Print Version: WG ECHO November 2019 Issue

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V olum e 1 0 5 I s s ue 3 No v e m ber 2 0 1 9 1 0 0 S e l m a Av e . w g e c h o . o r g

Pageant winner pursues film, engineering pg. 10

Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Elise Keller PRINT EDITOR: Lindsey Bennett JUNIOR EDITOR: Jaden Fields BUSINESS MANAGER: Zora Thomas VIDEO EDITOR: Ethan Weihl SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/ GRAPHICS EDITOR: Zeke La Mantia NEWS/ OPINION EDITOR: Elise WilkeGrimm FEATURE/ ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Emily Stisser PODCAST EDITOR: Maeve Taylor ADVISOR: Donald Johnson SOME MATERIAL FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO. To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer.

Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155.

All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested.

The Echo has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged.

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Curriculum change threatens ‘block’ class Parents Club to host 22nd annual ChiliFest Board announces finalists to fill vacancy NHS sponsors annual blood drive Students choose Friendship royalty Community closet helps students for second year New coach continues soccer success Basketball kicks into action Tens of veterans return, honored each year Pageant winner pursues film, engineering Statesbots teams compete in First Tech Challenge Problem Solving travels to Lifewise Podcasts offer business insights, laughs ‘JESUS IS KING’ shows shift in tone Students express different opinions on vaping Cross-subject learning should be promoted

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The Echo is a member of SSP, Quill and Scroll, MJEA, JEA, MIPA, NSPA and CSPA.

Echo Family

The Echo Family helps make the Echo possible. To become a member of the Echo Family, please contact wgecho@wgmail.org.

Thanks to all of our members!

Bill and Cindy Bennett Melanie Bennett Aerin Johnson Keillyn Johnson Trinity Madison Frank and Molly Peterson Terri Riutcel Stisser Family Gail and Owen Taylor Wilke-Grimm Family Christian Zareh Zareh Family

Cover Cutline: Senior Ben Wieselman performs at the Mr. Webster Pageant.

Photo by Ava Musgraves

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12 Table of Contents | November 2019

Curriculum change threatens ‘block’ class Elise Keller Editor-in-Chief The block class, a two-hour long combination of AP U.S. History and AP Lang officially known as AP/ACC Honors U.S. Studies, has been a long standing rite-of-passage for Webster juniors, but rumors call into question the class’s future.

According to English teacher Kristin Moore, changes to the social studies curriculum will cause the block class to be removed.

Cathy Vespereny, district public relations, spoke on behalf of Dr. Kristen Denbow, curriculum coordinator, who was unable to comment.

Vespereny said, “It’s more of a high school administration story.”

John E. Thomas, assistant principal, said, “There is no change to the block class.”

However, Thomas confirmed the social studies curriculum change.

“There will be no changes at the high school for the next two years, and then ultimately the biggest change that will happen here is government will move from a freshman class to a junior level class,” Thomas said.

However, Matt Irvin, principal, said, “In the past, (the curriculum) has aligned U.S. History and American literature in junior year. Now, transposing some of those courses around on the social studies side causes that alignment to no longer be in place.

How it looks currently, the class that currently couples American literature and history will not be in its same existence.”

The block’s future is currently up in the air, but according to Irvin, the class will at the least, be changed, and at the most, be discontinued.

“The hope is new courses that really align with our ability to provide quality teachers and student interest allow those new spaces to exist,” Irvin said.

Senior Ashley Cimarolli, senior and former block student, said she “would defend that class with my life.”

“Having history and English so closely connected changed my perspective about each course, and I truly loved both of the classes equally, and that’s coming from a person who despised English with a passion going into the class,” Cimarolli said.

Cimarolli said the rigor of the block is necessary in preparations for college.

“I strongly believe that I am not only a better student, but a better person because of the teachers and new perspectives offered to me. Although it was hard work, there is no doubt in my mind that I can conquer college after my experiences,” Cimarolli said.

Kristin Moore, who teaches the English half of the block, agreed that the class offers valuable, long lasting benefits to students.

“I think that the opportunities that the block offered to students in terms of an interdisciplinary approach to critically thinking about American society and extending those critical thinking skills into thinking about their own skills as American citizens, as well as the nuanced way that the material was taught, I just think it’s a great loss. I think it’s a great loss,” Moore said.

“I have not received any information other than hearsay or third party information, but essentially, this year’s freshman class will be the last class that will be eligible to take the block as it currently is in place,” Moore said about the change in curriculum.

About whether the change will affect other social studies classes, Thomas said, “No. It will all still be available.”

Parents Club to host 22nd annual ChiliFest Zora Thomas Business Manager

Webster’s 22nd Annual ChiliFest will be Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 5-7 p.m.

This is one of Parents Club’s largest fundraisers of the year.

People who want to help volunteer at the ChiliFest- students, parents, alumni and community members, can email the Parent Club committee chairs at chilifest@wghsparentclub.org.

The night of the ChiliFest, everyone will get a chance to taste a sample of each chili, restaurants and amateurs, and then tasters all vote for the best chilis, one from the restaurants and one from the amateurs.

The restaurant winner competes against the winner of the Kirkwood Chili Bowl at the contest at the Turkey Day game; the

November 2019 | News

winner is announced at the game, during halftime. Along with chili, hot dogs and a la carte items will be sold separately.

Tickets are sold at WGHS and grade schools in Webster, and online on the Parents Club official website. They will also be sold at the entrance of the event; however, people can also buy the tickets on sale at Schnarr’s Hardware. The tickets for adults are $10 and $5 for students, children ages five and under are free.

This years’ restaurant competitors are J. Greene’s Pub, Llywelyn’s Pub, Olive + Oak, St. Louis Wing Company, Straub’s and Weber’s Front Row. This years’ amateur competitors are Woodland 1 Sports, WGSD Board of Education, WGHS Class of 2020, WGHS Class of 2021, WGHS Class of 2022, WGHS Class of 2023 and FACS Class.

Photo from Parents’ Club and taken

by Fran Sudekum

Winner of Chili Fest 2015, Jason Tilford represents Milagro Modern Mexican and serves chili to community members. The annual event raises funs for Parent Club grants and scholarships.

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Board announces finalists to fill vacancy Ethan Weihl Video Editor Superintendent John Simpson announced the three finalists to fill the vacancy left by Arnold Stricker.

Those candidates are Joel Oliver, Brian McQueary and Erin Gunn.

Candidates were interviewed on Friday night at a special school board meeting.

The new member will be chosen by ballot and sworn in at the regular board meeting Dec. 9.

Oliver was previously elected to the school board from 2013-2016, and McQueary and Gunn both have prior education experience. These candidates were selected from a list of eight who applied for the position.

“We had a really strong candidate pool,” Simpson said.

Stricker resigned because he moved out

of the district.

As for next steps, the board will make its final announcement at a later date.

Simpson said via email, “The ideal candidate will possess similar attributes to Dr. Stricker [and will] want to become a board member to help support all kids, not just because of a personal agenda.”

The candidate who is selected to fill the vacancy will only serve until April 2020. After that, he/ she will decide whether or not to run for the school board to serve another two years.

There will also be three other board seats up for election, currently held by Amy Clendennan, David Addison and Jo Doll, with full, three-year terms.

Photo from the Webster Groves School District

School board member Arnold Stricker has moved from the district leaving a vacancy to be filled by one of three candidates: Joel Oliver, Brian McQueary and Erin Gunn.

NHS sponsors annual blood drive Zeke LaMantia Social Media Manager

National Honors Society sponsored a blood drive in the secondary gym, Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Started by Mercy Hospital and supported by schools all over the St. Louis County, the blood drive was a way to be involved and help Mercy Hospital collect blood that will be tested, stored and eventually used for transfusions in surgeries or however the hospital sees fit.

Last year 100 people signed up to donate, and out of those 100, 68-69 were successful. This time around 62 people came to donate and there were 40 successful pints donated. Amy Rowland, Spanish teacher and NHS sponsor, was the main facilitator of this event.

“NHS did a great job facilitating. It’s our biggest on campus event of the year, and I’m proud because they helped recruit donors and run the event,” Rowland said.

Participants had to be 17 or older to donate or 16 with parents’ permission. There are no restrictions for who can donate if one can pass a basic health exam which includes if he/she doesn’t have a fever, he/she doesn’t have low iron, his/her heart rate is within a healthy range and he/she hasn’t recently traveled to a tropical area.

Senior John Sterbenz was one of the students who donated for the blood drive.

“My Spanish teacher (Rowland) said the blood drive was a thing, and then I decided to do it. I saw no reason not too,” Sterbenz said.

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Photo by Jaden Fields

German teacher Brent Mackey donates blood as part of the annual NHS-sponsored blood drive on Nov. 12.

In addition to being donors and giving blood, NHS students helped run the event. These students were either assigned to the donor room where they stood with people giving blood for support or helped them walk to the refreshment table to build back up their strength.

Also “runners” went into classes to find certain students who signed up to donate and reminded them of when their time was and to bring them to the gym.

Senior Katie Gilker was one of many helping hands in the donation room.

“If you can’t give blood, this is also a good idea of how to help,” Gilker said.

News | November 2019

Students choose Friendship royalty

Photo by Lindsey Bennett

Webster Groves’ Friendship King, senior Quinton Nehring, and Queen, senior Lilly Ortinau, are crowned at the annual Kirkwood-Webster Friendship dance at Webster Groves High School Nov. 2.

Zora Thomas Business Manager STUCO nominee, Quinton Nehring, and band nominee, Lillian Ortinau were crowned King and Queen of the 81st annual Friendship Dance on Nov. 2.

Ortinau said, “It’s pretty cool. I wasn’t really expecting to win, so it’s very exciting to win.” About what she would like to say to

the people who nominated her, she said, “I’d just like to thank them for supporting me.”

Nehring said, “It’s an honor to be friendship king. It feels really nice to have support from my fellow Statesmen, and I really appreciate all the people that voted for me.”

Each year two seniors are nominated to run in the Friendship Court from seven groups: band, cheerleading, Echo, football, step team and STUCO. Since 1939, the Kirkwood High School students have joined together with Webster students before the annual Turkey Day game to celebrate the Friendship Dance.

An article by the Webster-Kirkwood Times, “Friendship Dance Marks Its 75th Year” said, “In autumn 1934, the Webster Groves Hi-Y sponsored its first Turkey Day pep parade and, the day after the Turkey Day Game, held its first ‘victory dance,’ named Tacky Dance, in which ‘many of the Kirkwood students showed their friendly spirit by attending the entertainment.’”

About the dance, Coach Cliff Ice said, “I thought it went well... had to get about 2,200 kids in a gym from opposing schools, and nothing bad happened. I think it was fun. Both schools talk a little bit about having their own homecoming, but I think it’s a pretty unique situation that the two schools get together and do it. I think it’s a fun evening.”

This year’s band nominees were Ray Wetzel-Meehan and Lillian Ortinau; Jacobie Banks and Sanaa Reed for cheerleading; Ethan Weihl and Elise Keller for Echo; Cole Schnettgoecke / Kameron Yancey and Elizabeth Egley / Jocelyn Woods for football; Donell Robinson and Tanys Giles for step team; and Quinton Nehring and Peyton St. James for STUCO. Students voted for a male and female contestant on Oct. 15, during sixth hour.

Community Closet helps students for second year Elise Wilke-Grimm News/Opinion Editor Founded two years ago by administrative assistants Jill Peel and Leigh McKittrick, the Community Closet helps roughly five to10 students everyday.

The closet provides students who are in need of food, winter clothes and more.

Students who are interested in visiting the Community Closet can go to office 124. Julie Simonsen, John E Thomas’ administrative assistant, will help to find all provisions that are available.

There are no special requirements to being applicable for receiving donations. It’s more of a trust system, and if a student already has a winter coat or can afford it, then taking one from the community closet isn’t necessary.

“We want to be very inclusive of everyone’s personal needs.

It doesn’t really matter who you are; we want to be able to help everyone,” Simonsen said.

Chelsea Center coordinator Kerry Arens’ Real World Problem Solving class has been researching poverty.

November 2019 | News

As part of the class, students are working with the Community Closet to take action to support it. They’ve designed a change drive that went on the week before Spirit Week, which raised roughly $342.87 for the Community Closet.

McKittrick, Dwight Kirksey’s administrative assistant, and Simonsen believe no student should have to come to school cold or hungry. This is why they are so passionate about the way the closet has expanded over the two years that it’s been running.

People around the community have heard about the Closet through either a friend, family member or a post on the Community Connect (a Facebook page).

Along with other students, parents and teachers help the closet out by donating old clothes, winter coats, or by buying toiletries or grab-and-go food for students to pick up.

McKittrick hopes to expand the closet with dresses, shoes, tuxes, etc. for school dances which can be expensive.

The Community Closet organizers are also looking to move into a bigger space than the one they currently have.

“Our closet is very private. We like for the kids to know that we are keeping everything confidential,” McKittrick said.

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Fields from the Frontlines

New coach continues soccer success Jaden Fields Junior Editor

Men’s Varsity soccer had an exceptional year under the guide of new head coach Tim Velton.

Come the end of the regular season, the team was 16 in six, winning its last regular game against Ladue.

Following this win, the team went on to win the District game against St. Mary’s High School Thursday, Nov. 7.

Success of this type is no stranger to the players, but the success is extra special coming the season after the retirement of former head coach Tim Cashel.

It is no secret that this season has been extraordinary for the players, and there’s many things this success could be attributed to, the biggest factor Photo by Jaden Fields being the players themselves. Senior Owen Culver kicks the ball on Nov. 22, during the State Quarter Final game against “I would attribute a lot of the Rockwood Summit. Almost 600 students came to show support of the Varsity soccer team as success to the boys. We have a it faces the Summit Falcons at Soccer Park in Fenton. Summit won 2-1 in the last minute of talented group of young men. play. The Statesmen went on to win State third place with a 3-0 victory over Neosho on Nov. . . We don’t just have talent; 23, at Soccer Park. we’re not just hard working.

We have talent in there working hard, Along with an exceptional regular sea- with under a minute left on the clock. when you combine those two things usu- son, the team also excelled in the post On Saturday, Nov. 23, the men’s soccer ally good things happen,” Velton said. season games. After a win at the District team won third in State, defeating Neosho Occasionally, following the retirement game, they went on to win the semi final 3-0 at Soccer Park. of a former coach, a team can experience and advanced to the State final four.

At the end of the season, one question numerous unwanted changes, but this was Friday, Nov. 22, the team played Rock- remains: “What comes next?” Out of the not a concern with Velton. Many players wood Summit in the State quarterfinals. team of 22, 11 of the players are seniors. are beyond pleased with the way things The game started at 11 a.m., and stu- Despite the setback of losing many valuhave been operating. dents were given the option of taking the able players, several seniors continue to “I think Velton picked things right up day as a field trip, leaving school after sec- have high hopes for the future of the prowhere Cashel left off, and I think Velton’s ond hour and returning at the begining of gram. done a great job so far,” senior Sam Ste- seventh.

“In the future we could see more domivens said.

Almost 600 students made the trip on nance. We’re one of the bigger teams in “I wouldn’t say much has changed. It’s buses to support the team. Others traveled the class 3A, so if we continue to stay on a lot of the same drills, same style and separately with friends. the track that we are we could be looking same passion,” senior Henry Bante said.

The game remained scoreless for the at a very good soccer school here at WebIn terms of practices and overall work first half, with Rockwood Summit scoring ster,” senior Preston Haney said. the team puts in, things remain the same in the second.

Lots of promise has been seen in curunder Velton as well. Velton holds the The game was coming to a close when rent juniors and within the underclassmen same core ideals that Cashel held, and the senior Owen Culver scored on a pass from group. two coaches share a similar goal: to be the senior Ben Winkleman with four minutes “I have confidence in Velton and the best team it can be and to make it to State, left. The student section went wild. underclassmen that [the program] should a goal that Velton has made great strides However, the last minute brought a be good for a while,” senior Owen Culver to achieve. crushing turn of events as Summit scored said about the future of the program.

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Sports | November 2019

Men’s basketball kicks into action

Photo by Jaden Fields

Head varsity basketball coach Justin Mathes runs practice on Friday, Nov. 22 in Robert’s Gym.

Jaden Fields Junior Editor Men’s Varsity basketball is experiencing their first season that’s not under the guidance of coach Jay Blossom.

For the past 20 years, Blossom has been the head of the basketball department, building deep connections with the players and working as Varsity head coach.

Following Blossom’s retirement, former assistant coach Justin Mathes will step up as head coach.

The basketball program has become quite acquainted with success throughout Blossom’s duration as head coach. During Blossom’s reign, the team made it to the State championship three times, coming home with a win every time. Blossom was known for his high energy coaching style and his powerful pas-

sion for the game.

While this season will be Justin Mathes’ sixth year working with the WGHS basketball program, as he joined in 2013 as a JV coach, it will be his first year as head coach.

Former players have high hopes for the coming season and for Matthis’s future as head coach.

“I don’t think it’s [anything] new for Mathes. It’s just one step up. He’s a good coach, a great coach. . . we just have to wait and see,” senior Jerquon Conners said.

Junior Anthony Phieffer has played Varsity basketball his entire high school career. When he started, he was under the guide of Blossom. Despite spending years with Blossom as his coach, he has high hopes for the future under Mathes’ hand. “ I feel like Coach Mathes is taking an important role, but I feel like he’s gonna live up to it because Coach Blossom is watching him.” Phieffer said.

Blossom also has high expectations for Mathes and is sure he is more than capable of leading the team to success and continuing their legacy.

“I think he’s going to do great. He’s been part of the program for six [or] seven years, played a major role in our success; he’s a great teacher. . . he’s a perfect fit for the job,” Blossom said about his beliefs for Mathes.

In terms of the future of Mathes’ career as head coach, expectations are also high. The team has some strong underclassmen who seem to have lots of potential, sophomore Matthew Enright and freshman CJ Lang being two very promising underclassmen according to their teammates.

“We have a couple [underclassmen] stepping it up, CJ he’s playing a big role on the team.. . and Matt [Enright] as well. It’s a good team,” Conners said in regards to how the program will be with newcomers.

Upcoming Home Openers Women’s Basketball Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.

Women’s Wrestling Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.

November 2019 | Sports

Women’s Swimming

Dec. 3 at 4 p.m.

Men’s Wrestling Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.

... Dates and times subject to change

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Tens of veterans return, honored each year “We stagger at the eternal debt we owe to the untold number of Americans who chose to set aside their personal ambitions and dreams to assure the wellbeing of the nation.”

-Anonymous quote from Veteran’s Memorial in social studies hallway

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Emily Stisser Entertainment Columnist On the morning of Thursday, Nov. 8, students, staff and the Webster Groves community gathered in Knight Auditorium to celebrate and honor those who have risked their lives for our country, veterans.

The annual Veteran’s Day assembly, coordinated by social studies teacher Terry Verstraete, began 16 years ago. Verstraete, who has taught Military History for 20 years, was inspired to start the program by his own grandfather, a World War II veteran.

“My grandpa had told me a bunch of stories when I was in high school, about how he captured German soldiers and what he had done in Europe,” Verstraete said.

Over the years, the program has seen immense growth. In fact, the number of participating veterans has tripled.

“When it started off, I had 15 veterans, and now we are up to about 50 that come in and talk to the kids,” Verstraete said.

The preparation for the event generally begins three to four weeks prior, taking up an additional sum of Verstraete’s time.

About the time he spends planning the event, Verstraete said, “For the first few weeks before Veteran’s Day, planning is pretty constant. I would say it takes up about 20 percent of my week, each week.”

The process starts with Verstraete’s personal invitation to 130 veterans around the area. Many returning veterans have a connection to WGHS; whether that be to past or present students, staff members or Verstraete himself.

Of that 130, 50 veterans typically come to the event to share their stories and answer questions, dispersed throughout social studies classrooms around the school.

On what keeps veterans returning to WGHS, Verstraete said, “I’ve been told on several occasions that this program is the gold standard. These are their (veteran’s) words. These are not my words. What they said was, is that they like the way it’s set up.”

Another key aspect of the event is the first-hour assembly coordinated by Verstraete, alumni director Pat Voss and others.

This year, the assembly focused on hon-

November 2019 | Feature

Photos by Emily Stisser

The WGHS choir closes the assembly by performing “America the Beautiful” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Veteran’s Day coordinator, Terry Verstraete, welcomed all in attendance to the first hour celebration, followed by speeches from several students such as senior Evan Palmer. oring African Americans in the military throughout history, specially highlighting those from Webster Groves. At the assembly, several students shared heroic stories of African Americans who have served.

On the impact of the assembly Verstraete said, “We give speeches, and we do music, there is a lot of veterans there that are crying at the end of that.”

Several groups from the music department contributed to the assembly, such as Chamber Choir, WGHS Choir, Wind Symphony, Silver Strings and Statesman String Ensemble.

To kickoff the assembly following Verstraete’s welcome speech, Orchestra and band performed a variation of the “Armed Forces Medley.” During the tribute, veterans in attendance were asked to stand while their branch was recognized.

Verstraete explained WGHS has a very unique Veteran’s Day program in comparison to other schools in the area, according to many returning veterans.

For example, Verstraete said, “You might have five veterans and you go talk to them, you find them. As opposed to here, where every veteran is giving a story

to every kid in this building.”

On the factors that keep veterans returning to WGHS, Verstraete said, “In this class [his classroom], we had a Vietnam guy with a World War II guy. Some other classes might be Korea with an Iraq veteran. So I try and separate them. I try and get three to four veterans [in each classroom]. They will give their perspective, but every kid in this building has a social studies class.”

On his connection with returning veterans, Verstraete shared, “Every year it’s the same thing, when they walk out of here, you know they’re always the ones thanking me but I’m the one that thanks them, I just say, ‘Thanks for your service, appreciate everything you did, and we’re gonna see you next year.’”

Although most social studies teachers remain in their classrooms all day, Verstraete instead has a substitute while he helps around the building in various ways.

After Veteran’s Day, the reflection Verstraete’s classes share deeply contributes to his personal significance of the event.

“I come into classes and then I just see all the kids are paying attention, and when I was asking questions about ‘what’d you learn’ everybody had answers. They got something out of it. So they got something out of it, the veterans felt appreciated, the students recognized these individuals and what they did, and that’s all I can ask for,” Verstraete said.

About the value of continuing the event, Verstraete said, “I think it’s just continuing recognition of these individuals who served something bigger than themselves.

Sending that message to the rest of this community, that being in the military is more than just going and getting in a uniform and maybe fighting or maybe not, it’s about serving a bigger purpose, in this case serving the people of this country.

“Listening to those stories, some of these people didn’t have it easy, they sacrificed a lot, and it wasn’t just their life. It might have been a marriage, or it might have been a friendship, or it might have been kids.”

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” -John F. Kennedy November 2019 | Feature

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Pageant winner pursues film, engineering Lindsey Bennett Print Editor To win the title of Mr. Webster, a contestant must impress in the talent, video and question and answer categories.

On Nov. 13, in Knight Auditorium, the winner took a cult classic comedy movie and used it to inspire his whole on-stage performance.

From the curly wig to the tater tots, senior Ben Wieselman embodied Napoleon Dynamite so well that he came away with the ultimate prize.

The annual Mr. Webster Pageant is sponsored by the business department and DECA to raise money for their trip to New York in January.

“I thought it was going to be Patrick Lee. I was standing right next to him, and I was very, very, very surprised,” Wieselman said. “I feel like it’s a lot of, like a popularity thing, I mean most of it is, but I’m not that popular... also my whole talent was based on me being as awkward as possible.”

12 seniors competed to win Mr. Webster, which is decided by the judges and the pageant committee (Marketing II students who organized the event). This year’s judges included math teachers Eric Dunn and Brennan Almus, English teacher Amy Keane and science teacher Lisa Sylvester.

Senior Khotso Moore received the most votes from the crowd, earning him the title Mr. Congeniality.

About Wieselman, Moore said, “I was surprised, but then when I thought about it, it made sense because he really killed his talent and also he embodied Napoleon Dynamite the entire show. I definitely think he deserved to win, and I was really happy for him.”

With many contestants, their talents can be applied to what their interests are. Last year, former student Ray McIntire styled a teacher in clothes he designed and created. This made sense, as McIntire plans to become a creative director of a fashion label.

With Wieselman’s talent, the connections to his life after high school are not easily apparent. However, Wiesleman hopes to use the film itself as an inspiration for his future plans in the entertain-

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Photos by Ava Musgraves and Jaden Fields

Contestants compete in the Mr. Webster Pageant on Nov. 13, in Knight Auditorium. Senior Ben Wieselman won Mr. Webster, and senior Khotso Moore, on the keyboard, won Mr. Congeniality. Following the revelation of winners, contestants participated in a group dance to songs from different time periods. “I thought it would be a really fun experience and I also thought if I won that I’d be a good representative of Webster,” Moore said. ment industry. “‘Napoleon Dynamite’… was just a weird movie and the director is not a well known director. It’s kind of like a student film, and I do, when I’m older, hopefully become a director,” Wieselman said. “I do draw inspiration on how you can, even if you don’t have a big budget, you could potentially make a great movie that makes a ton of money just from the limited resources you have.”

Although he is interested in working on films, Wieselman doesn’t plan to go to school for directing. Rather, he plans to earn a degree in engineering that will allow him to contribute to the arts in dif-

ferent ways.

“On big movies, they have practical effects, like all the Christopher Nolan movies. In ‘Inception’ they have a scene where the room is tumbling and moving, and on that one they hired engineers to build them an actual hallway that spins, so they could film through it, ” Wieselman said.

He would recommend that students in coming years participate in the show.

“It was just good to get on stage and just mess around and not worry about what was going to happen... I was glad I did this, and I was super glad I got to... learn that dance and be with all the guys,” Wieselman said.

Feature | November 2019

Statesbots teams compete in First Tech Challenge

Photo by Elise Wilke-Grimm

Orange team Statesbots members, freshman Xavier Jurotich, junior Erica Magee and freshman Kimberly Rumack prepare for their bout at the first competition of the First Tech Challenge on Nov. 16. There are two teams from Webster because of the large number of members (31). Black team placed fourth, and Orange team placed sixth. They will move on to the next round.

Elise Wilke-Grimm News/Opinion Editor Statesbots (Robotics Club) competed in the annual First Tech Challenge. Their first round of the competition was on Nov. 16.

Black team won fourth place, orange team won sixth place.

Erica Magee, junior, sees the club as a good opportunity to practice, since a STEM career is in her future and robotics involves working with science and math. She is on the programming team for her team’s robot, and she has spent a lot of time with her group trying to figure out what strategies to use.

Due to the club’s large number of people, there are two teams: black team and orange team. Within each team there are two subteams, coding and building. The teams share materials but they work separately on different robots. Robotics competes in various competitions throughout the year that are all part of the First Tech Challenge.

“The overall program is called Statesbots, and since we have so many people, we need to split into two teams. We work separately but still share materials and work in the same space,” Magee said.

At the beginning of the year, the teams were assigned with a challenge to make a robot that can build with large Lego-like blocks. The teams have been preparing their robots since the beginning of the school year when they got their challenge from the First Tech Challenge which is a nationwide competition that allows students to compete with other students head-to-head.

As the teams progress through the competition, there is a chance to make it to State, World, etc. This gives them a chance to compete throughout all nine months of the school year depending on how far the teams make it. The teams compete against other high schools to have the most efficient and advanced ro-

November 2019 | Feature

bots. They’ve been competing in First Tech Challenge since the club was established.

Along with the First Tech Challenge, the teams attend different community service events like the Pancake Festival or the First Friday Event at the Science Center. At these events, they set up either a booth or a station to attract the interest of families. At these events, they will bring different robots or activities to show off, like their new Virtual Reality Headset they bought through receiving a grant.

The club has run for eight years and is co sponsored by Nicholas Kirschman and David Kraus. Their job as sponsors is to do the administrative work and to talk to outside sponsors to get the clubs members the materials that they need, as well as dealing with the parent organization.

“I’m more into technology than robotics, but I am definitely into robotics,” Kirschman said.

Junior Adam Jurotich has been a member of the robotics for three years. He enjoys being able to spend time with his friends while also practicing problem solving.

“It’s fun to work together as a group to achieve a certain goal,” Jurotich said.

Since Jurotich wants to go into video game development as a career, he uses robotics to practice coding. Though projects can be frustrating, it is always satisfying when a tough challenge gets solved, he said.

Statesbots meets every Tuesday and Thursday after school in room 109, as well as Saturday afternoons from 12 to 3 p.m..

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11

Problem Solving travels to Lifewise

Photo provided by Kerry Arens

Seniors Elise Keller, Milo Broshears, Grace Lock and Lauren Kelley visit Fields Foods as part their service immersion trip on Nov. 15 and 16.

Maeve Taylor Podcast Editor Accompanied by teacher and Chelsea Center director Kerry Arens, the students of the Real World Problem Solving class traveled to Lifewise STL on a service immersion trip on Nov. 15 and 16.

According to its website, Lifewise, previously known as Kingdom House, was founded in 1902 as a “settlement house,” providing education and resources to a growing immigrant population in St. Louis. Its stated mission is “to help individuals and families achieve economic well-being by providing high-impact, relationshipbased programming and by addressing systemic barriers to their success.”

The two-day trip consisted of two main activities. On the first day, students designed after school activities for the K-5 childcare program at Lifewise’s “Fun Fridays,” a relationship-based activity at the end of the week of academic tutoring.

On the second day, students had to meal plan for a family of five based on the stipulations granted by SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, and then had to go and attempt to price out the items they planned for at a local grocery store, Field’s Foods, which Arens described as having “beautiful, organic, kind of really expensive foods.”

Students additionally were given other challenges: One group had a clean water

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issue and had to budget accordingly, while another had a gluten allergy, and had to shop around that.

During the trip, the group stayed in a duplex around the corner from Lifewise’s community center, which the organization has set up for trips with school groups like this one, as well as alternative spring breaks and similar trips.

Arens, about the biggest moments of realization she saw in her students throughout the trip was said, “ I think one of the biggest ones that they spoke to was how interconnected all of the facets of poverty can be, and how before you engage in some of these simulations or experiences, you think of it as really a strictly financial issue, but as you continue to make decisions based on finances, how you end up potentially isolating yourself relationshipwise.”

Arens added, “I think it is the same thing kind of around applying for SNAP benefits and hearing the number that you have to have in order to feed a family of five, and then going to a store and realizing, ‘Oh my gosh these are like Whole Foods prices! I can’t, in one hundred and something dollars, buy for a family of five for the week, unless I make some really strict decisions around what we are eating.’

At one point, they were talking about making rice cake sandwiches because of a gluten allergy and because rice cakes are cheap.

You could just put something on them and kids could eat them, and then there is that whole conversation around ‘Okay, so if we do that, yes, our family is being fed, but what does that do to

our mental health and our happiness.’”

Senior Grace Lock, one of the students who went on the trip, about her experiences, wrote in an email,“I am now more aware of how real people feel and live in poverty in our city, along with the barriers they face on a regular basis in transportation, child care, and running errands, but I rarely think about any of these in my life and take them all for granted.”

Arens encourages students to take service trips and service opportunities outside of the context of classes or school.

“I definitely think any time you can serve, you learn a lot about yourself in addition to the community… you learn more about them, and how we are all human, and how we are all very different, and how one person in poverty looks very different from another, or if you are serving women who are victims of domestic abuse, everybody presents with a different story, so to just be their and listen to those stories and be shaped by them I think is powerful,” Arens said.

Feature | November 2019

Stisser’s Scoop

Podcasts offer business insights, laughs Emily Stisser Entertainment Columnist There are two types of people. Either the Apple Podcast app lies untouched on your phone, never to be opened, or you are an avid podcast junkie.

Despite your distinction, here are three intriguing podcasts you should be listening to right now, per my recommendation.

“How I Built This,” NPR, Guy Raz A cult classic, this business podcast captures the hearts, minds and ears of “innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists” alike: including mine.

“How I Built This,” just one of NPR’s several successful podcasts, inspires listeners with narratives of heartbreak and healing, success and missteps, throughout the rise and fall of many indispensable businesses of today.

Although “How I Built This” was the first podcast I ever listened to, I am still hooked. The length of each episode, ranging from 45 minutes to around an hour, fits hand in hand with a morning walk, workout session or grocery run.

Host and co-creator of the podcast, Guy Raz, is distinguished in the industry.

Raz additionally hosts and co-created NPR programs, “TED Radio Hour” and “Wow in the World.” In 2016, he became the first creator to have three shows in the Apple Podcast chart’s Top 20 shows.

Through bold inquiry and honest discussion, Raz uncovers the unpredictable journeys of companies such as Zappos, Squarespace, Airbnb and more.

A few of my all-time favorite episodes include, “Bumble: Whitney Wolfe,” “SoulCycle: Julie Rice & Elizabeth Cutler,” “Drybar: Ali Webb,” “Spanx: Sara Blakely” and “Live Episode! Glossier: Emily Weiss.” Even though my favorites portray an obvious trend of female entrepreneurs, I would highly recommend each and every episode.

Started in 2016, “How I Built This’s” regular episodes are released once a week, usually on Wednesdays, for the exception of live episodes, commonly filmed with an audience or at an event or summit.

“How I Built This” has 21,000 plus ratings with an average of five stars, deem-

November 2019 | Entertainment

ing it the universal listen of the mix.

Equally enlightening and educational, “How I Built This” can be found on NPR One, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts and Spotify.

of mine features a well-known WGHS alum, called “Karlie Kloss on re-modeling the tech industry.” In this episode, Kloss and Barbaerich talk candidly on insecurity, transition and all things awkward teenager. Even though I am fairly well versed in all things Kloss, this episode shed light on the disconnect social media fails to accurately portray.

Each episode of “UnStyled” feels like more or less like an intimate conversation between two old friends. Barbaerich introduces listeners to a side of Kloss that is rarely demanded, a vital element of the podcast that listeners, like myself, value.

Intelligent and fabulously relatable, “UnStyled” can be found on Art19, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more.

Photo from Apple Podcasts

VIEWS, Cadence 13, David Dobrik and Jason Nash Equally inappropriate and addictive, “VIEWS” is sure to leave you laughing.

This weekly comedy categorized podcast, with new episodes dropping every Thursday, has an average rating of five stars, with over 53,000 ratings.

“VIEWS,” started in 2017, is hosted by vlogging prodigy David Dobrik and “40-something single dad with a vlog of his own” Jason Nash. In each priceless episode, the duo takes listeners “behindthe-scenes” and discusses “what living the ‘YouTube life’ is really like.”

Primarily catering to a younger audience, Dobrik and his “Vlog Squad’s” extensive YouTube and social media following has contributed to the podcast’s quick success. One element of Dobrik’s prominent online presence, “VIEWS” gives fans an inside perspective as the pair “confess their most intimate thoughts, discuss popculture, and dissect their own contentious relationship.” In relation to Dobrik’s 9.6 million Instagram following and 14.5 million YouTube following, “VIEWS” boasts a surplus of monthly listeners.

Each episode is about 45 minutes, occasionally featuring guests from Dobrik’s “Vlog Squad” such as Dobrik’s close friend turned assistant, Natalie Mariduena.

“VIEWS” is just one of Cadence13’s programs, and can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and more.

Christene Barbaerich, Global editorin-chief and co-founder of media company Refinery29, poses on her podcast cover.

“UnStyled,” Refinery29, Christian Barberich For the pop-culture captivated, “UnStyled” is the podcast for you.

Augmented by themes of style, sisterhood and savvy, “UnStyled” is, by definition, “a weekly podcast… that explores the funny, inspiring sometimes heartbreaking tales of life, work, and love-- as told through the things that we wear.”

“UnStyled” is hosted and produced by insta-legend, Global editor-in-chief and co-founder of media company Refinery29, Christene Barbaerich. Barbaerich, NYT best-selling author of Style Stalking, started the Society & Culture categorized podcast in 2016.

Most UnStyled episodes are 30 to 50 minutes, a bit shorter than the average podcast. Serving a specific audience of Refinery29 fans, fashion gurus and media moguls alike, “UnStyled” has an average rating of four and a half stars with around 409 total ratings.

More than anything, “UnStyled” gives extraordinary women a voice and a platform. A few exceptional episodes feature guests such as Yara Shahidi, Alexa Chung, Molly Ringwald and more.

Although I am biased, a personal pick

wgecho.org 13

Review

‘JESUS IS KING’ shows shift in tone ‘Gram away” and worship.

The song also ties in references to Chick-Fil-A, which is closed on Sundays.

The next three songs, “On God,” “Everything We Need” and “Water” are all more of the same, with stand out features from Ty Dolla $ign on “Everything We Need” and Ant Clemons on “Water.” “God Is” is the perfect combination of phenomenal production and vocals. West sings for the entirety of the song about what God is to him. That song is followed by “Hands On,” which is similar to the three songs prior to Photo from www.kanyewest.com “God Is.” “Use This Gospel” is the Ethan Weihl best song on the album. It mixes a distorted choir in the background with piano.

Video Editor Kanye opens the track with the chorus, Kanye West’s new album, “JESUS IS followed by features from Pusha T and KING,” presents a shift in his music, as No Malice of Clipse. This is Clipse’s first well as his state of being. The album is song together in 10 significantly different from his last solo years. The song also includes a feature album, “ye.”

The album is primarily gospel-inspired, from Kenny G. The album ends with hints of West’s unique style sprinkled throughout. The production, while includ- with a brief 49-secing more gospel elements, is very typical ond song called “Jesus is Lord.” of West.

The album opens with “Every Hour,” The track has a which consists solely of the Sunday great horn part in Service Choir, accompanied by piano. the background but The Sunday Service Choir, led by Jason does not add much White, is West’s personal choir. It is fea- to the album.

“JESUS IS tured on a number of tracks on the album.

“Every Hour” provides a catchy intro, but KING” is a significant departure from no transition into the next track, “Selah.” subject “Selah” is the first track in which West previous raps. This song addresses his fans and the matters that West drama surrounding “Yandhi,” the album has talked about. that was rumored to be West’s next until While West has the release of “JESUS IS KING.” After dabbled in gospel “Selah” is “Follow God.” The track is only before with “Ultra1:45, but it is one of the best on the album. light Beam,” off of The sample, “Can You Lose by Following 2016’s “The Life God” by Whole Truth, continues the trend of Pablo,” this is his first entirely of amazing production by West. al“Closed On Sunday” is one of the Jesus-centric weirdest songs on the album. The track bum. West has had is about how everyone should “put the a public struggle

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with bipolar disorder in recent years. West has also made a number of controversial statements surrounding President Donald Trump.

As for future plans, West has announced an opera entitled “Nebuchadnezzar,” which tells the story of the Biblical king Nebuchadnezzar.

“Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, and he looked at his entire kingdom and said, ‘I did this,’ and God said, ‘Oh, for real? You did this?’ Sounds kind of similar, right? I’m standing on the tip of the mountain talking about Yeezus. Saying, ‘I did this!’ That I’m a god! And I could talk to Jesus at the end of my show...” West told Zane Lowe in an interview.

In addition, the Sunday Service Choir is releasing a Christmas album, “Jesus is Born,” on Dec. 25. West and Dr. Dre have also announced plans to collaborate on “Jesus is King II.” “JESUS IS KING” is 27 minutes long and is West’s first with no explicit lyrics.

The album is available for streaming on all platforms and costs $9.99 on iTunes.

Entertainment | November 2019

Op-ed: The Debate on Vape

Students express different opinions on vaping

Photo from GateHouse Media file/Observer-Dispatch/TNS

Jaden Fields Junior Editor

Elise Keller Editor-In-Chief

Vapes have overtaken regular cigarettes these past few years.

What once started as an invention to give former smokers a cleaner way to inhale nicotine has overtime developed into a product utilized by today's youth.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E Cigarette use within teens skyrocketed 78 percent between the 2017 and 2018 school year. More recently, teenagers have begun to face the dangerous effects of using vape devices.

Last month, at least three teenagers in Houston were hospitalized with pulmonary related injuries as a result of vaping. These teens were just a smaller scale of the some 150 teens and young adults who’ve been hospitalized with some form of vaping related injuries this year.

As an effort to eradicate vape usage, schools have taken to putting signs up warning against the dangers of vaping, and the Food and Drug Association (FDA) has urged parents to make sure their teenagers haven’t become hooked.

JUUL, one of the more popular e-cigarette companies, has come forward saying it’s intending to take steps to eradicate teen usage of vape products, but parents don’t want to hear it, having the mindset that the flavors these products have, ranging from mint to mango, were marketed to teenagers in the first place.

While placing stricter restrictions on vape products could help lower teen vaping statistics, it may not be enough. The solution to this epidemic may have to be a total ban for the general public.

This ban wouldn’t mean to completely get rid of the product, but simply make it something the general public couldn’t have access too. As is the case with marijuana in many states, vaping products could be prescribed by doctors to patients struggling to recover from cigarette addictions.

Prescribed vapes could potentially have less nicotine in them as well to help wean the addict from their addiction, utilizing the intended use of vape products.

History has proved that issuing total bans on things are never fully effective, as seen with any type of drug, but it does make access harder. While vape products already are illegal for teens, it’s still possible for teens to be able to gain access by having older friends buy them, and making them only accessible through prescriptions would erase that option.

The nation is in a state of false panic over the dangers of vaping.

The Trump administration had plans to ban vape and e-cigarette products with artificial flavors; however, a blanket ban on vaping is the wrong reaction.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 37 deaths have been credited to e-cigarettes and vapes.

However, while the CDC has no confirmation on the exact substance causing death, its warning, other than to abstain from all smoking products, is to not purchase or use any products off the street, especially THC products. These products are not regulated.

The unregulated vapes are the most dangerous, and if a ban passes, then all vape products will become unregulated and dangerous.

According to the Atlantic, “When flavored vapes are no longer available, many nicotine users won’t just quit. Instead, some will use cigarettes. Others will turn to the unregulated black market to continue buying fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, for which adult vapers as well as teens have a strong preference.”

Vapes are addictive, so a total ban will not stop people from vaping. Vapers, including teens, will continue to find access to these harmful products, even if it means using unapproved, dangerous products.

“I think it encourages more illegal behavior, and people will find a way around it,” said senior Milo Broshears.

Although a ban seems to be in the interest of the health of teens and adults, there should be more preventative action.

If vapes were marketed less to teens and more as a tool to help adults quit smoking, teens would be less likely to start Juuling or using e-cigarettes in the first place.

According to Public Health England, an executive agency of the Department of Health in England, “e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than smoking.”

Vape products should not be banned, but rather marketed towards current cigarette users instead of teens who have never smoked.

November 2019 | Opinion

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Editorial

Cross-subject learning should be promoted

Photo by Ava Musgraves

Social studies teacher Joshua Luparell answers a question from a student in fourth hour AP U.S. History Class (“Block”).

Honors U.S. Studies is a two-hour class for juniors that combines AP English Language with AP U.S. Studies. The class is known simply as “the block class” and is taught by English teacher Kristin Moore and history teacher Joshua Luparell.

Although the block class has a reputation as being one of the hardest classes offered at the high school, its benefits far outweigh any grade earned or score received on a test.

College freshman Emma Binder said, “The block class defi-

nitely taught me a lot of skills that have been very helpful to me as I make the transition to college.”

However, the school district and administration are changing the social studies curriculum. The block class’s future is in peril.

If the administration emphasizes and promotes non-traditional learning, it should also advocate for cross-subject learning and combination classrooms, like Honors U.S. Studies.

The point of the block class is to apply what is taught in history to English, or vice versa. The phenomenon can be achieved in regular classrooms, but what makes a difference in block is that the cross-subject learning is intentional.

Moore and Luparell work closely together to coordinate their curriculum so that the books and texts read in English coincide with the historical period being taught.

“Learning about the history then reading books from that time period was really beneficial because it gave us a deeper background than we would’ve had if we had just read the book in English class,” senior Emma Kelley said. “Reading a book from the time period gave us a better picture of what it was actually like during that time instead of just learning facts.”

Earlier in the month, principal Matt Irvin and superintendent John Simpson talked about the importance of storytelling at the Veteran’s Day assembly. In block, students are bringing to life U.S. history with books like “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” which gives students the ability to learn about slavery from a first-hand account, not just from a history textbook.

If enriching the learning experience is important to the administration and school district, they should offer cross-subject classes like Honors U.S. Studies despite the curriculum change.

Join us in Celebration of the Lord!

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Opinion | November 2019