October Publication

Parkway North High School

N rsestar 12860 Fee Fee Rd. St. Louis, MO 63146

Volume 52, Issue 2, October 30, 2013

Stay Active, Keep Busy, and Have Fun in Fall See more on pages 6 and 7

Also Featured:

Varsity Football Team Gears Up for Districts See more on page 11

Popular Books Become Movies See more on page 5

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NEWS

October 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

Parkway North Ranks in Top 15 High Schools in Missouri by Newsweek, The Daily Beast Online Editor Earlier this year, Parkway North, along with other Parkway high schools, was ranked in the Top 15 High Schools in Missouri by Newsweek. Newsweek judges schools on criteria including graduation rates, number of graduates being accepted into college, and AP/IB/AICE test scores.

“The ranking is a significant honor for our school and should be a source of pride for the North High community, students, and staff,” said junior principal Rhonda Page.

North has always been a school filled with pride, but now the school has something to truly be proud about. The ranking means that by going to Parkway North, students are receiving one of the best public educations in the state of Missouri.

“We have four really good schools. It doesn’t matter where you go to school,” said Superintendent Keith Marty.

“North High is a very special place... compromised of hard-working and passionate students and educators. This honor is evidence of our commitment to excellence in the curriculum and academic expectations,” said Page. “I am proud to be part of North High and hope that every teacher, counselor, and student also feels a sense of pride to be listed among the top 15 schools in our state.”

Parkway North is one of the most diverse schools in the area with a minority enrollment of 43 percent, economically disadvantaged enrollment of 18 percent, and an almost even split of males and females at 49 percent male and 51 percent female. “[A good school is a] school that can meet the needs of all kids,” said Marty. “Especially in the high school, [they need to] try to find a niche for students.”

Being ranked as a high school does not make a school great. A school that can provide for students and support them is what makes a great high school. All of this affects the student body too. Now when a student applies to a college, they can have pride be-

hind saying that they came from a Parkway School. It should open up doors for students when applying for college.

“I am hopeful that the ranking will positively influence admissions for our students into colleges and universities, both in and out of the state of Missouri,” said Page.

North ranked 14th, out of 560 high schools, but can still improve.

“The challenge is to sustain and get better,” said Marty. “We are proud of our achievements but not all students are finding success.”

“I hope that the community will become more involved in our school for our parade and community welcome events,” said student body president Mary-Kate Mudd. “It makes me proud to put so much work into a school that is ranked so high.”

Along with the high schools rankings, Parkway School District received a 99.6 on the MSIP. Parkway School District is now a top school district in the state.

“Other school districts will be looking at us as a model, particularly at our structures and methods. It is important for us to recognize this as a responsibility and to continuously seek to learn and grow as educators,” said Page.

“Parkway already has a well-established reputation. This will only add to that,” said Marty.

Marty is already looking ahead to improve the schools’ success.

“Our goals for next year are efforts to ensure our ACT performance continues to improve since all students take the ACT as juniors,” said Marty. “We are looking at ways to ensure students have taken the necessary rigorous and relevant curriculum to be successful in taking the ACT.” With the 2013 school year already in full swing, the public can only wait and hope that Parkway will further improve its standards and education.

“I am of the belief that we can be the best, measured by the achievement and success of all,” said Marty.

Photo by Zack Becker

Zack Becker

The banner that hangs in the commons reminds people that Parkway North is ranked as one of the Top 15 High Schools in Missouri. “It does raise the awareness of our community regarding the quality of the educators and students,” said junior principal Rhonda Page.

Norsestar Staff Aurora Wrancher ...Editor in Chief

Molly Thal

...Editor in Chief

Zack Becker

...Online Editor

Nadia Ahmed

...News Editor

Kori Clay

...Community Editor

Gianna Sparks

...Centerspread Editor

Jamie Powell ...Features Editor

Chaney Cooper

...Sports Editor Emma Mitchell

...Opinions Editor Sophie Wennemann

...Entertainment Editor Brianne Lewis

...Ad Manager Staff

Writers and Photographers ...Carly Steffen ...Ryan Lutker ...Monyelle Asher

Tracy Silvagnoli...Sponsor

Norsestar Policy

Norsestar encourages students, teachers, parents, administrators and other readers to publish their opinion in the form of a letter to the editor.

However, due to space limitations,not all letters can be published. Any student or faculty member may submit an article or photo to the Norsestar by placing the item in the mailbox in the library or by giving to a staff member. Letters must be signed; no anonymous articles will appear in the newspaper. Norsestar will accept any letter submitted regardless of whether or not the staff agrees with its opinion, unless the material presented is libelous, promotes illegal activities, or is deemed in poor taste by the editorial board. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for length or clarification.

October 30, 2013 parkway north high school

Community

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Parkway Promotes Diversity with Action Committee Centerspread Editor

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his school year, Parkway School District continues to show its support for equality of opportunity in education for all students, concentrating specifically on minority students, through its program known as Diversity in Action. “[Diversity in Action] is a program that was created to make sure that we [Parkway School District] were addressing the needs of minority students,” said principal Jenny Marquart.

Diversity in Action, a long running program, has created many different goals to increase opportunity and support for minority students in the district. The program has and continues to implement both district-wide and school-specific goals and action plans to build a diverse community and encourage every student to succeed. “[Some of the goals of Diversity in Action] are to reduce the achievement gap and to increase the number of minority students in honors and advanced placement classes.

We also want to make sure our curriculum is relevant to everyone and demonstrates multiple perspectives, and a district wide goal is to make sure we are retaining and recruiting students of color,” said Marquart.

Some of the ways that Diversity in Action is meeting these goals is through review of curriculum and parental involvement

through programs such as Parents Advocating for Multicultural Excellence in Education, that meet once a month and discuss ways to make sure minority students are doing well.

While some people may question the reason behind Diversity in Action, Marquart added that she sees “students of color with the same test scores as other students who are passed over and not recommended for honors or AP classes.” DIA is trying to change this.

Consequently, many of the program’s action plans involve things like the creation of capable and confident learners by ensuring that all students have equal opportunities and support.

In addition to these goals, the Diversity in Action team has also been focusing on specific mentoring programs for students of color in programs such as ASAP. “ASAP stands for African American Student Acceleration Program; it’s a support group for African American students taking accelerated classes. In ASAP, juniors and seniors are paired with freshmen and sophomores to help them,” said junior Erica Houston.

One way that the district is trying to reduce the achievement gap is through programs like ASAP where younger students can get help and guidance from older students who most likely have experienced and overcome the same obstacles. By doing so, students are more likely to get the aid they need

Photo by Gianna Sparks

Gianna Sparks

Parkway teachers and administrators share success stories about ways they were able to help students succeed at the Diversity in Action meeting at Parkway Central High School on Oct.17.

and succeed.

While many of Diversity in Action’s goals focus specifically on academic success, the program also focuses on preventing discrimination and intolerance to create a safe and nurturing environment.

“I facilitate a lot of mentoring groups geared towards equality,” said junior guidance counselor Chandra Brown.

Another aspect of the program is social justice. Through slogans such as “No Place

for Hate”, Diversity in Action is working toward a district where student’s feel accepted and safe.

“Diversity in Action is evening the playing field for all students, regardless of race,” added Brown.

Students and teachers can take part in Diversity in Action by joining social justice groups and helping to make Parkway School district a school where all students are given equal opportunity.

7th Annual Gingerbread House Competition: Catering Club Bakes Edible Houses For Holiday Season Staff Writer

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rom Nov. 16 to Dec. 1, Parkway North’s Catering Club will be competing in the seventh annual gingerbread competition. The contest will be hosted by Lydia’s House, a shelter that provides transitional housing for abused women and their children.

This year’s theme is “Gingerbread Village,” and the new rule change says that the gingerbread houses are not required to have a component of gingerbread in them but need to be made out of edible items, giving participants more room to express their artistic abilities.

“From my understanding, the gingerbread house contest started with a local chef that wanted to raise money for us,” said Jessica Illert, a worker in the Resource Development Office at Lydia’s House.

The raised money comes from participation entry fees and sponsors, as well as donations made by the public for their favorite house. The categories are emerging artisans, independent pastry professionals, professional chefs, people’s choice award, and high schools. Last year, St. Charles West High School won the high schools category.

“I would probably judge [the gingerbread houses] on effort,” said junior Erica Houston, who assists her mom in her catering business.

Illert, who has never attended the contest, said, “I am told that the best part is see-

ing the actual houses.”

North’s Catering Club begins making their gingerbread houses four weeks prior to the contest; the process requires much time from start to finish, especially since many of the club’s members have differing, busy schedule.

“So far, we’ve started the structures,” said senior Abigail Russell, a member of the Catering Club.

“My favorite part is finishing it,” said Catering Club sponsor Rebecca Bright, who is also the FACS and culinary arts teacher.

“What may be the most difficult thing is agreeing on the idea of the house, but even that isn’t much of a problem.”

Lydia’s House residents benefit from the contest through the funds that are raised from it, which help maintain Lydia’s House.

Some participants keep their houses after the contest, but other participants’ houses are given to children’s hospitals and the community center for holiday enjoyment. The “most wonderful time of the year” is usually a time full of giving and helping the community.

“Anytime you can do charity, it’s always a good thing,” Bright said.

Many people seem to agree with Bright.

According to surveys by Charity Navigator, 57 percent of people say that they donate to charity or do some sort of community service during the holiday season.

“I help people by giving away meals on Christmas and Thanksgiving,” said sophomore Mark Banks.

Illert said that Lydia’s House residents

Photo by Monyelle Asher

Monyelle Asher

Seniors Abigail Russell and Megan Kwan measure baking soda for the Catering Club’s pumpkin bar recipe after school on Oct. 7.

benefit from the fund raiser through the funds that are raised from the contest so that they are able to maintain safe place for healing.

The benefits from doing charitable acts can create an environment where the community can collectively come together as a

group and aid those who are less fortunate than themselves.

The gingerbread contest that North’s Catering Club participates in serves as the community’s way of giving to Lydia’s House each year. The houses will be on display at Plaza Frontenac.

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opinions

October 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

Democrat, Republican Members of Congress Are to Blame for Shutdown of Government Kori Clay Community Editor With the government shutdown on Oct.4, blame has been placed on everyone including the Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party members, congress, senate, president, and almost anyone who holds a position in power. Students and faculty of Parkway North have analyzed the situation and voiced their opinions about who they think is to blame for the shutdown and the effects that it has on them. The result: all members of congress are to blame.

“I believe that the blame for the shutdown rests with both Democrats and Republicans. While I am usually quick to blame the party that I am not affiliated with, this time seems different,” said sophomore Alex Fredman.

Years before the shutdown, both parties had been at odds in the senate, not truly settling a sound resolution to the problem at hand but instead having the Democratic party withdraw some of their power to reconcile with the Republicans.

Senior Alex Cohen holds that the responsibility for the shutdown relies more so towards the “Democrats, Senate, [and] Harry Reid because the house passed four continuing resolutions and the senate denied all of them and didn’t come up with another plan.”

The Democrats had a strong stance on Obamacare, so when the Republicans wanted to repeal, no compromise was reached and the shutdown initiated. Therefore, fingers began to be pointed towards what people thought was the root of the problem.

Social studies teacher Scott Nilsen reasons that the start of the shutdown was due to the Tea Party. However, Nilsen stated that the “blame shouldn’t be all on Tea Party. Are

they to be blamed for the recent problem?

Sure. Everybody is to be blamed for the general dysfunction.”

The effect of this general dysfunction has been hard on those with government jobs. “It hasn’t affected me or my parents,” said senior Alex Cohen.

However, at least 800,000 federal civilian workers have been forced to be furloughed or receive payment delayed. Those working in national parks, museums, and zoos are classified as having government jobs, and after the shutdown were allowed to return back to work.

The government shutdown hasn’t affected Nilsen personally; however, his class discussion has shifted significantly. “[I have] to talk more about it in class,” said Nilsen.

Discussions about the shutdown have happened throughout school predominately in the social studies classes, as students are able to analyze and voice opinions about the current situation and who they think is to blame.

Although the shutdown has ended, there will continue to be issues and resentment against the American government system which is unable to agree and make clear decisions about events.

“I think it’s childish; we should’ve seen this coming,” said Junior Jazzlyn Harris If the government and the American people would have paid closer attention to the events foreshadowing this shutdown, a humiliating event such as this could’ have been avoided. However, senior K’Myah Carson suggests this shutdown “needed to take place; maybe congress needed to look at their jobs more seriously.”

“Even though the shutdown is now over because a ‘deal’ was reached, the shutdown certainly exhibits that we have a dysfunction-

al government in the eyes of the world. It’s really a disgrace that the only reason why a deal was passed was because we were one day away from defaulting on our loans and creating an economic nightmare,” said Fredman.

Although the government still remains frazzled and egos of politicians are still slightly bruised, the American public needs to send

a message to the government that this cannot happen again. Another publicized event like this is the last thing the American government and people need written in the history books. Therefore, the public needs to vote with a conscience and let politicians know they want representatives that will compromise and represent them well.

Who, if anyone, do you think is responsible for the government shutdown?

All members of Congress Democratic Party No one specifically President Barack Obama

The Republican Party Speaker of the House John Boehner The Tea Party members The United State’s citizens and their representatives

***number of responses on online poll

Robin Thicke Blurs the Lines Between Rape, Consent Molly Thal Co-Editor-in-Chief This past summer, singer/songwriter Robin Thicke released a song that shot to the tops of the charts. In the chorus of the song, Thicke repeats the words, “I know you want it.” This line, along with others in the song, spreads offensive ideas about rape and consensual sex that society already struggles with. Listeners should be aware of the negative effects of this mentality.

“I think it’s a really, really awful song just because it’s trying to say that there’s a blurred line between rape and consensual sex, but that’s not a blurred line,” said sophomore Katie Paulter.

Harassers think that if a person is attracted to them or in a relationship with them, they have a right to the victim’s body.

However, the only form of consent is a solid “yes,” not an absence of a “no.” Blurred Lines perpetuates the opposite idea.

“If people took a moment to analyze the lyrics, as music should be done, they’d soon realize ‘I’m not sure whether or not this is something I’d say to a person in real life,’” said junior Mico Xa. The song won Billboard’s award of Song

of the Summer 2013, but there were many other songs that deserved the award that were not so controversial.

“I understand that some people like it just because of the music, but I feel like because of the content that it’s talking about, it shouldn’t [have won that award]. I understand if they’re saying that just based on the music it’s an okay song. It’s just the message that I really don’t like,” said Paulter. “So I guess if it won some awards, that’s okay, but it should still be acknowledged that it’s not a good message to live by.”

Unfortunately, Blurred Lines is just a sample of the offensive lyrics in pop music that have become so popular in society today.

Many song lyrics and videos objectify women and make it seem okay to use and abuse people.

“We know that Billboard rates all the top hits in music. But if anything, this just shows the trend in pop music recently that we’re moving towards,” said Xa. “We go further and further down the spiral of moral ambiguity and things that shouldn’t be happening. It’s just a sign of things to come.”

The video for Blurred Lines was just as controversial as the song itself. The uncensored version features topless female dancers. Thicke was convinced to release the

uncensored version by his record label, even though he was reluctant. It continues the trend of male singers objectifying women in their videos. It can be said that women in the pop industry willingly do the same to themselves, but those women do it for the sake of art and for themselves.

“I think it should bring people to awareness. This should be a thing that people are noticing is not okay beyond the infectious beats and sassy background singers or nude people in the music video,” said Xa. Blurred Lines was thrown into the spotlight even more after Thicke’s performance at the MTV Video and Music Awards. He sang with Miley Cyrus after her controversial performance of We Can’t Stop. Cyrus is another modern singer who crosses the line of moral ambiguity. Cyrus danced inappropriately with Thicke, a married man with a threeyear-old son. Thicke received criticism for not refusing to dance with 20-year-old Cyrus.

According to Huffington Post, Thicke responded to the criticism stating, “I was on stage. I didn’t see it. So to me, I’m walking out towards Miley [and] I’m not thinking sex.

I’m thinking fun, you know? I mean her and I don’t have that kind of ... you have to remember, I’m singing my butt off. I’m sitting there.

I’m looking up at the sky, and I’m not really

paying attention to all that.”

Although this type of dancing is popular with celebrities and young people, it is inappropriate and sends the wrong message to the audience. The same reasoning can be used to justify the offensive lyrics of Blurred Lines, but listeners should stay aware of the negative effects this song and all songs that send similar messages that can affect popular culture.

October 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

Entertainment

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Popular Books Coming Soon to Movie Screens Brianne Lewis Ad Manager

Lights. Cameras. Read. Many of today’s movies are based off of popular books. Genres of books made into movies range from classic pieces to newer but very popular books, but sometimes the movie and the book aren’t as similar as expected.

“I like to go see [books that are turned into movies]. They’re not usually as good as the books-especially books that I really likebut I like to see them,” said senior Maddie

Thomas.

A movie based on a book that is getting all lot of buzz is The Fault in Our Stars by bestselling young adult author John Green.

The movie premieres June 6, 2014. The book is about a cancer patient named Hazel who meets a boy named Augustus Waters who is also recovering from cancer. The two meet in a support group for teen cancer patients. He changes her life and shows her how to truly live.

“I really like that [The Fault in Our Stars] is not like the typical romance story and that an added factor complicates the relationship yet it is still heartwarming,” said junior Sarah Williams.

Another popular book, Ender’s Game, comes to theaters Nov. 1. Ender’s Game is a military science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. Set in the future, the story presents an imperiled mankind that has barely survived two conflicts with the “Buggers”, an alien species. “[A book that I am excited to be turned into a movie] is Ender’s Game even though I haven’t read the book yet,” said English teacher Jeff Church.

Many novels that are set in a different type of world such as dystopian novels will soon be coming out as movies. The sequel to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, is one of many. The Hunger Games series is about a post-apocalyptic nation that chooses two people, one boy and one girl, from each of it’s 12 districts to fight to the death as punishment for a rebellion that took place many years earlier. Catching Fire premieres Nov. 22.

“The movie before [Catching Fire], Hunger Games, lives up to the book. I just like the whole series; I like the concept of

Catching Fire,” said science teacher Elegan Kramer.

Another dystopian novel that is being turned into a book is Divergent by Veronica Roth. The movie premieres on March 20, 2014. The book is about a girl named Beatrice living in modern-day Chicago who is forced to choose between her family and the life society wants her to live. Which many teenagers in this day in age feel this way about college and what they are going to do for the rest of their lives. “[For Divergent], I am kind of worried that movie is going to suck though because it is a big concept and a lot happened in the

book that I don’t think they will be able to fit it in a movie well,” said senior Nicole Hunt.

Other books that are being turned into movies include The Book Thief on Nov. 8, the story of the daily struggles one family faces when they hide a Jewish man from the Nazi’s during the Holocaust. Great Expectations, a classic story by Charles Dickens, premieres Nov. 8, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the sequel to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, comes out Dec. 13.

So, while movies are captivating, many say it’s better to read the book first before seeing the movie to really pick up on the little details and meanings hidden within the text.

North Students Enjoy Restaurants in St. Louis Emma Mitchell Opinions Editor

serves creamy custard and delicious sundaes.

“My favorite ice cream is Vanilla,” said Latimore. The originality of the first ice cream flavor is tasty enough for many people.

People’s favorite flavors of ice cream can range from the standard chocolate or vanilla to some more elaborate concoctions,

like double fudge brownie or strawberry cheesecake.

The many different culture inspired restaurants, as well as a variety of All-American eateries that are found in St. Louis are just one of the unique features that makes so many people call the city home.

Photo by Molly Thal

Food is one of the key components for human survival. However, it has become more than just a key for life; it has become an obsession for some. People range from competitive eaters to compulsive snackers, in search for decadent food. Saint Louis is home to people who love food as well as establishments for all types of taste.

Saint Louis Bread Company is a fan favorite for many Saint Louisans, being a quick and tasty option for dining out. Well-known for their fresh bagels, some students will go to Bread Company before school to pick up breakfast. Sometimes, students go there so frequently that the employees know their order before they speak.

“I have a usual when I go to a certain Bread Co: iced caramel latte and orange scone. I’m too lazy to try anything else,” said senior Gretchen Gregory. There are several Saint Louis Bread Companies located on near premises, the closest located in Westport Plaza.

Some students prefer a more exotic delicacy. Saint Louis is home to many multicultural restaurants. The diverse places to eat in Saint Louis range from Mongolian

grills to fancy Greek sit-down restaurants.

One can explore the tastes of the world. Senior Alexis Latimore, having moved here this year from Florida, loves eating crab.

“I like Joe’s Crab Shack. I usually get Snow Crab, but I love Dungeness,” said Latimore. More common closer to salt-water states, crab is still a tasty crustacean that can be enjoyed in Saint Louis. Joe’s Crab Shack is can be found in St. Peters.

The wide variety of foods that can be found in Saint Louis can cause people to become indecisive to a favorite type of food.

The choices are so expansive that one may become attached to multiple places.

“I don’t really have a favorite restaurant because I like all kinds of food,” said junior Stephanie Kim. Kim is notorious for having two lunches: one for snacks throughout the day and the other for her actual lunch. Having to wait for lunch at school is a long and tedious task.

Being able to snack on little things during classes helps to subside one’s growling stomachs. Kim likes to snack on Korean Pears, which she purchases from an Asian market.

Saint Louis, aside from its diversity in local restaurants, is well-known for the various custard shops around town. Ted Drewes is a native Saint Louis custard shop that is familiar to almost every resident of the city. It

St. Louis Bread Co. offers a quiet work space with WiFi, good food, and a meeting spot for group projects. It is also a go-to lunch stop for seniors with Viking Passes.

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Norsestar

October 30, 2013

Parkway North High School

What is your favorite thing about fall?

Brianne Lewis Ad Manager

Share Ways to Stay Healthy in Autumn

“[My favorite thing about fall] is probably the swim team because it’s fun,” said sophomore Joshua Zimmerman.

As summer fades to fall, school and homework pick up again and many people aren’t as active as they are in the summer months. But with the fall weather comes many different fun activities to do after school and on the weekends to stay active and healthy.

“Fall is the perfect time to be active… the scenery is beautiful, with all the different colors…[and] it’s cooler outside so you won’t sweat as much.,” said senior Ellen Lundstrom.

RUNNING The fall months are abundant in holiday runs, ranging in difficulty from 5K’s to full marathons throughout Saint Louis. Some of these include the Go Saint Louis Halloween run, the Turkey Trot, the Cupcake run, the Ugly Sweater run, Santa’s North Pole Dash, and the Frostbite training series in Forest Park. One nice thing about most runs in Saint Louis is that much or all of the proceeds go to charity organizations. These are fun to do with friends or to use as goals to push oneself in training, preparing for spring sports, and staying in shape in general.

If sticking with an exercise routine is a problem, English teacher Scott Kreher suggests grouping with friends and signing up for runs in advance. “It’s easiest to keep yourself motivated if you put money down [and] it’s easier to make excuses when you don’t,” he said.

Runners welcome the fall weather, in with cold air and out with the Saint Louis humidity which can sometimes make it harder for them to keep going. “[With running in the fall] the scenery is nice with all the leaves, and it’s the perfect temperature,” said senior Jacob Harland.

BIKING Biking is a good activity for fall because one can really determine the intensity of a workout themselves, and it’s an activity that can be done alone or with family and friends.

Some even ride their bikes to school or use them to get around in general. “[Bike riding] is probably the best way for me to wake up…just the cold crisp air instead of relying on coffee,” said Kreher.

Saint Louis has many different locations available for bike riders: Creve Coeur Lake, Forest Park, and the Katy Trail are a couple nearby locations that offer lots of fall scenery.

YOGA If allergies are a problem, yoga is a good activity that can done indoors. It’s great for clearing the mind and alleviates stress. One can practice by themselves with videos online or by attending classes at the gym: the YMCA, Jewish Community Center and Club Fitness all have classes available for beginners to experts.

“Yoga encourages stress relief through the control and manipulation breath. We like to say that if you slow the breath, the mind will follow. Depending on the type of yoga you practice, you may also get a real workout… after the two hours, you are so exhausted you don’t even remember what you were stressed about,” said English teacher Allison Cundiff.

Senior Jacob Harland prepares to catch a frisbee from senior David Cheng in their neighborhood.

“Staying active helps you feel better physically and mentally,” said Harland.

KAYAKING/CANOEING Kayaking and canoeing can be enjoyed with friends, family, or by oneself.

“I love going kayaking with my best friend, because we can go new places and try new things. Sometimes, I’ll even get my grandma to go, which is a treat; but I also enjoy going by myself because I can go at my own pace and just have quiet time,” said senior Ellen Lundstrom.

Creve Coeur Lake rents out kayaks and canoes and is a fun area to explore with its many different winding streams.

“When you are out on the water, nature is the only thing surrounding you.

It’s just so serene,” said Lundstrom.

P I C K - U P GAMES Sometimes, a low-key activity is a good way to stay active without dedicating a lot of time.

When time is of the essence, pick-up games with friends are the way to go. Catch of any sort, whether it be lacrosse, football, Frisbee or baseball can make for really easy pick-up games.

“Frisbee is free, easy going, [and] you can pretty much do it anywhere. It’s not competitive, and it’s social,” said Harland.

GEOCACHING Geocaching is a different way to get moving outside because it’s not an explicit sport.

“It’s kind of like a really big, fun, exciting, outdoors treasure hunt,” said Junior Meagan Nalepa.

In geocaching, coordinates are entered into a handheld GPS, which is then used to track the location of the geocache (container) hidden at different locations. In the container are “swaps,” trinkets left behind by the geocachers who visited that location previously.

Participants hike to get to each location.

“Swaps [can] range anywhere from a little toy to a homemade craft,” said Nalepa.

Proper geocaching etiquette emphasizes that when anyone takes a swap from one location, they must l e a v e something in its place for the next person.

“I enjoy geocaching because it’s a fun way to stay fit, and it’s exciting to find out what swaps people have left behind. It’s a great thing to do with friends, and to get to know your local parks,” said Nalepa.

The benefits of staying active and healthy, especially during the school year, are abundant.

“I feel like I have more energy every day that I work out. I feel like it makes me happier and gives me time to think instead of drowning out everything with music and gives me a quiet time…plus it gives me a really good excuse to eat all the food I want. I never feel bad going back for seconds,” said Kreher.

“Fall is the perfect time to be active…the scenery is beautiful, with all the different colors… and it’s cooler outside so you won’t sweat as much.” -Senior Ellen Lundstrom

St. Louis has a variety of fun and eventful fairs and festivals during the month of October and November. These yearly events include live music, culture and food.

The Best of Missouri Market From Oct. 3 to Oct. 5, thousands of people gather at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for the Best of Missouri Market, held annually since 1991.

“I go every year with my grandma because she is a member, so all of our cousins and family members go together. It’s really fun because we get to see all the different flowers and they have a lot of different things to do for [all ages]. The kid’s corner is my favorite because you can carve pumpkins, do arts and crafts, and they have a petting zoo. It’s meant for the kids but the whole family likes it,” said junior Madeleine Meyer.

Friday evening, guests have an opportunity to preview goods offered by 120 vendors during the three day event. At the market, vendors sell fresh produce from local farms, handcrafted items, and assorted baked goods. Folk and Bluegrass music is played live throughout the marketplace, and a Kid’s Corner completes the family event.

Historic Shaw Art Fair Two blocks away from the Botanical Gardens in the Shaw neighborhood is the Historic Shaw Art Fair. The fair features 135 artists from all mediums of art, and consists of a food court, live music, children’s activities and artist demonstrations.

In addition to professional artists, the fair

displays student art through a school outreach program. “[There is] a special program with Central Visual & Performing Arts High School.

Organized by their instructor Bill Perry, students at Central create the entry facade for our main entrance, and sell some of their work in the school art area to fund additional art supplies for their classes,” said Greg Gobberdiel, coordinator and director of the event.

It is organized by the Shaw Neighborhood I m p r o v e m e n t Association, a group of volunteers dedicated to drawing visitors to the neighborhood.

The association also provides housing for artists that live in other states. The event has also provided a service for two local food pantries since 2012, offering $1.00 off admission price to anyone who brings a can for their food drive.

The Apple Butter Festival With an annual attendance of nearly 100,000 people, the Apple Butter Festival is one of Eastern Missouri’s largest events. On Friday, Oct. 25, members of the Kimmswick Historical Society gather to peel and prepare the apples for making the Apple Butter. The festival is located in Kimmswick, Missouri, and begins on Oct. 26 and ends Oct. 27.

The festival gets it’s name from the town’s well-known apple butter. Then, in a

process that takes seven to eight hours, volunteers cook and stir the apples and put the condiment into containers.

Upcoming Events For those who missed the fairs and festivals of October, there are more to come in November.

The 35th St. Louis Jewish Book Festival at the Jewish Community Center begins on Nov. 3 and continues through Nov. 17. The event consists of book-selling, booksigning opportunities, and speaker events.

“During the month of November, which is Jewish book month, we have continue to bring in Jewish authors speaking about any topic, and non-Jewish authors speaking about topics that are of concern to the Jewish community,” said Zelda Sparks, the Director of Cultural Arts.

Featured speakers are Abraham Foxman, the National Director of the AntiDefamation League and author of Viral Hate, and Harvey Fierstein, playwright of the broadway musical, Kinky Boots.

Other events include The St. Louis Cranksgiving Bike Ride & Food Drive on Nov. 3 at Schlafly Bottleworks and the St. Louis International Film Festival, which will present 400 fillms from 43 countries from Thursday, Nov. 14, until Sunday, Nov. 24, at various venues.

Thies Farms, Eckert’s Family Orchard Offer Fun Outdoor Outings for Students, Families Carly Steffen Staff Writer Fall is quickly approaching and Parkway North students are getting involved in many outdoor activities including going to pumpkin patches like Thies Farm & Greenhouses and Eckert’s Apple Orchard.

Junior Lauren Yakel works at Thies Farm inside the market. She runs the cash register and stocks the shelves with the fresh produce grown on the farm.

“I love working there because everyone is so nice and friendly. My favorite part is that I get to work outside,” Yakel said.

Theis farm has an outdoor market that grows seasonal fruits and vegetables. The open air market gives customers the chance to both enjoy farm-fresh produce as well as the fresh, fall air.

Thies Farm has a Pumpkin Land which is open through Oct. 31. Pumpkin Land is a place where families and friends can come to play on pirate ships, slides, corn mazes, zip lines, the tower of terror, and enjoy the petting zoo. It’s located near Creve Coeur Park on 3120 Creve Coeur Mill Rd., Maryland Heights along with the original location at 4215 N. Hanley Rd., St Louis, MO. Pumpkin Land is open starting at 9:00 a.m. and closes 6:00 p.m. except Sunday where they open 10:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m.

Eckert’s Apple Orchard is a fun place to go either during the day to pick apples and

Photo by Carly Steffen

“[My favorite thing about fall] is I get to wear my cat sweater,” said junior Alison McGrath.

“[My favorite thing about fall] is the weather change, the climate change, and the pretty leaves,” said senior principal Dr. Tori Cain.

Fall into Health: Students, Teachers

Ryan Lutker Staff Writer

Photo by Molly Thal

“[The best part about fall] is breaking leaves,” said freshman Sean Carter.

Missouri Hosts Family-Friendly Fall Fairs, Festivals

Photo by Chaney Cooper

Photos by Brianne Lewis

“[The highlight of autumn] is the pretty colors of the leaves,” said senior Lynn Socha.

Parkway North High School

Centerspread

Chaney Cooper Sports Editor

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October 30, 2013

Thies Farm has pumpkin picking available. “One of the things I like to do with pumpkins is bake pumpkin pie,” said Guerrero.

shop the market, or at night to experience its haunted hay ride which takes place of Friday and Saturday nights. Eckert’s also has a corn maze which is now open during the day, a pig race, carnival rides, a large bounce house, underground slide and small bonfires which can be rented out ahead of time.

“I had a lot of fun [at Eckert’s], but in

Germany you do not need a farm to go pick apples...almost everyone has apple trees...so it wasn’t a big difference for me,” said sophomore Veronika Schneider.

Eckert’s Apple Orchard has three locations in Illinois: Grafton, Belleville, and Millstadt. All locations open at 9:00 a.m. and close in the evening around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.

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Features

October 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

New Message: The Dangers of Texting and Driving Photo by Nadia Ahmed

Nadia Ahmed News Editor ccording to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study and the Sociology Department of State University of New York, texting and driving causes 330,000 injuries and 3,000 deaths per year.

“A person who is texting while driving has very little control of what can possibly happen while driving a vehicle,” said social studies and drivers education teacher Bob Bunton.

Texting and driving is 23 times more likely to cause an accident than other distractions. It is also 1.3 times more likely to cause a crash than talking while driving according to texting and driving statistics.

“It takes a second for an accident to occur and during that time, a person’s eyes are off the road,” said School Resource Officer Ezra White.

When a person is texting and driving, they are not fully focused on what is in front of them. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately five seconds is the amount of time that a person’s attention is taken away when texting and driving. In five seconds, a person can travel 100 yards at 55 mph.

“I think it [texting and driving] is dangerous because you can’t focus on both [texting and driving] at the same time,” said junior Bhavana Yerragunta.

Texting while driving is a huge temptation for teenagers and young adults.

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According to Texting and Driving Statistics, when traveling at 55 mph, a driver will travel the length of a football field without looking at the road while sending one text.

An AT&T survey shows that 97 percent of young adults believe that texting while driving is dangerous, but 43 percent admitted that they still text and drive despite the dangers.

“Young adults are more likely to text and drive because kids have grown up with phones and yet don’t understand the responsibilities and how much attention it takes to operate a vehicle,” said Bunton.

Although, teenagers aren’t the only

ones who text and drive, many adults text and drive as well. According to CNN, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project released a report stating that adults are just as likely as teenagers to text and drive. The report found 47 percent of adults who have sent or received a text message while driving.

“Some adults feel that they are more experienced drivers, that it would be easy

to do both [texting and driving] at the same time,” said White.

According to AT&T’s It Can Wait program, these texting accidents lead to not only severe injuries, but deaths as well.

“Several lives are tragically lost from texting and driving [every year],” said junior Joycelyn Botelho.

According to Fox 9, 17-year-old Deianerah Logan was killed Sept. 4, 2012, on her first day of her senior year of high school. She was texting and driving when she crashed into the back of a bus.

“Ultimately, the consequence [of texting and driving] is death,” said Bunton.

The Texting and Driving Safety website stated 39 states plus Washington D.C. have laws prohibiting drivers from texting while driving.

“In Missouri a person only underage of 21 can be issued a citation [for texting and driving]… [Solutions for texting while driving would be] placing no age limit, so no matter who’s doing it, they can be written a citation.”

White said.

Texting while driving is a huge distraction. Keeping your phone out reach can reduce chances of having an accident.

“Solutions [for texting and driving] would be stricter laws with much stricter consequences,” Bunton said.

Texting and driving is a serious issue within society, and it should not be taken lightly.

“I did [text and drive], but I realized I had to stop,” said White.

Junior Ryan Wahidi Earns One of Nine Bass Player Spots on National High School Honors Orchestra

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n Sept. 1 of this year, Parkway North junior Ryan Wahidi found out that he was one of nine bass players in the country to be accepted into the National High School Honors Orchestra.

“When I first got accepted, I was thoroughly overjoyed. Leading up to that day I was checking their website and my e-mail all the time. Turns out I got it in the mail,” said Wahidi.

The NHSHO is a group of 120 high school students selected from across America who convene twice a year to prepare for and perform at the American String Teachers’ Association (ASTA) National Conference.

“I’m deeply honored to be a member of this high caliber orchestra,” said Wahidi.

The ASTA is an organization focused on helping orchestra teachers and players develop and refine their careers. They offer services such as instrument insurance, access to and discounts on musical resources, and professional development opportunities.

The NHSHO was first established in 1986 when the first orchestra assembled in Anaheim, CA under the direction of James DePriest, an American conductor. Since its founding, the orchestra has traveled to cities all across the country including Indianapolis, Kansas City, Washington DC, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Tampa.

Internationally, the orchestra has performed as far away as Helsinki, Finland.

In order to be accepted into the orchestra, the applicants must go through a very competitive audition in which all of the applicants record and send in their best work. Only juniors and seniors may audition with a stringed instrument, while all high school students may audition with a wind instrument.

“I started preparing for the audition in March. I started the recording process around finals week of last year. I went to the Ethical Society of St. Louis and they allowed me to record on their stage. The due date was June 15; I sent it in pretty early though,” said Wahidi.

The orchestra members are expected to practice the music on their own and be ready to put it together for their concert on March 7 in Louisville, KY. “They will send the music to me. [The piece is] Symphony No. 5 in D minor by Dmitri Shostakovich. I basically have to learn the entire 50 minute piece,” said Wahidi.

Students will then play excerpts in front of a panel of judges who will determine the seating.

“Basically, we get the music, and we don’t see each other until March 5. We rehearse all of March 5 and 6 and the concert is on March 7,” Wahidi said.

Wahidi “has a private teacher which will be primary, but I’ll be giving him advice to help him with the seating arrangement and help him as needed,” said Parkway North High School orchestra teacher Ken Rapini.

The conductor of the orchestra this

Photo by Sophie Wennemann

Sophie Wennemann Entertainment Editor

Ryan Wahidi practices Symphony No. 5 in D minor by Dmitri Shostakovich after school with his orchestra conductor.

year will be Gary Lewis. Lewis is the Director of Orchestras and Professor of Music in the College of Music at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Music Director and Conductor of the Midland-Odessa (TX) Symphony Orchestra. In the past, famous conductors such as Elje Oue, David Gilbert,

James DePriest, Jose Serebrier, Jung Ho Pak, Raymond Harvey, and Ryan McAdams have led the orchestra.

“I’m very excited. Ryan is talented and dedicated. I expected great things because of practices and many hours to achieve what he has accomplished,” said Rapini.

October 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

Features

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Speech and Debate Prepares Students for Success Parkway North’s speech and debate league is off to a good start in their season after their first tournament on Oct. 10 and 11 where two participants were able to compete in the semifinal rounds of the competition.

“We did okay,” said speech and debate coach Mike Hazelton.

Although none of Parkway North’s speech and debate members competed in the finals, several debate teams went 2-2 winning two debates and losing 2 debates, which makes it a pretty good start for the club.

Speech and debate club consists of both prep work and actual competition. While the competitive part of speech and debate may seem like the most interesting, the actual preparation teaches students an abundance of life skills.

“Evidence says that [speech and debate] increases research and critical thinking skills in students. It also helps you to think quickly on your feet and really improves speaking ability and interviewing skills,” said public speaking and debate teacher Mike Hazelton.

Not only does the act of practicing and giving speeches in front of audiences help students become more comfortable with speaking in public, but debate also provides students with a chance to work on other skills such as researching, critical thinking, and analysis, all of which are skills that can pay off in the long run.

“Speech and debate has definitely helped me to develop quick thinking skills. It helps me with government because we have lots of debates; being able to come up with contentions on your feet is a good thing,” said junior Ellen Wang.

While the skills acquired through speech and debate are helpful for students in their everyday lives, speech and debate can also give students an advantage in the classroom. The ability to speak in public helps individuals to be better prepared for class presentations and debates, giving students increased confidence and even improving grades. “[Speech and debate] has helped me to improve my interpretation of stories; it helps me to really put myself in the story and gives me a chance to practice acting without having to commit a lot of time or memorize lines,” said senior Melanie Laurence.

There are different types of speech and debate events such as poetry reading, radio, dramatic, duo, humorous interpretation, as well as others. For interpretation events, students have to learn to analyze different literary works, effectively building student’s ability to understand literature.

Although joining speech and debate club may seem a little scary for some, there are several things students can concentrate on in order to succeed.

“For debate, you need to have a good idea of what is going on because a lot of the topics are about current events,” said Hazelton.

A lot of resolutions in debate revolve around current events in the world such as drone strikes and compulsory voting. In order for students to feel more comfortable debating these topics, it is helpful to be up to date on what is going on in the world. “[Speech and debate tournaments] are a circus. There is usually about six hours of events on Friday followed by 13-14 hours on Saturday depending on how well you do,” said Hazelton.

Tournaments typically take up a whole weekend, with students competing in various rounds before advancing or breaking to the semi-final and final rounds.

“Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because there is an event for everyone,” said Laurence.

Finally, speech and debate club has a flexible schedule and “tries to do whatever we can to work with every other club,” said Hazelton Speech and debate club meets every Monday and Wednesday after school in room 503; anyone is welcome. The next competition is Nov. 1-2 at Brentwood High School.

Junior Danielle Hay practices her radio speech for an upcoming tournament. Radio speeches are based on current events the student receives that day.

Photo by Gianna Sparks

Gianna Sparks Centerspread Editor

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Sports

OCTOBER 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

Parkway North Teams Find Success Aurora Wrancher

Boys Cross Country

One of the biggest challenges a team can have when starting a new season is the prospect of having to find new people to join the team and make it great. When a lot of top runners on a team are seniors, finding people to replace them can be a tough task.

“Our underclassmen have stepped up to fill the void. This is the largest team we have had for a number of years, and I couldn’t be happier with the commitment level from all of our athletes,” said boys cross country coach Carter Snow.

This year at the annual Forest Park Cross Country Festival, the Cross Country team won first place in the JV Division of the meet. Because the majority of the team consists of sophomores, most boys on the team consistently score within the top five teams within the JV races.

“This year, the majority of our team is sophomores, so we have to work together and cooperate as a bonded team to do well at practice and meets,” said sophomore Andy Zhang.

When constantly running, injuries can occur. Shin splints, runner’s knee, and Achilles Tendinitis are all common runners’ injuries that can be avoided if the right precautions are taken. However, having some of these injuries can keep runners from being able to run, or just make it more difficult. They can also affect how a runner feels about running and make a runner want to quit because practicing is too hard or painful.

“The biggest roadblock this season for me was being a first-year full time runner and running through my shin splints.

Not only have they not slowed me down, but they have also affected my moral. I try my best to encourage my teammates to work hard but to take it easy during an injury. I ran through the shin splints all season, only to fully regret it now,” said Zhang.

Running every day can take a toll on the body and make it really hard to actually want to go to practice every day.

“The difficult things are commitment, consistency, and hard work every day. There will be times where you just feel like Junior Jackson Hartig and sophomore Jonathan Butterbrodt crap and don’t want to run or skip practice, but in the end, that won’t really help you if you want to improve on your running. lead the team in warm-up runs during a practice on Oct. 21.

You have to endure and strive to do better than you did before,” said senior Job Kim.

Photo by Ryan Lutker

Co-Editor in Chief

Fall Sports Review

Photo by Aurora Wrancher

Boys Swimming

Junior Erik Muschinske practices a straight dive at practice.

The boys swimming team this year has currently won three matches and lost four this season. Last year at the end of their season, they had won five matches and lost six. They are doing considerably better this year than they were last year, but the season isn’t over.

“We’re doing really well this season. It was a big surprise and most of the team has really stepped up,” said senior Josh Lay. There were many new team members this season because many team members last year were seniors. The people on the team this year have stepped up to replace the ones that left last year. The team this year has less team members than it has had in previous years which means that the team has to work harder than they have had to do in the previous years.

“We are a much tighter group of athletes this season and have had to work harder to be successful than some teams in the past,” said boys swimming coach Bart Prosser.

It can be difficult to figure out where everyone on the team belongs. Everyone has different skills and different areas where they are proficient. Swimmers are at different levels in terms of their swimming ability.

“The biggest challenge this season is for sure finding the correct spot for everybody on the team, especially in relays deciding who swims where and which relays,” said Lay. The team as a whole works hard to help each other improve at practices and support each other at their matches.

“I think we have worked well as a team. There’s a lot of sportsmanship and a lot of support throughout the team,” said Lay. The captains of the team, Lay and senior Matt Ney, are in charge of keeping everyone motivated and leading to them to accomplish their goals as a team. Lay is the state qualifier in the 100 meter breast stroke.

“Matt Ney and I get the team ready for competition and we do a good job of motivation and leading. Jared Dachroeden, along with the entire freshmen class has also stepped up as role models for the team,” said Lay. Photo by Robyn Mitchell

Girls Golf This year, the girl’s golf team faced the challenge of having one of their coaches out with a back injury. It was difficult for them because they were unable to go to the majority of their matches.

“This season was a little challenging because we lost some strong players that were essential to our team. Our JV coach, Mr. Carter, also had back surgery, so the JV team could only go to two matches. Despite the weaknesses, everyone kept a good attitude and performed the best we could,” said junior Sarah Abbas.

Many people on the team were new this year, and had very little experience with golf. Other members of the team were familiar with the sport and were able to help the newer players learn the fundamentals of the game. The team had to work harder to improve their scores and practice their putting without the instruction and encouragement of their coach.

“We [have to] work on balancing out our practices [to fit] different levels of experience,” said Abbas.

Golf is primarily an individual sport, where a person plays with a team mate in matches, but has to focus solely on one’s own score. Practicing with teammates isn’t necessary to improve a golf game. Each player has different strengths and weaknesses in the game and practice is used to focus on general and individual weaknesses, as to fix them before a match.

“All of our teammates are helpful when someone needs help and helped the new players learn how to play better,” said Abbas.

The team captain, Gretchen Gregory, has been on the golf team since her freshman year, and she, along with sophomore Erin Armstrong, tend to shoot the lowest scores out of all of the girls. Every part of their game is tweaked and scrutinized so that they can shoot as low as possible. .

“All of the girls on the team, especially our varsity players are very talented, but Gretchen Gregory and Erin Armstrong are, in my opinion, the most talented of the bunch. Both have been playing since their freshman year and are currently on varsity, and they are just amazing golfers,” said senior Chelsea Odonkor.

Along with junior Emma Mitchell and senior Alexis Latimore, the varsity team encourages the junior varsity to play their best no matter which team they are set to play or what the conditions of the day are.

The varsity team gathers together after a victory at their Webster tournament on Sept. 6.

OCTOBER 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

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Sports

Touchdown: North Football Goes to Districts Photo by Kori Clay

Kori Clay Staff Writer As the 2013 football season comes to a close, Parkway North’s varsity football team aims their expectations high as they look forward to Districts this year, with the first game set at home for Nov. 1 against Parkway West.

“All games in the post season will be close” said head coach Bob Bunton.

Parkway North’s overall league record is 6-3 and they have undoubtedly had some close games, both in conference and regular season play. However, the toughest game to date this season was the rival game against Parkway Central ending 44-0.

Senior Jamehl Wilson is hoping to “get a rematch against Parkway Central, [since] they blew us out the first time.”

Preparing after a tough loss can be difficult, but the team has recovered since then and has been working hard in practice to ensure good performance at districts.

“We play a pretty tough schedule in 8 weeks. The body takes a toll. So we back off with physical contact in practice,” said Bunton.

Despite the tough schedule the team’s relationship and attitude heading into districts is a factor that has remained constant.

“Our seniors leadership and our team experiences,” said sophomore Clayton Weber is what sets them apart from other opponents they will be seeing after playoffs. Without a strong relationship, teams can easily fall apart when faced with small problems on and off the field.

Fortunately, North has no such problems, as senior Rodney King said that they “have good team chemistry.”

Senior Collin Weber is also excited about his team’s relationship as he is “look-

Parkway North lines up on defense against Seckman during Senior Night Oct.18. Parkway beat Seckman 49-13.

ing forward to winning and celebrating with [his football] brothers.”

The team is not only wishing to celebrate on its own, but is hoping that the entire school is eager to share in the win. “I’m looking to go out, [and] win a few for the school” said freshman Jack Faron.

However, positive interaction among players, winning the district title, and playing regular season games cannot be obtained without motivation.

Bunton said that a lot of the motivation

“has to do with senior leadership. You hope you have trained these kids to realize how important the post season is.”

Seniors head the motivation because they’re nearing the end of their high school careers. Senior night on Oct. 18 created a surreal moment for them, as it was the last home game of the regular season. The pressure to fight in these last games and to continue winning is an essential mentality for a senior to have as the season closes.

Wilson suggests to treat “Each week [as

if it] is 1-0 [and to] play like it’s your last, because it just might be.”

As they approach the district games it’s important to keep in mind that every movement counts and every play should be treated with equal importance. It could possibly be the play that could change the entire game.

“Every possession means something.

[We have to] execute all the time.” said Collin Weber.

If North wins their first district game against West they go on to play Fort Zumwalt East, Nov. 6.

Boys, Girls Basketball Prepare During Preseason Jamie Powell Features Editor

said senior Kasey Green, who was on the team last year and is trying out this year.

With the previous years of the varsity girls’ basketball having excelled in performance, many are excited to see how far they will go this year.

“I think they have the potential to do very well. They have a lot of returning tal-

ents,” said Athletic Director Kris Kellems.

November marks the official month for Parkway North’s basketball season and the players are ready to go. With having high hopes and expectations for girls and boys basketball season, hard work and dedication will help the Vikings pull it off another awesome season.

Photo by Jamie Powell

On Dec. 2, both the boys and girls basketball teams will open their seasons. The boys will play at home while the girls will play away.

The Parkway North basketball teams have had success in the past and look forward to success this year as well.

“I feel like the boys varsity team is going to kill it the season. We have all of the good players,” said junior Jackson Hartig, a fan of the teams.

In preparation for the season, the basketball team hosts open gyms, try outs, and practices.

“This year, we’re going to have to really work every practice to get better,” said senior Trent Thomas, who was on the team last year and is trying out this year.

Before the tryouts for the 2013-2014 basketball season, participates in the open gyms are provided with help in various ways.

“I go to open gym to work on things I have been working on in the off season, to get better, and show the coaches what I can bring to the team,” said junior Charles Jones, who is trying out for the team this year.

Open gym is not only important for future basketball players, but also for the coaches as well. Open gym is a way to see

what talents the potential team members have.

“The purpose of open gym for both boys and girls is to keep them active in basketball, keep them working on skills, keep them in shape, and practice their shooting and skills that they have,” said boys varsity coach Randy Ford.

Expectations for this season are at an all-time high for the boys and girls basketball team, but with hard work and dedication, they believe that they can pull it off.

“I’m hoping for a winning season and a better team chemistry this year,” said senior Ben Campbell, who was on the team last year and is trying out this year.

The upper level teammates and coaches have hopes for the future basketball players since the freshmen players look strong.

“I think we’ll have a very successful season. It’s a learning experience, so I expect them to play hard on and off the court, and play with no regrets,” said girls freshmen coach Chandra Brown.

With previous accomplishments both boys and girls basketball team puts in hard work, all year long, to prepare for the season.

Besides just going to the gym and playing a couple of one-on-one’s, the Viking basketball players prepare in other ways as well.

“I usually do basketball drills, weight lift, run, and make sure I drink and eat right,”

The upperclassmen team plays against the underclassmen during an open gym to practice and showcase their skills. Open gyms where held on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 24.

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Backpage

OCTOBER 30, 2013 Parkway North High School

History Students Educate Members of Parkway North Community at Annual Exhibition Night Aurora Wrancher

Co-Editor in Chief

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1. Sophomore Destiny Taylor displays a model of the Battle of Thermoplyae.

2. Seniors Courtney Norris and Jamie Roper educate people about the effects of different activities on students’ sleeping habits.

3. This project is a model and poster about the French and Indian war by senior Sydney Denlow.The model depicts life in the wilderness according to the book Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison.

4. Junior Jamila Ahmad dresses in a costume to match her project, which is about Native Americans.

5. Senior Alyssa Paul stands with her project about colonial children.

Her project is based off of the book Children in Colonial America by James Marten.

6. Junior Daija McClure created a project about ancient Roman medicine.

7. This project teaches about the Terracotta Warriors using a trifold and a model of the soldiers.

8. Junior Myra Ekram based her project off of the book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. Its about the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

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