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.
The Echo is a member of SSP, Quill and Scroll, MJEA, JEA, MIPA, NSPA and CSPA.
theecho
Webster remembers former principal
Editorial: National guard should not enforce domestic laws
Webster offers new service learning course
The Echo, staff members look back at 110-year history
Senior runner breaks Cross Country record
Junior lands role in ‘Soul on Fire’
Webster prepares for Friendship Dance
NHS holds annual blood drive
Drama department casts roles for ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Word search
Webster remembers former principal
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
“He was great at really caring for his students and looking for the best in everyone he worked with,” math teacher and assistant baseball and softball coach Jacob Clark said about his father, Jon Clark.
Former head principal of Webster Groves High School Jon Clark, born March 10, 1966 (age 59), passed away on Saturday, Oct. 11, from brain cancer.
Jon served at WGHS as the assistant principal from 1996 to 2003 and the head principal from 2003 to 2018.
Mickey Erb, who was Jon’s assistant in his role as head principal, said, “Dr. Clark was such a rare human being. He was the most selfless, generous, and genuine person I’ve ever known. He always made you feel like you were the most important person in the room, and he had always shown so much gratitude--for his career, for his students and staff, and for his family.”
Similarly, Jacob said, “I feel like he was great at being able to connect to people. I believe he was a great educator that looked for the best in every student he worked with.”
Erb said, “Dr. Clark was such a revered member of the WGHS community. He was involved with the community and was always visible at events to support our students.”
According to the WGSD Foundation, Jon’s efforts while in the districted launched innovative programs like Future Leaders, the Statesmen Center/alternative school, Makerspace, and the Chelsea Detrick Experiential Learning Center— making WGHS one of the highest ranked high schools in the state.
During his time in the district, WGHS also achieved record-high AP, SAT and ACT scores.
In 2005, Jon was recognized as “Principal of the Year” by the St. Louis Association of Secondary Schools for his dedication to students, leadership, and commitment to their academic and personal success.
Madeline Craig, who was a WGHS senior when Jon was assistant principal, said, “ Dr. Clark was a calm, consistent leader. As a student, he made me feel seen. I always felt like he knew everything that was going on with me, from my basketball games to club events. I think his ability to just consistently notice us as students is something that still stands out to me.”
Craig added Jon was a friend of her dad and Jon “had been there for my dad through a lot over the years. Through that, he has continued to support me in personal ways as well. When I got honored for something in the classroom as a teacher at Kirkwood, he came with my family to surprise me there. He truly
cared for those he led.“
During his retirement, Jon also received the Webster Groves “Heart of Gold” award, demonstrating his dedication and service to the community.
Erb, Craig and Jacob all noted that they hope to embody the qualities Jon had through his leadership and impact on the students, staff and community around them.
Erb added, “Although Dr. Clark was very serious about his vision for WGHS, he was also quite funny. Every year during parent-teacher conferences, we used different color balloons to show each department’s location. I would walk through the halls with a colorful bouquet of 50+ balloons. Without fail, he called me ‘Mary Poppins,’ and he always chuckled to himself when saying it.”
According to Jacob, Jon also loved spending time with his family, going to the lake, doing yard work and golfing.
Jacob said, “He’s the reason I became a teacher. Growing up, I watched him make such a strong impact on his students, and I saw firsthand how rewarding that could be.”
“He showed me how important it is to truly care for my students and to always believe in and support the kids I teach. I’ve loved being back at Webster and getting the chance to work with all the amazing students we have at WGHS,” Jacob added.
A Jon Clark Memorial Fund has been created for the renovation of the library as a part of the vision Jon had for WGHS which was to create a “warm, welcoming common area in the Library for students to collaborate, study, and explore their passions,” Erb said.
Former principal Jon Clark introduces the commencement speaker for the graduating Class of 2018.
Photo by Cole Schnell
National Guard should not enforce domestic laws
“(Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe) has authorized the Missouri National Guard (MONG) to assist with administrative, clerical and logistical duties at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facilities within the State of Missouri,” the governor’s official website states.
The National Guard should be called in to handle genuine emergencies, not to please the Trump administration or assist in mass deportations, which seems to be the case in this situation. With the support ICE will get from the state, there is a chance of an increase in people being wrongfully detained and mistreated.
Kehoe announced the authorization on Sept. 30, and said, “The Missouri National Guard is uniquely equipped to provide this essential administrative support, and we are confident their contributions will be invaluable to immigration enforcement efforts. Missouri is proud to join in the Trump administration’s efforts to keep our state and nation secure.”
According to the Missouri Governor’s official website, 15 Missouri National Guard troops will assist ICE in tasks such as data entry, case management and logistical support. This follows a recent pattern of National Guard deployments headed by the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump and his administration have deployed the National Guard to allegedly assist in crime control in cities including Los Angeles, CA, Washington D.C., Memphis, TN, Chica-
go, IL, and Portland, OR. The deployments were blocked in Chicago, though the administration is appealing the ruling. Trump has also suggested deploying the National Guard to St. Louis, claiming that it needs to be “saved.”
Kehoe’s involvement of troops has been criticised and condemned by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of Missouri.
According to an ACLU press release, Luz María Henríquez, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri, said the authorization threatens Missouri people and businesses and ignores the needs of the St. Louis community that is still working on repairs and clean ups after the tornado that took place on May 16.
A NPR article states, “Some advocacy groups say Gov. Mike Kehoe’s activation of the state’s National Guard funnels more resources to immigration enforcement and frees up agents to conduct that enforcement more aggressively.”
An increase in immigration enforcement and raids may also lead to an increase in wrongful detentions.
According to ProPublica, at least 170 instances have occurred nationwide of citizens being held against their will by ICE agents since President Trump was elected for his second term.
An article by ProPublica states, “Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents. They’ve had their necks kneeled on. They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear. At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.”
The state government should focus on helping its residents, not using its resources and state funding to harm the people in the community through mass deportations.
Webster offers new Service Learning course
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
“The key thing is who are the partnerships and how do you connect with organizations for the opportunity,” experiential learning teacher and community connector Patrick Bommarito said about the new Chelsea Center course.
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the Chelsea Center has introduced a new course titled “Service Learning,” which is an opportunity for students to participate in guided community service through weekly field trips around St. Louis.
Bommarito said, “I essentially work with the students to form partnerships with community organizations in St. Louis and look at the needs of the community. Then we go to a site, visit an organization, meet with their staff, learn about their mission, talk about ways that they rely on volunteers to fit into their goals, and then see what the organization does and then go help them do it.”
For the first six weeks this year, the students participating in the new service learning class partnered with the World Bird Sanctuary, where they learned about the organization’s mission, rehabilitation hospital and received tours. Then students were able to conduct work around removing invasive species like honeysuckle that damage nearby plants with nutrition.
In addition to this, the class has also worked directly with kids at the Webster Groves Child Care Center.
Bommarito said, “I want students to learn about the needs
of the community and also the other side of it, which is learning about their own interests and what they like and dislike, because it’s an opportunity for them to see if they are interested in doing this work in the future in some way.”
“Maybe we’re working with kids, and some students who had never done that before have really come to like that,” Bommarito added.
On Thursday, Oct. 22, the class participated in a river clean-up with River City Outdoors, and they went on a float on the Missouri River.
Bommarito also looking to partner with Great Rivers Greenway, which is an organization that plans, builds and maintains networks of greenways, parks and trails.
In addition to this, the class hopes to partner with LifeWise, whose mission is “to help families and individuals achieve economic well-being by providing high-impact, relationship-based programming and by addressing systemic barriers to their success,” according to its website.
Bommarito said, “I would recommend it because it’s for one nontraditional, you get out of the building and learn and understand the about needs of the community. You get the opportunity to learn about organizations and your own skills and interests, and how you might use that in the future, no matter what career you choose. There are a lot of skills you can develop through this course.“
Junior Finn Jager spends time with the children at WG Childcare Center.
Photo provided by Patrick Bommarito
Juniors Macey Clark, Peter Richardson and Finn Jager participate in a World Bird Sanctuary cleanup of a bird rehab space.
Photo provided by Patrick Bommarito
The Echo, staff members look
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
The first issue of the Echo was published in December 1915, making the Echo almost 110 years old.
According to a Webster newspaper from 1916, in its first years, the Echo was an afterschool program, as the school board was “not in a position to add journalism to the studies at the high school.” Each print issue costs five cents.
The News-Times wrote in December 1915 that “The [class of 1918] of the Webster High School have entered journalism. They will publish a monthly publication called the High School Echo.”
The paper went on to express its hopes that these students will be more prepared to enroll at “the state university at Columbia,” and that “all businessmen” should advertise with the Echo.
The Echo’s first editor-in-chief was George Massengale (who would be a sprinter in the 1920 Olympics), a member of the class of 1918.
The Echo was quickly part of the local community, with ads placed in Webster newspapers about bake sales and plays to help with funding.
By the 1920s, an annual tradition had been created to honor senior girls as “Echo Queen.”
As described in one article from the News-Times from 1940, “Eighteen girls are selected by the senior class to serve as maids, and from these 18 girls six are selected as special maids. After these first two eliminations the entire student body of the upper school selects the queen.” The ceremo-
ny would take place in the auditorium during the spring semester.
The article described the coronation of the Echo Queen as “the most ceremonious social event of the year” and lists each “special maid” and her extracurriculars. Each of the six “special maids” was notified of their acceptance via telegram, the 1940 one of which read, “The seniors of June, 1940, have elected you a special maid in the Echo Coronation. Congratulations and best wishes. The Echo.” The tradition continued at least into the 1960s.
Echo-sponsored activities also included members of the community. In 1939, The News-Times reported that “Margery Kennedy, an eighth grade pupil, was announced this week as the winner of a Christmas poem contest sponsored by the The Echo, Webster Groves High School paper.”
However, the influence of the Echo and its staff continued outside of Webster Groves, and breached world events: in 1945, the News-Times reported they had received a letter from Webster men that they have been stationed in Belgium.
The cover from September 2021 shows students wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo by Jackson Park
The Webster News-Times advertises a bake sale to benefit the Echo. Graphic from the Webster News-Times
look back at 110-year history
The end of the newspaper reporting adds that the writer of the letter, a Webster alumnus, “tells his story with the brevity and thoroughness of a newspaper reporter--a tribute to his experience as a member of the Webster High School Echo, while a student there,” as well as other aspects of his journalistic background.
Several members of the current teaching staff were part of the Echo as students.
Assistant principal Madeline Craig was the assistant editor, then head editor, of the Echo during her time on staff between 2002 and 2004.
“My mom still has every issue of the Echo I’ve been a part of,” Craig said. “I was really interested in the topics versus me doing the writing of them.”
Craig remembers specifically a story about the VIC program, and about the formation of GSA, as well as some articles about race relations.
“I think I helped on some of those stories, couldn’t tell you which I wrote and which others wrote,” Craig said. Her goal overall was “trying to do articles that were relevant, trying to push outside of that Webster bubble of understanding” and trying to cover issues that were “relevant” and “felt important.”
Craig said she believes the Echo has lasted 110 years because of the importance of journalism.
“I think journalism is so important. It is really the way we know about anything happening in our world, and I think historically that has definitely been the case. I think today it’s even more important to have good journalists because we live in a world of just constant information. Some of it’s true; some of it’s not,” Craig said. “Good journalists really do the
Students on the cover from December 2014 protest in the courtyard.
Photo by Ariel Johnson
hard work of investigating and trying to uncover the truth, trying to help people understand the truth.”
The Webster News-Times announces the beginning of the Echo in December 1915.
Graphic from the Webster News-Times
“At Webster, our goal is to help prepare students for the real world. Having a journalism program is really important for that,” Craig said. “I’m glad Webster has had a program for 110 years, and I hope we have it for another 110 years because I think it’s a really important part of democracy.”
“Of all the things we have in high schools, it’s near the top of the list of things that help prepare students for the real world, whether they’re reading the newspaper; just the ability to have that communication. High school journalists are important in knowing what’s going on in the high school and how the real world outside of the high school impacts students,” Craig said.
Echo has been partially online since 1997.
In an interview with the Echo from 2012, former principal Pat Voss said, “[The] Echo has a willingness to tackle larger school issues, even if it makes the school administration nervous.”
“In my 44 years, I firmly believe I get more accurate information and quotes in the Echo than the ‘Post-Dispatch,’” Voss said.
Senior runner breaks cross country record
Sam Enlund Social Media/Graphics Editor
Senior cross country runner Drew Upperman broke the overall school record in the 5K during the Southern Stampede on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The original record was set by graduate Dominic Buckman at the same meet with his time of 15:34. Upperman finished the race placing fourth overall with a time of 15:21, beating the original record by 13 seconds.
About his race, Coach Jon Petter said via email, “Missouri Southern (in Joplin) is a super competitive meet and we know the course usually runs really fast, so we prepared with a strong mindset for Drew to go out within touch of the lead pack and move up. He surprised us all when he executed the plan perfectly, but ended up not only getting to the lead pack, but breaking it up and putting himself fourth in the race overall!”
Upperman said, “As soon as the race finished I looked down at my watch, and I saw 15:21, and I was elated. I was so happy.”
Alongside his own excitement, Upperman’s teammates supported him and rooted for him, even from the bus on their way home.
Petter said via email, “The team was ecstatic - everyone at the meet was going crazy -- and the JV guys were on a bus home from their meet back in St. Louis area, and I was told by one
Senior Drew Upperman runs during the Southern Stampede race on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Joplin, MO. Upperman finished the race in fourth place overall.
Photo by Jon Petter
of our assistant coaches that the bus erupted in cheers and applause when they saw it on the live results webcast! (which is why I love this team so much that they were watching from afar even though they had their own stuff to handle!)”
The support for Upperman did not stop with his teammates on the bus home.
Upperman described the reactions at the meet and said, “My first teammate ran up to me, Atticus (Lack, sophomore). He sprinted up and jumped on me. Then I started looking for Petter and I finally found him after the race, and I ran over to him and hugged him. Then my family showed up, and they were all really happy.”
This particular record was previously held by Upperman’s former teammate.
Upperman describes what breaking the record means to him and said, “My teammate before me that had it, Dominic. I respect him a lot. He was pretty much my mentor all last year, so to kind of, not take it from him but take it over. It’s really nice to get it.”
Junior lands role in ‘Soul on Fire’
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
“Soul on Fire” is a new film that tells the life story of John O’Leary, a motivational speaker from Webster Groves.
An accident left O’Leary with burns all over his body when he was just nine years old. The film recounts his struggle in the aftermath of the accident to his rise as a motivational speaker.
The movie was filmed in different areas around St. Louis, including Webster Groves. Certain scenes were filmed at O’Leary’s original house in Town and Country.
According to junior Elsie Metzger, “The movie switches between present day and the past.”
Metzger plays O’Leary’s older sister, Katie O’Leary, in the scenes that are set in the 1980s.
Metzger’s agent notified her about the movie, and because of the local filming locations, she didn’t have to travel far to shoot.
“They told me what days I filmed, and I missed school [on those days],” Metzger said.
“Soul on Fire” was Metzger’s first film role. “I had no acting experience going into it, so it was a pretty big deal for me,” she said via email. “I got to work with some pretty famous actors like William H. Macy (‘Shameless’) and John Corbett (‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’).”
Metzger said it was originally filmed two years ago, during the first semester of her freshman year, “so there was a long time to wait for it to come out.”
“My first time seeing myself on screen was the one second I appear in the trailer, but the first time I saw it in the theater and saw myself on a theater screen was at an early screening this summer,” Metzger said via email. “I could not stop smiling seeing myself and all the people I met onscreen.”
When the film was finally released, Metzger went to the red carpet showing at Powell Symphony Hall.
“It was super good to see everyone again, and I actually got to be in the cast photo on the red carpet,” Metzger said via email
Metzger said people should see “Soul on Fire” because it’s an “inspirational, feel-good” story “about how people can come together.”
“Everyone I’ve talked to has said they loved it and that it’s such a good story. A girl from one of my classes introduced me to her mom, and her mom recognized me from the movie, and then she couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved it,” Metzger said.
“Soul on Fire” was released to theaters on Oct. 10, and earned over $2 million at the box office in the first weekend.
Sean McNamara, John O’Leary, William H. Macy, Maisy McLain, James McCracken, Stella Bratcher, Lucy Panozzo, Elsie Metzger and Stephanie Szostak pose on the red carpet.
Photo provided by Elsie Metzger
Webster prepares for Friendship Dance
Sam Enlund Sports Editor/Social Media Manager
Friendship Dance will be on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Robert’s Gym from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The dance is a tradition that started in 1939 between Webster Groves and Kirkwood High Schools.
The Friendship dance serves as an event to unite the two rival schools before the Turkey Day game held on Thanksgiving. However, at Webster, there are a number of differing opinions about the dance and the plans that people have for it.
Freshman Carys Blew plans to get ready with friends, take pictures, go to the dance, then attend a party after.
About the dance Blew said, “I think it’s smart since it’s a day with Kirkwood since we are rivals with everything else like sports.
Sophomore Noelle De Foy said, “I’m not excited for the dance that much, I’m mostly looking forward to the before and after and seeing some of my Kirkwood friends at the dance.”
De Foy is most excited about hanging out with friends and will before and after the dance.
About the concept of the dance, De Foy said, “I like it, but I don’t really care about the dance itself.”
Junior Jack Silverman said he will go to take pictures and eat with friends before the dance and will go somewhere after with them as well.
He also said “[He’s] not excited about the actual dance.”
Senior Kara Lodes said, “I like that it’s joined with Kirkwood because it’s a bigger crowd and feels like a bigger event. I think they should keep it this way because I know some people have friends from Kirkwood they are excited to see at the dance.”
Seniors Carl Whitehead, Jr., and Raegan McCoy pose for pictures after being named Friendship Royalty at the Friendship dance hosted by Kirkwood High School on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
Photo by Micah McCoy
Drama department casts roles for ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Rin Blank Contributing Editor
Theater teacher Todd Schaefer has released the cast for the upcoming show of “Romeo and Juliet” which is being shown Nov. 13-15, 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
Martha Poppen, junior, is playing the lead role of Juliet.
“I’ve always been cast in supporting roles,” Poppen said, “but this time I got cast as lead, and I’m so excited for this production, and I get to work with my bestie Ebba (Grimm, sophomore).”
Schaefer said, “I actually feel really good. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has been on the roster since we performed ‘Hamlet.’”
Schaefer said, “Forty people came to audition, and all who auditioned got in the play. This is the first time since COVID we were able to do an audition and not cut, and cast everyone. We are extremely excited, we started rehearsals this week.”
Grimm plays the lead role of Romeo. “Martha is awesome,” he said. “She’s so talented. I’m literally her number one fan. I’m so excited that I get a chance to work with her as both lead roles.”
“We feel so grateful that we are able to tell such an important story about love and hate, and we get to do it together,” Poppen said.
NHS holds annual blood drive
Jasper Winterton Feature/Video Editor
“Since the pandemic, there has been a drop in blood donations nationwide, so there is a great need for donors,” Amy Rowland, Spanish teacher and National Honor Society sponsor, said via email.
National Honor Society will host its annual blood drive on Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. in the secondary gym.
The blood drive is organized to collect blood for the Mercy Hospital system, and National Honor Society volunteers will help Mercy Hospital staff by handling the snack table, getting donors checked in and talking to them while they donate.
National Honor Society has a goal of getting 75 donors to sign up. Donors must be at least 16 years old, and anyone under the age of 17 will need to fill out a parental consent form, which can be received from Rowland in room 360.
Donors will receive a free T-shirt and snacks.
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Ebba Grimm, sophomore, awaits his lines as Romeo. “Romeo and Juliet” will be shown Nov. 13-15, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
