Back to school special edition - Fall 2020

Pepper Box Special Edition

October 2021

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Table of Contents WELCOME BACK! Back to School Bingo.........................................................................3 Leaders of the Pack - New Staff.....................................................4 Schoolwide Survey Results.............................................................6 Where Did You Go to Elementary School?....................................7

Pepper Box Back to School Edition October 2021 PEPPER BOX STAFF

EXPLORE RHS The Husky Hallway Survival Guide................................................8 Help Wanted - Clubs to join............................................................10 Fall Sports Close Look.....................................................................11

MEET THE HUSKIES Most Changed During the Pandemic............................................12 ‘Relatively’ New..................................................................................13 What I Learned During the Pandemic..........................................14 Predicting the Future........................................................................15

Visual EIC: Kaitlyn Hurst Content EIC: Kaylyn Riggs Production EIC: Maricela Nunez Online Editor: Chloe Sapp Photography Editor: Michelle Everett Social Media Manager: Chanel Foster Adviser: Ron Steinschriber Staff Members: Nichole Armstrong, Paula De Hipolito Ruiz, Layla Fouche, Caden Gaither, Kylie Griffith, Danielle Haynes, Gavin Hochman, Jennifer Huerta Lopez, Ashton Miller, Kevon Moore

Ron Steinschriber The marching band performs at Freshman Transition day to welcome in all of the new freshmen who entered the building.

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Leaders of the pack

Caitlin Balestreri SSD

Lisa Brougham Counselor

Lindsey Buxman OP Main Office

I loved Ritenour’s long history within St. Louis!

I am passionate about helping students achieve the skills and confidence they need to go after their post-secondary goals!

In the business world I saw people who were in jobs that were not a good fit and I thought it would be better to help people understand themselves and the world of work before they go to college or get into the job market.

Catherine Farris OP - Seniors

Laura Garay Spanish

Dr. Jana Haywood Principal

I have a senior here at the high school and he’s been in the district since kindergarten. I’ve enjoyed all of his teachers, so when an opening became available I applied.

I love working with Ritenour students; I’ve met so many bright students who work hard to achieve big goals.

I was drawn to Ritenour because of the diversity, strong community involvement and rich history of academic success. I look forward to honoring the past while looking towards an exciting future.

I am a 2005 Ritenour graduate and a member of the Ritenour community. I have always wanted to work in a school, so when the opportunity came up to work at Ritenour I was excited.

Barbara Maguad SSD

Yarmon Kirksey Grad Coach

I have some previous coworkers who grew up here and are currently sending their children to the district and they have had nothing but positive things to share.

I love the diversity of Ritenour; it’s really what drew me in. But I also love their traditions- and I hope to make winning one of them.

Maria Campbell English I grew up not too far from the district and my oldest sister graduated from Ritenour in the 80s. I was impressed with the diversity and progressive initiatives within the district.

Blake Hernton Orchestra Between the faculty and students, there are so many different students with different backgrounds in the district that I get to interact with, learn from, and share the joy of learning music.

Grace Manternach Math The main reason I went into teaching was to help young people discover who they are as individuals. I had a lot of great teachers growing up and I wanted to be like them.

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Meet the new RHS staff members Patrice Mitchell Math

Adam Monterusso Counselor

Abigail Russell FACS

Rebecca Ohmer Social Studies

I knew I wanted to be a teacher after my junior year in high school after I had a really great history teacher who helped me realize how much bigger the world was than just my little part of it.

I heard nothing but great things about Ritenour. I wanted the opportunity to grow in a new direction.

I know that many students experience barriers that impede their academic success and social/emotional well being. I wanted to help provide solutions to those barriers.

I came to Ritenour last January as a long term sub. I enjoyed my time here and I was thrilled to come back as a full time teacher for the 21-22 school year.

Tyrese Robinson Main Office

Alyson Schroeder Spanish

Seaver Sherod CCR Counselor

Juliann Tinsley Nurse

What drew me to Ritenour was the impact of helping students just like me to succeed in future. The challenges that students are facing can be a burden on them, but I would like to help those students achieve their great potential.

The diversity of Ritenour is what brought me to this position. It is amazing to teach in such a culturally diverse environment.

I am a Ritenour alumnus myself. I enjoy pouring into the same school that played such a pivotal role in shaping me into the person that I am. I hope to have a positive impact in the same way that many of the staff and faculty members had on me.

My nieces and nephew were students here, so I was familiar with the district. I’ve always been interested in being a school nurse and it was even better that it was in a community that my family is a part of.

Amy Wilson Speech/Lang

Jennifer Wilson FACS

I wanted to work with a diverse population, not to mention I speak Spanish and wanted to work somewhere I could use it! I believe our social interactions are a vital part of what makes us human :)

My husband and I graduated from Ritenour as well as my brother and one of his sisters. I love that I got to start a new chapter of my life where an old chapter ended.

Linze Zarzeck Counselor I worked with Dr. Haywood and other counseling staff members in another district. I was excited to join them again and continue our work in providing socialemotional support for the Ritenour students.

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School survey

Would you rather?

Dress Up Paper Mask

36%

Plain Mask No Backpack

1%

32%

99%

I would never go virtual again I don’t care about 10% my driver’s license

Designer Mask I carry a backpack

9% Childhood memory

91%

9%

Wear Pajamas Cloth Mask

64%

68%

Plain Backpack Hybrid Rules

30% 39%

70% 61%

91%

65%

Current Rules 35%

90%

I might choose virtual again I have or will have a driver’s license

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Where did you go tory a t n e m high school Ele chool S

Current Ritenour High School students came from a variety of elementary schools

Kratz Jr. Huskies

Marion Eagles

Marvin Stars

Wyland Dolphins

221 Students

218 Students

215 Students

202 Students

Buder Bobcats

Iveland Jr. Huskies

Non Ritenour Elementary Schools

200 Students

195 Students

529 Students

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SECRET PASSAGE TO CAFETERIA

FACS

Business

TRAFFIC JAM

Math

SSD

MORNING ENERGY JOLT - FADLER

CAFETERIA G MORNIN MOOD CHECKL MITCHEL

JONES SIGHTING

SHORTCUT TO ARTS WING WEIGHT ROOM

Math CELL PHONE DUNGEON - NO DATA

FIRST FLOOR

JONES SIGHTING

Foreign Lang.

BEST MORNING GREETING - LOVE

English

POOL

Math

Engineering

Guten tag

Hi baby ducks!

PEPPER BOX FASTEST BUS OFFICE EXIT

COSTILOW

English

Hola Bonjour

TRAFFIC JAM

SECOND FLOOR

Counselors

Library RHS AQUARIUM

MAIN OFFICE

NO PASSING ZONE DURING SCHOOL

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Science

NORTH GYM SHORTCUT

KRHS

INTROVERT HALLWAY

Social Studies

SOCIAL BUTTERFLYSWYRES

TRAFFIC JAM

Science

THIRD FLOOR

Social Studies

COFFEE CREW

HOT WATER FOUNTAIN, BEWARE

JONES SIGHTING REVOLVING DARKROOM DOOR ROOM 310

Science

The Husky Hallway Survival Guide NO FOOD ZONE

Drama

GIC

NO PASSING ZONE DURING SCHOOL

SMOOTHIES SECRET BATHROOM UPSTAIRS

Upper Lobby

BEE CLUB BEE HIVE

Band

Choir

Orchestra

ARTS WING

Auditorium JONES SIGHTING

Lower Lobby SECRET ROOF GARDEN

COLOR KEY SECRET PLACES DEAD ZONES

Art Gallery

PEOPLE JONES SPOTTINGS All clipart from freesvg.org

UNIQUE SPOTS

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Clubs looking for new members SCIENCE DISCOVERY CLUB

The Science Discovery club will meet weekly to explore science outside of the classroom. While in the club, students get the opportunity to choose

CREATIVE WRITING

The Creative Writing Club meets on Wednesdays from 3:003:45 in room 235. Each month we sponsor a writing contest for all students to participate in (October’s theme

what experiments they perform and what scientific areas they will be investigating. Any interested students should come to the club with a love of science and a curiosity of the world around them.

The club plans to meet the third Tuesday of each month at 3:30 in room 334. Interested students should go to see Mr. Weissler for more details. will be: EDGAR ALLAN POEtry). Every week we have a fun, new writing prompt to try, and we close the meeting with the option of sharing our work. It’s just a great place to hone our craft and get to know other writers and artists.

For monthly contest announcements, follow us on Instagram @ RHSinstapoetry If students have any questions about the club they can contact Ms. Love for more details.

ART CLUB

We meet every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in room 318. Occasionally we will meet additional days of the week depending on the projects we are working on. In the Art Club, we try to work with many different art

ROBOTICS

Ritenour Robotics is a club made to challenge students in all STEMbased fields. Students have the opportunity to design, build, and

media — watercolors, clay, paper pulp. We work on many different kinds of projects — screen printing, clay instrument making, papermaking, printmaking, weaving, outdoor sculptures for the school, and/or artwork we donate to charities for auction during the holidays. You can also just come in and work on your own or if you have an idea for a project, we will try to accommodate you with the materials. I hope to see you at our next meeting. program a custom robot to compete in various annual challenges.

Beyond the robot students also get to work closely with real engineers, other robotics teams, and student leaders.

The Ritenour robotics team can offer firsthand experience in mechanical design, leadership development, programming, and team cooperation.

Help Wanted - Come join a new club Science Discovery Club -

Creative Writing Club-

Robotics -

Art Club -

Third Tuesday of each month at 3:30 in room 334. See Mr. Weissler for details

Wednesdays from 3:00 3:45 in room 235. See Ms. Love for details.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3-5. See Ms. Demuri for details.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:004:00 in room 318. See Mr. Kennedy for details.

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Fall sports close look FOOTBALL Head Coach Yarmon Kirksey - “The 2021 Ritenour Football Team is young and very talented. We are showing promise and we will be a dangerous team to play in district playoffs at the end of the month. Offensively, we are Photo by: RHS Athletics led by Elijah Fry, Jayden Barnett, Junior Elijah Fry rushes Anthony Darevsky, Eli Mitchell, against Fox. Isaac Biayi and Leon MitchellWilliams. Defensively, we are led by Billy Hall, Micheal Smith McCaleb, Percy Childs, Neko Gibson, and Carlos Shelton.”

GIRLS TENNIS Head Coach Beth Seibold - “The 2021-2022 Season for Girls Tennis will be a rebuilding year for the program. With only 2 returning players from the past season four new girls have joined the team. Margaret Susovica and An Nguyen are Photo by: Michelle Everett returning to the team and Sophomore An Nguyen Nadyah MajeedAli, Kierstin competes in Districts. Ford, Chloe Sapp and Tatiana Floyd are new this year to the program. The girls have all worked incredibly hard to be able to compete with the other teams in our conference.”

VOLLEYBALL

Photo by: RHS Athletics

Coach Ellen Kim speaks to her team in a match against St. Charles West

Head Coach Ellen Kim - “The Husky volleyball team has some returning starters in Maddi Travis, Rene’ Nelson, Jada Bradley, and Carmen Lee-Taylor. Lexi Hahn will join us this season after taking last season to play club. Some key new players look to be: Daisy Luviano, Allie Hansen, and Ciboney Damian.”

SOCCER Head Coach Mike Mayberry - “The Ritenour Boys Soccer team looks strong and has played well in each game. The offense looks as though it will be potent with such seniors as Richard McNary, Giovanni Jones, Fidel Lopez, and Yemil Lopez attacking opposition defenses. The Huskies’ defense is anchored by juniors, Aaron Rico and Ray Reardean.”

SOFTBALL Junior Liz Dobbs - “ In the softball organization, we pride ourselves on our academics first and foremost. Both on and off the diamond, we carry ourselves with pride for our team as well as our school.

While our academics take top Photo by: RHS Athletics priority, our athletics are not Sophomore Savannah matched, you will find the most Greathouse pitches driven athletes on our Ritenour against University softball team. Last year being City. our most successful season, we went undefeated and this year, we are planning to be district champs.”

CROSS COUNTRY

Junior Adriana Gutierrez-Gaona - “Our races consist of a 5k (3.1 miles), a mens and women’s Varsity and JV race. To be able to score points, you need a full team consisting of five or more runners.

Currently, we have a full women’s JV team, two boys running Varsity, and three boys running JV. Our team might be small, but we have strong and committed runners.”

BOYS SWIM Coach Jennifer Wakefield - “We are a fall sport so we are currently in season. We lost a lot of seniors last year, so we are in a rebuilding year.”

Photo by: RHS Athletics

Freshman Jackson Leong competes in a meet this season.

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How I changed during the pandemic PRE - COVID photo

Current photo

Taryn Moore Senior “I was constantly insecure about my appearance because I wanted others to like how I looked. Now,

Rene Nelson Senior “I feel like my mental health has gotten much better during COVID

Janiya Scott Senior “I was able to work all the time, anytime I wanted or needed, and was

Paul Pitts Junior Rylee Berry Junior “At first, freshman year and sophomore year I kind of just went with

Kanija Edwards Freshman “I feel like I have gotten better at being around people because COVID kept me from being outside, and I feel like

I stopped caring. I started altering my appearance back in March of 2020 when I realized we were not going to be in person for a while. Now that I am satisfied with how I look, I am happy.” and I am able to reflect on my life. Based off of appearance, I look way different, at least my hair does. I am blonde now.”

able to save up enough money to buy my own car, which made me more independent; so COVID was able to give me my independence ”

“I feel like I have become more insecure about myself, and that has changed how I want to be now.”

whatever because that is what everyone told me was the correct, or right way, to do things. Since COVID, I realized that was not what I wanted to do with my life. ” academically I am getting better, I like being back at school because I am the type of a person who has to see what is going on

in class to understand it.”

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Relatively new “She made sure to keep me in the loop the entire time.

I heard about her interview and she told me how it went, I was excited for her, but I will admit it was a little weird.

I like having her here now for sure, but I have never Senior Tess Ostoff poses with been in a school her aunt, first-year Nurse Juliann where my family Tinsley in a photo from 2014. worked as well. It is nice, however, because I can make fun of her for being unfamiliar with the school.

I think it is different since I know so much about the school and its surroundings while my aunt is brand new. You would usually expect that the student is the one who is getting help from the adult, not the other way around.”

- Senior Tess Ostoff “Having my kids in the building has only been great. Both children are very different people, so the Media Teacher Jane Bannester poses experience for at homecoming with freshman Maggie me has been Bannester and senior Brian Bannester. wonderful to see them and be available to them during school for different reasons.

I can help them immediately when they need me for stuff like a pencil, signatures, or a snack. As a parent, we want our children to have a person at school who has their back. I just feel that I have that honor for my children as well as so many students.

The hard part is being too available for the kids.

We had to set boundaries, both for them and me, about how we interact during school. I often have to remember what I can say to not embarrass them.”

- Media teacher Jane Bannester

Some students and staff came back to the building to see family members who were not here before “It has always been my dream to have my kids attend the school where I teach. It always makes me chuckle to see students come to the understanding that Nakai and Tatiana are my Social studies teacher Michael Floyd children. Getting (center) with senior Nakai Steeleto coach Nakai in Myers (left), Sequoia Floyd and football all four freshman Tatiana Floyd (right). years and now to watch Tatiana play tennis as a freshman brings me much joy.

Nakai has always embraced the fact that I was a teacher in his school and I think that’s because he was always around during his time at Ritenour MS as a result of me coaching football. Tatiana, on the other hand, was not so fond of me but has warmed up to it since the school year began.

Being able to see them excel both academically and athletically, it is truly a blessing to get to watch.

The interesting thing is that I’ll be right back in this position in a few years when Tatiana becomes a senior and my baby girl, Sequoia, who is currently at RMS, will be a freshman.”

- Social Studies teacher Michael Floyd “When I found out about my mom working here I was not really worried about it because I knew she would be in the office and I would not have to see her that much. I like her working here because if I need to talk to someone First-year office professional I trust I know I can just go Catherine Farris and senior to her. I also like it beCharles Farris. cause she likes her job, It is not too much different than years past. I just think about what I do more often because I do not want any bad news getting back to her about things I do and that added stress would not be fair to her.”

- Senior Charles Farris

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I learned that free time is great, but only to an extent. Going back to school in person helped me realize the little things that we enjoyed such as friends and relationships with teachers.

SHIRINE AWAD

I do not trust the government at all.

I’m lazy <3 AMAREONA MUHAMMED

I have learned that either way, the world is still going on and I have to do what is best for me.

CALEB DECKARD I have learned that it is hot to have on a mask.

I find solace in solitude JOSE URBANO

AALIYAH TOWNSEND I don’t like school work, but I do like the experience of going to school.

JACOB HUFF

AAVYA MUHAMMED

I have learned that I am pretty nonchalant when it comes to stuff that should be treated with more urgency or emotion.

Socialization and contact play a bigger part in our lives than I previously thought.

ANDY VO

TAMARR KABAKA I learned that mental health is just as important as physical health.

DANIELLE HAYNES I have learned that as much as I say I am a people person, I really do not like people and it can be overwhelming to be with them.

LEANNA DUNCAN I need to see people in person to stay sane.

LANZ DUNGO Nothing actually feels real anymore and I feel like I’m in a huge simulation.

KYA MERRIMAN Procrastination and laziness is not it.

JACOB HARDY

I learned that when you really need help you need to reach out or you will get left behind.

What I learned during the pandemic I have learned that I have to stop looking in my past, to actually work on myself, and to think about what I want to have as a future for myself.

DELINDA NUNEZ

That doing hard work is the best thing for you even if youre not motivated.

MACKINZE FRAZIER Procrastination is REAL. KYLE WILLIAMS

Remote math sucks.

CADEN GAITHER

HEAVEN WILLIAMS I have learned not to worry about what people think about me. I’ve really learned that no one is staring at me if I dress how I want.

LAILAH LOTZ If I can survive and thrive in a pandemic, I can do almost anything!

KYLA WILLIAMS I had always wanted a virtual system even before COVID, but now that we have already tried it, it makes me never want to do virtual again.

JADEN CLEMMONS

I LOVE my bed.

I can push myself to heights I did not know I still had within me.

I am more independent than I thought I was.

MICHELLE EVERETT

MONTREAL RUSH II

AN NGUYEN

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Predicting the future By senior year, I want...

I have my licence, I have the grades I need to go to the college I want, and possibly got to dance in one of the school plays if the part is not too corny.

AIYANA COHEN

I WANT A SCHOLARSHIP. AMAREONA MUHAMMED I just hope I have somewhat of an idea of what I want to do, or be ready to take those steps.

I want to be an overall great and well liked person, and for me have a great future thanks to this school.

EMMANUEL FORD I want to be at the highest point I can be school wise.

I want to be on the tennis team and to have good grades. I also want good ACT and SAT scores.

I just want to have enough credits to succeed by then.

ALLISON MADRID

JADEN CLEMMONS

AN NGUYEN

To get my cosmetology license.

By senior year I want everything over with; all my classes done. I just JOMIA COX want two classes for my senior year so I can finish To have a high GPA and be faster. ready to go to college.

HOLDEN MYERS

DARYLLAN WILSON

I want to be out of any School wise, maybe I want math courses and be in to be on a school team or drama classes or in a have most of my credits drama club. so I can take a few easy classes. Personal life LEANAH DAVIS wise, I want to have my license, maybe a car, a job I am actually interested I want to be able to in, maybe some money graduate and have a few saved up, and/or trying to friends. figure out living and school situation after graduation.

ARIA CASAREZ

I want to graduate early or already have my life after high school planned out.

I want to have kept consistent good grades and earned all of my credits to not have too much of a stressful senior year.

SKYLAR POWERS

I want to have a job, I want extra credits to graduate with. I want to leave a legacy, I want to be known.

I want to just relax senior year. Other than college searching, I just want to have fun; take some fun classes and hang out with my friends outside of school. I want to have accomplished taking control of my future.

KAYLA BROWN

ARIANNA FARRIS

D’AERA BOYCE

I want to have all my credits, that’s about it other than having a good job.

DRAKE ROBINSON I want to have all my goals set and have been able to keep my grades up by then.

KAYANI LESTER

I want to accomplish 8+ hours of sleep every day.

I want to be a little ahead with my credits so my senior year is not as stressful.

I want to have done classes I enjoy, have all the credits I need, and be able to drive (maybe have a car).

SUNMAN DAYAL

VIRGINIA BRECKINRIDGE

ROBERT CHAMBERLAIN

KYA MERRIMAN

AUDREY STUVLAND

ATREYU SENTMAN I want to be better at my native language for my family and to learn how to play one to two instruments proficiently.

MARGARET SUSOVICA

I want to have enough credits to graduate by senior year. I still don’t know what I want to be or where I want to go after this. I might try film school. I hope I made good memories and passed all of my classes.

I want to know where I want to be by senior year.

That’s my goal.

CAILAN WOOTEN In my senior year I want to be able to see the paths that I will take in life.By then I will have a better understanding of myself and where it is I’m going.

TAMARR KABAKA

Reset, Ready, RHS

Doing the right thing is always the right thing