of [a threat] and who’s involved with it, so we know how to respond,” said White.

Parkway has intentions of making additional improvements to the security systems in it’s schools. The mid-term election on Nov. 4 included a Proposition S, which will provide the district with an additional ninetyfour million dollars. According to the proposal laid out by Parkway Communications Director Paul Tandy, roughly $20 million of that will be used to improve security.

This includes updating visitor management procedures and improving security cameras and door locks. The proposition passed, with 62 percent of voters supporting it.

The proposed plan, however, will not start until the summer of 2015, six months away.

The threat on Oct. 30 showed the vulnerabilities of Parkway North’s current system of security. However, Parkway’s recent efforts to improve security are good, but more changes need to be made, and they need to happen with urgency.

New EOC schedule makes sense Christina Ibrahim Staff Photographer

End of Course exams (EOC) are standardized tests that are required for students taking certain courses. Schools have no control over which ones or how many students must take; however, they do have control over how the testing is organized.

As opposed to having them crammed into one day with an unknown proctor, like they were last year, they should be spread out and taken with a known proctor so that students have the opportunity to do their best and not feel rushed. This year’s schedule will be better.

“I’d do it [EOC’s] like we do finals: have it spread out over the week,” said senior Imran Chaudhry.

Last year, Parkway students had to take several EOCs on one day instead of having them spread out throughout the week in their own classes. Some people saw this as a good policy, but other students felt that they couldn’t do their best because they were tired by the end of testing.

“The state came up with a new system of testing where they added all these tests.

So, where it used to be just English 2, Biology, Algebra, and Government, they added Modern U.S. History and English 1,” said testing coordinator Judy Babitz.

This threw the testing schedule off

balance since there were over 2400 tests to be given, and the EOCs were taken on the same day to accommodate all of the tests.

According to Babitz, “some [EOCs] are 45-90 minutes, some are 60-90 minutes.”

Taking multiple EOC’s that are 90 minutes long all on the same day makes students too tired to give their best work.

Another controversy regarding EOC’s is not the time span they’re spread over but rather whom students take them with.

“I think that students are more comfortable when they’re with their own classroom,” said Babitz.

This year, the state is requiring less testing which means a new system will be in place. “[This year], it’s going to be in the library, but you will test with your teacher. In other words, last year you could be taking a biology exam and have the orchestra teacher as your proctor. This year, you’re going to take your biology exam with your biology teacher. I just think there’s a comfort level that kids have... it seems to me after talking to students they prefer that,” said Babitz.

This makes things more comfortable and less tiring for students. Having them on the same day and with the an unknown teacher makes it harder for students to do their best. Having EOCs spread out during the week and taken them with a known teacher like with finals is less stressful for students and may even improve test scores.

Which schedule for EOC testing do you prefer?

It doesn't matter 12.9%

Take all EOC's at one time 21% Take each EOC separately, in the same class subject that you have them in 66.1%

Out of 124 responses

December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Entertainment

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Taylor Swift releases hit album 1989 Molly Thal Editor-in-Chief On Oct. 27, Taylor Swift released her album 1989. Since then, the album has gone platinum and sold over 1 million albums.

Taylor Swift’s 1989 deserves to be the only album to go platinum this year since it has character development, lyrics that keep the listener interested, motifs, and symbols.

The songs stay consistent to the theme of the CD while maintaining enough variation to keep listeners hooked.

According to Swift, some songs are about her life, while others are situations and people she has created. In the deluxe version of 1989, Swift offers a behind-the-scenes look at her song writing. In one, she reveals that she created fictional characters for the song “I Wish You Would.”

“I Wish You Would” tells the story of a girl wishing she could go back to when her relationship was full of late-night adventure.

The most recognizable symbol from the album and Swift herself is red lipstick. The song “Blank Space” has the lyric, “Cherry lips, crystal skies,” which is consistent with the lyric from “Wildest Dreams”, “Red lips and rosy cheeks.” Swift is also often seen wearing bright red lipstick. Its bold color is a symbol of her growth and power. She has changed her sound and attitude to one that is unapologetically strong and self-loving.

1989 also comes with a pack of Polaroidlike photos of Swift. Below the sun-stained photos are lyrics from songs throughout the album. The text looks handwritten so it seems like a personal note written by the artist to the listener. The pictures let the listener in on the tone of the album: vintage, glamorous, and personal.

The booklet inside the CD case includes a foreword written by Swift in a typewriter font that holds up the vintage, personal aesthetic of the music. In it, Swift writes about how her sound has changed through the years and how much she has grown.

This change in style is clear the second the album starts. The first song, “Welcome to New York”, begins with a strong beat that dramatically contrasts the way her music sounded when she began her career.

She broke into the music business with her country album titled Taylor Swift. The song “Welcome to New York”’s pop tone fits well with the song’s narrative of arriving in the big city.

1989 can be found on iTunes for $12.99, and the 1989 Deluxe version with the photos and booklet included can be bought at Target. The deluxe version includes three additional songs and exclusive audio.

Everything Will Be Alright in the End for Weezer’s new album Gianna Sparks Copy Editor

After the two previous albums released by the alternative rock band Weezer were not generally well received, the band’s newest album, Everything Will Be Alright in the End, which came out in Oct. 7, returns to the original alternative rock that fans have grown to love.

The album opens up with “Ain’t Got Nobody”, a catchy song with an even catchier chorus that begs for listeners to sing along.

According to Weezer, the album is broken

up into three subsets based on the content of the songs. “Ain’t Got Nobody” falls into the subcategory of “Belladonna”, songs about lead singer Rivers Cuomo’s relationships with women. The next category, dubbed “Patriarchia”, deals with fatherhood. This leaves the final category, “The Panopticon Artist”, which includes songs about the band’s fans. “[The music] is really chill,” said senior Lauren Yakel.

Along with “Ain’t Got Nobody”, the equally catchy and playful single, “Da Vinci”, begs for dancing and lip synching, with lyrics like “Stephen Hawking can’t explain you/ Rosetta Stone could not translate you.''

The song “Back to The Shack” sets a tone for how the lead singer and writer for the band, Cuomo, felt about how the band music went a different direction than past albums. The song talks about getting back to their roots. With such lyrics as “Sorry guys I didn’t realize that I needed you so much, I thought I’d get a new audience, I forgot that disco sucks” to reference some of the pop songs that they have written in the past.

The new album definitely departs from the electronic, pop genre of their last two albums and has a grittier sound.

In “The Panopticon Artist” set,

the song “I’ve Had It up to Here” directly addresses past fans who have since moved on from the band since many of the fans are used to a certain sound from Weezer since the band has started in 1992. The song jumps from darker, plotting ballads to the faster chorus where Cuomo tells ex fans “I tried to give my best to you/But you plugged up your ears/And now I just can't take no more/I've had it up to here.”

The album ends in three parts entitled “The Futurescope Trilogy”, which manages to flow together despite the individuality of each part. The trilogy begins and ends with instrumental sections with the second part, entitled “Anonymous”, sandwiched in the middle. Overall, the trifecta serves as a dramatic ending reminiscent of the band’s signature style, fitting for an album that takes the audience back to its roots.

Photo illustration by Molly Thal

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Norse Star

December 12, 2014

What is the best holiday gift you’ve received?

Staff Photographer

“The best gift I got was a Chihuahua. It’s a present you have for a long time, It’s not something you just use a couple times,” said freshman Sabrina Breckwoldt.

Teens

Kids

Feature Editor

Photo by Natalie Blue

“[The best gift I got was] a Visa gift card because you can spend it wherever you want,” said senior Alex Fenlon.

“I like to do habitat respiration so the better gifts I’ve gotten are things that will help me with that like equipment and seeds. I see helping the environment more important than a gift for me,” said science teacher Russ Barton.

Second graders Seth and Evie Blue look at the video game Skylanders at a local Target store.

Gabrielle Redfield Staff Writer It’s hard to believe, but the holiday season for 2014 is already coming up! To get the latest electronics, such as the iPhone 6 or the PS Vita from Sony, tons of people rushed to stores on Black Friday. Some people know exactly what they’re getting for the teenager in their life, but others find it can be difficult to think what to get for them. Fortunately, this gift guide can help you get the perfect present for your friend, sibling, significant other, or even yourself.

Gift cards are really common for presents for teens. Companies such as Starbucks, Apple, and Sephora offer gift cards that are perfect for people for whom gifts are hard to buy. They can use the card to pick out presents, and there’s no worry about gift receipts or if they will like their present or not.

English teacher Alison Cundiff has two teenage daughters, and she said that she’s going to give her daughter a couple of gift cards this year. “My older daughter is probably more interested in iTunes gift cards, but I think any teenage girl would love a Sephora gift card,” said English teacher Alison Cundiff.

Other teens like getting actual gifts. “I like the excitement of wondering if I’m going to get what I actually wanted, and also I [wonder] what else I’ll get,” said senior Mark Watson.

Video games are also popular for teens.

Junior Kyra Derrington and Watson are both gamers, and they want different games and consoles for the holidays. “[I would want] a lot of video games for Christmas, [such as] the new Legend of Zelda games,” said Derrington.

Game consoles such the Vista, Xbox One, and PS4 are popular, but Watson recommends that buyers should purchase the PS4 over the new Xbox One. “I recommend the PS4 because the Xbox One feels more restrictive and not as innovative,” said Watson.

According to Gifts.com, some of the presents they recommend for teen girls are The Art of Frozen book by Charles Solomon, a Polaroid Onestep Closeup camera, and Juicy Couture ‘Viva La Juicy Gold Couture Romance’ perfume set. For guys, they recommend Sol Republic Tracks headphones, Eau De Lacoste Rouge cologne set, and World of Warcraft:

Senior Mark Watson plays video games on his Xbox 360. They are his gift of choice this year.

Mists of Pandaria collectors edition.

In terms of electronic gifts, Cnet.com states that some of the best phones for the season are the LG G3, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, the Apple iPhone 6, and the HTC One M8 for Windows. Teens love smart phones, so a new one would be a great gift.

Watson just got a Samsung 4 which is an Android based smart phone and said that he likes that a teen “can put music and photos on and off of it easy...You can also add an SD card for more storage,”he said.

Some other new technology that’s hot this season is the Levono Yoga 3 Pro PC laptop, the Apple iMac, and tablets such as Apple iPad Air 2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, and the Nvidia Shield.

Gifts are not only fun to receive, but they can also be fun to give. Gifts are a great way to show that you care for someone you’re close to.

It feels good to make someone happy with a gift they want.

“I think [gift giving] is to show passion and affection for their family and friends,” said Watson. “When you surprise them, it really shows your love for your family and friends.”

Molly Thal Editor-in-Chief Last year, my dad got my mom a toilet seat for Christmas. No, this is not a horror story of terrible gift giving. She loved it. It was something she needed and had not bought for herself. The key to giving gifts to adults is practicality and openness.

“I think as we age, we have everything that we want. Our list gets smaller as we get older. We don’t need as much. We go out and buy whatever we need. I like lotions because my hands dry out, things that are more practical,” said substitute teacher Brenda Walter.

Gift giving can be tricky, but putting yourself into the shoes of the recipient can be helpful.

“Gift giving is not about you; it’s about them, so you’ve gotta think about what they want and take hints,” said Walter.

When giving gifts to younger kids, an important element is surprise. The gift could be “ruined” if the receiver already knows what it is. But when it comes to adults, it is best to just ask them what they want. The answers may surprise (like a toilet seat), but then the receiver will have what they really want or need.

“I don’t think it’s wrong to ask somebody what they would want if you feel comfortable with them,” said Walter.

As people grow older, their wish list gets smaller, so they may not want an actual material item.

“I want my son to learn to behave himself and to potty train himself,” said English teacher Mark Bannecker.

Although that request was facetious, Bannecker does have a Christmas wish list.

“I would like sweaters and movies. As I get older, the need for sweaters increases for sure. But the movies is pretty consistent,” said Bannecker. He said that he has always liked movies, but the need for practical gifts like sweaters has increased.

The principle of practicality works for most adults. Practicality is still important when giving to older adults, but simplicity becomes more important.

“I asked my dad if he would like me to make him some soups and freeze it because he doesn’t get out much in winter. So I put it in

the freezer. I make soup and have them in little cartons so he can just take them out because he really doesn’t get out when it’s cold,” said Walter.

Remember that the cliche “it’s the thought that counts” is valid. Even if you get your parent or grandparent something they did not need, the gesture of putting thought into a gift is just as important as the gift itself. Walter uses the story of the three wise men to make that point.

“The three wise men brought baby Jesus frankincense & myrrh, and all these spices. I thought ‘Gosh, Jesus probably needed diapers!

Why in the world would you bring him a spice?

If they were three wise women, they would have brought him diapers,”’ said Walter. “But the fact about it is they were honoring him and I think this is the way they honored him. It wasn’t so much the gift, it was the thought that they were honoring baby Jesus. So I think it’s not so much what they need. You want to be nice and honor somebody.”

If you are buying a gift for a parent, grandparent, or older family friend, remember to not be afraid to ask what they want and to keep the gifts simple and practical.

Photo by Molly Thal

The holidays are right around the corner, which means it's gift giving season. Many people with children or siblings in elementary school know how frustrating it can be to find the perfect gift for kids younger than middle school.

Freshman Lori Barnes said, “Little kids are easy to shop for, but sometimes they change their mind at last minute.”

Kids are very particular and easily influenced by external factors like the media and want toys and products that they recognize from what they see. This can be expensive.

“If you want to save money but get a quality gift, put time and thought into your gift,” said freshman Makena Blake.

There are many new toys on the market as well as video games and movies. Just Dance 2015 is a fun dancing game appropriate for all ages. Popular toys like Furby and any American Girl Doll or doll of a character from Frozen are top choices for many kids. Also, electronic toys like remote control cars and the Nabi tablet are hot sellers. These toys can be found at Walmart and Target and sometimes are on sale. A buyer just must be patient.

It is also always a good idea to check with the child's parent before buying a video game or movie geared toward children since some children are not allowed much time on gaming

systems or t.v.

History teacher Amy Grich said that her two-year-old daughter “has limited tv watching and although she doesn't play any now, she would also have limited video game playing as well.”

Another thing for people to consider is the age recommendation on the box that says what age the toy is geared towards. While this is a good, general guideline, some children may be more mature or immature than others.

Grich said, “I do pay attention to them [age recommendations], but I also base it off what my daughter is capable of.”

When something has an age limit on it, the best way to judge its appropriateness is by considering whether or not the is mature enough.

Blake said that a bad present for a kid would be “clothes, socks, and everyday items such as toothpaste.”

“Kids want toys,”said Barnes.

Kids like to be surprised and receive gifts they can play with. Although the kid may need a new toothbrush, it’s best to get wanted items rather than needed.

When it comes to the holidays and picking out gifts for kids, the best thing to do is to have them make a list, ask them what they want, or talk to their parents so that it is guaranteed to make the child happy.

Grich said, “The best thing about picking gifts [for others] is the art of finding something perfect for the person you are giving it too.”

Adults

Photo by Gabrielle Redfield

Natalie Blue

“[The best gift I got was] my puppy when I was six because I didn't think I’d get one. She’s my best friend,” said junior Elsa Schenk.

Parkway North High School

Holiday Gift Guide

Christina Ibrahim

“The best gift I got was a trip to North Carolina because I got to see a new place in the U.S.” said sophomore JaRen Dailey.

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December 12, 2014

Centerspread

Parkway North High School

Clothes and other practical gifts are popular presents for adults.

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December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Features Parkway inducts North alumni to Hall of Fame Centerspread Editor On Nov. 15, 2014, 22 Parkway graduates, nine from North, were inducted into the Parkway Alumni Hall of Fame. Inductees from North include Dean Anthony ‘82, Mary Koboldt ‘82, Dr. Jeffrey Levy ‘76, Timothy Riley ‘85, Dr. Manish Shah ‘88, Jason and Randy Sklar ‘90, Lian Willey ‘77 and Rep. Jill Schupp ‘73. These inductees represent a wide range of professions and talents.

Anthony was an opera singer for 25 years and even performed on PBS. After leaving the stage, Anthony began to help others on the stage by working as a stage director and professor.

“Eight years ago, I started stage directing, and I am a stage director in the opera world. I run my own company. It’s called the Janiec Act at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina. I am also on the faculty at the University of Memphis as a stage director and [stage direct] freelance,” said Anthony.

While Anthony was in high school,

he was involved in many extracurriculars including football, wrestling, and drama.

“I didn’t study enough in high school, I didn’t get very good grades, but I was able to play football and I wrestled. I was in all the plays, all the musicals, and I sang in the choir. I even played in the symphonic band.

I was able to do all the things that my skills were right for,” said Anthony.

Anthony said that during his senior year of football, North “had a really great team” and that his sophomore year he remembers doing the show Godspell. “That, as a sophomore, and my senior year of football were the greatest moments I had at Parkway North”.

Missouri Representative Schupp was part of the first graduating class of Parkway North in 1973. She is in her third term in the Missouri House of Representatives and has been involved in many community projects.

Since the school was just getting started when she was here, lots of things were different from how they are now, and she was involved in many extracurriculars that were just forming.

“They had an after school, recreational

Photos by Lauren Sparks

Lauren Sparks

Dr. Marquart poses with alumni at the induction. They mingled with former classmates and friends as well as new administrators from all areas of the Parkway District.

boy’s softball team, but they didn’t have girls; so I sort of threw a fit and we ended up doing co-ed, which was great,” said Schupp.

Schupp was also student body president. “It was our first year so we had to really create the bylaws, and I think that was really helpful to me [in my career today].

I did debate in high school, [but] it was at Parkway Central,” said Schupp.

Schupp stressed how important it is to be involved and keep in touch with people after high school.

When Schupp was running for office in 2008, she ran into a former sponsor, and he became the photographer for her campaign.

“One of the teachers at…Parkway Central, was Bill Baskam,” said Schupp.

“He was never my teacher… but he was the sponsor of a charity event that I was working on and that’s how I knew him...The more you get to know your teachers and your classmates and stay involved, you would be surprised how many ways, decades later, those things will come back to be part of your life in a new way all over again,” said Schupp.

Olympic athlete Mary Koboldt played women’s field hockey in the Pan AM Games as well as the Olympics in Seoul in 1988.

Since then, she has coached young players and became a representative for a major pharmaceutical company.

Koboldt played basketball, field hockey, and ran track while in high school.

She remembered that her field hockey team “won the state championship in field hockey during my senior year.”

“When I was in high school...I remember that I said I didn’t want to work with people and that I wanted to work in nature, so it said I should either be a forest ranger or a horseshoer. And now all I do is talk to people all day. I made friends there that I’ve kept for the last 30 years,” said Kobolt.

Dr. Shah is an emergency medical director, an associate professor, and associate chair of emergency medicine at the University of Rochester. He helps patients in

the emergency rooms, does research related to the elderly, teaches medical students and residence, and oversees an ambulance system.

“I get to wear a lot of different hats based on the time of the week and the time of the day,” said Dr. Shah.

While in high school, Dr. Shah was involved in many things but regrets never being taking some of the international trips that North offers.

“I think the great thing about North was everything that they had us learn there,” said Dr. Shah. “They taught us to think and taught us to really take advantage of what we had in front of us. I think that’s the piece that I’ve really learned when I was at North, and that I really took advantage of going forward.”

Parkway’s Board of Directors and alumni reconnect at the inductions on Nov. 15, 2014.

December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

9

Features

Parkway North families celebrate holidays Snow is beginning to fall, stores (especially toy shops) are starting to sell things like crazy, and KMOX will soon no longer be playing classic rock. That’s rightit’s holiday season! For many North students, the holidays don’t just involve meeting with family, wrapping presents, and eating holiday foods. Several students celebrate the holidays with their own cultural and familial traditions.

Senior Jeffrey Lin celebrates the Chinese New Year based on the lunar calendar every year with his family.

“We celebrate the Chinese New Year; it’s for 14 days and can be in February; we also celebrate a holiday during May 5th of the lunar year; we also celebrate Christmas, but if I were in Taiwan we would not,” said Lin. As far as unique traditions go, every Chinese New Year, the Lins place food on the table for their ancestors to eat, and, as Lin said, they must "wait until the ancestors are finished" before they can eat the food themselves.

To prepare, they usually "hang banners with meaningful quotes” and bless "pork, beef, and roasted pig head" which are eaten

A wreath hangs on the front door of a student’s house. Decorating for the holidays is a tradition in their household

during the holidays.

Chinese New Year is Lin’s favorite holiday “because the elders give the children money in red envelopes.”

Some people celebrate their culture’s unique holiday traditions with their family every year.

Junior Ana De Zamacona, who was born in Mexico, said, “During Christmas we have posadas; we basically reenact Mary and Joseph’s journey through Bethlehem.”

She also said her family “celebrates El Dia de los Reyes Magos, and many times in

the Mexican culture, that day is seen as more important than Christmas.”

De Zamacona said her personal favorite holiday, she said, is “New Year’s because the way my family spends New Year’s - it’s my entire family.”

To prepare for the holidays, she said, “we build our own nativity scene and also put up our own Christmas tree.”

Senior Layla Kousari, an Iranian descendant, said, “We celebrate the Iranian New Year, Eid, every year, which is slightly different from the Muslim New Year. The kids get money from the older parents, and we also celebrate with a picnic one week later with a bunch of friends and family.”

She said, “You have to find new dresses for the new year; we also have a table that’s set in an ornate way which represents things we hope to accomplish.”

Kousari said that her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving also because it “is the only time I see my entire family; we have American food but with our own Iranian flair.”

Holiday traditions involve more than stuffing the stocking, wearing ugly sweater, shopping at crowded stores, and wrapping presents. There’s unique holiday traditions people may not find outside a certain corner of the world. As the snow starts falling and the TV ads start rolling, keep that in mind.

Photo by Dylan Farmer

Staff Writer

Photo by Dylan Farmer

Dylan Farmer

The Famer family Christmas tree stands in their living room.

Studying tips become more important as final exam week Dec. 16-19 gets closer Photo By Emma Petrofsky

Emma Petrofsky Opinions Editor Winter break is approaching and the semester is coming to an end, but before students get to enjoy their time off, they first have to get through finals.

Procrastination can be a problem for many students when it comes to studying for finals.

Sophomore Samantha Axelrod said, “Last year, I did better on the finals that I prepared in advance for, and worse on the ones that I crammed for at the last minute.”

Even though finals are next week, there is still time to make a plan and set aside time for studying.

“Don’t cram everything in last minute; you will end up regretting it later. It is important to spread out your studying and give yourself plenty of time,” said Axelrod.

Sophomore Sarah Jones also said that managing time well when studying is important. “One of the worst things you can do during finals is procrastinate and then cram everything into an all nighter.”

Jones also added, “You have to relearn a whole semester's worth of information in a few weeks, so it’s important to spread that out so you are not overwhelmed.”

Managing time well and avoiding

Samantha Axelrod writes down a list of everything she needs to study for finals.

procrastination are two things that students need to do when studying for finals. There are also many other things students need do to prepare for finals, including using a variety of methods of studying “I use flashcards a lot to help me

memorize things,” said Samantha Axelrod.

She added, “One thing that I do is save all the flashcards I make during the semester so that I don’t have to remake them. Also, saying things out loud helps if you are trying to memorize things,” said Axelrod.

Another thing that can have an impact on a student’s performance during finals is how much sleep that students gets.

“Some people think that if they don’t sleep and instead stay up all night studying, they will do better because they are studying for longer, but that is not true. If you pull an all nighter, you’re going to be very tired the next day and will have a hard time focusing when you take your finals. You also might be so tired that you forget a lot of what you studied,” said sophomore Anna Rickard.

Rickard suggested that instead of pulling an all nighter, students set their alarm to wake up two hours earlier than they normally would. “That way you are still sleeping, but also are getting in extra study time,” she said.

“Waking up early to study before finals can really help you because it gives you time to go over what you have been studying and to make sure you know everything that you need to,” said Rickard.

Students can also use the time at school during finals week wisely.

“Most finals will not take you the whole class period,” said Sarah Jones, “So something I do is study for the final I have next block to make sure I know everything.”

Finals can be stressful for many students, but it’s important not to stress yourself out too much.

10

Sports

December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Unsung Heroes:

Managers, referees, trainers, athletic directors make athletics possible News Editor Many people work together to make sports games possible, but not many athletes and students are aware of who they are and what they do. Referees, coaches, team managers, score board managers, and the activities director all pitch in to help students enjoy sports at Parkway North High.

On a day to day basis, Parkway North High’s Activities Director Kris Kellams ensures that all students are following the Missouri State High Schools Activities Association’s rules. She also hires game officials and game workers, organizes the seasonal schedules so that there are no conflicts, and double checks the means of transportation to games at other schools.

“I just try to make sure that [the games] go as smoothly as possible within the rules of the sport and the rules of our association so that everyone can have a positive experience,” said Kellams.

Kellams also designates a volunteer to manage the scoreboard during games.

Common scoreboard managers include faculty Clint Johnson, Steven Clem, Matt Alonzo, and Bart Prosser.

“Obviously there are a lot of aspects involved in putting on a home game, just like there is in football: [the] Athletic Director, the actual coaching staff and players, custodial crew, parent volunteers, someone to run the gate, security, officials, people in charge of helping the opposing team, and many other responsibilities,” said Johnson.

Johnson not only helps run the scoreboard during games, but he also coaches football.

“I feel like I help in the overall process [of making games possible], but what I do is no more or less important than any other circumstances. It is nice for the students to

see that I am not just a football coach, and I do care and want to help contribute with other sports and other activities.”

Another thing Kellams must do is hire referees for the games. She, along with other directors from other schools who host sports games, contact a few major associations in the area to provide referees for certain sports. The companies then choose an available referee to come and help at school games.

Kellams often contacts St. Louis Metro Sports for football, basketball, volleyball, and swimming referees. Baseball and softball umpires typically come from The Greater St. Louis Umpires Association.

Softball and baseball umpire Jim Fetsch said, ”I have been an official now, for over 20 years. I have worked hard to be the best official I can possibly be, and continue to improve upon that. The coaches and athletic directors who have requested me as an official for their contests is very rewarding in itself. As an official, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Fetsch also believes that being an umpire has “kept me young-both in mind and body. You have to maintain a healthy mind to apply the ever-changing rules, and you need to remain in shape to keep up with the student-athletes on the field.”

Another important figure that works to aid student athletes is trainer and Allied Healthcare Professional, Michael Tzianos.

He specializes in the prevention, treatment, evaluation, and diagnosis of injuries and illnesses. This means he makes sure that people who are or were injured or sick are healthy enough to participate in sports again.

“Most of the time, people are pretty appreciative...[I like] showing that people care. I think most of the kids here at Parkway North are pretty appreciative when I have to help them,” said Tzianos.

Tzianos has helped athletes with

Photo by Sarah Butterfield

Sarah Butterfield

Tzianos examines junior Aliyah Belcher’s foot after school. Belcher is a varsity basketball player.

everything from small lacerations to a compound fracture, in which a broken bone visibly protrudes from the leg.

“I never want anybody to be injured, but in case they are, I like the process of being able to help them get back to normal and playing again like normal,” concluded Tzianos.

Students have the option to volunteer to become a team manager for any team.

For example, Claire Casagrande is the team manager for the wrestling team. She does everything from taking attendance to helping wrap up injuries.

“I just wanted to help out [and] do something to help other people,” said Casagrande.

Coaches also help prepare the athletes by challenging them to be their very best.

Approximately 70 coaches are hired by Parkway North; some are teachers and some are other adults from outside the district.

“I don’t think I impact the students as much as our coaches impact the students,” said Kellams, “But we all try to put kids in leadership positions, help them learn, help them grow, and find the best in the games and the sports that they play.”

Junior Nihada Bracic said the Winter Scrimmage “brings us closer and we’re all excited about one thing [basketball].”

Along side the basketball players, the wrestling team also participated in the Winter Scrimmage. During the scrimmage, each member of the wrestling team participated in a mini match with someone else on their team.

This year, Parkway North’s wrestling team added many new members including three new girls. While senior Emma Mitchell was the only girl to take on a boy in her match, the scrimmage not only allowed her to get a grasp of what matches were like but also allowed her, along with her teammates, to start to feel more comfortable with their team and the sport in general. “[The Winter Scrimmage] is a good

opening opportunity for the community.

New wrestlers get to see how it works, and it’s good intersquad competition,” said varsity wrestling coach Matthew Conley.

The point behind the scrimmaging between the teams is not for one team or person to be deemed a winner, but instead, it allows the students and fans to see what their teams are looking like and get a sneak peek before the season really starts.

It also allows the teams themselves to get a feel for what the matches and games will be like and start to prepare for their upcoming opponents. During the scrimmage, the players are able to see the talents and capabilities of their teammates allowing them to put their talents together and come together as one team while building team unit.

Athletes participate in annual Winter Scrimmage Sharell Evans Staff Photographer On Saturday, Nov. 22, the girls and boys basketball teams and wrestling team participated in the annual Winter Scrimmage at Parkway North. The Winter Scrimmage, which was previously known as Purple and White Night, provides an opportunity for the teams to practice before the actual games and matches while building camaraderie.

During the Winter Scrimmage, the basketball teams were either divided to play against their own teammates or they took on another level team. The freshman boys basketball team took on the junior varsity team for two 20 minute quarters. The varsity team then played their two 20 minute

quarters against the junior varsity team, just as the freshman team had. The teams played the game the same way they would in an actual game.

Captain of the varsity team senior Carl Jones said that the scrimmage is beneficial to all of the teams because “People get to come out and see the teams’ talents, and it allows our team to build better chemistry.”

Just like the boys, the girls freshman team scrimmaged against the junior varsity team, but the varsity team gave it a little twist.

For fun and to add a little more excitement and intensity, the girls varsity team took on each other in their scrimmage. The team of 10 girls divided in half and went head to head with each other. By doing that, they were able to see what their own teammates were truly capable of.

December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Sports

11

Winter Sports Preview Varsity Sports 12/12-1/31 Zoe Schuver Community Editor

Photo by Zoe Schuver

Wrestling Last year, junior Cassidy Williams was the only female wrestler. This year, the team consists of 24 boys and four girls.

Williams said that her goal for this year is “to win her first match [and] get stronger.”

The most difficult thing about wrestling is “how mentally strong you have to be because if you don’t believe you can do it, then you won’t be able to,” said Williams.

The best advice Williams has received was from wrestling coach Matt Conley who told her to “[always] stay in the fight.”

Junior Cassidy Williams and freshman ArchieLynn Rivera spar on Monday, Dec. 8.

Photo by Sharell Evans The girls varsity swim team practices after school on Monday, Dec. 8, for their meet the next day against Parkway Central.

Girls’ Basketball The girls varsity basketball team had a successful start at the tip off game, winning with a score of 63-22 on Dec. 1 against Central.

Point guard junior Alesia Sutton’s goal for the team this year is “to get to state and get farther than last year.” Last year, the girls varsity basketball team finished with a record of 20-7, making it to the second round of the state tournament.

Sutton said that she looks forward to playing with new players this season. There are two new players and two girls who moved up from JV. Sutton said the strongest advice she has taken from her coaches is to “be a leader [and] control the tempo of the game.”

Photo by Zoe Schuver

Swimming and Diving This year, two teachers joined the coaching staff of the girls swimming and diving team: PE teacher Mary Christine Kubik and English teacher Natalie Vonarx.

“It’s awesome to become more involved at North and to work with students outside of class,” said Vonarx.

Vonarx hopes that her advice has helped the athletes progress and will help them perform well in upcoming meets.

“I hope that I can give the divers tools to improve and reach their goals,” said Vonarx, “I expect the divers to work hard to achieve their individual goals. This means attending practice and meets and working hard while there. I also expect them to support each other and to demonstrate sportsmanship towards other teams. My goal is to have each diver improve throughout the season.”

Boys Basketball Forward junior Eric Bals said that his hopes for the team this year are “to have a winning record and win conference or districts.” Last year, the boys varsity basketball team finished with a record of 1113.

To prepare for the season, the boys varsity team had workouts during the fall and played in a fall league. “I think [the fall league] is going to help us out,” said Bals.

During practices, the players do drills and sometimes play against JV. “Practice is the most difficult [part of basketball],” said Bals.

Although the practice is difficult, Bals’ favorite part is playing the games, which makes up for the dedication the players give at practice.

Junior Alesia Sutton and sophomore Aliyah Belcher practice their skills in preparation for their Dec. 12 game against Eureka.

Boys’ Basketball Dec. 12 Mehlville 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 19- Dec. 20 at G.A.C. Shootout TBA Dec. 26- Dec. 29 at St. Dominic Tourney TBA Jan. 06 Timberland High School 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 09 Parkway Central 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 13 at De Smet 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 16 at Francis Howell North 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Webster Groves 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Rockwood Summit 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 26- Jan. 30 at Ft. Zumwalt North Tourney TBA Wrestling Dec. 19- Dec. 20 at Ft. Zumwalt East Tournament 4:00 p.m.

Jan. 07 Ritenour 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 09- Jan. 10 Suburban Tourney at Hazelwood Central 5:00 p.m.

Jan. 14 at Kirkwood 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Parkway Central 5:00 p.m.

Jan. 28 at Webster 5:30 p.m.

Girls’ Basketball Dec. 12 Eureka 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 20 at Visitation Tourney TBA Jan. 06 at Lafayette 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 09 at Ladue 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 13 at St. Dominic High School 6:45 p.m.

Jan. 16 at McCluer North 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 at MLK Classic TBA Jan. 20 Webster Groves 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Rockwood Summit 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 26- Jan.30 at Central Tournament TBA Girls’ Swimming Dec. 19 Parkway West/Jackson 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 06 Kirkwood at Meramec 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 09 Parkway Quad at Parkway South 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 12 Ritenour 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 14- Jan. 15 at Summit Invitational 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Rockwood Summit 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 24 at Cape Invitational 9:00 a.m.

Jan. 27 Webster Groves 4:15 p.m.

December 12, 2014 Parkway North High School

Backpage

12

Humans of PNH Sarah Noble and Gianna Sparks Staff Writer and Copy Editor

“It was drama [in] 6th grade and it was the second day of school. I was thinking ‘she’s in my class,’” said freshman Jourdyn Brooks (left), “The third day is when we became close. Now we’re the best of friends,” said freshman Jaida McClure (right).

“I’ve been playing football for seven years.

Let’s say if you throw [the football] to my side, it’s an automatic interception,” said junior Adrian Walker.

“I’m adopted....I think I'd be okay [if my birth parents had another child that they kept].

That makes sense because clearly they had me but just weren't ready to have me so they tried to do the best for me, but then they got to a better state. I can't be mad about it because there is nothing I can do. It already happened,” said junior Morgan Faust.

“I would like to think of myself as athletic and determined. I could be at home but I’m here,” said junior Travia Harris (left). “[Participating in extracurriculars] shows I’m versatile and determined. It shows how I express myself. It shows my athletic, intellectual, and artistic side,” said junior Arianna Varner (right).

“There was this guy I talked to through eighth grade...It was weird. He would tell me one thing, but it was a complete lie,” said senior Maura McBride.

“My older brother that goes here now is really smart; he doesn’t have to try at all. He’s really smart in our family, so for me to be recognized I have to try really hard in school. Sometimes, it feels like I’m not getting the acknowledgement for working really hard,” said sophomore Lillie Brimmer.

“[The tattoo] is from my favorite band called 21 Pilots. They have this song called Truce, and I covered it for my grandpa who passed away. One of the lines is like ‘Stay alive for me’, so it also has a deeper meaning. I believe that people stay strong, and that if you stay strong eventually you’ll break, so it really all comes down to staying alive. I believe it’s more important to stay alive than to stay strong,” said junior Phoebe Lieberman.

“By holding a banana, you can’t use that hand so holding the banana is out of the question.

When you put it in your pocket the banana gets all mushy and warm. When you wear a scarf and put it inside of there it doesn’t get as warm. This was [so] it can’t get squashed and mushy,” said sophomore Patrick Yang