issue 5, volume 87

clayton high school, clayton, mo. february 2016

GLOBE

SINGLEA LOOK INTO THE LIVES

OF FAMILIES WITH ONE PARENT

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20Single Parents

february 2016

The Globe explores different kinds of Clayton families.

SportsNews and Notes8Catch up on what you may have missed this winter.

Paris Attacks10The Globe explores the repurcus-sions of the Paris terror attacks Lydia Welty28

An exciting new addition to the CHS girls swim team.

News Opinion

Review

GLOBE

CONTENTS 3

Physics Grant12CHS science department is awarded a grant.

FeatureRacial Dot Map14The racial demongraphics of the Greater St. Louis Area in color.

WashU Debate16Prominent local university to host presidential debate.

Annelise Laakko18CHS sophomore and star of the Clayton stage.

Nick Foles 30Get to know the Rams quarterback.

Guss Fried Chicken 34The Hateful Eight35Spotlight36Star Wars37Adeles Album38

Gun Control40Hilary Clinton41Dear Dog Lovers 44Spirit of the Holidays45Things Sophie Hates46

editor - in - chief alex bernard

senior managing editors grace harrison kevin rosenthal

ellie tomasson

section editors sophie allen

noah brown

brian gatter

nicholas lee

camille respess

max steinbaum

elise yang

phoebe yao

copy editors charlie brennan harry rubin

webmaster lemuel lan

business manager lucy cohen

photo editors bebe engel katherine sleckman

distribution editor robert hollocher

editors dimitri baldauf daniel cho

nisha klein

olivia reuter

mitali sharma

zachary sorenson

Professional Affiliations: Sponsors of School Publications . Missouri Interscholastic Press Association . Missouri Journalism Education Association . National Scholastic Press Association . Columbia Scholastic Press Association

albert wang

ashleigh williams

tara williamsreporters madeleine ackerburg

madeline bale

sophia barnes

barrett bentzinger

michael bernard

sophie bernstein

jacob blair

gabrielle boeger

eunice chung

william clay

nicholas dagrosa

alexandria darmody

lise derksen

emma ebeling

theodore fehr

sarah franzel

devin froehlich

mariclare gatter

anne goode

hugo hoffman

lucas hoffman

robert hogan

peter indivino

olivia joseph

sehoon kim

cody krutzsch

san kwon

sol kwon

jacob lagesse

elise levy

benjamin litteken

madison lockett

bea mcguire

grace morris

lauren praiss

andreas petermann

mia redington

nikki seraji

marty sharpe

eunice shin

petra sikic

katie spear

amy tishler

karena tse

neel vallurupalli

angelo vidal

catherine walsh

samuel youkilis

samantha zeid

photographers sophie argyres emma barnes

jennifer braverman

ella engel

felix evans

alexandra gerchen

akansha goel

ava hoffman

ricky kuehn

carolyn niswonger

claire schwarz

graphics editor victoria yi

graphic artist cherry tomatsu

design editor lawrence hu

adviser erin castellano

GLOBE staff

My parents and I immigrated to the United States back in 2004. Regularly home alone, 6-year-old me turned into a wild child on the streets.

By the miracle of freedom, curiousity and a Glenridge Buzz book, my block was daily home to the screams and shouts of kids called outside. Passionate games of tag and hide-n-seek turned the suburbs inside out while half-completed forts and other sketchy constructions littered the streets with twisted branches, broken rocks and piles of dirt. From operating lem-onade stands to making a mudslide out of the neighbors park-ing lot, my imagination led me from adventure to adventure to finally, the present.

The unique circumstances surrounding my childhood have shaped who I am, how I live and what I love. While some could criticize my parents for their lack of supervision, I look back with gratitude, for their absence meant love. Working late hours to make it in the states, my parents taught me hard work, com-passion and determination, while the people in my community instilled in me a sense of adventure, a love of spontaneity and an independent spirit.

In this issue of the Globe, we explore how family and some-times the seemingly lack thereof have shaped the perspectives of CHS students. Whatever your background, understanding where you come from and, as a result, who you are is as impor-tant to growing up and moving on as any new years resolution.

Thus, as I reflect upon what I want out of 2016, my thoughts go back to a summer spent picking wild strawberries in my friends backyard, chalking up the streets to map secret hide-aways and climbing through the apartment jungle complex of Buckingham Drive to uncover the unlocked doors of For Sale opportunities.

The happy places of my youth are still with me, and though settings and people have changed, I will forever aim to make an adventure of the empty days before me.

Look back: do you see your resolution?

The Globe Newsmagazine exists to inform, entertain, persuade and represent the student voice at CHS. All content decisions are made by the student editorial staff and the Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. Not every story that our reporters write is published in the print newsmagazine. Visit www.chsglobe.com for additional stories and photos and for more information about the Globe itself. We reserve

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1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105(314) 854-6668

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Phoebe Yao, Opinion Editor

F R O MT H E

E D I T O R

EDITORS NOTE 5

20 review

Senior Abraham Park works on a project in art class.

PANORAMA 6

PHOTO BY COSIMA THOMAS

21commentary

NEWS AND notes

WHAT YOU MIGHTH A V E M I S S E D

Bowie DiesThe legendary chameleon musician David

Bowie died on Jan. 10, two days after his 69th birthday. The singer-songwriter was treated for cancer for the 18 months prior to his death. Bowie was known for his dramatic performanc-es, unique and ever changing style as well as his progressive song writing.

The Force is StrongStar Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

is breaking box office records, possibly due to a large army of loyal neckbearded fanboys buying six tickets a piece. After earning $90.2 million over New Years weekend, the film grossed a to-tal $742 million. This greatly anticipated revival of a classic trilogy is predicted to overtake Ava-tar for the title of highest grossing film of all time within the next few weeks.

The Great Deluge

After being a hot pick for one of the NFC wild card spots, the Rams had another disappointing season. Riding a three game winning streak and a 7-8 record going into the final game, fans were hopeful for the first non-losing season in a decade when a field goal was blocked in overtime against the 49ers. After showing flashes of brilliance over the season, highlighted by a win in Seattle, the Rams ended the season with what has become characteristic of the team of late: a 7-9 record. This was not the best end to the final season in St. Louis.

On Jan. 12, NFL owners voted 30-2 to relocate the Rams to Los Angeles in time for the upcoming season. Kroenke reasoned that a move to Los Angeles was war-ranted, trashing St. Louis with claims such as that any team that moves here will experience financial ruin. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also described the St. Louis stadium proposal as inadequate.

by CHARLIE BRENNAN and HARRY RUBIN

copy editors

A large crowd of hopeful Los Angeles Rams fans, including one holding a large sign with St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenkes image on it, watch the St. Louis Rams-Dallas Cow-boys NFL scrimmage during training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2015. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Lost and Gone

An exceptionally rainy week, the first of the year, led to major flooding and highway closures around the St. Louis area. Flooding of the Mera-mec River caused tremendous damage in Eureka and surrounding areas. Des Peres was also hit hard, with many homes flooded because of the engorged River Des Peres. Twenty-four deaths caused by flooding have been recorded in St. Louis and Illinois.

North Korea Has the BombOn Jan. 6, North Korea claimed to have deto-

nated its first hydrogen bomb. This claim is not yet verified, although it has been that North Ko-rea in fact does possess fewer than 10 nuclear weapons.

The Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. We receive no funding from the school district for printing. Each issue of the Globe costs approximately $2000 to print. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their support of our publication. They make our work possible. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please email us at globe@claytonschools.net.

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by SAMANTHA ZEIDreporter

P A R I S :U N D E R A T T A C K

[The French] were not [prepared] ... But they knew that something was going to happen, CHS sophomore Antoine Perin said on the recent outbreak in terrorism in France. Perin has spent the majority of his life living in France and, although in St. Louis at the time, was affected by the incidents that took place on Nov. 13.

This past November, Islamic terrorists stole any sense of safety and national security, as well as the lives of 130 innocent people, during seven attacks in Paris, France. The targets of the attack included a concert hall, a stadium, as well as restaurants and streets where people were brutally massacred and some held hostage.

The terrorist attacks have attracted attention around the world and have spread awareness on this global incendiary phenomenon that is un-likely to go away. In the aftermath, it has become evident that an anti-

The Globe looks at the Clayton perspective of the recent tragic events in France.

NEWS 10

western sentiment is spreading and growing faster than ever, spurring numerous acts of terrorism.

CHS graduate Faye Laufketter has spent the past year and a half in Paris after graduating in 2014. On the day of the attack, Laufketter was five buildings down from one of the seven attack sites.

The gunmen were on the loose ... I was inside the bar, thank God, Laufketter said.

Laufketter had friends that were locked out of the bar at the time and could not reach a secure place. While those she knew ended up okay, too many others suffered a different fate.

I was fortunate, but others it couldve been us, Laufketter said.With the gunmen still at large, many Parisians were left feeling unsafe. Taxis wouldnt let anyone in their cars, they closed all the metros and

subways, it was complete chaos that night, Laufketter said. The European nations were still on high alert throughout the next day.

The city was shaken and people felt unsure and insecure. The next day was very, very sketchy ... [the police] didnt catch every-

one that night. Nobody knew what the plan was. [The terrorists] specifi-cally said, This is the beginning, and thats what kinda scared everybody. Thats why everybody kinda stayed away Saturday, Laufketter said. The French [are] not gonna let the attacks stop them from living their life, but at the same time, I was nervous. My friends were at the soccer game that was almost attacked. I had no idea if they were safe or not.

The city was left in shock. However, this initial impact turned around very quickly into solidarity.

Everything was closed Saturday. [It] was a really sad, quiet day in Paris, but then Sunday everyone kinda came out and brought flowers to the sights, and everybody went to all the bars around Paris, and every-body kind of celebrated, came together and just kind of showed their love for one another, and it brought Paris, all the Parisians, close together, Laufketter said.

Laufketter noted how Parisians have united after the attacks.Everybody was inviting people into their homes who didnt really get

to their own place easily, Laufketter said. Paris as a whole came together really closely afterwards. Even the next day they created memorials at all the restaurants and everyone brought flowers.

Over two months after the initial attacks, fear still remains in Paris. The city grieves its losses, but also attempts to stand together.

All of Paris really took the weekend to really mourn the loss. With-in the next two weeks, everybody was back to their normal routines, Laufketter said. Everybody still thinks about it, everyone still brings it up all the time, in the most respectful way I think. People still visit the sites every single day.

Not only have the citizens been immensely changed, but so has the

#PRAYFORPARIS

NEWS 11

city itself. The feeling of Paris completely changed because it was a very free city

but the coming days after, it was not Paris. The vibe of Paris, the people were not themselves and everything Paris has a major scar now.

Even with her American status, Laufketter feels solidarity with the French.

France always has a place, a really large place, in my heart. But, yes, I mean everybody wanted me to leave ... as soon as the attacks ended, and it kind of made me want to stay ... After that, I considered Paris as my home. I couldnt even think about leaving, Laufketter said.

Senior Maddie OReilly-Brown has French-Canadian grandparents that were also in Paris at the time of the attacks.

The city was just very quiet, everything just became still whereas the city is usually bustling ... It was eerie and there was ... a sort of quiet panic ... Everything was shut down for days ... No one was on the street, no one did anything, they were just all hidden inside, OReilly-Brown said in regard to her grandparents experience.

[My grandparents] absolutely refused to leave after the attacks hap-pened they are not going to sever their connections with France be-cause of this, because of their fear, OReilly-Brown said.

OReilly-Brown and her family value their connections to France. [We] just feel that fierce pride. Were gonna protect our French home-

land even though were not actually from France, she said. Junior Ernest Vanmosuinck moved to Clayton with his family from

Brussels, Belgium. According to The Guardian, as many as 350-550 fight-ers in Syria came from Belgium, the highest number per capita of all the European countries.

Vanmosuinck lived in Brussels his whole life and still has friends and family in Belgium. He plans to return after this year.

In Belgium, the reaction was to put the state in a state of emergency, and everybody was afraid. All the shops were closed and schools were closed, too. Its [like playing] into the game of the terrorism, Vanmosu-inck said. We have to fight the terrorism with our happiness.

However, Vanmosuinck still feels a sense of fear.[France] is near to Belgium, so we may be next, he said. Sophomore Quentin Shor Perrier was born in France and spent most

of his life there before moving to the United States but still has family and friends in Lyon, his hometown. Shor Perrier was also affected by the Paris terror attacks.

I mean, who knows how many more of these terrorists are out there,? You never know what could happen. There could be someone in Lyon right now, you know? Shor Perrier said. Im glad I live here, feeling safe and not having what is going on there happen to me, but at the same time I want to be close to my family there and be there for them.

Parisians show their support at memorials a few days after the attack (Faye Laufketter).

by MADDY BALEreporter

In the minds of the majority of high schoolers, the merry-go-round is a thing of the past - nothing but old childhood fun. Soon, however, every physics student will once again experience the thrill of that childhood fun. They will even be able to learn from it.

The physics teachers at CHS were recently awarded a grant of $4,000 from the Clayton Alumni Association and Education Foundation to make this unique educational experience possible. The merry-go-round is part of a projct designed to help Clayton physics students understand plan-etary motion.

CHS physics teacher Rex Rice said, [The Association] makes annual grants available for teachers applying with ideas for innovative projects.

Rice and the the other physics teachers applied for the grant because, although Clayton High Schools science program often exceeds the ex-pectations of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the program did not stack up against other schools when it came to Earth and space studies.

[We, the physics teachers,] did not want to completely change the [science] program because we felt like it was already exemplary, Rice said.

The team of physics teachers went to work, brainstorming ways to in-corporate the study of Earth and space without completely changing the

curriculum that was already working so well. The science department decided to integrate Earth and space science

standards within the existing physics, chemistry and biology classes that all CHS students already take, Rice said. As we looked at the standards, some [Earth and space studies] could be explicated as part of physics, while others made more sense in chemistry and biology classes.

The Clayton High School Science Department decided to address the NGSS in the context of each individual domain. Physics, chemistry and biology teachers would have to come up with ways to incorporate Earth and space studies into their curriculum.

The physics teachers decided to tackle their share of the task by apply-ing for the grant from the Clayton Education Foundation. They decided on two pieces of equipment that were essential to Freshman Physics students when it came to understanding planetary motion. In order for physics students to learn about planetary motion, they must first under-stand circular motion at a deeper level.

We were looking for equipment and experiences that would further that mission of understanding circular motion well enough so that [stu-dents] could then start to understand gravity and the way that gravity acts to cause things to move in circular motion, Rice said.

NEWS 12

The Clayton High School Physics Department was just endowed with a grant of $______ to improve their facilities.

PHYSICS GRANTThe Clayton High School Physics Department was just endowed with a grant of $4,000 to improve their facilities.

AP physics students in Gabe De la Pazs class (Akansha Goel)

NEWS 13

The two pieces of equipment that the physics department desires do not exist yet: a proposed merry-go-round as well as a robotic car. Because the devices that Rice and the other physics teachers are envisioning can-not simply be bought, they will have to build the apparatus themselves.

We are still in the acquisition of materials right now, Rice said. The idea was that the actual building of the equipment would be a joint venture between the physics teachers and the robotics club. Were defi-nitely going to need the expertise of Mr. Beauchamp, the engineering teacher. He knows how to use all the tools that we will need to fabricate our project.

Although the robotics team will have a vital role in the creation of the second device, Rice and physics teacher Gabriel De la Paz will be the main hands behind the creation of the physics departments new kines-thetic merry-go-round.

We want students to get a sense of what is involved in circular mo-tion by actually having them participate in that circular motion itself, Rice said. Students will [be able to] sit on each side of the merry-go-round and throw objects back and forth in order to get a feel for circular motion.

In addition to the merry-go-round, the grant awarded to the phys-ics teachers also gives them the resources that they will need to make a robotic car.

The car will have a remote control that manages its speed so that we can measure how the forces that must be applied to keep the car moving in a circular path varies with speed, Rice said. We have to be able to change and monitor the speed [of the car], which is not as simple as it might seem.

The robotics team will help Rice and the other physics teachers make

a speed sensor for the robotic car. The team will also assist with the creation of the remote system that will send signals to the car and col-lect data.

While the merry-go-round will enable students to learn through ex-perience, the robotic car will contribute to many quantitative experi-ments that teach students about how the force required to keep an ob-ject going in a circular path changes when the mass, speed and radius of the circle are manipulated.

Rice is not yet sure whether the two new pieces of equipment will be ready for this years students, he is trying to push the project forward as quickly as possible.

A project like this is big, and its something that the physics teach-ers are adding on top of all the other things that they already do, Rice said.

Another concern that must be addressed before the new tools are implemented into the freshman physics curriculum is the concept of time. The current physics curriculum already takes up the entire year. Adding in earth and space curriculum standards will account for even more class time.

One proposal that is being considered is having eighth graders at Wydown Middle School learn the electricity unit that it typically cov-ered in the second semester of freshman physics. This will require major changes in the order that physics students are presented information, but will allow them time to learn about circular motion in depth.

Rice and the other physics teachers are, today, getting ready to build their devices. Soon, physics students will observe the circular motion of a brand new robotic car. Afterwards, they will return to where it all started - experiencing the whirl of the merry-go-round.

AP physics II student Jane Gillette works on a project with teacher Gabe De la Paz. (Abraham Park)

14 FEATUREImage Copyright, 2013, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Rector

and Visitors of the University of Virginia (Dustin A. Cable, creator)

Saint Louis by PHOEBE YAOsection editor

lue, green, red and yellow: these are the 308,745,538 colored dots youll find on the U.S. Racial Dot Map, created by Dustin Cable based on the data from the 2010 U.S. Census. This pat-terned snapshot of American demographics not only provides valuable insight into the racial di-versity and geographic segregation in Americas most populous cities, but acts as an indisputable visual of a controversial state of affairs.

Zooming in, perhaps in no other city is the line of segregation as clear cut as in Saint Louis. With current issues fueling an underlying atmo-sphere of fear and discontent, here, black meets white as green meets blue and, with the map, there is little area for subjectivity to cloud the facts. Lets take a step back now and look around. Mysteries may be revealed with a change in per-spective.

B

Dot Vision

White Black Asian Hispanic Other

Delmar Loop

Ferguson

Central West End

Dot VisionDelmar Loop

ClaytonFerguson

Central West End East Saint Louis

City Comparison

New York

Washington

Philadelphia

DetroitChicago

Boston

St. Louis

Indianapolis

FEATURE 15

by NICHOLAS LEEFeature Section Editor

On Saturday Oct. 3, 1992, Bob Virgil, Professor of Accounting at Washington University, answered a call from Chancellor William Dan-forth. Danforth was calling to ask Virgil to lead the planning in the next presidential debate between Bill Clinton, George Bush and Ross Perot, which Washington University had been asked to host. The catch? The debate was scheduled for Oct. 11, only eight days later.

When Washington University had originally reached out to the Com-mission on Presidential Debates - the independent, nonprofit and non-sectarian organization in charge of planning such debates - they were told they would be a backup and would only be needed if another site backed out. Just eight days before the first scheduled debate, another school did just that, leaving Virgil and his team barely over a week to prepare to host a presidential debate.

However, Virgil had little hesitation in accepting that responsibility. My immediate reaction was, This is terrific for Washington Univer-

sity and for St. Louis, Virgil said. I thought people would get on board and rise to the occasion, and they did.

Virgil worked frantically to form a committee with representatives from each department of the university. Despite the time constraints, Virgil had little difficulty in convincing his colleagues of the value of

hosting a debate. Everyone got on board and committed and was enthusiastic, and we

made it happen, he said. There wasnt enough time to consider pros or cons or argue about this or that, we just had to do it.

Virgil and his team were incredibly successful. Steve Givens is cur-rent Chair of the Washington University Presidential Debate Steering Committee.

We did a really great job of it evidently, and that helped solidify our relationship [with the commission] and our reputation for a place that could do a really good job, Givens said.

Since 1992, due in large part to their strong relationship with the Commission on Presidential Debates, Washington University has been selected to host two additional presidential debates, as well as one vice presidential debate, and was recently chosen to host the second presi-dential debate of the 2016 election.

Givens attributed the number of debates awarded to Washington University with their reputation and past successes.

You have to have the kind of facility that lends itself to this, Givens said. And then I think you have to have the right kind of people who are willing to do lots of work to make this successful, and I think weve really

Tyler Gillam in his backyard. (Photo by Carolyn Niswonger)

FEATURE 16

Sidewalk leading to Graham Memorial Chapel on the Washington University campus. (Sophie Argyres)

W A S H U S W A R S O F W O R D S

proven ourselves.Givens explained that the complexity of planning a presidential de-

bate begins with the room itself. Special flooring and drapery has to be installed, as well as extra air conditioning and redundant electrical power.

They literally build a television studio in the middle of the athletic complex, he said.

Despite the enormity of such a task, Givens described how there was no room for error.

Its 90 minutes of live television, and so there cannot be any chance of power going out, Givens said.

Virgil remembers feeling a similar sense of pressure back in 1992.We knew there was a lot at stake, if the ball was dropped on this or

that, it would be a black eye and it would probably linger for a while, Virgil said. We wanted to avoid that, and I think thats what drove us, and frankly, I think we were successful - it went off without a hitch.

In addition to setting up the debate room, preparation for a presiden-tial debate includes accommodations for thousands of media members and student activities.

We also try to empower our students to plan their own events, whether thats their own debates or conversations they want to have with other guest speakers, Givens said. Sometimes faculty create spe-cial courses students can take about the American presidency or differ-ent aspects of political science.

For Givens, these student opportunities are some of the most valu-able aspects of hosting a presidential debate, as only a portion of stu-dents will actually be able to attend the debate itself.

Our job is really to be the host and have everything in place to make sure nothing can go wrong, Givens said. But at the same time, we want to create an environment around campus where our students and faculty can benefit from having an event like this.

Although some students might be frustrated that they are not able to attend the actual debate, Givens argued that most still have a positive experience.

Theres just a great deal of excitement on campus to know that youre sitting right in the middle of this, Givens said.

Only some students are able to attend the debate because the com-mission first gives tickets to the campaigns and the media, and the host school only gets the remaining tickets. At Washington University, the tickets are distributed to students via a lottery system, a tradition start-ed back in 1992 under Virgil.

The students were really excited about it, and I daresay they all wanted to attend. As best we could, we accommodated that, and used a lottery to make it as fair as possible, Virgil said.

However, the lottery was strictly for students, and no tickets were given to faculty or administrators.

Chancellor Danforth decided that none of the administration would go. All of the available seats would go to the students, Virgil said. Chan-cellor Danforth, for example, was not in the room where the debate took place.

Although the time constraints of the 1992 debate prevented Wash-ington University from having the same activities as they do today, Vir-gil and his team proved extremely effective given the pressure. Givens, who was the editor of the alumni magazine at the time, remembered the chaos of the week leading up to the debate.

It was just crazy, he said. But we didnt know any better. It was an around-the-clock operation for sure, and we hope we never we have to do that ever again.

Virgil attributed his teams success to the level of cooperation they established.

They all had other responsibilities at the university, but they put this, [the debate], first, Virgil said. We set up ways for communicating and staying in touch, and everyone made it their top priority, and every-one was available. We really worked well together.

In working with such a devoted and cooperative group, Virgil feels he learned a valuable lesson.

In many organizations, there definitely is a balkanization that oc-curs, and silos do develop between different areas of the organization, and it becomes very difficult to put the interests of the institution fore-most, Virgil said. We broke down the silos. We didnt care one little bit about this department or that department. It was get the job done for Washington University and St. Louis.

The Washington University Athletic Complex, where the debate will be held.

(Sophie Argyres)

FEATURE 17

by BARRETT BENTZINGER and MADELEINE ACKERBURGreporters

L A A K K O B E L T

If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life, right? An-nelise Laakko, CHS sophomore, said.

Laakko, currently starring as the lead in the winter musical, Cabaret, has been interested in the arts since she was 3-years-old. Laakkos moth-er, Betsy Laakko, noticed her daughters interest in music at a young age.

She took dance in Atlanta when she was three; she was flittering around the stage like a little munchin, Betsy said.

Laakko began her theater career at Glenridge Elementary School where she auditioned for the fifth grade play. Her interest in theater soared after she received the lead.

At Glenridge, every year the fifth graders put on a play, Laakko said.

It was a total toss up whether I was going to audition or not, but I decid-ed to just put myself out there and try something new. I ended up getting a part and I loved it. I've been doing theater ever since.

This musical was also the moment when Betsy Laakko first saw her daughter onstage as an actress.

The real interest began when she was in the fifth grade musical, Cin-derella. I was surprised that she had the voice that she did - she had just sung around the house but not in a formal setting where I could ever re-ally hear her sing, she said.

Laakkos participation in her first production was the foundation of-her theater pursuit.

Theater has become a more prominent focus in my life. It gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I also love the whole community aspect of theater, Laakko said. When you are in a show, you are working to-gether with a bunch of people to create something that's so much bigger than all of us.

In Laakkos freshman year, she auditioned for a part in the high school production of Into the Woods. She received a role as Little Red, envelop-ing herself in the Clayton theater department. Previously freshman year, Laakko had participated in another production, Tartuffe.

She finds joy in performing with other students at Clayton High. It builds strong bonds and relationships between people, and I think

that's something that has really impacted my life. I have met some of the best and closest people in my life through theater. Having special con-nections with people that love the same things as you, I think, is really important, Laakko said.

Although Laakko embodies raw talent, she strives for continuous im-provement. Outside of school, she participates in extracurricular activi-ties to enhance the quality of her performances. Laakko dedicates the ma-jority of her time and effort to the arts. Her mother estimates she spends more than 30 hours a week on her singing and acting.

The thing that compels me to keep performing is the feeling that you get when you're onstage. It's addictive and the overwhelming impression of accomplishment is just so rewarding that you want more, Laakko said.

CHS Choir Director Erick Price, has also noticed Laakkos potential. I have only known Annelise since the beginning of the school year.

However, having worked with her on the role of Sally Bowles, I have seen her process complex emotions, collaboratively work in an ensemble to create art, and systematically work to perfect music and acting, Price said. These are skills that are inherent in the arts and are cultivated daily in arts classes.

Laakkos skill set goes beyond just her singing voice.Annelise has a natural charisma on stage. With seemingly little en-

Desiring to sing since a young age, Annelise Laakko has burst onto the CHS stage and continues to prove

her raw talent through skilled showmanship.

FEATURE 18

Annelise Laako and Calista Goldwasser in Pride and Prejudice. (Madison Gudmestad)

FEATURE 19

ergy she can draw you into the world that she is creating, Price said.Laakkos natural ability and raw talent in music influences others

around her. I think what makes her interesting when she sings is the emotion

that her voice can portray, Betsy Laakko said. However, along with the talent Laakko possesses, she faces challenges

that impact her choices in the music industry. One of the key challenges is the fact shes not gonna get every role.

There will be lots of times that shes not going to get her desired role. Learning how to work through that disappointment and rejection will al-low her to power through and continue in her efforts, Betsy Laakko said.

While making it in the theater industry may be difficult, the commu-nity at Clayton High School prepares her for life she will face in college.

Laakko considers her lack of self confidence as her fiercest opponent.I second guess myself a lot, Laakko said. I get nervous when I'm

supposed to make artistic choices because I'm worried about getting it right, making the perfect decision. I'm just trying to work on keeping an open mind with my choices, learning to trust my instincts more, and let-ting myself grow from the choices that I make.

Laakko will be performing as Sally Bowles in Claytons production of Cabaret on Jan. 21.

It's been an amazing opportunity for growth and the cast is really amazing. It's going to be a great show, Laakko said.

Annelise Laakko in her role as Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods (Photo from Globe archives).

SINGLEPHOTO: SENIOR PAUL KRUCYLAK WITH HIS MOM AND SISTER.

COVER 21

SINGLEby SOPHIE ALLEN and NOAH BROWN section editorswith reporting by Lawrence Hu, Lucy Cohen

and Madison Lockett.

A LOOK INTO THE LIVES OF FAMILIES WITH ONE PARENT

All photos provided by interviewees.

G e n e r a l ly s p e a k i n g , I d o n t r e -a l ly s e e a n y k i n d o f f a m i ly a s a r e a l ly t y p i c a l f a m i ly.

Oftentimes, far too much is taken for granted. The vari-ability of life can cause many to lose hold of what means the most to them. Sometimes, the normal that exists for so many can be lost in the blink of an eye, and suddenly, what many hold dearest to them is gone: family.

For over one-third of children across the United States, the stereotypical structure of a family, with two married parents, is no longer the case. According to a study done by KIDS COUNT, these kids are growing up in a single-parent household, a scenario foreign to many.

A single-parent family is just that-- a family that usually has only one primary caretaker, who takes on the role of holding most of the day-to-day responsibilities of raising children.

The stigma surrounding this kind of family composition is slowly coming to light. In a constantly changing world, definitions of ideals such as family are hardly an easy thing to conform to.

While the difficulties and stressors associated with parenting is multiplied to a far higher degree when single-handedly attempting to raise children, a smaller family can yield close relationships and opportunities for more inde-pendence.

How do you perceive a Clayton fam-ily?

Generally speaking, I dont really see any kind of family as a really typical family be-cause theyre [all] just really different. A lot of people have big families, a lot of people have small families.

How would you describe your family situation?

I have a full-time working mom, and a sister whos at college most of the time. I dont really spend a lot of time with my family, and a lot of the time when my moms home, Im doing homework or Im at something else so I dont really see her that much.

What are the good and bad things about living in a single parent family?

Good things. Id say that you learn to be in-dependent more quickly. You learn how to be more sure about yourself. Struggles, you know,

you see a lot of families do a lot of things with their parents. I know my sister had father-daughter dances and my sister had issues with that because she didnt have a father to go with. My mom had to fight the school on that one a little bit, she likes to fight things.

How has it been as a boy with just a mom?

I learned a lot of things from the Internet. So its not that big of a deal.

If you could tell your mom anything, what would it be?

Good job. I think she did a really good job just juggling everything. She still managed to get us in activities, as many as she could. I think that was mostly for her sake, so she could get a break. But yeah, she pretty much had us try everything, skiing, swimming, hockey, sing-ing, my sister did synchronized swimming for a while, we played baseball, just about everything.

How do you feel like you differ from your peers? Do you notice a difference between yourself and those who have two parents?

I dont think Im a lot different, everyone has their own unique things that make them differ-ent from each other. My thing, its different, its just, you learn to deal with it, its not like its going to change.

Since your dads death, what have you learned as a result of just having your mom as your parent, have you found another fa-ther figure?

To an extent, I have, but, I mean I person-ally have figured out a more independent way to do it. There are people that have helped me along the way and I appreciate that, through Boy Scouts, whatever it is, singing, but overall Ive just kind of been feeling my own way out. I asked for help when I needed it, but I didnt really need it.

PAUL KRUCYLAK

-PAUL KRUCYLAK

ANYA ROSNERHow do you perceive a Clayton fam-

ily? In my opinion I just think theres a lot of

different kinds of families. And I think it just depends on the situation.

What are the struggles of growing up in a single parent family?

I think definitely money is an issue because I know that my mom doesnt have a very high paying job and not having a second income can be a struggle a lot of the times.

What are some good things about grow-ing up in a single parent family?

I think it definitely makes you a lot more ac-cepting towards different kinds of family situa-tions because you are exposed to the reality that not every family is stereotypical and perfect with a mom and a dad and a bunch of kids and

so I think that is definitely good.

If you could tell your mom anything, what would you tell her?

I would tell her that I re-ally appreciate all the work she has to put in to take care of me because I know even though I am a single child, its tough to raise a kid. And I have realized that especially with money and driving me places and even though we have had a lot of support from my grandparents, she has had to basically raise me on her own which I just think is really amazing. And I am really grateful that she was able to do that.

If you could tell your dad anything, what would you tell him?

I guess one thing I would say is that Im not mad that they got divorced. I know it was a mu-tual decision between them so I dont feel that it was detrimental to my childhood. I mean it happened at a pretty young age so I dont re-ally remember being with them when they were together.

What have you learned about relation-ships?

I have learned that marriages dont always work out and that there isnt always that fai-rytale happy ending, which I think is really good to learn at a young age because I know a lot of people can get disillusioned when they grow up and they realize it is harder to maintain a good relationship and good family. Especially the fact that, in reality, it is kind of rare to find perfect

families.

What makes a parent?I would say someone who will support you

no matter what and someone who is there to teach you. And kind of guide you through your troubles. And help you become a better person and like pave the way to adulthood.

What makes a family?To me family is really important even

though I have a really small family. It means that I always have someone there who can sup-port me and help me through any struggles I am going through.

LEXY RANGEDescribe your situation of having a sin-

gle parent.My mom left my brother and I when when I

was two. Ever since then my dad has been tak-ing care of us alone.

What is your relationship with you dad like?

My dad and I are super close, considering he had to play the role of my mom at some points in my life. We tell each other everything and I can count on him for anything. Even in the hardest of times he never fails to make me laugh and I know that he will always be there for me and do anything for me.

If you could tell him anything, what would it be?

If I could tell him anything I would thank him for taking such great care of my brother and I and I couldnt be more blessed to have such a great dad.

Did this situation define you as a per-son?

Yes, the situation did define me as a person. I feel as if it made me stronger and made me real-ize that being a single parent is hard and makes me learn to appreciate the little things. And I feel like it will definitely define my parenting if I ever were to have children.

TO ME FAMILY IS REALLY IM-

PORTANT EVEN THOUGH I

HAVE A REALLY SMALL FAMILY. IT MEANS THAT I ALWAYS HAVE

SOMEONE THERE WHO

CAN SUPPORT ME AND HELP ME THROUGH ANY STRUG-

GLES I AM GO-ING THROUGH.

-ANYA ROSNER

JAYSON LAWSHEEIf it has, how has not having your father

in your household affected you?I dont think having my dad in my household

has affected me too much. I just think that if he had been we may of been closer, had more time to bond.

Describe your relationship with your father.

I really do not have a relationship with him. I see him on holidays, call him on his birthday and Fathers Day, and thats about it. If I wasnt close to my grandparents, I doubt Id ever see him. I do not hate him by any means, I just dont have anything to say to him. We have nothing to talk about. Nothing in common.

If you could tell him anything, what would it be?

That it is not my fault or my moms fault that he and I dont have a relationship.

Was it hard growing up just having a single mother?

In some ways, yes. Its something that I nev-er really thought twice about. With it just being my mom and I, I have definitely had to step and grow in ways that most people my age do not. I have always wondered what life would be like if my parents had stayed together, but I am happy with just the two of us. I would not trade the bond we have for the world.

Did this situation define you as a per-son?

I dont think so. It is a small fact about me that does not really matter. People say that kids need two parents but I think I turned out fine with one.

How do you define a parent?An adult in your life that not only loves you,

but supports you financially and emotionally. A parent is more than just a provider. A parent is

there when you do something good or bad. Just having a kid does not make you a parent.

As a Clayton student, how do you a per-ceive a Clayton family?

Two parents with two kids and two dogs. Since I dont fit into that typical family, I am sometimes seen as an outsider and people do not understand my situation.

Have you found another father figure in your life?

Not really, but its not something I have been searching for. I am content and I do not think I need that figure.

What was the biggest struggle growing up?

Having to grow up quicker and having to be the man of the house. I have had to be an adult in my house for a very long time now.

I HAVE ALWAYS

WONDERED

WHAT LIFE

WOULD BE LIKE

IF MY PARENTS

HAD STAYED TO-

GETHER, BUT I

AM HAPPY WITH

JUST THE TWO

OF US. I WOULD

NOT TRADE THE

BOND WE HAVE

FOR THE WORLD.

-JAYSON LAWSHEE

DANIEL COHEN

COVER 25

As a Clayton student, how do you see a Clayton family?

Most of the time, two parents, commonly a father and a mother, and two or three children. It seems like the family is pretty close and to-gether and everyones home a lot. The fathers home, the mothers home.

How do you see yourself as different from that?

Well I only have one parent, my mother. So theres only been one person raising me for most of my life -- since I was five. And being a boy, that has really shaped me almost because I dont have a male figure to base my life, or like a role model almost. Fathers seem like that for most of the kids in Clayton, but Ive never had one. Well, Ive had one, but not for a significant time, only for five years of my life.

Have you found another father figure in your life?

Well, not really. I mean Ive played hockey and Ive played for about ten years now, so I mean all the coaches are men. So thats the clos-est thing, but not really.

What are the struggles about growing up with just your mom?

First of all, I mean you only have one par-ent so theres less stories to hear, less advice, I mean, less of almost everything. And you only have one parent around, so theres more wait-ing almost. So I mean everything is different. Theres only one parental figure at home all the time, not two. But mainly what has affected me most is that Ive had to wait a lot at sports or at school. But my mom has done so much for us. Like shes split the job between two parents into one. So I mean its been pretty hard for all of us and her, especially. A lot of hard work for all of us.

Any good things? I mean it taught me a lot of life lessons. Like

to be thankful for what is given to you and what you do have, and not to really think about what didnt happen but what did happen. Because I could be all bummed that I only had my father for five years but at the same time, I should be happy that I had him for five years.

If you could say anything to your mom, what would you say?

Just how thankful I am for everything she does. She does the job of two parents and she has to raise three kids, do everything for them,

cook meals for everyone, take them to school, pay for college. So I mean theres a big burden on her back. Im just very thankful for every-thing she has done for us.

Anything else?I feel like after my fathers death weve grown

closer as a family almost, because were around each other more. I feel like most of the time par-ents go out on a Saturday night, but really my mom hasnt done that a lot. So were together a lot. We go on vacation, and when other families go on vacation they normally, like [parents] will maybe leave their kids somewhere and theyll go somewhere else, but on vacation my mom doesnt do that, shell stay with us all the time. So thats helped us grow closer as a family. And weve learned to sacrifice stuff for each other.

And also, I have a friend that doesnt have a father either, so on Fathers Day, most people are with their family and mainly, their father, but Ill go with this friend because neither of us have a father. But also, Ill look at my mom almost as my mother and my father because she does everything, so in a way Fathers Day I dont celebrate anything but I celebrate for my mother and what she does do for us in taking that role as two parents. So, overall, Ive grown to appreciate my mother so much more than I probably would have if my father was around. Like most teenagers find their parents annoy-ing, but I like being around my family and I ap-preciate being around them, because Im thank-ful to be around them and to have someone to talk to and call family. So weve just grown very close and built a stronger relationship.

As a member of the Clayton community, how do you see single parent families in Clayton?

I see a lot. I see, well, I see all sorts of different families, I see blended families, single, divorced, remarried, deceased parents, and thats how they become a single parent, so kind of the whole gammet.

How do you see yourself in that spectrum?I see myself as a single parent. And that was really solo, however, re-

cently, my ex-husband has been more of a coparent. So, even though the kids are with me 99 percent of the year, hes really stepped up as kind of a coparent even though he lives in a different state.

As a single parent, which responsibilities did you have to take on that surprised you?

You know what surprised me the most is that you are able to take on more without feeling like youre taking on more. For instance, I have a lot of friends who have pretty involved spouses or boyfriends or whatever, and they way they would talk, even though theres two people doing the same job, was a lot of complaining. So, I kind of felt like, huh, Im doing the job of two without complaining, I must be doing something right.

What kind of help have you had? Have you put your kids in a lot of sports and activities?

I would say, yeah. I dont like to overschedule our family, just because I feel like were busy as it is, but yeah were involved in a lot of that. I also involve myself. For my son and my daughter, I helped coach their soccer teams. I really like being involved in their sports, mostly just because I like kids, you know, like its fun to be around kids. I think Ive always had the emotional support of my family, not necessarily the physical support, but I have friends, and just knowing that alone is quite helpful.

How did your relationship with your kids changed when you separated from your husband?

Well, I think our family was lucky. I separated from my husband when my kids were two and three-and-a-half, so my kids dont really know. And

I think because of the way it was, it is the way it is. The single parent thing, thats how it always was, so I dont think they were affected too much by the change of not being with their dad.

How do you think your life has been different as a single mom? How have you grown into it?

Well, Ive always been very independent. But, I think its just made me more self-sufficient, self-reliant. Its made my kids that way. Theyre more resilient, theyre more self-sufficient, which I think is a really good thing for kids growing up in this society, to not become so dependent on other people all the time and be hand-fed or hand-held. I think it just makes me more aware of other people and their situations. Everybody has a story, try not to judge too harshly because there are people going through things that you might not even imagine. Whether it looks like a happy family upfront, you never know whats happening behind closed doors. Just be compassionate with others.

What makes a parent? What makes a family?What makes a parent is the ability to take responsibility for another

life and be open to whatever comes your way. And touching on things that either you learned, or things that you didnt like in your past, to make it better for your kid. To me thats what parenting is really all about. And then just be willing to grow and change with it. Youre not going to be perfect. Youre probably not doing it right, and youll learn from that. And then you just hope for the best, you know? Family is so simple, really. Its just an underlying love and respect for one another. Being able to be who you are in any given moment and still accepting the people around you. Big or small, family is you can just feel it in your heart.

Anything else?At the school level, talk to your counselor or talk to your school nurse,

or a teacher that you really feel comfortable with about maybe tapping into those resources. Because there really are all sorts of families. People can help you with that, if youre having trouble.

DENA BASHITI

In her very first Clayton High swim meet and the first meet of the season, senior Lydia Welty beat the school records for the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, while also qualifying for state in the 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and 500 freestyle.

After swimming competitively with the CSP Tideriders for nine years, Welty joined the Clayton swim team her senior year.

[We] made a deal freshman year, so eighth grade summer, saying if I swim the first three years of high school just with a club team, [my club swim coach] will let me swim for the high school team, Welty said.

Welty wanted to be a part of the CHS team. However, because she was showing great potential when swimming, her club coach did not want her joining the schools team.

He kinda thought that sticking with the club team would be the best place for me to push myself, reach for my goals, and I think he really be-lieved that was the best place for me, but Ive always wanted to be a part of the high school team, Welty said.

Now that Welty swims with CHS in addition to her club team, she has three practices a day.

I wake up in the morning, 4:30 is when my alarm goes off, and de-pending on what day it is, I will either wake up and go to MICDS for weights and do weight training, or I will drive up to Westminster where we will have a swim practice. Both of those workouts are about an hour long, Welty said.

After morning practice, Welty goes to school. Then she goes to two hours of CHS practice, and subsequently straight to her club practice for an hour and a half. [I] put my parka on, get the chocolate milk thats in

by OLIVIA JOSEPHreporter

my car, the granola bar and just drive straight to the next practice, Welty said. Its literally just put on a towel and go to the next pool.

Although Welty has a demanding swim schedule, she still manages to balance it with school.

There are definitely times where I fail to balance it all, but I think a lot of it is just being really focused and motivated, and you know youre working towards a goal so you do whatever you can, Welty said.

With the help of a tutor and fitting in her academics during lunch pe-riods, between practices and before and after school, Welty manages to succeed academically in addition to swimming.

Being on the high school swim team is a very different experience from her club team. Unlike club meets, which take a whole day, the high school meets only take around an hour and a half.

Ive never experienced something so fast and quick paced as high school meets. I mean, I had no idea we could get through that many races in like an hour and a half, Welty said. Its just nonstop racing, its really fun but its actually really difficult to swim that many races in such a short period of time.

Not only are the meets different, but the environment of the CHS swim team is also different from what Welty is used to.

Everyones there because they love it, you know, people arent there just because they want to make it into college. Theres not this horribly competitive vibe, Welty said.

The support, positivity and energy that Welty see in her CHS team-mates so far have made her time on the team really enjoyable.

I dont experience that [positivity] on my club team. [My CHS team-

S WINN ING

Welty dives off the blocks with the CSP team. (Gabby Vieira)

Senior Lydia Welty brings her club swim-ming experience to the CHS swim team with great success.

SPORTS 28

ATHLETE PROFILE

SPORTS 29

mates] just rally behind each other and are so supportive, Welty said, Its definitely a very different experience and thats why I love it.

Prior to the season, Welty was nervous about joining the team. I wasnt sure how people would respond to me, you know, joining my

senior year and swimming at the level which I do. I wasnt sure if there was gonna be any tension, Welty said.

Contrary to Weltys fear, her teammates have been really supportive and welcoming, and there was no tension when she joined the team.

No ones been anything but awesome, Welty said.The CHS coaches, Dave Kohmetscher, Katelyn Long and Jill Allen have

helped Welty adjust to the new environment. Occasionally she needs a set altered, or we have to make adjustments,

but I feel like we do that with everybody on a one-on-one individual ba-sis, Long said. I was really excited that she was gonna take the opportu-nity and swim this year. Its just so fun to be able to represent your high school. USS swimming is a huge part of her life, and I mean, I was in the same position in high school, so I understand how difficult a choice it is to stop doing that for three months and join a high school team, Long said.

Not only has Welty been a good addition to the team because of her ability to beat the records and qualify for state, but she has also helped less-experienced swimmers.

Right before a meet I always see her over there teaching someone how to do a relay start, or how to improve their stroke, or how to do a faster flip turn, Long said.

Welty recently signed to Indiana University for swimming, which has a division one swim team. For the next four years of college, she will be doing intensive training to hopefully qualify for Olympic trials, while still trying to balance her swimming with school.

When you go to college, youre not just an athlete, youre a student athlete, so [being a] student is always first, Welty said.

Without her love for the sport, Welty would not have been able to be as successful as she is.

This might sound cheesy, but I have a really big passion for the sport, Welty said. Im so excited to swim it for the next four years in college.

Welty talking with Athletic Director Bob Bone during a meet. (Madison Gudmestad)

Welty swimming at a meet with the CHS team. (Madison Gudmestad)

For the months he has been living in Clayton, Rams quarterback Nick Foles has partaken in much of the St. Louis life. He is often seen around Clayton, even on the Shaw Park tennis courts.

Foles moved to Clayton after being traded to the Rams. Right away, Foles realized key differences between St. Louis and Philadelphia.

Everyone on the East Coast [are] die hard Philadelphia Eagles [fans]. Thats their life, Foles said. [The fans] wait all year and save their pay-checks so they can go to the games.

The nature of the fans and the lifestyle in Philadelphia is much differ-ent than in St. Louis.

St. Louis is a great town to play in, Foles said. [A] much more laid-back lifestyle.

Though Foles is not always able to find the time to get out and enjoy St. Louis, when he does he thoroughly enjoys the laid back lifestyle.

Maybe a few times a week my wife and I will go out to eat at restau-rants in Clayton or the Central West End, but really when youre in the season its a job, so Im at the facility most of the day, Foles said.

SPORTS 30

At the facility, Foles works twelve hours a day, practicing and recovering from the brutal hits taken the previ-ous Sunday.

Foles began this incredible com-mittment to football in first grade playing flag football. From there, football became a passion of his. He practiced hard and became a starter for his varsity high school team at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Foles broke the school record, throwing for 5,658 yards and 56 touchdowns, surpassing the previous record held by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who also went to Westlake High School.

In high school, Foles played tight end for two years before becoming the quarterback.

After high school, Foles initially went to Michigan State University for college. After a year, he transferred to the University of Arizona. There, he started as quarterback for three years.

After a successful college career, Foles was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Foles made his NFL debut in 2012 after former Eagles quarterback Michael Vick suffered a concussion mid game against the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid then decided that Foles would start the remainder of the season, regard-less of Vicks recovery.

In his second year with the Eagles, Foles tied the record for most touchdown passes in a game against the Oakland Raiders by throwing seven touchdowns.

Foles was traded to the Rams in March of 2015 for former Rams quar-terback Sam Bradford and began Foless career as a Saint Louis Ram.

As a professional football player, Foles knows the dangers of the sport, especially in younger players.

Make sure someone has taught you the proper fundamentals of tack-ling. A lot of guys get injured when they dont do the right thing, and put their head down, Foles said. Make sure that you have a coach thats there to teach you the proper techniques of full-on tackling.

It is important to recognize that football is a physical contact sport and that there is a risk for injuries.

Globe reporters talk to Nick Foles, quarterback for the Rams and a resident of Clayton.

I N T H E F O L Dby MICHAEL BERNARD

reporterJACOB LAGESSE

reporterand

Foles gets sacked in a game against the Chicago Bears. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Once you play tackle football and take some hits, your body will be sore. You just gotta get used to it, Foles said.

According to Foles, to be successful, it is necessary to show dedica-tion, which includes making sacrifices of free time.

All your friends are out partying and doing stuff and you have to make the sacrifice, Foles said. If you want to take it to the next level, you gotta do a lot of extra stuff, you know, in high school.

Foles also recognizes the need for en-couragement along the way to success.

I had a great support system grow-ing up, with my family and my parents [and] amazing coaches along the way that pushed me to be better than I thought I ever could be, Foles said.

Although many students are encour-aged to focus on and hone their skills on one sport in high school, Foles encourages students to branch out and try new things.

[If you ever feel pressure to play] just one sport, just realize that you wont get the opportunity to play multiple sports again like you do in high school, so make sure you take advantage of it, Foles said.

Foles looks downfield for the open receiver. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

SPORTS 31

Foles was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing basketball and baseball, along with, of course, football. He excelled at all three. Be-cause of his basketball performance, he received recruiting offers from

Georgetown, Baylor and Texas, all three Division 1 colleges in basketball. During high school, he did not commit entirely to football, allowing him to develop a wide range of skills that benefit him to-day.

[You have to] go to the football field late at night and run sprints or [shoot] hoops until 2 a.m. and your hands are bleeding because youve been shoot-ing so much with the basketball, Foles said. Its at those times that you know that having that dream as a kid of be-ing a professional athlete at a high level [means] making the sacrifices to get there.

However, Foles believes that success does not come just from pres-sure, but also from the enjoyment of the sport.

You gotta have pressure put on you, but you gotta make sure you always enjoy and love what youre doing, Foles said. You gotta make sure you have that passion.

I had a great support sys-tem growing up, with my family and my parents,

Foles said, [and] amazing coaches along the way that pushed me to be better than I thought I ever could be.

All of the eggs seem to be placed in the same basket -- concern-ing, that is, the age of the players hurling orange balls into the basket for the Clayton boys and girls varsity basketball teams. For Claytons rebuilding boys outfit, three of the five starters hail from the junior class, while the surging girls team astoundingly fields all five of its starters from the class of 2017.

Any high school team dominated by a class of students other than seniors is worth noting. That this abnormal age disparity holds true for both the boys and girls squads of the same sport concurrently is what makes this uncanny reality at Clayton a true sports anomaly.

Bob Bone, Clayton High Schools athletic director, has overseen many seasons of Clayton sports in his tenure of ___ years. To have this aberration in the composition of both basketball teams is something Bone notes as particularly unique.

It is unusual to have this many underclassmen playing such promi-nent roles, Bone said.

Nick Almond, a junior for the boys basketball team averaging 6.3 points per game, spoke to the overwhelming athletic preeminence of the junior class.

The athleticism of the juniors is far superior to any other class. Al-though all the other classes have many talented individuals within the basketball program, the junior class has a lot of potential and a winning mindset, Almond said.

Almonds female counterpart, Brooke Jones, noted the dominance and cohesion of the junior class with regard to the girls team.

Our starting five is made up entirely of juniors, Jones said. The juniors are playing really collectively this year and we really feed off of each other, in terms of our vibe and intensity, Jones said.

Bone acknowledged the invaluable contributions of both Almond and Jones for their respective teams.

Brooke and Nick have already established themselves as really good players, and Im looking forward to watching them over the next one and a half years, Bone said. They have a chance to be great.

The intrigue associated with such irregular anatomies of the teams, however, is nothing more than sheer intrigue unless the heavy junior presence translates to triumph on the court for the Hounds.

In other words, the junior starters must do more than simply breathe and occupy space on the court if the teams are to experience success. quality performance and leadership from the junior class is im-perative for the success of the respective basketball squads.

Though the the girls team already seems to already be finding their stride through an abundance of talented juniors, the boys have not yet paralleled the degree of success experienced by their female equiva-lents.

While the Lady Hounds are off to a respectable 5-2 start on the sea-son, Clayton girls basketballs best record out of the gates in years, the boys - at the outset of a new era under the inaugural regime of Blake Ahearn - are a head-scratchingly dismal 1-9.

However, both the girls and boys have bona fide potential to ma-

Junior Armon Watkins practices with the boys varsity team.

(photo by Carrie Niswonger)

by KEVIN ROSENTHAL and MAX STEINBAUMsenior managing editor and news section editor

SPORTS 32

JUNIOR CLASS ASCENDENCYAthletes in the class of 2017, this years junior class, lead

both the boys and girls varsity basketball teams.

ture into more competitive teams, with legitimate promise to compete in 2017 for district titles.

On the big-picture level, Almond re-affirmed his confidence in the emerging junior class and stressed the significance of strong work ethic to prepare for the upcoming season.

It is important to have a solid foundation because we can develop chemistry throughout this season and into the spring and come back next season with more confidence and a great attitude.

Bone reflected this hopeful sentiment in describing his high expecta-tions for the junior players of the two teams on the rise.

It is always fun to watch the growth of players between their junior and senior year. That is normally when the most improvement takes place, Bone said. So with both teams having such strong juniors, next year should be a lot of fun.

PSAT scores are back!Now what?

The Princeton Review is here for you!We have partnered with Clayton High School to bring standardized testing advice and preparation right to those who need it. The Princeton Review is here to help you interpret your scores and create a college preparation plan.

How to Interpret Your PSAT ResultsThe PSAT is on a scale of 160-760 for each section (320-1520 total).

The PSAT isnt used for college admissions, but high scores can earn youscholarship dollars, including a National Merit Scholarship.

Next Step: Take the real thing! The PSAT is great practice, but its the actual SAT or ACT that impacts admissions. Our experts are pros at analyzing PSAT scores and helping students build out a plan for the rest of high school, and were ready to help you! For more information, contact your local Princeton Review oce today!314-300-2453 | infostlouis@review.com | www.PrincetonReview.com

Test names are the trademarks of their respective owners, who are not aliated with The Princeton Review. National Merit is a registered trademark of National Merit Scholarship Corportation, which is not aliated with The Princeton Review. The Princeton Review is not aliated with Princeton University. PRPTFL1512_34

ThePrincetonReview

@ThePrincetonRev/ThePrincetonReview

Clayton students receive a $200 discount o ACT or SAT prep courses!

Promo Code: CLAYTON2015

Heres an example of how the report will look:

In a gritty synthesis of the western and mystery genres, writer and di-rector Quentin Tarantinos eighth film, The Hateful Eight, pays tribute to the old-school filmmaking in a three-hour spectacle complete with a full musical introduction and 10-minute intermission.

The film opens in post-civil war Wyoming when Major Marquis War-ren (Samuel Jackson), a black Union war hero turned bounty hunter, and John The Hangman Ruth (Kurt Russell), a more irascible bounty hunter who likes to catch his bounties live and watch them hang, cross paths and end up sharing a stage coach. Ruth is escorting Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock where she is to be hanged for murder. The stage coach also picks up Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins) along the way, a for-mer Confederate fighter and an old enemy of Warren who claims to have been named the sheriff of Red Rock.

However, a violent blizzard forces Ruth, Warren, Daisy and Mannix to seek shelter at a lodge where four other men have already decided to hide from the storm. Among them are rancher Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), British hangman Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth) and Confederate General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern). Something immediately seems wrong for Warren, a regular at the lodge, who notices that the usual owners are missing and that Bob (Demian Bichir) has been left in charge.

With the octet of shady characters stuck together, suspicions rise and tensions bloom as each hour continues, letting the murder and mystery commence. The eight cast members all deliver exceptional performances within the parameters of their nuanced characters. Unlike most of the movies being shown today, The Hateful Eight, does not develop just one or two main characters, but instead develops the eight individuals equal-ly, allowing the audience to change their preference between the char-acters as each of their ambitions change through the film. The lack of a central protagonist makes the characters even more compelling to watch.

The most interesting character is Major Warren, who carries the ra-cial undertones of the film as the only African-American lead character. Warrens tense interactions with the white people around him become key to the story even as the mystery continues around them. Tensions between Warren and the Southern whites rise as Warren begins to inves-tigate which of the shady characters stories and behaviors do not follow through.

Jennifer Jason Leighs performance is also strong, as her fearsome fa-cial expressions show her wild character interpreting every situation of the mystery differently than her captor, Ruth, with whom she is bound together for the majority of the movie.

On a more technical note, Robert Richardsons cinematography use of a 70mm ultra rare film and camera which has not been used in main-stream film for over 50 years allows for an ultra widescreen capture of the film, letting the audience view every inch of the haberdashery even when the camera is centered on a single character in the true paranoid nature of the film. The musical score, filled with heavy western motifs and com-posed by Ennio Morricone, is also a terrific component of the film.

Director Quentin Tarantino gives the viewer his trademark elements of witty and ingenious dialogue, unique camera angles and, in true Taran-tino fashion, over-stylized violence and gore, which all combine to keep the audience entertained for the full three hours.

One caution is that this movie is not to be watched by someone who is

T H E H A T E F U L E I G H T

REVIEW 34

by MARTIN SHARPE and NEEL VALLURUPALLIreporters

(Official Movie Poster)

Released: 30 December 2015Rating: R

Run Time: 187 Minutes

easily offended. In what might be Tarantinos bloodiest film yet, extreme violence and gore is a recurring motif throughout the film. The use of four-letter words and the n-word is frequent throughout the film, but is used to accurately portray post-Civil War racial tensions that keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the entire production.

In the end, with the exceptional 70mm ultra widescreen format, witty dialogue, intense action and stellar cast, The Hateful Eight might be the best Western film of the 21st century.

The first thing that a first-time Guss customer should expect is wait-ing. Lots of waiting.

Anyone who has driven down Manchester between Big Bend and Mc-Causland in the past month can tell you that in front of Guss there exists a constant, snaking line. If you think you can beat the crowds by arriving at a non-peak time, youre wrong. The line is as long at 4:30 as it is at 7:30. If I hadnt taken part in the line myself, I could easily be convinced that the line never moves, that a fake crowd is planted in front of the place at all times to trick people into thinking the restaurant is busy.

By the time I had made my way from the back of the line to the front, around 45 minutes had passed. The sky had turned from something that could easily still be considered blue to black enough that if the sky were a cat, and you crossed its path, you would be pretty messed up for a while. But still, there are worse ways to spend 45 minutes than standing in a line, hungry. You could be reading a second-rate school newspaper.

After 45 minutes, I was finally seated and given a menu. The menu is quite simple, consisting only of chicken and nine sides and appetizers, four of which are different varieties of fried vegetables. A permanent sign placed outside the door jokingly reads Todays Special: Chicken. This al-lowed me to decide rather quickly what I was going to order-- chicken.

Let me make one thing about Guss perfectly clear: it isnt fast food. One could easily be deceived into making this assumption, based on the fact that the food is served in paper and plastic. For those who crave fast-food chicken, theres a Popeyes down the road. The main difference is that each menu item is made to order completely from scratch. This is completely unnecessary, given that your order could only possibly be one thing: chicken. And of course, you could more easily describe a tortoise as fast than the service at Guss. Guss isnt nearly as cheap as Popeyes either. To get a reasonably-sized meal at Guss, you need to pay around 15 dollars. But thats the price one must pay to get chicken that hasnt been kept warm sitting under a lightbulb for six hours.

After ordering my food, I had to wait another 45 minutes for its ar-rival. A big question still on my mind is what took them 45 minutes to do? It wasnt as if I had ordered something too complicated, something that required multiple cooks to struggle over for extended periods of time. They only have one thing on the menu, and that was what I ordered. But still, there are worse ways to spend 45 minutes than sitting on a wooden bench, hungry. You could be standing in a line, hungry.

The chicken was quite tasty, to say the least. Its possible that I was so delusional after spending 90 minutes starving that I wouldve found the chopped up bits of rubber that they fill playgrounds with tasty, too, but either way, I enjoyed the chicken.

The chicken itself isnt your Colonels Extra Crispy. Billed as Hot & Spicy, Guss chicken is very thinly breaded with a peppery taste. It is at the level of heat where a bottle of honey is kept on hand for the weak-tongued patrons, but at the level where most of the patrons shake their heads at those with the honey, thinking, Wimps. The chicken inside is moist. The side items, meanwhile, are nothing special. I wouldnt be sur-

prised if someone had come out of the kitchen and yelled, Surprise! You just ate beans from KFC! Despite this, the taste of the chicken would be enough to bring me back, if the long lines and high prices dont keep me away.

Boastfully describing itself as World Famous, Guss Maplewood out-let is its 11th location and the first to come to St. Louis. What does it mean to be World Famous? Certainly most of the world has never heard of Guss. Up until the past few months, most of St. Louis had never heard of Guss. Can a restaurant call itself World Famous just for having name recognition among a handful of people? While you mull that over, this has been the World Famous Harry Rubin reporting for the World Famous Globe Newsmagazine...

REVIEW 35

by HARRY RUBINWorld Famous Copy Editor

G U S S W O R L D F A M O U S F R I E D C H I C K E N

The sign outside the restaurant, located on Manchester. (Ella Engel)

As the credits rolled for J.J. Abrams highly anticipated film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the whole audience in the cinema cheered. People walked out of the theater with genuine smiles on their faces rekin-dled with memories of watching Star Wars for the first time and dueling with childhood playmates with toy Lightsabers.

Although The Force Awakens has its flaws, the films immense strengths of displaying elements from previous Star Wars films along with providing a strong new cast, a sentimental soundtrack and the work of the whole team who passionately made the film possible produces a motion picture that will be treasured by all.

The Force Awakens is set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has gone into hiding. BB-8 is a droid that holds a map that leads to Luke. The First Order, rising from the remnants of the Galactic Empire, and a young sith lord named Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) intend to find Luke and get rid of him. BB-8 falls into the hands of Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger who lives on the desert planet of Jakku, and Finn (John Boyega), a stormtrooper that fled The First Order. The two join Han Solo and Chewbacca to make sure that BB-8 gets into the hands of the Leia Organa-led resistance before the First Order does.

Many people, such as George Lucas (creator of Star Wars), scorned The Force Awakens for its similar plot structure to A New Hope. How-ever, The Force Awakens is executed extremely well, paying tribute to previous films. The movie does many things better than the original tril-ogy, even better than Lucass own prequel series.

The whole cast does a stellar job of portraying their characters,and the return of old characters is awesome, but it is the two new leads in the film that are outstanding. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega both deliver strong performances as Rey and Finn. Ridley does an amazing job of portray-ing the lonely scavenger on Jakku. From her hopeful yet desperate gazes across Jakkus sand dunes to simple yet meaningful interactions with her co-stars, Ridley is definitely a talented actress. Similar to his co-star, Boyega portrays a runaway stormtrooper well. Despite his depressing background in the film, Boyega offers passion and humor in the appropri-ate moments. The bond between the two leads in the film is incredible,

by SEAN KIMreporter

and it really shows.Composer John Williams does a fantastic job of bringing back the feel

of the original themes through a mix of prominent brass and orchestral themes that are reminiscent of the previous films. However, Williams in-troduces new, memorable tracks.

The cinematography in the film is excellent. Ranging from wide shots of a downed starship to the lighting of the final Lightsaber fight, it is all familiar territory. Cinematographer Daniel Mindel chooses particular shots to evoke the sense of the Star Wars feel. The feeling of vastness that was expressed through these shots brought awe to the screen. One of the best lighting choices for the film was the clash of red and blue in the films final duel. Rey and Kylo Ren have Lightsabers locked in a fight to the death.

The choice to incorporate as many practical effects as possible into the film was a solid choice. Scenes where Jakku could have been represent-ed behind a green screen were actually filmed in the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi. Instead of telling visual FX artists to produce a fake Millennium Falcon, a real life size model was built. Creatures and props were passion-ately hand crafted into masterpieces. The existence of such things adds so much more to the feel of Star Wars.

J. J. Abramss incredible vision for the first installment of the trilogy is proven through his passion for the franchise. It is clear that Abrams put a lot of thought into the project. The film rarely has pacing issues, and Abrams took note of what elements made a Star Wars film feel like a Star Wars film.

Overall, the care that The Force Awakens has been put under by di-rector J.J. Abrams and the passionate crew paid off to be a great seventh film in the franchise through treading familiar territory to let the public know that Star Wars is back, and it is returning as an even better fran-chise. The new trilogy allows for another generation of kids to experience the same awe we all did when we first watched the origninals. Director Abrams and the whole crew have created a film that looks and feels like a true Star Wars film, and it is great to see the franchise back in action.

S T A R W A R S : T H E F O R C E A W A K E N S

REVIEW 36

(Kerry Hayes/Open Road Films)

Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. (Photo courtesy Lucasfilm/TNS)

by KEVIN ROSENTHALsenior managing editor

Fear, shame, guilt and power: these emotions and complexes have the unearthly potential to dominate a person, to grasp unfalteringly at the jugular of its victim, to penetrate the soul of its prey. Within the human condition, however, and emulated in the worthy film of the year in 2015, is an almost mind-blowingly simple wa