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Cover Cutline:
Varsity football lines up with the ball to start the play during its game against Parkway South High School on Friday, Sept. 12. The game was at Moss Field and ended in a 51-13 win for Webster.
theecho
Webster hires new assistant principal
State passes law restricting phone use
Assistant principal takes over as interim principal
Chelsea Center coordinator receives award
District starts Frick Center for Civic Engagement
Band students perform at Mizzou football game
School introduces changes to tardy policy
WG soccer team faces tough schedule
Track coach earns state award
Orchestra teacher reflects on music career
Garden Cafe closes end of September
Word Search
Photo by Sam Enlund
Webster hires new assistant principal
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
Dr. Samantha Smith was hired as the new assistant principal for the 2025-26 school year to replace Dr. Tony Gragnani.
It is Smith’s first year in the Webster Groves School District, but she has worked as an assistant principal in both the Maplewood Richmond-Heights District and in St. Louis Public Schools.
Smith said in her recent roles, she didn’t feel like she had a “home school” or community.
“I never left the work, but I kind of felt not at home,” Smith said. She wanted to “do more,” but still wanted to work with teachers and students.
Smith said she chose Webster because she appreciates the district’s “commitment to equity.” She’s looking forward to being part of another school community and “helping to support the
administration and teaching team to meet their goals.”
Smith will also help with the mock trial team and said she would love to start a debate team at Webster.
Gragnani said the application process for the new assistant principal position was competitive, but Smith stood out because of her assistant principal experience at other schools.
“It was good to hire someone with that background experience,” Gragnani said.
Smith had “the knowledge to help us continue our journey at Webster,” Gragnani said. He said she also brings “a level of energy that will help us grow.
Gragnani said, “[Smith will] advocate for all students, giving students ample opportunity to be awesome.”
“I’m really excited to have Dr. Smith here,” Gragnani said.
Smith said the most important thing to her is service--to the community, to the school, and to others. Overall, she is “trying to support as well as I can.”
State passes law restricting phone use
Jasper Winterton Feature/Video Editor
“State involvement was an absolutely necessary piece,” Todd Schaefer, theater teacher, said about the new state law banning phones.
The law has required restrictions on personal devices through out all Missouri public schools. There was a similar policy en forced throughout the Webster Groves High School last year where students were required to put their phones in caddies during classes but could have them at lunch and in between classes.
The policy under Senate Bill 68 (Section 162.207) states, ”Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, each school dis trict and charter school shall adopt a written policy regarding students’ possession or use of electronic personal communication devices. Such a policy shall be designed to promote students’ educational interests and ensure a safe, effective working environment for staff and volunteers. The act defines an ‘electronic personal communications device’ as a portable device that is used to initiate, receive, store, or view communication, information, images or data electronically.”
According to the policy, “Exceptions may allow device use in emergencies, as defined in the act, or for authorized educational purposes. The policy shall be published on the school district’s or charter school’s website, and school em ployees or volunteers shall be immune from liability if they act in good faith and follow the policy’s disciplinary procedures.”
Schaefer said the updated policy was necessary and that he calculated the increase in content covered in his classes, which turned out to be a 20% increase under last year’s policy.
too restrictive compared to last year. I think last year was fine. I know some people weren’t following it, and I think we could be more serious about the caddy thing, but this is too much.”
According to a study done by Pew Research, 74% of adults support banning cell phone use in class, and 44% support banning them throughout the entire school day.
Charlotte Snell, senior, said, “I think (the phone policy is) way
Graphic from Canva
Assistant principal takes over as interim principal
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
“My goals are to lead instruction and impact culture with positivity and collaboration,” interim Givens Elementary principal Dwight Kirksey said via email about his role at Givens Elementary School.
On Wednesday, July 16, Webster Groves High School principal Tony Gragnani sent a message via ParentSquare announcing Kirksey would be serving as “interim principal at Givens Elementary, until further notice.”
Current Givens Elementary school principal Malissa Beecham has been placed on administrative leave.
According to Superintendent Dr. Jana Parker, “School Board Policy GCPD delegates to the superintendent the authority to suspend staff members or put them on administrative leave for any legal reason in accordance with district policy and law.”
Under administrative leave, an employee can be removed from their position in situations “where the superintendent or designee determines that suspension is necessary to prevent disruption to the education environment, protect the safety of the students, appropriately investigate alleged misconduct, or in other circumstances where suspension serves the district’s interests,” Parker said via email.
Kirksey, who has been in the school district for over 20 years, will be the interim principal at Givens Elementary for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year.
Parker said, “Mr. Kirksey was selected to serve as interim principal because of his strong leadership experience, deep knowledge of our district (having spent two decades here), and trusted relationships with students, staff and families. His steady presence and commitment to fostering a positive school culture made him the right choice to provide stability during this transition year at Givens.”
About being given the role as interim principal at Givens, Kirksey said, “I love the Webster Groves School District, and I have been in this wonderful district for over 20 years. I am missing my wonder-
Givens.
ful high school students this year, but I am excited and enjoying working with our amazing students at Givens Elementary.”
Kirksey added during the transition he has not encountered any obstacles and has received a “very warm welcome” from the Givens community.
According to Parker, the hiring process for a new Givens Principal is set out to begin later this fall with the goal of having the position filled for the 2026-27 school year by the early months of 2026.
About the new hire, Parker said, “As with any new building administrator hire, we will engage staff, students and families in a series of meetings to identify the qualities and experiences most important in the next Givens principal. The input gathered will be used to create a principal profile, which will guide the job descrip-
tion and posting.”
While the district looks for a new hire, Kirksey will remain in the position for the full duration of the 2025-26 school year.
Parker said, “I want to emphasize how fortunate we are to have Mr. Kirksey serving as interim principal this year. His leadership, experience and deep care for students have provided stability and continuity for the Givens community. I am grateful for the warm partnership he has established with staff, students and families, which positions the school well as we prepare for the next chapter.”
“As a district, we remain committed to engaging the Givens community in this process and ensuring that the selection of the next principal reflects the voices and priorities of those we serve,” Parker added.
Interim Givens Elementary Principal Dwight Kirskey stands by Gray Wolves sign at
Photo provided by Dwight Kirksey
Chelsea Center coordinator receives award
Sam Enlund Sports/Social Media Editor
Kerry Arens was named as a recipient of the Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education: K–12 Award. She will receive the award at the 54th annual Society for Experiential Education Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
This year will be Arens’ sixth year at Webster Groves High School as the Coordinator of the Chelsea Center. She described finding her love of experiential learning through the Parkway and Kirkwood School Districts as an English teacher.
Arens said, “...I often found the learning students enjoyed and remembered most was experiential learning. Whether students wrote books for elementary students and then read them aloud to their book buddies or traveled with me to the opera or Shakespeare in the Park, their engagement grew, and our connection with each other strengthened because of those shared experiences. I was hooked.”
After finding out she would be receiving the award in August, Arens said, “This award is particularly meaningful to me since it comes from an organization that is a leader in scholarship and best practices in experiential education. It is recognition that even though we work in the K-12 arena, a different arena than the majority of SEE scholars, our work, the work of our students, our teachers, is of the highest quality.”
Arens also said she hopes that receiving this award will help her and the program build connections with global colleagues, as that would help the program learn and grow. She wants to build connections with colleagues in higher education and other K-12 institutions.
This is the first international award that Arens has received. As an English teacher, she was honored by a regional organization called the Greater St. Louis English Teachers Association.
About Arens, coworker Patrick Bommarito said, “Dr. Arens is at the center of everything we do in the Chelsea Center. She’s an exceptional teacher and creative systems-thinker who inspires both students and staff. She leads with a solutions-focused mindsets sparking new opportunities for growth in individual students and for the district as a whole. The Chelsea Center is a fast-paced, dynamic hub of experiential learning, and there’s no one better to lead it than Dr. Arens.”
Now working through the Chelsea Center, Arens has multiple different aspects to her job.
The Webster-Kirkwood Times said, “Under Arens’ leadership, the Chelsea Detrick Center for Experiential Learning has become a hub for connecting students with internships, service learning, community partnerships and real-world problem-solving projects in the school district.”
Arens also develops community partnerships, manages different scholarships through the Chelsea Center, such as the Chelsea Detrick Memorial Scholarship and the Gap Year Scholarship, and she helps parents and other community members understand the value of experiential learning.
Chelsea Center coordinator Dr. Kerry Arens received the Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education: K-12 award for outstanding teaching.
Photo provided by Kerry Arens
District starts Frick Center
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
“I went through a year where students…seemed to believe that school was preparing them for something later in life, instead of realizing that the something is right now. They can be changemakers now,” English teacher Gwyndolyn Savens said.
Savens and social studies teacher Alison Bryar teach the newly-created Frick Center for Civic Engagement.
The Frick Center is comprised of three parts: civic engagement, civic experience and AP Seminar/Research. Students can choose to take the civic engagement and civic experience piece, AP Seminar and Research, or all three (also called the Frick Forum).
The class was proposed by WGHS alumni Bob and Barbara Frick, who have given to the district before.
The Fricks were “looking to give back to schools,” Bryar said. “They saw a need, just based on their experiences [and] observations of the news and current events, that we need to provide more of an emphasis…on teaching civil discourse and valuing free speech.”
The Fricks gave a grant to Washington University, which was administered to Webster.
“[WashU] acts as the in-between between the grant recipients and the Fricks,” Bryar said.
The Fricks reached out to the district, asking them to create a proposal on how they would use the grant.
Former superintendent John Simpson and former principal Matt Irvin worked with assistant superintendent for learning, Jason Adams, to come up with an idea.
Irvin went to social studies teacher and department chair Betty Roberts, who referred them to Bryar.
Bryar said the planning was a two-year process from conception to this school year. The development of the Frick Center even spanned to the social studies department chair of Kirkwood High School, Lucas Ravenscraft.
“[There were] a lot of cooks in the kitchen,” Bryar said, “so we got a lot of different perspectives and different thoughts and ideas.”
Savens said once she began to hear about the Frick, she started “campaigning behind the scenes.”
“[Teaching in the Frick] is totally my jam,” Savens said. “I am so excited about this.”
The goal is for the Frick to eventually be co-taught by Bryar and Savens, who would both teach each part of the Forum.
AP Seminar would then be a prerequisite for AP Research. Students who complete all classes can receive the AP Capstone.
“The goal is that everyone participates fully in everything,” Savens said.
For now, Savens teaches the AP Seminar class, while Bryar teaches the civic part.
The first semester in the Frick will be mostly field trips and guest speakers.
“In the spring, there will be internships; doing a deeper dive into choice and civic engagement,” Savens said.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Savens said. “Important--but also fun.”
Seniors Lucinda Thorn, Kiran Bergfeld and Juliette Mueller look at an infographic on a site visit at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Photo provided by Alison Bryar
Graphic provided by Alison Bryar
Center for Civic Engagement
Bryar said so far this year, she is “really enjoying getting to be in [Savens’s] class…it’s not co-teaching yet, it’s not us working together in the same classroom at the same time yet…but getting to work closely with a member of a different department, that has been so fun.”
Savens said she has enjoyed the flexibility that has come with the curriculum.
Savens said at the beginning of the year, she asked students to tell her why they had taken the class.
“So many of them said critical thinking, so I started with that,” Savens said. “So I teach a lot of what good thinkers do, and I just name it…nothing’s groundbreaking, but once you name it, they’re like…‘Oh, that makes sense.’”
“I get to be flexible with whatever the kids are super interested in. More of them said critical thinking than anything, so I’m leading with that…I know where we’re gonna end up, because I know what the AP Test is, but it’s how we get there based on the things that they’re interested in,” Savens said.
As of the second week of school, students of the Frick, or the “Frick Fellows,” already had one guest speaker and had taken an off-site trip.
Trips the class will take this year include visiting Marquette Park and the Federal Reserve Bank. Guest speakers will include Christy Griffin, founder of the Ethics Project, and Brandon Burns, a major in the U.S. Army.
Bryar and Savens agreed the class is “not just for humanities people,” according to Savens.
Savens said that though Seminar is an English elective credit, and she is an English teacher, it could have been taught by any subject.
“The idea that you have to research and understand the perspectives and complexity of a problem is cross-curricular. It’s not intended to just be English and social studies,” Savens said.
Bryar said there are “seven branches (units) that start the year…we start with arts and inspiration, then we have economics and data.” They will then end the year with science and medicine.
“With each brand, we want the kids to be thinking about, ‘How do the people in this field make change?’ ‘How do they interact with civics and the government?’ and ‘What careers exist within this field?’” Bryar said.
According to Bryar, Webster is also working to make the Frick accessible to students outside of the district.
“The long-term goal is to have students from other districts purchase seats in the class. So if you’re a Kirkwood student and you want to be a part of this class, Kirkwood would pay for you to attend the class,” Bryar said.
The goal is for this to start next school year.
Overall, Bryar said the Fricks have been “very supportive, but also hands-off.” They had the initial idea of civic engagement, but have not been instructing Bryar
and Savens on what to teach.
They have been able to teach largely what interests the students, remaining flexible.
“Because that’s what civics is,” Savens said. “Community engagement, what interests you [and] your passions.”
Students listen to a speaker during a site visit to a waste water treatment plant on Monday, Sept. 15.
Photo provided by Alison Bryar
Students at the Frick Center for Civic Engagement listen to a talk at Marquette Park on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Photo provided by Alison Bryar
Band students perform at Mizzou football game
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
Mizzou Band Day is when all of the high schools in Missouri are invited to perform with Marching Mizzou at a Tigers football game.
This year, the day took place on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 12 p.m. in Memorial Stadium on University of Missouri Columbia’s campus.
Associate band director and Fine Arts Department chair Jill Young said via email that she came across the opportunity through an advertisement on Marching Mizzou’s website and allowed students to sign up to attend at the beginning of the year.
The WGHS band department originally had 30 students registered to attend however Mizzou changed its game time from 3 p.m. up to 12 p.m. meaning Webster’s students had to leave WGHS at 5:30 am “to get down to Columbia in time to rehearse with the other schools and Marching Mizzou,” Young said.
After the change in time, a few students dropped out so only 19 attended.
About the opportunity, Young said, “I am happy that students got to see what performing with a large university band is like. I also think it is good for them to hear the higher level of musicianship and performance from the college musicians.”
Band students perform before the football game against Parkway South on Friday, Sept. 12. Webster won with a final score of 51-13.
Photo by Lucy Fish
Soccer team faces tough schedule
Isaac Choi Junior Sports Editor
Varsity soccer team began its season on Aug. 29, with a home game against Fort Zumwalt South. The team currently has a 1-6 record.
The first game resulted in a 2-1 loss.
Coach Jeff Facchin said, ” We needed to do a better job finishing the game out, but the score shows we failed to do that.”
Senior Goalie Marucs Terri said, “As a team we need to improve on not allowing physical teams to take away from how we want to play.”
Facchin said, “A loss always shows some glaring weakness in the team.”
The team bounced back the next game with a 7-0 win over Bayless.
Even with the recent win the team looks to continue to move forward.
Facchin said with the upcoming games of Clayton, Rockwood Summit and SLU High,the schedule continues to get harder.
Both Velten and Facchin agreed the entire schedule is tough Terri said, “The results might not always go our way, but it’s a great way to prepare for the playoffs in November.”
As far as the team itself, Coach Facchin said that the team holds an advantage within its two senior goalies: Terri and Landon Doty.
Facchin said, “Their shotstopping abilities and their leadership give us an edge.”
Terri specifically has taken on that role as he said, “I feel I have to keep the ball out of the net at all costs and keep the team oragnized since as a goalie I can see everything going on within the game.”
Coach Velten, on the other hand, said their advantge lies withn their depth, as he said, “They truly embody the word ‘team,’ and I have confidence in all our players.”
School introduces changes to tardy policy
Jasper Winterton Feature/Video Editor
Changes to the tardy policy have been made for the 2025-26 school year.
According to the 2025-26 student handbook, after a student obtains five tardies for all classes combined within six weeks, the unit office will contact the student’s home and will assign school board approved consequences.
The handbook also states, “A student’s tardies are cumulative for each six-week progress report in terms of disciplinary con-
sequences of detention or In-School Intervention.”
According to the 2024-25 handbook, the tardy system was previously based on each class, also being cumulative for each six-week progress report. In previous years, after a student got their fourth tardy in a single class, they would receive a one-hour detention, with the punishments varying based on how many tardies they received.
Junior Augie Warneke slides for ball in a agaisnt Priory on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Selma Field. The game was cut short due to weather and will be completed at a later date.
Photo by Isaac Choi
Graphic from Canva
Track coach earns state award
Willow Barton Contributing Writer
Cross country, track and field Coach, and psychology teacher Jon Petter, who has worked for the district for 21 years was just awarded the title of Track and Field Coach of the Year through Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Petter’s passion for running is driven by the release it gives him from outside worries.
“It provides time for me to be me. It allows me to think uninterrupted,” Petter said.
Being able to disconnect from the outside world gives him a chance to energize himself and as Petter said “refill my cup.”
As a coach, Petter values authenticity, love, commitment, work ethic and trust.
Petter said, “ I want athletes who are going to do what they say, be honest with who they are and with others, and share their love of running and being good people with others.”
Junior Edward Norton described Petter as a coach who “really cares about his athletes and always brings out the best in them.”
Petter said with drive any goal can be achievable.
“If you show up every day with that and are prepared to work hard and learn about who you are and what you need, you will find success in whatever you do,” Petter said.
Senior Drew Upperman said Petter helps push his athletes past their limits in ways that will benefit their running.
“It’s hard in the moment, but it makes us better… he finds a way to subtly push you without pressure,” Upperman said.
With his coaching and the skills of his runners, Petter is confidently entering this year’s cross country season.
Petter said, “ We are primed for success moving forward.”
Petter said it is a priority to keep the team engaged inside and outside of sports.
“We are a team and running family first… team comes first. Always,” Petter said.
The team takes part in team bonding where athletes engage in team dinners, games, etc.
Upperman described the culture of the team as something that “Over the years has shown many improvements”.
Whenever the team hits a rough patch, Petter reminds his runners to remain resilient and determined: “I remind them to trust the process. Running, like a lot of things in life, is a journey. We are going to have successes and failures.”
Upperman said, “He’s very supportive. He’s had a lot of experience, so he knows how to help us with these low spots in running or life.”
Through his roles as a teacher and coach, Petter is given the opportunity to connect further with his runners.
Petter said, “I think being able to ‘see’ your coach in other spaces is huge and vice versa…great role models are not (and should not be) one dimensional.”
With Petter’s presence inside and outside of school, his athletes are able to come to him more easily.
Norton said, “I’m around him most of my day. He is someone I
can come to first.” Similarly, Upperman said, “He’s not just a coach at this point; he’s more of a mentor.”
Social studies teacher Jon Petter is named Missouri State High School Activities Association’s Track and Field Coach of the Year Friday, Sept. 15, at the school’s first assembly in Roberts Gym.
Photo by Derek Duncan
Orchestra teacher reflects on music career
Lucy Fish Contributing Writer
Orchestra teacher Andrew Pulliam has been at WGHS for 11 years. Before that, he was a band director and now helps direct band performances.
Pulliam said he was influenced to become a music teacher by his high school band teacher, because her class created a safe space for him and other students.
Pulliam’s favorite part of being an orchestra teacher is being able to watch the orchestra students take ownership of their performances, which adds to the experience for the audience and the students themselves.
9. Although he is the school’s
has been a band director before. “I have been teaching orchestra for 11 years, prior to teaching orchestra I taught band,” Pulliam said.
Pulliam said his favorite concert he has ever conducted was the 2023 MMEA (Missouri Music Education Association) performance.
“The music and performance was great. It was very challenging music that the students pulled together to create some wonderful moments,” Pulliam said.
Pulliam enjoys conducting every piece
of music and can’t exactly pinpoint a favorite. He likes that each score offers its own emotion and offers great expression and musical moments.
Sophomore Charlotte Hoff is an orchestra student, and a part of the Chamber Choir. She enjoys being part of both communities; however, orchestra requires more at home practices than choir does.
Choir teacher Jaylen Davis has worked
alongside the orchestra before. He recalls enjoying performing with the orchestra and band at the 100 Years of Music gala, and how the orchestra had a wonderful performance.
Davis said the song the orchestra performed at the gala was selected for AllState MMEA, and that he and Andrew Pulliam are planning a future performance with the orchestra in the spring.
Garden Cafe closes end of September
William McEneny Contributing Writer
Webster Groves Garden Café will close at the end of September 2025. The café has been a staple in Webster for more than 40 years.
The Webster Garden Café is located on East Lockwood Avenue, and live music is played every Thursday through Sunday night, starting at 6 to 9 p.m.
One of the performers who has been playing at Webster Garden Café for over a year, Bud Rager, said, “It’s a shame, they really had a good thing going there.”
Rager is part of the cover band The
Valley Ramblers, which plays at local establishments all over the St. Louis area, one of which is The Webster Garden Café. Jason Wade, another member of the Valley Ramblers said, “It was a true local gem. You don’t often see a place where they can offer a safe space for people to explore their talent and practice their art.”
The Valley Ramblers have played multiple times at the Webster Garden Café. They recently finished their last gig of the month there, which ran from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 12, and are sad that they will no longer return to the establishment they once came to frequently.
The Webster Garden Café has drawn people from all around the St. Louis area for 40 years, including a newer customer, Ann Rapko, a South County resident. Traveling over 20 minutes to arrive, she said, “I love that this offers a true listening room experience for indie artists.”
The Webster Garden Café has always been known for its classic café style, Judy Dalton, Webster Groves community member, said. Dalton has been living in the Webster community for over 30 years. Dalton said, “Even though I have never gone into the café, I have always found it quite charming on the outside.”
Orchestra’s Andrew Pulliam co-conducts the band at the Varsity football game on Friday, Aug.
orchestra director, he has worked alongside the band and
