October 2014 Pepper Box

x o rB

e p p e P

October 2014

The

F R I E N D S

issue

9100 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Louis, MO, 63114

Issue 2, Volume 34

Staff Editorial

In life, we like to only think of the positive things. We love to play into the fantasy that things will always work in our favor and we should accept nothing less.

The idea that “all you need is yourself” often leads to people cutting others off in an attempt to get what they believe they truly want. Although independence is extremely important in life, it is naïve to believe that we can do all things by ourselves. Most of us need some type of support, just as a skyscraper needs a strong foundation.

Rarely are we taught how to deal with things when they get difficult. In fact, in today’s society most of us are taught to just give up when things do not go our way.

We should take the time to understand that human beings make mistakes. Many of us will lose the ones closest to us in our lifetime if we refuse to recognize that we do not know how to deal with confrontation and conflict effectively.

Although there is a fine line between being understanding and being blind, it is very important that we learn to tell the difference, even though remaining at the status quo seems a lot easier.

We also should know that conflict with those we love is far from the end of the world, it only becomes the end when we make it the end.

Disagreements can actually strengthen relationships by showing us that people can be opposites, but act as one at the same time.

Most of all, learning to face conflicts head on shows the ones we love that even though they can be difficult, we are ready and willing to take all of their flaws. Besides, if they really belong in our lives, they will do just the same for us.

PEPPER BOX STAFF

Advisor: Ron Steinschriber Content Manager: Aeriel Morrow Design Manager: Kristen Teoli Production Manager: Missy Griffith Business Manager:Saydee Esparza News Editor: Brittany Mixon Opinion Editor: Kaylee Houston Online Editor: Ariella Smith Sports Editor: Daedra Wallace Spotlight Editor: Ashley Meyer Staff Members: Allison Baker, Kaylee Barks, Carcea Carr, Charles Daniels, Sara Declue, Erin Dennison, Morgan Diamond, Deidre Dinkins, Morgan Sweeney, Ryan Tiefenbruch Editorial Policy: The Pepper Box is designed and created by memebers of the newspaper staff of Ritenour High School.

The purpose of the newspaper is to provide a forum for the students to focus on issues, give opinions, and share information with the Ritenour High School community. The opinions expressed in this paper do not reflect opinions of our faculty or administration.

Letters to the editor are welcome and accepted, but they may not contain profanity, obscenity, or anything innappropriate to school.

They may be e-mailed to Ron Steinschriber at steinschriberr@ ritenour.k12.mo.us, or dropped off in room 240. The staff reserves the right to edit these letters.

The real athletes

Being an athlete is more than just shooting a basketball

Mixon it up

Written by: Brittany Mixon News Editor

Being an athlete is not for everybody because of the responsibility and time it takes to be successful.

No one can just pick up a basketball and be the next great all-around player like Larry Bird.

They cannot just walk on the court and be a dominating post like Shaq, or dunk from the freethrow line like Michael Jordan.

For you boys who shoot one paper ball into a trash can and claim that ball is life, you irk my soul because you just do not understand.

You do not put in anything that year round athletes do.

A quick statistical search on NBA.com showed that Nemanja Nedovic was the least effective player who played significant minutes last year, yet no Ritenour student can even be compared to Nedovic, on his worst day.

Being an athlete is like putting in overtime after already working an eight hour shift.

Athletes do not go home after school. We are lucky if we get home before 5:30. Instead of going home after school, we spend hours doing repetitive drills to prepare and get better.

If there is a game, we are lucky if we get home before 7:00; and if it is an away game, 9:00.

Football players sometimes get

Opinion

home around 10:00. Considering that these new conference oppenents are farther away, we get home much later then we were all used to in previous years.

Being an athlete also involves balancing your sport, grades, clubs, social life, and sleep. In reality, when you are giving your all it becomes hard to manage all those responsibilities.

Something usually gets more of your time than the other.

My phone lives on airplane mode throughout my seasons because I do not expect any calls.

I choose to be anti-social and have no social media because I am not trying to get distracted.

Social media can get you into trouble and cause you to lose a scholarship or friendship, so I solved the problem by not having it at all.

Other than my teammates, I do not really have anyone that I talk to on a daily basis. Anyone besides my teammates would look at me confused if I said “I just did a cross over behind the back three, which led to a four point play because they fouled me.”

Most of the time they would just be like “oh cool,” not understanding how much of a big deal that is.

Sometimes the glitz and glamour of being an athlete can be taken away in an instant.

February 7, 2013 is a day that changed my life. I partially tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a basketball game going up for an open layup.

As I went up, I heard a pop and fell to the ground trying to

finish the shot. I was told that I missed, but at that moment I did not know or care because all I felt was the worst pain in my knee.

While falling, curling in a ball and holding my knee, I remember hearing people yelling “she’s faking, she’s just mad she missed the shot.” But to use the correct terminology, I missed a layup not a shot, in case you wanted to know.

It led to me going to a surgeon who gave me the option of either having surgery or six weeks of physical rehabilitation.

Of course, I chose the six weeks, and ended up completely tearing my ACL on July 3, 2013 and having surgery as my only option.

While taking medication and struggling to keep up with homework because of missed days in my advance placement classes, let’s just say my junior year was not my best. My injury got the best of me.

I let a major setback actually become a major setback.

I could not get over myself and think of my injury in a positive way.

I had nobody behind me but my family because all my friends were busy playing sports.

The people I do not play sports with did not really know how to talk to me without small talk, and I hated small talk. I was too closed off to make friends.

Next time you pick up a ball and shoot a jump shot thinking you are the next Chris Paul, remember the hours of blood, sweat and tears put into their craft by real athletes.

Always there for you There are always people to turn to in times of need

Miss understood Written by: Missy Griffith Production Manager

Everyone gets sad and feels lonely sometimes, and anyone who says they do not is lying; it happens to everyone.

While every single person gets depressed or stressed, people just have to remember that life gets better. I promise. Life is not meant to be gone down on a flat, level road. There are going to be some obstacles that will have to be overcome. Some may take longer than others, but you will

get past them.

No matter how bad people think things are, there is always the potential that the problems will pass.

I have been personally affected by suicide, and let me tell you, it is an extremely difficult issue for everyone involved. I know that people cannot help feeling that no one will care, and will not notice, but the important thing that they need to remember is that it is good to reach out for help if they need it, especially when they have those feelings.

I know that there are people who feel like they are in a truly bad situation, but there are always some trusted people who would be happy to help you work through whatever problems you have. It does not even have to be therapist; it could be a friend, teacher, school counselor, or even

a parent.

If you need to get a hold of someone in the school, you could talk to Karen Coughlin, the Ritenour social worker. Coughlin’s job is to talk to students if they are having troubles at home, or just need someone to talk to.

Or you could even Google numbers for self-help to call, or even places that you could go to and check yourself in, where they will help you find ways to deal with your depression.

Remember that there are always resources available to you for any kind of problems that you are experiencing. There are also opportunities for students to get involved in suicide awareness movements at school. On Sept.

10, the world participated in World Suicide Prevention Day, and there are usually campaigns done during second semester to raise awareness of the issue.

Ritenour’s monthly secret message One of your teachers has a secret message for you.

Every letter in the message stands for another letter in the alphabet. HINT: The letter Q on the right is really N, the letter Y is really the letter A. Can you decode it and find out what Mr. Pearson loves most about October? If you think you have the answer, visit Mr.Steinschriber in room 240. If you are right, you will win a chocolatey prize!

Opinion

O SIFU WYSS I DUUQ. O WYFU SOGGSU TOPH YQP O SOTU GYTOQX GWUR GJONT IJ GJUYGOQX. O HGUYS NYQPA ZJIR RA TOPH!

Double the athletes

Multiple sets of twins compete for Ritenour teams

Written by: Kaylee Barks Staff Writer

All twins have something in common, but there are a few sets of twins at Ritenour High School who share athletic similarities.

JV cheerleaders Marissa and Melinda Vroman have been cheering at Ritenour since their freshmen year.

The Vromans both agreed that cheering with each other had both advantages and disadvantages.

“My best friend is always with me and I like having someone to practice with when we aren’t at school,” Marissa Vroman said.

Each of the Vromans also mentioned the disadvantages of participating in the same activity, such as being compared and confused with each other.

“I like cheering with my sister, I just don’t like being compared to her,” Melinda Vroman said.

Besides being on high school cheerleading, the twins also dance at the LaVerne Meier School of Dance.

Another set of twins, freshmen brothers Dustin and Dylan Herman run on the cross country team together.

The Hermans both stated that being on the team with each other causes extra motivation every day at practice and meets.

“It gets very competitive.

I am always trying to beat my brother,” Dylan Herman said.

Both Herman brothers

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agreed that the disadvantage to being on the cross country team is everyone always gets them mixed up.

Before joining the cross country team, the brothers played different sports. Dustin played basketball and Dylan played soccer.

“I decided to join cross country to stay in better shape, and because my other brothers were doing it too,” Dustin Herman said.

Junior twin brothers Zach and Tyler Herman also run cross country together, along with their younger brothers Dylan and Dustin.

For their freshmen and sophomore years, these twins went to Trinity High School and played basketball and track. After moving to Ritenour, they decided to join the cross country team and so did their younger brothers.

While they enjoy being able to compete with each other, sometimes the brothers can irritate each other on the course.

“He’s faster than me, and I don’t like my twin being faster than me,” Zack Herman said.

The junior Hermans are the only set of twins who did not mention their names being mixed up because the difference between them and the other Herman twins is that they are fraternal twins, therefore they do not look alike.

These twins who play the same sport have a built-in motivator for their success.

“We are always pushing each other to do better,” Tyler Herman said.

Senior twin brothers Zack and Luke Shocklee participate on the high school swim team, although their paths to participation together took some twists and turns.

During the boys’ freshmen year, Zack participated in marching band while Luke was on the swim and baseball team.

In their sophomore year, Zack joined the swim team and worked together with Luke. After taking a year off of sports in their junior year, the boys both returned to the swim team.

Before being on the swim team, the Shocklees played baseball together. The brothers agreed that being on the swim team together now is definitely a positive experience, but they have learned that they can be tougher on each other than they would be on their other teammates.

“I like swimming with my brother, but sometimes we critique each other and then get mad because of it,” Luke Shocklee said.

Seniors Zack and Luke Shocklee help a teammate see how many laps he has remaining. Photo by: Ashley Meyer

Freshman team success The success of freshman football and volleyball shows program strength

By: Carcea Carr Staff Writer

In most high schools, varsity teams are usually the ones that get the most publicity, but the freshman teams within the school are also vital parts of the program.

Freshman football and volleyball offer a great contrast of the types of freshman teams that exist at Ritenour. The freshman football team recently finished the season undefeated, with a record of 8-0.

“Our defense is outstanding in all,” freshman E’myzera McGruder said.

“Honestly we’re doing so good, I don’t think we have any weaknesses.”

On the other hand, freshman volleyball is continuing a winning tradition, as the team has earned 11 wins for the second year in a row.

“This season is going pretty good,” freshman Brenda Reed said. “We are doing better than we thought we would, but we need more work on our attitudes as a team.”

Last year the team won 11 games, and it was the most games anyone in the program had remembered the freshman team winning during a season. Last year’s freshmen have tried to continue that success, with Coach Lauren Siebenaller moving up to JV with the players.

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“We worked harder, which improved our setter decisions, and our scoring,” Coach Siebenaller said.

Freshmen Olivia Hilliard, Montrice Bolden, and Kaitlin Christy clap after their team Development won a point against Hazelwood Central. Photo By: Brittany Mixon of skills is a knowledge of the importance of top priority on football,” Hughes said. the freshman level, and having

Coach Kim believes that teams that are experiencing wins the coaching staff did a good job will also help the programs in of changing the “game plan,“ the future. Each team member coming up with better strategies has made improvements to their and telling the players why they overall skills and dedicated time to their ultimate goal of becoming were doing certain things, not varsity athletes. Usually the lower just how to do them.

“We came up with a level programs are measured by slower approach,” Kim said. “As improvement, so large win totals the years go by you become a are somewhat unexpected. better coach and you adjust to

“For a freshman football your players easily, all you need team, this year’s wins are very to do is take it one step at a unusual. We came pretty close time.” last year, but this is uncommon Kim believes that the and the first time we’ve been this success that is happening at the good,” freshman football coach freshman level will carry on in the Jake Kim said next few years at higher level.

Last year’s freshman

“We built a team mentality football team finished the season by believing in ourselves. The with a record of 4-5. Sophomore goal is to remain on top, and Robyion Hughes played for the be the best freshman team in freshman team last year, and has Ritenour’s history. As a school it worked his way onto the varsity is essential for us to believe in team this season. ourselves and our teammates. We

“We matured and realized are a family,” Kim said. how much harder it is for a position this year. It took us a while to gain a team mentality, but after a while we gained

Teams move on without star grads With graduates taking on roles for college teams, Ritenour teams have to change course Written by: Ryan Tiefenbruch Staff Writer Former Ritenour high school athletes have moved on to play at the next level, while their old Graduate Khalil Levin teams have does a flip throw-in been spending last season. Photo courtesy: Kinzie Lewis time trying to adjust to losing their key players.

At least ten Ritenour athletes graduated last year and are playing at a higher level in two-year and four-year colleges. One of those athletes, Khalil Levin, is attending CulverStockton University to play soccer.

So far this year Levin has played in six of the eight games, playing mid-field so far, with one assist.

The varsity soccer team at Ritenour High School has had to adjust all season to losing a player of Levin’s caliber.

“We lost a strong leader; a crucial part of the engine in our team,” junior Gibran Torres said.

Levin was first team all conference last year, leaving his team with a tough road heading into a new conference. The team is 4-13-2 so far this year.

Torres said that the team is replacing his skill with heart, and that they are striving for success through hard work.

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Just like the soccer team, the football team has had to deal with changing roles. So far the football team is 3-6 with one games to play after losing a large senior class, two of whom are both playing Division I football.

Devin Alexander is attending Toledo University and Adewale Adeoye is attending Utah State University.

Alexander is playing defensive back for the Rockets, but has yet to enter a contest.

Alexander was named conference player of the year in high school and was named All-Conference first team offense.

Adeoye is playing linebacker for the Aggies, but is redshirting his freshman year. In high school Adeoye was named defensive player of the year and named to the first team AllConference defense.

“They were two big time players that made big time plays,” senior John Minner said.

Minner said seeing these players playing in college makes him try harder to go somewhere big and play football like them.

Minner also mentioned that it also makes him do better in school because both Adeoye and Alexander stressed the need for good grades to go to a good college.

Ritenour also graduated some female athletes who now play for college teams. Emma Chiodini was one of the leaders of the volleyball team last year, but is now attending Lewis and Clark

Community College and playing volleyball. Chiodini was named to the academic All-State, first team All-Conference, first team all-district and the Post-Dispatch Athlete of the Year representing Ritenour.

Senior Hannah Baker said the team misses Chiodini, but her absence has forced more players to get involved during games.

“The team dynamic is really good this year because now we are not relying on one person,” Baker said.

Chiodini has played in all 16 games the Trailblazers have played. She leads the team in several categories with 133 kills, 10 blocks, 172.5 points and is second in digs with 144.

Finally, Donshel Beck is attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to play basketball. Beck was the top scorer on the girl’s basketball team last year, earning her way to Conference Player of the Year.

Beck has already started working out with her team.

“You cycle school, practice, weights, eat, sleep, then you wake up and do it again,” Beck said.

The Ritenour basketball team will not start practices until November, but already know that there will have to be changes.

“It is going to be like a rude awaking for us because she took over the court, she was like our team. She was our leading scorer and rebounder,” senior Daedra Wallace said.

Finding their comfort zone Ritenour High School students and staff members find comfort in a variety of both unique and commonly recognized things. From humans, to eclectronics, to furry friends, finding comfort in something helps to form unbreakable bonds.

Asia Jones and Aulieyah Waters, Friendship without borders

Senior Asia Jones and former Ritenour student Aulieyah Waters have been friends since they met in first grade. Waters moved 60 miles away during heir sophomore year of high school, however, they still talk every day and hang out almost every weekend. Along with this, their families have also managed to stay close.

Kinzie Lewis and Jodie Wagster, Defying age barriers

Freshman Jodie Wagster and Senior Kinzie Lewis met when Jodie was only 3 years old. The two grew up right behind each other with their connected backyards.

They have stayed in contact all these years and Lewis sees Wagster as family now, giving her great comfort.

“She [Jodie] looks up to me and is practically my little sister,” Lewis said.

Mr. Spurgeon and Military History:

Military and American History teacher Jason Spurgeon has had an extremely focused interest in military history since he was 12 years old, and civil war history in particular.

“Having an interest in your work makes it so much easier. I get to do what my passion is,” Spurgeon said.

Sunny Dinh and video games:

Senior Sunny Dinh finds comfort in video games, rather than being around people that may get involved in drama. The game League of Legends is his favorite game right now. He finds comfort in gaming because he believes games are always there for you, unlike a friend, who may not always be.

Rose Houghton, Thor and Loki:

Sophomore Rose Houghton has had two pet male rats since January. The decision for getting them came after her hamster died. She likes larger animals and really wanted a dog, however, she could not get one so she settled on the largest rodent she could get, which happened to be rats.

Math Teacher Karla Conrey, Baby Jake and Sammy:

Karla Conrey is known by her students and colleagues for her love of her two dogs, Baby Jake and Sammy. Originally, she was always a cat person, until she got her dog Jake, and ever since then she loved the idea of having dogs.

Finding friends at Ritenour Ritenour students define what makes a good friendship

Written by: Deidre Dinkins Staff Writer

There are numerous potential meanings for the word friendship because people have their own ideas of “good” or “bad” friends.

Ritenour students and teachers all seek out specific values for their friendships, and those values vary from one person to another.

Math teacher Jennifer Montgomery values friends who can be trusted by her and her family members.

“I look for friends who I could trust with my own children’s lives, and people who will have faith in me,” Montgomery said. “My best friends always have faith in me.”

As well as teachers’ requirements for friendship, Ritenour students also have expectations for their friends.

“You want a friend who is loyal and trustworthy to you.

Without that, how can you really be sure that they are not being a bad friend behind your back?” sophomore Amanda Stief said.

Stief believes that people should always treat others the way they would want to be treated, especially when it comes to friends.

Stief also said that if people are not giving them mutual respect, then they do not deserve it to be given to them in

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the first place.

“I am a good friend because I am there for all of my friends when they need me, especially the friends who are Freshmen Jordan Marlow and Deonta’ Davis respectfully work always there for together in class. One key to friendship according to Ritenour me when I need students is treating others the way they want to be treated. them,” Stief Photo by: Aeriel Morrow said. “Only bad friendships are made up of people friends lie and ditch the people who will be consistently loyal, who care about them.” trustworthy, reliable, and will

To Stief, friendship is a brighten each other’s day. big matter. She believes that

“A good friend will the strength of friendships basically be cool all around, and could depend on how long the will not give me a reason to doubt individuals have been friends, our friendship.” Jackson said. how well they know each other,

Jackson also says that or even what important events people who do not stay true they have experienced together. to their word and would turn

“A friendship is special their back on their friends are when they are the one person unreliable and that is not a real who is so close to you that they friendship. can say they know you better

Students’ closest than even your own parents do, friendships have been and when you have been through longstanding throughout the everything together,” Stief said. school district because for the

Senior Corey Jackson most part, they have all grown believes that a good friend is up together and have been going someone who is funny, loyal, and to school together since their who can take his jokes lightly. elementary years.

“People probably think

“My friendship with I am a horrible friend, because Rico Burrage is special because I will make fun of them every throughout all of the years, I have chance I get, but personally I made a lot of friends, and lost a think that my humor with my lot of friends, but he has never friends is part of what makes our turned his back on me,” Jackson friendship special,” Jackson said. said.

Jackson also agrees that

Long lasting friendships Ritenour students demonstrate loyalty in long-lasting friendships

Seniors Ellie Preis and Alexis Ferren have been friends since elementary school.

The photo on the left shows them playing soccer together, and on the right in their Powder Puff uniforms. Photos courtesy Alexis Ferren and Ellie Preis

Written by: Aeriel Morrow Content Manager

Some Ritenour students have been friends since they first met in kindergarten, and they want to share the secrets of the success of their oldest friendships.

As the years pass and students become older, many friendships are bound to be stretched, bent, and even snapped. Many students can develop a negative outlook on the importance of friendship and the benefits of having friends.

Because of this, students began to believe that it is best to try at life and all of its experiences alone.

However, there are a few students who have mastered the skill of building lifetime friendships while unlocking the door of lifetime loyalty, such as seniors Alexis Ferren and Ellie Pries.

“Having a long-term friendship is important because they have seen you at your

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best, worst, and everything in between,” Ferren said. “That proves that they will always be there and are very dependable.

That is truly rare and you always have someone to hang out with that you know will be a good time.”

Although students realize they are not identical to anyone, having a great friendship that lasts does not always mean being exactly like someone in order to have things in common. In fact, not being exactly like someone makes the bond much more special because it shatters the model that students have to be exactly the same to relate.

“I am more of the reserved one in the relationship because she [Alexis ] is more outgoing.

None of that really matters when it comes to friendships anyway because you both can see through the outward traits,” Preis said.

Many students revealed a fear that if their friend is not always on their side, they can do more harm to the bond

than anticipated. Having a successful friendship must include confidence in one another.

“I think it’s important to have confidence in one another.

There shouldn’t be much doubt in your friendship in order for it to truly grow,” senior Dane Markley said.

Seniors John Minner and Markley share a long term friendship which has been strengthened over time due to unforeseen circumstances.

Minner believes that this type of connection can be a source of positive motivation and bring light to new perspectives.

“Dane Markley and I live together, so not only was he there for me when I needed a place to stay, he has continued to be a positive influence in my life by pushing me to work hard in school,” senior John Minner said.

“Keeping a friendship needs what all relationships need; respect, honesty, and communication but most of all you both need to only want the best for each other.”

Overall, students should know that although having a long lasting friendship can be a lot of work, it also can be a source of stability knowing that someone will always be there for you.

Friendship evolution Friendships change over time, from middle school through adulthood

Written by: Erin Dennison and Morgan Diamond Staff Writers

As people advance through their lives, they have different needs at every stage, and their friendships reflect those needs.

There are crucial transitions between eighth and ninth grade year. Students not only enter into new groups, such as sports or clubs, they also join a new group of people who are going to be around them, so friendships tend to change.

“With adolescents particularly at the middle school level, friendships are really about group identity,” assistant principal Bilial Ewing said.

This is Ewing’s second year as a principal at Ritenour High School, after relocating from Hoech Middle School just before the 2013-2014 school year.

Dina Durnin is the freshman counselor this year at Ritenour. Durnin, like Ewing, came to the high school from Hoech.

“In middle school, kids are afraid to communicate their needs and their wants clearly, and so lots of miscommunications happen, therefore lots of arguments, conflicts and fights happen,” Durnin said.

Ewing and Durnin have both had the opportunity to see how students have changed from their eighth grade year, especially seeing their current friends.

Junior Desiree Chrun was a Hoech student who

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has experienced high school at the high school level, students transformations first hand. have kind of matured so things

“People change who they aren’t such a devastating piece in wish to be, so if somebody wants their life anymore.” to hang out with the popular

The change in friendship people, then they turn on all their also happens as people leave high friends and, basically, they are school and have different life fake,” Chrun said. circumstances.

Ewing echoed Chrun’s

SSD teacher Alayna thoughts about how friendships Neiderkorn and counselor Chaun change over time.

Tate were friends in high school

“What you see in high at Pattonville, but when Tate school is a real narrowing of the graduated and went off to college friendship circles; you will see the two lost contact. Now they kids just running with a couple of are back in contact as co-workers. really good friends, or maybe if

“We haven’t really stayed they are on a team they will run in contact with each other. This with members of their team,” year we have re-connected since Ewing said. “But still, even within we work in the same building.” the teams, there will be a couple Niederkorn said. of students that will gravitate

Another reason friendships towards one another and end up change over time is adults look for being friends usually for a very different qualities in friendships. long time, well into adulthood.”

Math teacher Danielle

Durnin also believes Swallow’s past experiences have that friendships change due to molded her adult friendships. communication and not just from

“I’m more selective when affiliations.

I’m choosing people I want to

“In the high school level, be friends with. It is easier now children are maturing and they to make friends because I went are able to communicate more through it as a kid so I know how clearly to their friend, to whom to do it,” Swallow said. they are dating, and to adults what they need and what they want,” Durnin said.

Durnin believes that friendship problems stem from beyond just communication issues.

“A lot of times, when things happen in your life in middle school, it tends to feel like the end of the world, so students Senior Haley Fitch poses with Desiree have a habit of blowing thing out Chrun on Black and Orange Day. Chrun of proportion,” Durnin said. “But

noticed a change in friends from middle school to high school, so she chooses her new friends wisely. Photo courtesy Desiree Chrun.

Alumni bonds continue Graduation has not stopped former groups of Ritenour students from remaining close friends classes, Lewis is employed, and Claxton is away at college.

Even though there is great distance between the group of friends, they manage to find the time to come back together and make more memories.

“When we get together we play basketball, go to the movies, and just hang out,” Lewis said.

The guys spend a lot of Graduate Des’ree Wallace inbounds the ball to Donshel Beck. The two continue their friendship time at each other’s houses and with each other’s which began at Ritenour. Photo by Emily Waters families. They look at themselves as brothers for Written by: Daedra Wallace life.

Even the families of each of Sports Editor the boys look at each other as family members.

Friendships that start

“There is never a dull in Ritenour High School often moment when they are around, continue long after those people they always make things funny,” take their final steps off of the Lewis’ sister, senior Kinzie Lewis stage at graduation. said.

The school is the

The trio plans to continue foundation of many of Ritenour’s their friendship on for a lifetime alumni friendships. and always be there for each

Best friends Joe Lewis, other through anything, especially DaQuan Banks, and Savon Claxton big life events. all entered Ritenour as freshmen “I can see us as being in the fall of 2008. The three boys each other’s best men at our met one day after school during basketball tryouts. The basketball weddings,” Lewis said.

Another close friendship court is where they connected that was created at Ritenour and realized that they all had High School was between best love for the sport. friends Des’ree Wallace and

“Basketball played a big Donshel Beck. Wallace transferred part in keeping us close,” Banks to Ritenour as a sophomore in said.

These days the boys are all the fall of 2010 and Beck was a freshman that same year. doing their own thing in different places. Banks takes online college Both of the girls were starters on the varsity basketball team

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that season, which made them instantly connect and work together.

“We did not know anybody and we were new so we just stuck together,” Beck said.

The friendship lasted all throughout high school, and even on another Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) basketball team called the Tigers. The girls continue to spend an ample amount of time together, spending nights at each other houses and going out to different places.

“We always go out to eat and have movie nights,” Wallace said.

Now that the duo is out of school they have both done completely different things, but still remained best friends.

Wallace is currently employed and raising her young daughter, while Beck is playing division one basketball at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville.

Wallace made Beck her daughter’s godmother in December of 2013. Beck comes back to St. Louis every weekend just to spend time with her family, best friend, and godchild.

“My best friend is my rock. Somebody I can go to for anything,” Wallace said.

Clearing the hallways A new hall sweep technique has caught the attention of students and teachers during passing time By: Allison Baker, Staff Writer & Aeriel Morrow, Content Manager

Principal Gary Spiller has addressed the issue of students being late to class by creating “hall sweeps,” which are announced by an administrator or a song playing during a passing period.

Before hall sweeps, students would have five minutes to get to class, and if they arrived late, they were to go get a tardy pass from the Student Services Office. Now, if students fail to arrive on time to class during a hall sweep, they receive an immediate detention and are sent back to class.

Spiller worked at schools in Los Angeles and he brought this idea of hall sweeps over from his previous schools.

“I first saw hall sweeps when I was in Los Angeles working in schools. I saw just how effective they were, so we used them at my last school district as well, over in FergusonFlorissant,” Spiller said. “It’s just a positive way to get kids to class.”

According to Spiller, the purpose of the hall sweeps is to try and let students recognize how important it is to be in school and in class on time.

“We have hall sweeps to promote academic readiness. We want students to get to class on time on a daily and hourly basis,” Spiller said. “It’s a positive cue, it’s a reminder to say ‘hey, get to class on time.’ It’s an extra

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nudge to say ‘hey lets arrive on time,’ so we do them sporadically throughout the day.”

After high school, workers cannot show up 20 minutes late with no supplies every single day.

Coming to school late is not only detrimental to that individual’s learning, but Students hurry to get to their class on time also disturbs the learning of during a hall sweep. Photo by: Missy Griffith classmates. These reasons led Spiller to try to focus on terms having a high tardy rate, the for the students to use, such as administration will increase the “move with purpose,” and “walk number of hall sweeps in the and talk.” day. However, if the tardy rate

“It’s one of those decreases there will be fewer hall big things where I know one sweeps. important piece of high school is

Senior Travelle Moorehead that social part, you have to have is a student who others can look it. You can still move, you can to as a reason for hall sweeps still walk and talk,” Spiller said. ending.

“We are just trying to get people

“Hall sweeps do not affect from point a to point b.” me, because I always come to

Even teachers have class on time,” Moorehead said. noticed a significant difference in

What the administration passing time since the installment wants the students to see from of hall sweeps. the hall sweeps is that they exist

“The halls clear up and the to help them prepare for real life entrances are not as packed up,” situations.

SSD teacher Neileigh Payne said.

“I would love it if we got

To make hall sweeps an to a point where we don’t need inclusive school wide activity, hall sweeps. I think anything is Spiller does not pick the songs, possible. However, this is high the staff and students do. school, and this is a fluid business Teachers or students may suggest that we are in, and any time a song to Spiller. It may take a you deal with human relations, while to be played, but Spiller nothing runs perfectly,” Spiller guarantees that it will be played said. “We’re not antsmarching, at some point. On Thursdays, this isn’t an airport with planes Spiller says he plays old school taking off and landing at type music because of “Throw scheduled times. This is high Back Thursday.” school and stuff happens.”

If students start

Granting good advice Two new staff members join the Ritenour staff to help students navigate the college admission process Written by: Kaylee Houston Opinion Editor

Recent college graduates Taylor Williams and Brittney Smith have joined the staff this year as part of the college advisor program, Missouri College Advisor Corps (MCAC).

The MCAC program sends recent college graduates from all four of the University of Missouri schools into high schools with high percentages of firstgeneration-college, low-income, and underrepresented students at risk of not going to college

Principal Gary Spiller is looking forward to having them as a part of the staff to help students prepare for college.

“College advisors are making a huge impact to the school,” Spiller said. “They are increasing our college-going rate by assisting students in postsecondary exploration,” Spiller said.

Smith and Williams are available before, during, and after school to help students with any questions about college, the ACT, FAFSA (Federal Student Aid), and the military.

Spiller thinks that having the college advisors on campus will make college a much more realistic option. The advisors will help students with college applications, financial aid, test prep, college essays, and scholarships.

Spiller is especially excited for the opportunity to reach

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potential first-generation college students, because he was one himself.

“If I would have had an opportunity like that in high school it would have made that segue going from high school to college much easier,” Spiller said.

“It is almost like learning a new language or new culture.”

Smith is glad to be a part of the Ritenour staff this year.

She is ready to help students get through the struggles of applying to college.

“Students can come talk to us about preparing for college, or just talk about what they want to do after high school in general,” Smith said. “That could also include getting a job, or joining the military.”

Smith has already had positive experiences with Ritenour college applicants.

“Ritenour students are enthusiastic about applying to college and getting ready for their future after high school,” Smith said.

Williams has also had positive experiences at Ritenour this year.

“I love Ritenour, the students, and the staff. The staff is very supportive and the students are amazing,” Williams said.

Williams is helping students make sure they are ready to step out into the college life.

“I am able help students find their “perfect college”

and motivate students to look in to a career or college after high school,” Williams said.

Williams and Smith were both attracted by the MCAC program because they enjoy helping students become adults preparing them for the future.

“I chose to be involved with the Missouri College Advisor program because I love motivating students, college is very important to me, and I love helping others,” Williams said.

College Counselor Kathleen Mead has already seen the impact that Smith and Williams have made.

“They really provide a lot of assistance for students.

During the big crush for ACT registration they were available to help students who were having problems getting their registrations completed, and they are also meeting with students about college plans,” Mead said.

Students have also been impressed with the work that the two have done.Junior Javoe Johnson received helped from them when he signed up for the ACT.

“They are very professional and get the job done,” Johnson said.

Brittney Smith and Taylor Williams joined the Ritenour staff this year to help students applying to college. Photo by: Aeriel Morrow