image[the]Sept. 3, 2010

Vol. 42, No. 1Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Rd. Wildwood, MO 63011

www.lhsimage.com

Highway

Though the Wildcats defeated the Lancers in the Battle of 109, Lafayette may still be winning the war ... See Pages 8-9

News2 Sept. 3, 2010

Image Staff[People & Policies]Chelsea Coleman .........Editor in ChiefMax Thoman ...................................Managing EditorMia Schenone ............................................WebmasterKara Campbell ........................................News EditorAlicia Mestre ..........................................News EditorCaleb Cavarretta ................................Opinion EditorLeanne Beasley .................................. Feature EditorMaddie Johnson ................................ Feature EditorAdam Harris .......................... Entertainment EditorChristine Johnson ............................... Sports EditorGian Wessel ......................................... Sports EditorGrace Bueckendorf ....................... Asst. WebmasterJessica Zadoks ............................. Business ManagerAlyssa Knowling ...................... Marketing DirectorSanti Diz.............................................................. ArtistMrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ........................... Adviser

Staff:Kelley Bauer, Hannah Boxerman, Dominic Corvington, Ashlyn Goldston, Sarah Greenlee, Maddie Henning, Sean McIntyre and McKayla Treat

Information:The Image is published nine times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2009-2010 Image received a rating of First Class with three marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Philosophy Statement:The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. Contact Us: Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com

Policies:A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.

What’s Inside:GET SILLY: The fad sweeping the nation lands at LHS ... page 6

HALO REACH: Gamers prepare for final game of series ... page 16

New policy receives positive reviewsMaddie Henning / Reporter

Students are no longer being forced to hide their phones under the table or text in their purses.

Rockwood has revised its cell phone policy to allow students to use their phones during passing periods and lunch.

Although administrators say it is too early to tell whether the new freedom will decrease the number of students who text during class, both Principal John Shaughnessy and Associate Principal Renee Trotier believe there have been no negative consequences to the new cell phone policy.

“For the most part, kids respect what their teachers want them to do. There are those who push the envelope and they will continue to [text during class],” Trotier said.

“Just from my observations, students are respectful of when they use [their cell phones]. I have not noticed any out of control or inap-propriate behavior,” Shaughnessy said.

World language teacher Steffanie Jarvis is hoping that now that students can use their phones out of class, they will be less likely to use them in class.

“At first, I was not in favor, but I’m going to try and give it a chance. I’ve had lots of problems in past years with students using their phones, so I’m hoping this new policy will alleviate those problems,” Jarvis said.

In the 2008-2009 school year, Jarvis confiscated over 40 cell phones from students who were caught using them during her class.

Students have utilized the new policy by using it to text friends or parents.

“I forgot my schedule, so I had to text my mom to tell me my schedule,” junior Tim Heath said.

The opportunity to use their phones out of class has also made it less tempting for some students to text while in class.

“I don’t look at my phone during class anymore,” sophomore Ally Schmidt said.

“If you get caught [texting in class], it’s

a bigger punishment. Some teachers are threatening In-School Suspension, so it’s not worth it,” senior Megan Nicholson said.

The consequences remain the same for any student found using a phone during a class period.

Cell phones may be confiscated, and a detention or In-School Suspension may be issued for repeat offenses.

Utilizing their new found rights to use cell phones during lunch, seniors Ryan Glover and Stan Reed and freshmen Monika Hills and Deja Thomas text their friends during their lunch period. (Photo by Maddie Henning)

After taking the quarterback’s handoff, junior Chris Caldwell looks to evade a Eureka tackler. The Aug. 27 game at EHS was the season opener for both squads. An estimated 6,000 fans watched the Lancers fall 28-0 to the Wildcats. (Photo by Alex Vanderheyden)

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No more tie-dye, hot pink, or favorite sports’ team T-shirts. The dress code is changing. At least in one course.

Physical Education classes are taking the first steps to a more uniformed student body.

Starting this semester, most P.E. teachers will require students to wear a uniform consist-ing of a white shirt and black shorts.

“I enforced uniforms with my class last year in Personal Fitness and Wellness because kids don’t dress out, or they come to class in ‘street clothes’,” Physical Education teacher Kate O’Connell said.

O’Connell said she will be continuing the new policy this year because it is much easier to monitor who is actually dressing out.

P.E. teacher Christine Bodine, who will also mandate a uniform, agreed and added, “It will [also] help us see the impostors who sneak in during lunch to see their friends.”

However, students have mixed opinions about the new clothing regulations.

Senior Ryan Mead said, “I don’t blame them for doing it. I think it’s sort of cliche though [but] I really don’t mind it honestly.”

Freshman Alec Lage said, “I like wearing a uniform better than my regular clothes to gym, that way my regular clothes don’t get sweaty.”

However, not all students see the dress code it in a positive light.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” senior Megan Nich-olson said. “Why would they make uniforms in P.E. when you don’t [have them] in school?”

On a different note, sophomore Paul Hill said, “Your white T-shirts will get all dingy. I understand uniforms that are all black, but why white?”

Opinions aside, Bodine said this decision will ultimately benefit the P.E. program.

“We are hoping to get actual uniforms for those same reasons. It will help the Physical Education Department make money for field trips,” Bodine said.

Kara Campbell & Alicia Mestre /News Editors “I enforced uniforms with my class last

year in Personal Fitness and Well-ness because kids don’t dress out or they come to class in ‘street clothes’.”

- Kate O’Connell, Physical Education teacher

Physical Education mandates monochromatic uniforms

Locker room construction project fails to meet completion deadline

While students were on summer break , con-struction workers were adding new facilities onto the back of the school, yet they did not finish on schedule.

Construction on the new addition to the building started in March, and work was scheduled to be completed by the first day of school. Because this goal was not met, the Orf construction crew was aiming to be finished by the end of the second week of school.

As of Aug. 30, the construction of the new varsity locker rooms was nearly finished and waiting for approval by the fire marshal for an occupancy permit.

Principal John Shaughnessy said the crew ran into a few issues they were not anticipat-ing, such as hitting a water main with cranes because of poor mapping.

This, along with unplanned rebuilding, has put the construction behind schedule.

As a part of the construction, the locker rooms used for gym classes is being redone, so until that is completed, no students in gym

classes can dress out.Physical Education Department Chair

Marty Margalski said P.E. teachers are finding this challenging because it is difficult for students to participate when they are not dressed out.

Because activities are limited, Margalski’s classes have been reviewing rules on the sports they will be playing during the semester and have used extra time as a study hall or to go to the computer lab for P.E.-related research. Other classes have been playing games.

The new addition includes a new multi-purpose room, varsity locker rooms, another elevator and a new athletic training room.

“It’s going to be a great addition to our school when it’s all completed,” Shaughnessy concluded.

McKayla Treat / Reporter

Due to the construction, students were unable to dress out, therefore unable to participate in Physical Education classes. Taking advantage of this free time, P.E. teacher Boyd Manne brought his 5th Hour class to a computer lab to research fitness related topics. (Photo by Alicia Mestre)

imageFor photos of the new

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Late for class:

News4 Sept. 3, 2010

Former swimmer seeks $75K for ‘poor recommendation’

This summer a lawsuit was filed against Rockwood by the parents of recent Lafayette graduate Shannon McCoy.

The 2010 State Champion swimmer’s parents, Peter and Marzie McCoy, filed suit against the district, Principal John Shaughnessy and College Admissions Specialist Beth Brasel.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the McCoys sued because of “a counselor’s poor recommendation which prompted [Colorado State University] to deny [Shannon McCoy’s] admission and retract a scholarship offer.”

In November 2009, McCoy made a verbal commitment and applied to CSU. She signed a letter of intent for swimming on Nov. 11.

However, at the end of March 2010, she received a call from the Executive Director of Admissions at CSU informing her she had been denied admission due to “academic perfor-mance,” Marzie McCoy said.

But, Marzie McCoy said they later heard from someone in the CSU swim program that both the recommendation and academics had played a role in Shannon’s denied admission.

The recommendation form was signed by Brasel. The Post said Brasel’s recommendation rated McCoy’s initiative, character, integrity and leadership “below average”.

Marzie McCoy, said, “Most importantly, a

pivotal piece of information that was omitted from the original [Post] article is that Ms. Bra-sel wrote and submitted the recommendation form without Shannon’s request, permission or knowledge.”

However, Guidance Department Chair Marybeth Desloge said the process does not require a student’s request or permission as it is often part of the university’s required applica-tion procedure.

Many universities require a recommenda-tion from the high school guidance department to accompany the student application.

Desloge said, “If a student applies to a college that maybe requires an evaluation or a secondary school report then [the College Ad-missions Specialist] will look at the transcript, see what courses the student has taken, what kind of grades the student has received and

look at the student’s record to see if there is any type of disciplinary record.”

She continued, “Most of the time [the College Admissions Specialist] will have met with the student, but if they haven’t, they may go talk to a teacher that student had [or] they might also talk to the student’s counselor to get some additional information besides what is already on their transcript.”

However, the McCoys told the Post the description of their daughter was “grossly inaccurate.”

After an appeal from the McCoys, CSU reversed its decision and McCoy is now attend-ing the university on a swimming scholarship.

Still, the McCoys decided to file a lawsuit. Marzie McCoy said, “Ultimately, our goals in filing the civil complaint are twofold: To get answers as to why this happened. [And] to be

a catalyst for change and oversight within the counseling department so that future graduat-ing students will always have control over their college goals.”

Since there is a pending lawsuit, neither Brasel nor Shaughnessy would comment on the issue.

District spokesperson Kim Cranston said, “The Rockwood School District and its em-ployees followed the law in this situation. Our attorneys will vigorously defend the lawsuit.”

She added, “Based on the information from the admissions office at Colorado State, the recommendation from the counselor was not the determining factor for the scholarship being rescinded. It is also important to note the scholarship has been restored to the student.”

Desloge said LHS added a College Admis-sions Specialist to its staff in the 90s to assist students with the application process.

“We have not had an incident until this [lawsuit]. It’s not like the system broke down. There was no problem with our system,” Desloge said.

She said, “LHS has a great process and it works. If there is one bad incident out of all these years of following the same process then I would say that is pretty good.”

The McCoys are seeking $75,000 for finan-cial, emotional and psychological harm they say the district caused during the three months before Colorado State reversed its decision.

An Oct. 6 court date has been set.

Chelsea Coleman / Editor in Chief “It’s not like the system broke down. There was no problem with our system.”

- Marybeth Desloge, Guidance Department Chair

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Each year, students notice the new kids, but never seem to appreciate the appearance of new staff mem-bers. This year, 18 new teachers were added to the faculty roster. Lauren Arnet Department: Family and Consumer Studies Goal: “To prepare all of my students for their lives once they leave Lafayette.” Lindsay BrockmeierDepartment: A+ Testing Coordinator Goal: “To further promote the A+ Program.” Rich Esswein Department: World Language Traditions: “Teaching case endings by chanting or by using the riff to Smoke on the Water.”

Britteny FoxDepartment: World Language Goal: “To get all of my students com-municating in Spanish both inside and outside of the classroom.” Kristi GregoryDepartment: Counselor Tradition: “Always having candy in my office.”

Adam HicksDepartment: In-School Suspension Goal: “To help students accomplish their goals, and to not come back to my classroom.” Cory HicksDepartment: Language Arts Goals: “[To make sure] everyone passes class [and] no detention slips.” Jenny IngramDepartment: Language Arts Traditions: “High Five Fridays.” Jessica KempfDepartment: Science Goal: “To become part of the school community.” Marietta KoziatekDepartment: Math Tradition: “If I make a mistake and a student catches it, he or she get a piece of candy.” Joy LampeDepartment: Art Goal: “Foster creative thought processes and excitement in my students.” Julie LimbaughDepartment: Language Arts Goal: “[To make sure] no one fails or gets kicked out of class.”

Kari PetersDepartment: Social Studies Traditions: “Stock Market Com-petition: who can make the most money?” Alicia ScheidenhelmDepartment: Science Tradition: “Maintain a caring, posi-tive classroom.”

Joel SchoedelDepartment: Physical Education Goal: “Adapt to high school, have fun and work hard.” Jodie SheadDepartment: Social Studies Goal: “Improve the history experi-ence, make history fun and develop strong relationships.”

Jonathan SumnerDepartment: Social Studies Goal: “To make each student feel a part of the ‘story’ in each history class.”

Melissa TwomblyDepartment: Library Goal: “To learn new technology.”

Dr. Bruce Borchers, the new Superintendent for the Rockwood School District, has been hard at work during the first weeks of school to get into the swing of things here in his new home.

“During the first week of school I did drop-ins at every single building, just to

say ‘hi’ and see how the first day of school went. It was a very good first week of school with no issues,” Borchers said.

He continued, “The first day I have to admit, there was some stress, but that quickly went away because our staff and our buildings are so prepared.”

Borchers said, “So that stress of the first

morning quickly disappeared, and now things are working really well.”

Borchers put together a presentation for the community that outlines his plan of actions.

“The key elements include building collaborative and team-oriented relationships, developing a more comprehensive understand-ing and knowledge about the people and community,” Borchers said.

He continued, “[The last element was] creating an environment that moves the school community forward to address both long-range and short-term academic and operational goals,” Borchers said.

When asked if he had any specific plans lined up, Borchers said, “Specific plans? No, not at this point.”

He continued, “What I will be doing is going around to all those different stakeholders [building principals and administrators] and listening to them, that way I can make some

informed decisions about any possible changes that might happen in Rockwood.”

He continued, “If anything, things will only need to be tweaked.”

Some in the community has expressed a concern that the district will receive fewer snow days due to the fact that Borchers has relocated here from Minnesota.

“I will be in communication with area superintendents during inclement weather,” Borchers said.

He continued, “Our processes won’t change as far as our internal procedures that we use as a staff here at the Central Office.”

“I don’t think students or the community have to fear, just because I’m from Minnesota or that we’ll be looking at things differently,” he said.

The district is hosting three welcome receptions for community members to meet Borchers.

The receptions will take place on Sept. 7, 15 and 21 at various locations in the district.

However, the new Superintendent has had some free time since he’s been in the area. “Going to my first Cardinals game was one of my favorite experiences,” he said.

Borchers said, “I went when Whitey [Herzog] was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Whitey Herzog night. So that was fun,”

“And dining on The Hill was one of my other favorites,” he said.

Borchers is enjoying his new job and hopes to help lead the community toward greater success in the future.

New staff members share goals, traditions

Borchers settles in as RSD Superintendent

From Left. (Top Row): Jonathan Sumner, Adam Hicks, Rich Esswein, Britteny Fox, Jenny Ingram, Kari Peters, Lauren Arnet, Joe Schoedel, Cory Hicks. (Bottom Row): Alicia Schneidenhelm, Marietta Koziatek, Joy Lampe, Julie Lim-baugh, Lindsay Brockmeier, Kristi Gregory, Melissa Twombly, Jessica Kempf, Jodie Shead. (Photo by Kara Campbell)

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Alicia Mestre and Kara Camp-bell / News Editors

Dr. Bruce Borchers

Feature6 Sept. 3, 2010

Every year it seems a new fad finds its way into the hallways. Some, like last year’s fedoras and boho maxi dresses, are acceptable. Others, like sagging pants and Crocs, students would like to say so long to.

This year it’s jeggings, 90s wear and the newest piece of arm candy: Silly Bandz. This colored silicone bracelet has become the most popular accessory.

“I first saw them at a store when I first moved here. I wear them all the time now and so do all my friends,” freshman Michael Manam said.

When he eagerly takes off his wrist full of bands, the shapes reveal themselves as types of fruit and his personal favorite, the money sign.

Manam is not the only student who enjoys the unique designs of Silly Bandz. For freshman Josie Gardner, who has been wearing the bands since the beginning of summer, said the bracelets are an interesting way of accessorizing.

“They are cool shapes and brightly colored. It makes them fun for everyone to wear,” she said.

In fact, some kids like four-year-old Bella Rowe have turned the latest accessory into a collector’s item through their avid compilations. With arms full of Silly Bandz, Rowe said she enjoys wearing them for the same reasons that she believes most high school students do.

“I like to show them off, they’re pretty and fun and cool. I wear them all the time,” Rowe said.

However, like every other fad, there are always people with different viewpoints.

“They are stupid and a waste of money. They are meant for a three-year-old,” senior Jaime Andrae said of the Silly Bandz craze.

Although many like Andrae believe the bands are childish, some students even classify them to a specific gender as well.

“They’re fine on girls, but guys shouldn’t wear them,” sophomore Brett Higgins said.

Still, others like sophomore Zach DeFelice are convinced Silly Bandz pose a greater risk to education rather than as a fashion statement.

“They have reached this popularity due to ‘tweens’ and ‘teens’ never ending quest to one up their peers and have the latest and the most cool,” DeFelice said. “I believe that they distract our youth from the already crumbling academic system in place. It would be best if Silly Bandz were forbidden in school grounds,”

While this might sound like an extreme measure, many elementary schools in New York, Texas, Florida and Massachusetts have already begun banning Silly Bandz. According to a Times News article, trading bands in school became a major distraction for students.

Trading is not only popular in primary grades, but also among high schools.

Sophomore Megan Sickinger trades her bands with all ages.

“My friend told me to buy a pack so we could trade them, and I trade them with all the kids I babysit,” Sickinger said.

Among the more sought after bands are Disney’s Mickey and friends, Monkeys Bama, Guess Who Rubba, Hipster Stretchy Shapes, Hello Kitty, USA Rubba Bandz and The Phoenix. All which range in pack prices of $10.50- 26.00, more than twice the cost for regular bands.

“I saw one shaped like a fetus once, that was pretty tight,” senior Holly Livingston said of some of the more unusual shapes she had seen.

Silly Bandz are sold in packs of 12 or 24 categorized into types of food, characters, letters and fun shapes that even glow in the dark.

The general price of a 12 pack is $2.99 or $4.99 for a 24 pack at drug stores, gas stations, and most craft and sporting goods stores.

Lafayette graduate Trevor Mulholland disagrees with the price attached to the brand’s products.

“They are an overpriced, cheaply made excuse for a kid’s toy,” Mulholland said.

But in response to the continual popularity of Silly Bandz, he has his own theory.

“I’m sure someone on some stupid hyped up MTV show wore them one time,” so now it’s the coolest thing,” Mulholland said. “[The trend won’t stop] until Snooki or L.C. or whoever started it stops or overdoes it.”

But for the Walgreens in Wildwood Town Center, noticeable declines in Silly Bandz sales prompts Assistant Manager Martha Nagesh to believe the trend might be facing the beginning of the end.

“We first got them in mid April. We had a hard time getting them in because they were in such demand. Sales were booming the first two months, but in June sales started to trickle off because everyone that wanted some already got them,” Nagesh said.

The Silly Bandz are advertised in a central island near the middle of the store, separated into five adjoining containers.

“Kids aged seven to 12 usually come in with their parents to buy them,” she said when asked to describe the typical customer.

Although band sales haven’t picked up much since their arrival to Walgreens, Silly Bandz ring sales are on the rise. The rings are simply a smaller version of the bracelet that fits around a finger.

“Overall, they are dying of substantial sales, and I don’t believe they will be around that much longer. It’s another Zhu Zhu Pets,” Nagesh said.

While Nagesh may be right about the Silly Bandz fad, students will continue to wear the infamous wristbands until it becomes time to shelve the trend in the closet of 2010.

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Your source for high school news, sports and lifestyle!

The football season opener was a bitter battle between Eureka and Lafayette. It was a battle for more than a victory: it was a fight for bragging rights on Highway 109. Tensions ran high during the game due to Lafayette’s newfound sports rivalry with Eureka, but by the end, Eureka had prevailed.

However, this clash goes beyond a single football game. Rivalries within the Rockwood School District have always existed and are ever-changing.

For most of Lafayette’s recent history, it has seemed that Marquette was the biggest competition.

The rivalry emerged in 1992 when Lafayette split into two schools. Half remained Lafayette students and half became Marquette students. Lafayette, whose previous primary rivals on the field were Parkway West and Parkway South, had found itself a new foe within the district. The contention between LHS and MHS quickly gained intensity.

But, just a few years ago a new player has entered into the scene. Eureka High School, just a few miles down Highway 109, moved into Lafayette’s Conference for several sports in 2009 and became the team to beat.

Brought on by Eureka’s desire to beat LHS, the Wildcats view the Lancers as a more serious obstacle than their previous opponent, Rockwood Summit.

"[LHS] is a team that plays at our level more than any other teams we play," senior and EHS varsity football player Mikey Canamore said.

“Eureka is better at sports than Marquette, so there is more competition and the games are more intense with [Eureka],” Superfans captain junior Kyle Glennon said.

Lafayette football players agree.“Eureka, in my opinion, is the more serious rival at this moment,” junior

and varsity football player Will DuPont said. On the other hand, Marquette students are feeling the absence of Lafay-

ette’s attention.“When did Lafayette dump us?” Marquette senior Lexie Wendell said. However, for some LHS students who had previous ties to the school,

Marquette is still Lafayette’s main rival. “I went to Crestview, so I know all the kids from Marquette and beating

them is more important to me,” junior Curtis Gill said. Regardless of opinions, the statistics show which school is LHS’s true

competitor in football. Last year, Lafayette went 8-4, Eureka went 5-5 and Marquette went 2-8. This year and last, the so called “Battle of 109” has been fueled by Eureka’s

distribution of T-shirts proclaiming an epic battle between the two high schools on the same stretch of highway.

Eureka junior Lauren Skornia believes the purpose of the T-shirts illustrates Eureka’s ferocity and desire to be on top of the sports scene.

“[The T-shirts] identify Eureka fans from the crowd. The fact that [EHS and LHS] are both on [Highway] 109 makes it more important,” Skornia said.

Eureka’s spirit organization, similar to LHS’s Superfans, is known as Catpound and the members purchase the majority of these T-shirts.

But, Eureka students believe a victory has more to do with their school pride than their team's record.

“We’re more than what people think we are. We’ve heard Eureka’s not one of the teams to be looking at and we want to prove them wrong,” Canamore said.

With all the talk of who Lafayette’s main competitor is, it seems as though one of the four Rockwood high schools is left out of the picture: Rockwood Summit.

The distance between LHS and the other schools properly illustrates why Summit is not considered one of Lafayette’s main contenders.

The mileage from Lafayette to Summit is just under 17 miles, whereas Eureka is just under six miles away and Marquette is a mere five miles away. The geographic isolation of Summit is reflected in the attitudes of students at Lafayette.

“[RSHS] are really far away and they don’t compete with us for anything,” Glennon said.

On the other hand, some students at Summit don’t feel isolated at all.

“I feel like we’re a school like any other Rockwood school. The Superinten-dent comes to our events just like those of any other school. We may be farther away, but we are still a part of things. I don’t see why anyone would suggest otherwise,” RSHS senior Jessica Seiter said.

But it’s more than just sports. The matter of who dominates the sports scene also begs the question of which school is on top of academics.

Without fail, Lafayette has led the four schools in composite ACT score, dropout rate, percent of graduates who took the ACT and graduation rate for the past four years.

LHS was also the pioneer school for the Flex program, which has been in effect since the 1970s. Other Rockwood high schools have just recently introduced the program into their schools.

Yet, there is one aspect of Eureka that blows Lafayette away: school spirit and game attendance.

“Eureka fans follow football in large numbers and always attend the games. For us, not so much. The culture of their community is that they really follow high school activities. We have good support, just not the sheer numbers they have,” Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said.

Skornia responded similarly. “We are a family, that’s why we’re better. Ask anybody, any student or any

teacher. We all stick together, and I don’t think [LHS] has that,” Skornia said. This can be seen even in the school spirit weeks during Homecoming

last year. Eureka's Homecoming canned food drive boasted record breaking numbers, whereas Lafayette seemed mediocre in comparison.

On the field and off, students at all four Rockwood schools admit they are always keeping score between the schools. The desire to be the best in sports drives teams to push themselves just a little bit harder when a district rival on the playing field.

Likewise, nothing beats bragging rights for ACT scores or MAP results. And, though as a district, academic performance is always above the state averages, each school would like to take the first place slot in district results.

Clearly, the battle rages on.

Feature8 Sept. 3, 2010 Feature 9

marquetteGraduation Rate - 95.9%Attendance - 94.1%Drop-out Rate -1.3%Graduates Taking ACT -82.7%Composite ACT score - 24.4

rockwood summitGraduation Rate - 92.3%Attendance - 93.7%Drop-out Rate - 1.8%Graduates Taking ACT - 80%Composite ACT score - 22.7

eurekaGraduation Rate - 93.5%Attendance - 94.4%Drop-out Rate -1.5%Graduates Taking ACT - 82.7%Composite ACT score - 24.2

lafayetteGraduation Rate - 98%Attendance - 94.5Drop-out Rate- 0.5%Graduates Taking ACT - 88.9%Composite ACT score - 25.2

CaretoCompare?It’s a numbers game as 2009 ACT,

dropout rate from 2009 and more show how Rockwood schools add up.

Though we may have lost the battle, we are still winning the war.

1. Waving the flag wildly, Senior Women show their Lancer pride. 2. It was a sea of purple as Eureka’s CatPound made some noise. 3. Eureka fans paint themselves purple. 4. At the Superfans tailgate, se-niors Cam Kennedy and Aaron Platts suit up with black bodypaint. 5. Superfans like sophomore Sarah Chapekis showed up in all sorts of spirit wear for the game.

1 2

3 4

5

Alyssa Knowling & Hannah Boxerman / Reporters

ofBattle Highway 109

Sports10 Sept. 3, 2010

Junger Rocks The ‘Worlds’:Student travels to Figure Skating World Championships, takes gold

A lot of students spend summers playing and traveling for sports. However, few can say they earned a World Championship medal doing it.

Junior Ashley Junger is one of those few.She traveled to the Ice Skating Institute’s

30th Annual World Team Championships in Boston from July 26-31. The competition included over 1,500 skaters in over 900 events.

Junger competed in three events: Level 4 Solo Compulsory Dance, Freestyle 4 and Rhythmic Ribbon.

“I was the only person from my rink [Hardee’s Iceplex in Chesterfield Valley]to go, and yet we still didn’t do too bad. Even though it was just my scores, we ranked somewhere in the 40s out of 63 teams,” she said.

She continued, “I went with my aunt, uncle and my cousin who also skates, so I got a lot of support from them and their team.”

Junger trained for months on one routine, a frustrating but rewarding process.

“Figure skating is a very difficult sport. When you’re learning a trick you fall down, you fall down, you fall down, maybe you land it and then you fall down some more,” Junger said.

“When it’s finally time to compete you just have to have faith in what you’ve learned and pray that you land it when it really counts.”

Though she took fourth and sixth in the Solo Compulsory Dance and Rhythmic Ribbon respectively, Junger’s biggest success came in

the Freestyle 4. The Freestyle event is a routine set to music,

with specific tricks and skills. She skated to Weasley Stomp by Nicholas Hooper from the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

She said, “Learning routines takes a lot of time. You have to practice until you can do it without even thinking. I trained for this particular routine for about three months, so it was a lot of hard work.”

Junger took first place in the Freestyle 4. “After the events, we all rush to the results area where a runner posts the score list,” Junger said.

“It gets pretty crazy with all of us shoving to see the list first. Once I found out I was first I just thought, ‘awesome!’” Junger said.

After learning that she was first, she received her gold medal.

“I got to go up to the podium and get my picture taken,” she said. “It was really, really exciting.”

Junger is now back to training, working on new skills in order to move up to the next level.

“I’m currently trying to master what I need to learn to move up to level five,” she said. “So, hopefully I will be competing at the next level at the Sweetheart Open in January.”

chesterfield@stlouislearning.com • www.stlouislearning.comCall us today! (636) 536-6240

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St.LouisSt.Louis

Christine Jackson / Sports Editor

Ashley Junger shows her first place medal. “Going into Worlds, my goal was just to not fall, so winning was awe-somely spectacular,” she said.Hooked to the practice harness, Junger practices her axel. It is one of the skills which she must perfect to advance to level five. (Photos by Christine Jackson)image

For video of Junger’s skating, go

to:

[lhs.com]

[ ]

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Sports11 [the]image

As in any sport, off-season preparation has become a growing necessity among high school athletes.

Whether it is through instructed workouts or just team play, many players look to gain a competitive edge by any means necessary.

However, with a variety of summer teams available, local girls volleyball clubs have continued to feed into high school programs around the St. Louis area.

Club teams such as Rockwood Thunder, St. Louis CYC and St. Louis High Performance are of the many that offer elite level play.

Still, the sport’s competitive nature is backed by a combination of the country’s best players, coaches and the possibility of being recruited by college scouts.

“I think it’s competitive because kids want to win. The more a team wins the more notoriety they get. A lot of kids know that if they play on a good club team, they’ll get seen by a college coach,” girls volleyball Head Coach Steve Burkard said.

This year, Burkard’s varsity lineup consists of all players who take part in club programs during the spring and summer where the level of competition is the same, if not higher than that

of the regular high school volleyball season.

With this, players are transitioning from a schedule made up of out-of-town tournaments and showcases to league games within their respective Conferences.

“It helps our intensity because it’s still up from the club season, so coming off a higher tempo helps,” senior co-captain Abby Moser said.

Moser is a senior libero, who played on one of the 17U Rockwood Thunder teams during club season.

She has also accepted a scholarship to play at Truman State next fall.

However unlike a traditional high school roster, which can have a variety of student athletes ranging from fresh-men to seniors, club programs often place players on specific teams based solely on age group.

Having players that are involved in their sport year round also helps to eliminate “off years” in high school athletics because players are seeing constant playing time by the start of their school seasons.

“They don’t really have a lot of off time. Because they’re touching the ball year round there’s going to be more consistency. I think our middle school teachers are doing a good job of teach-ing volleyball fundamentals so our kids have a good base,” Burkard said.

The Rockwood School District also hosts its own version of the sport through the Rockwood Volleyball Tournament, in which each middle school selects a group of students to represent their individual grade level.

These teams then compete against one another to determine a District champion.

“I think one thing that’s very power-ful about it is that some boys that would never consider volleyball really start to like it. I think it opens windows for the boys and girls since we don’t have interscholastic sports,” Assistant Coach Sue Tillery said.

In addition to working with the Lady Lancer volleyball teams, Tillery is also a physical education teacher at Rockwood Valley Middle School and is the coach of their 7th and 8th grade teams in the competition.

Before the team’s season opener on Aug. 31 against St. Joseph’s Academy, the Lady Lancers will look to combine the skills and talents each player has developed while on their club teams.

They will also try to incorporate their newly honed attributes and use them as building blocks for their success this year.

“Since all these girls come from so many different club teams, we’re going to have to blend those together to form a unit,” Burkard said.

Club team experience fuels Lafayette volleyball program

Although the club teams they play on differ, the Lady Lancer volleyball team comes together for high school play. “Whatever strengths they have from the club season, we’re going to try to blend them together,” Head Coach Steve Burkard said. (Top Row) Maddie Johnson, Darcy Moore, Marilyn Dick, Maddie Jones, Stephanie Campbell, Melanie Crow, Allie Novak. (Bottom Row) Abby Finder, Grace Kiely, Abbey Moser, Jordan Vehlewald, Alyssa Byars. (Photo courtesy of Steve Burkard)

Dom Corvington / Reporter A Year In A

Volleyball Life

• Each player on this year’s varsity team played club during the off season -Rockwood Thunder: 7 -St. Louis CYC: 3 -Team Momentum: 2

•St. Louis-based club team tryouts for Girls U15-U18 will run Nov. 19-21

• During the club season, teams usually participate in 3-5 travel tournaments

•Club teams also compete in National Championships held for each age group in cities through-out the country

Sports12 Sept. 3, 2010

Last seasonSenior Kurtis Harshman earned All-State honors

Key Returning BoysSenior Kurtis HarshmanSophomore Derek Legenzoff

Key Returning GirlsJuniors Maddie Henning, Hannah ThuraufSophomores Amy Bower, Grace Bueckendorf, Jessy Maddox

On the effect of summer’s heat, Coach Randy Seagrist said, “People who are serious run-ners run despite the weather. Runners who aren’t running use it as an excuse.”

Last season18-4 record, loss in State semifinal

Key Returning Players Seniors Abbey Angevine, Lindsay CarrSophomore Kate Barber

The team will play the annual Gateway Classic at Fenton’s Anheuser Busch Soccer Park, with games to beginning on Sept. 3 and running through Labor Day weekend.

“I think just playing a team game is important. We need to be able to utilize a variety of players,” Coach Kate O’Connell said.

Season so far3-0, 1st at Kickapoo Tourney

Key returning playersSeniors Chelsea Coleman, Jackie Legner, Maddie RollJunior Chelsea Weise

Newcomers to watchFreshman Haleigh Choba-nian, Arianna Demos

Coach Donna Stauffer called the squad her “best team ever”

“We have more kids ranked in the area than we’ve had. We have the potential to beat any varsity team in the area,” Stauffer said.

Last seasonConference title, top 20 finish at State

Key Returning SwimmersSenior Alex VavraJuniors Lucas Bruder, Alec MorganSophomore John Glaser

Newcomers to watchFreshman Patrick Vega arrives with experience in Olympic-level junior events.

“We’re a better team and much stronger this year. We will be pretty strong in the 200 and 400 relays and also the 400 and 500 [freestyles]” Coach Todd Gabel said.

Last seasonFinished sixth in State Class 2 with four of the five ahead of them being private schools

Key Returning GolfersSenior Kelly Lamarche,Juniors Claire Norfleet, Mad-die Van HouseSophomore Ashton Goldam-mer

Newcomers to watchSeniors Nicole Belinski, Kendra Fulmer

“We lost two seniors who were a big part of last season, but it is possible we could go back to State again,” Assistant Coach Danna Phillips said.

Cross Country Field Hockey Girls Golf Boys Swimming Girls TennisSoftballSeason so far2-0

Key returning playersSeniors Dana Lawson, Kate WeinzirlSophomores Ashley Parks. Mara Worley

Newcomers to watchJuniors Linsey Button, Paige How-ard, Sarah Martinez, Meredith McGhee, Kourtney Mueller, Lizzi Reynolds, Monica WinckelFreshman Jessica Andrews

“[Our goal] is to win a State Championship. We dedicate ourselves to getting better each day we step on the field,” Coach Scott DeNoyer said.

Fall sports get underway after warm pre-season

If the Lancers are to recapture their 2008 Conference title, they will have to overcome a 28-0 opening loss to Eureka. But it takes more than that to shake the team’s focus.

“Our goal is the same every year. We want to improve every game and win a Conference championship. Then we want to make it to the State playoffs,” Coach Boyd Manne said.

The team will have to replace offensive workhorse Kyle Green, who accounted for more touchdowns than any three of his teammates combined and was the Conference’s second-leading rusher last season.

And for the second year, the team will have a new quarterback as junior Will Dupont moves from wide receiver to take over the play-calling duties.

With good passing skills and rushing speed to match, he should lead an explosive attack.

“He’s an athletic quarterback who can run and throw. He’s a dual threat,” Manne said. “Our offensive style will match our person-nel. We have good skill and an outstanding offensive line so we can run and pass.”

With the offense in transition, the defense will return seven starters. Seniors Al Nesbitt, Aareon Smith and Thomas Swoboda will be the cornerstones of a unit that allowed just 13 points per game last season.

“We need to get everybody on the ball on tackles and knowing their assignments. And getting turnovers is important and stopping teams on third down,” Swoboda said.

imageFor updated sports cover-

age, go to[lhs

.com][ ]

Football hopes to rebound from rough start in home opener

Soccer kicks off season with upperclassmen at the helm

Girls volleyball seeks breatkthrough after consecutive exits against St. Joe’s

Coming off an 11-6-1 season, the varsity boys soccer team has high hopes for the 2010 season.

“The goal is always to compete for the conference title and to have a chance at the end to play for the District title,” Coach Tim Walters said.

Though the team graduated six players, Walters is confident in his upperclassmen-filled roster.

“We lost some good players, but should recover,” Walters said.

“[I’m] really excited about the amount of seniors, new players will come into the mix more next season.”

The team’s roster boasts 13 returning seniors, as well as five returning juniors.

Like most teams, boys soccer had some trouble in the preseason getting practice time due to the excessive heat.

With heat indexes in the low hundreds, the team had to move around practices and work with what they were allowed.

This cut down their chances to get in much strategy and positioning.

“Just getting outside would have been nice,” Walters said.

He continued, “Looking for who can play where and strategy will come into play the final week of preparation.”

The Lancers have already faced Notre Dame and Kirkwood, with those scores not available in time for print.

At a preseason practice, junior Cole Reynolds takes a shot on goal. (Photo by Gian Wessel)

Sean McIntyre / Reporter

Following a 27-6-1 season, the girls volleyball team is preparing to continue their winning ways this year.

The Lancers season finished early last year with a 2-1 loss to St. Joe’s in Sectionals.

To avenge last year’s early exit, the team will have to fight through one of the most difficult schedules in the state with matches against St. Joe’s, St. Francis Borgia, Incarnate Word Academy, Marquette, Oakville and Eureka.

“We have no gimmies this season, it is

going to be dog eat dog from game one until the last game,” Coach Steve Burkard said. “We look to be a contender for the Suburban West title as well as the District title.”

Key players returning to the team include seniors Maddie Johnson, Darcy Moore, Abby Moser and junior Marilyn Dick.

“Moser is one of our best defensive players, we have moved Dick from middle to the out-side, Maddie Johnson is steady in the middle and Darcy Moore has been a very pleasant surprise,” Burkard said.

Lafayette has established itself as a local

powerhouse. The team has gone 88-16-2 over the past three seasons, and have never ranked below eighth in the state in that time.

This gives the Lancers very good reason for having lofty goals every season.

The rough schedule will test the Lancers this season, but Burkard thinks that it will help prepare them for the postseason.

The level of talent that the team displays early on this year has Coach Burkard excited as to what is to come. “With all of the talent we have on this years team, the sky is the limit really,” Burkard said.

Everyone’sGot Game

Gian Wessel,Sports Editor

Why we watch school sports

Let me ask you something: Would you rather see the Lafayette football team lose 28-0, or the girls swim team win a State title?

If you answered football, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re one of the nearly 2,000 LHS fans who did just that when the Lancers visited Eureka on Aug. 27.

Sadly, most of us would choose football even if we knew those results in advance.

It says something about our motivations for going to watch the school’s sporting events. It’s a question of why people always choose to watch one team, no matter how good or bad they might play, rather than one that constantly produces wins and success.

The answer is obvious. Football is simply more fun to watch than just about any other sport. People love watching football because it’s exciting and fast-paced. They love seeing big hits and long touchdown plays.

And, that’s all that people really want. High school students go to games to be entertained and have fun, not necessarily to follow the team. They are not concerned with records or stats.

The Lancers could have gone 0-10 last year, like Mehlville did, and Eureka still would have been packed with kids just looking to have a good time. And, Mehlville was probably packed, too.

Even Superfans have their standards. Their sole purpose is to attend games and support our teams when they need it most. But even they weren’t interested enough make a trip to Rec Plex in St. Peters for the State swim meet last March.

It seems we only support our teams if they provide us something besides just a victory.

Christine Jackson / Sports Editor Gian Wessel / Sports Editor

Opinions13 [the]image

The Image wants to formally thank the Rockwood School District for action they took late last spring. Rockwood School District Regulation 2911 - Official High School Student Publications states in part that, “Official school publications are not subject to review prior to publication or distribution.”

That means that the student editors are responsible for the content and coverage of the student newspaper, online site and yearbook.

We would also like to express gratitude to our school’s administration for never making this an issue to begin with here.

Prior review is a practice that has the ability to severely hamper a student publication’s ability to freely function without the worry of being censored by the administration.

Rockwood has recently furthered the protection of our Constitutional right to freedom of expression by setting in stone a policy that protects student publications from this practice.

We feel blessed to live in one of the greatest nations in the world, where we have the right to

freely express our opinions, even though some in this day and age believe we should have less freedom than our elders.

We are also lucky to live in one of the best districts in the country, which provides us with an opportunity to excel without interference to our skills, creativity and beliefs.

Student Publications provide a forum for students’ thoughts and opinions.

We try to inform our readers, who happen to also be our peers, about the issues relevant to them.

We strive to provide news, entertainment and commentary for our classmates and community.

However, our efforts alone will not suffice. We rely on the student body, and this is your

space to take advantage of your right to free speech as well.

It is necessary that our peers participate by commenting on online stories, suggesting story ideas, participating in an interview or poll or just simply submitting a letter to the editor with your thoughts and opinions.

Without the student body partaking in our efforts, our newspaper would simply wither away.

If students would make an extraordinary effort at involving themselves, we would be greatly appreciative.

Your participation is vital in protecting all our rights to speak out.

As the adage goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Yes 57%

No 43%

“The school made concessions for the students but still manages to keep things in order.” - Alex Spradlin, 12

“I don’t understand why we can’t check our own email at school. We will just check them on our phones.” - Jillian Kirwin, 12

“Sometimes the filters block some-thing that just doesn’t need to be blocked.” - Mark Farmer, 9

“It is going much better than last year.” - Corrine Murphy, 11

[the]imageStaff

Editorial

District decision concerning prior review highlights importance of student publications

Santi Diz

What others

thought

*119 students polled

Do you believe the district’s

communicationpolicy is

reasonable?

This month the Image asks...

Opinions14 Sept. 3, 2010

Cell phone policy is just a small step forwardTomorrow’s Answers Today

CalebCavarretta

OpinionsEditor

On The ContraryMax Thoman

Managing Editor

Today, some of our most cherished possessions are our ability to acquire information and communicate both openly and freely.

As the late president Ronald Reagan said, “Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.”

Facebook, Myspace and Twitter have all become almost essential parts of a teenagers life.

Cell phones are a necessity for social, school-related and work-related reasons.

Even though Rockwood has made an important step by allowing the use of cell phones inside of school during lunch and passing periods, the district still has significant issues with its poli-cies when it comes to communication.

Rockwood continues to imple-ment policies that hurt the free flow of information that is so important in modern society.

Our ability to study the world around us is severely hampered on school grounds.

One of the primary forms of com-munication for teenagers, Facebook, is banned in school.

Commentary in the form of online blogs and forums are blocked on computers. Our very own private email accounts were taken away from us, and exchanged for school monitored replacement email accounts.

Even a site that could have countless educational uses, YouTube, falls under the wall of Internet restrictions.

Yet, even in the face of all these restrictions on our ability to acquire

information, students have developed many ways to maneuver around them.

While on the computers, the only way to avoid the restrictions would be through Internet proxies.

The more popular approach is to simply access these things using a phone or other handheld with Internet access. This method has become even more effortless due to the new district cell phone policy.

The fact of the matter is, it is time that the district abandons its relic policies.

The current statutes attempt to exchange freedom of information on behalf of supposed security for students, but really all it is doing is hampering our ability to do what we would have done regardless of school regulations.

The core problem with the district’s

policies is how they are executed.When it comes to communication,

whether it be the use of cell phones or the Internet, classroom policies should be up to the teacher’s discretion.

If a teacher feels that YouTube can prove to be a valuable tool, then they should have the ability to allow its use in class.

If a teacher feels that Facebook will prove to be only a distraction, then that should be enforced as a classroom policy.

Decentralized authority over the issue is the best policy that the district can pursue.

Students should have a more free and liberal learning environment to study in. Besides, in the age of informa-tion, free access to the Internet should be utilized as a learning experience.

Combat troop pullout not end of Iraq conflictSeven years and five months after the United States invaded Iraq, the date Aug. 18, 2010 secured its place in history by signifying the withdrawal of the final U.S. combat troops.

It will, and rightfully should be, remembered as a day of joy for the families of the final combat troops to be returning home, not to mention for every American who now can be ensured of the safety of our troops.

The militaristic side of the war is finally drawing to a close and that is something to celebrate.

It’s something to be thankful for. It’s something to be proud of. Still, one general fact remains:

The war is not over.As bad as that sounds, it is the

truth.Accordingly, President Obama

has been particularly careful to choose his words on this subject. He released a statement on Aug. 18 in which he stated, though with little emotion, “Shortly after taking office, I put forward a plan to end the war in Iraq responsibly. Today, I’m pleased to report that -- thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and civilians in Iraq -- our combat mission will end this month, and we will complete a substantial drawdown of our troops.”

The lack of a celebration here, or more importantly the lack of a banner which screams “Mission Accomplished” amid the clutter of patriotism, is in good taste.

The fact is, the United States still

has 50,000 troops located through-out Iraq, and though they are to be non-combat troops, they will have to deal with targeting and tension that will remain in Iraq long after the United States officially leaves the country.

Because of this unfortunate fact and based on the past seven years, it is hard to imagine our final year in Iraq void of some casualties or skirmishes.

The citizens of Iraq are also a large part of the reason why the troop withdrawal should be celebrated but down played. Iraq is still in desperate need of a strong military, government, and police presence to help them sustain a peaceful and safe state, which is something that we, the people who have completely recreated Iraq’s system, must give them.

Therefore, President Obama declared, “As agreed to with the Iraqi government, we will maintain a tran-sitional force until we remove all our troops from Iraq by the end of next year. And during this period, our forces will have a focused mission, supporting and training Iraqi forces, partnering with Iraqis in counterter-rorism missions, and protecting our civilian and military efforts.”

Though President Obama wishes to withdraw the remaining troops by the end of next year, the United States presence in Iraq is far from over.

President Obama’s “focused

mission” is one that will take much more than a year.

It is true that civilian casualties tally only 1,366 compared with the 34,500 civilian casualties in 2006. However, this number is still a testa-ment to the unfortunate power of the insurgencies still operating in Iraq.

As long as this number lives as a statistic in the U.S., it will be hard for us to leave Iraq completely.

We will be slowly, but surely, handing over the control of Iraq to its armies within this upcoming year.

But, because of the extent of our involvement there, it will be difficult to ever leave the country.

The involvement itself covers the realms of time, money and most importantly, the human cost must be factored into the equation.

Obviously, we have spent over seven years in Iraq.

However, what many do not understand is the true financial cost of such a war.

The total cost of Operation Iraqi Freedom (depending on estimates) was about $748.2 billion. Add that to the projected cost of veterans’ health care and disability claims, and the price tag will raise $422 billion to $717 billion.

Overall, the cost of this war will be in the trillions, as the United States spends around $2 billion per week on this front according to the Congressional Research Service.

The final component to this powerful cocktail is the human cost

of the war. So far, the number of U.S. deaths

is estimated at 4,394 with 31,768 wounded.

The total deaths from the Iraq war is estimated between 110,663 and 119,380, with between 96,037 and 104,754 of these being civilians.

The invasion and subsequent war have caused 2.6 million people to be displaced and 1.9 million to become refugees.

Too many Americans have lost their lives for our involvement to end now.

Too many Iraqi’s have lost their homes and loved ones for this to be the way we leave Iraq.

The American way dictates blood, sweat and tears, and so we will just keep on working towards a better Iraq.

These costs: time, financial and human, will keep the United States and Iraq tied at the hip and will keep the United States will be involved in Iraq for the foreseeable future, both as a guardian and as a helping hand.

Our history dictates this. We invaded, we deposed and

now we must restore. We must restore peace, stability,

and control. It is our duty, and we owe it to the people.

Thus, the United States will be entering a new phase in our intricate history within Iraq on Sept. 1 as we transfer from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn. And I wish us luck.

Stars to: Gripes to:• The ever continuing construction behind the school. Construction has become a continual part of Lafayette culture.

• The fact that five years after Hurricane Katrina, thousands are still misplaced. It is a tragedy that has yet to be corrected.

• Flash Games being blocked on the Rockwood network this year. Now kids may need to actually work in the computer labs.

• The new Physical Education dress code. While incoming freshmen may not be that heartbroken, older students may have to battle painful memories of middle school gym class.

• Final combat troops leaving Iraq and returning to their families. They deserve the upmost respect for the sacrifices they have made for over seven years.

• Rockwood for changing their obsolete cell phone policy. Now students can much more easily warn fellow classmates about pop quizzes.

• The planned redesign of the St. Louis Arch Grounds. The area has not been heavily changed since the 1904 World’s fair preparations, and is in dire need of improvement.

• The Rams for having a better record in the pre-season then they did in last year’s regular season. Since it is the Rams, this might not last.

stars & gripes

Picks of the Month

Movie:MacheteMachete breaks into theatres Sept. 3. After making its first preview before Quentin Tarantino’s double premier, this long-awaited action flick starring Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez from directors Robert Rodriquez and Ethan Maniquis.

Album:2-Pac: Greatest HitsAn ensemble of renowned tracks from a legendary rap figure during the “Golden Years” of his career, a nice refresher from the bubble-gum hip hop that has mucked up our stereos.

Event:Rams Season OpenerThe St. Louis Rams 2010 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals is at the Edward Jones Dome on Sept. 12. Rookie Sam Bradford could be exactly what the Rams need to pull them out of their slump.

Game:Starcraft II: Wings of LibertyStarcraft II: Wings of Liberty, released in late July is the follow up to the 1998 real-time strategy game, which is actually a profes-sional sport in South Korea.

Book:Under The DomeStephen King’s most recent novel is about a town which suddenly becomes trapped under a clear dome-like structure that isolates them from the outside world, turning the town upside down as inside forces struggle for power.

Film Releases: Sept. 1 The American My Dog Tulip

Sept. 3Going the Distance Machete Last Train Home We Are FamilyWhite Wedding

Sept. 10Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D Bran Nue Dae CracksI’m Still HereLegendaryLovely, StillThe Romantics The Virginity Hit

Sept. 15Never Let Me Go

Sept. 17Easy A The TownAlpha and Omega CatfishDevilIntent Jack Goes BoatingLeaves of Grass The Wild Hunt Sept. 22You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger

Sept. 24Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’HooleWall Street: Money Never SleepsYou AgainBuriedEnter the VoidHowl Tibet in Song Waiting for Superman

Album Releases :Sept. 7N.E.R.D.- NothingKid Rock- Born Free

Sept. 14David Archuleta- Other side of DownLinkin Park- A Thousand SunsRobert Plant- Band Of JoyTrey Songz- Passion, Pain and PleasureWeezer- Hurley

Sept. 21Anberlin- Dark Is The Way, Light Is A PlaceJohn Legend and The Roots- Wake Up!Maroon 5- Hand All OverNe-Yo: Libra Scale

Sept. 28Kenny Chesney- Hemmingway’s WhiskeyEric Clapton- ClaptonDoobie Brothers- World Gone CrazyIce Cube- I Am The WestJeezy- TM103Jimmy Eat World- InventedT.I.- King Uncaged

Area Concerts:The Pageant Sept. 5: 117 DaysSept. 10: Lisa LampanelliSept. 11: Here Come the MummiesSept. 18: Corey SmithSept. 19: Sharon Jones & The Dap KingsSept. 24: The Avett BrothersSept. 29: Straight No ChaserSept. 30: The National

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Sept. 18: KSHE95 Pig RoastSept. 25: Kings of Leon

Family Arena Sept. 4: Heart Sept. 30: Stone Temple Pilots

Art Fair at Queeny Park Sept. 3-5 Location: Queeny Park Admission: $5/18 and under freeHours: Friday 6-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Big Muddy Blues Festival Sept. 4-5 Location: Laclede’s LandingAdmission: FreeHours: noon-midnight

Greek Festival Sept. 4-6Location: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church; 4967 Forest Park Blvd. Contact: 314-361-6924Hours: Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.Admission: Free

Labor Day Parade Sept. 6Location: Soldier’s Memorial, downtown Hours: Begins at 9 a.m. Route: Olive at 15th Street and proceeds east to Tucker, south on Tucker to Market and west on Market to 15th Street

27th Great Fire Engine Rally Sept. 11 Location: Lenora K. Sullivan Blvd., St. Louis Riverfront Start Time: 10 a.m.

2010 Saint Louis Art Fair Sept. 10-12 Location: Downtown ClaytonContact: 314-863-0278Admission: FreeHours: Friday 5-10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Midwest Air ShowSept. 11-12 Location: Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, ILContact: 615-256-4241Admission: FreeHours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Greater St. Louis Hispanic FestivalSept. 10-12 Location: Soldier’s Memorial Park, Market & 14th StreetsHours: Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.Admission: Free

Great Forest Park Balloon GlowSept. 17 Location: Central Field in Forest ParkTime: 7-8 p.m. Admission: Free

Great Forest Park Balloon RaceSept. 18Location: Central Field in Forest ParkTime: noon- 6:30 p.m.Admission: Free

Thingstodo in SeptemberLabor Day?Time to Play!

Infotainment 15 [the]image

Check out these area fairs, special events to say farewell to lazy days of summer

Adam Harris makes entertainment choices for Sept.

Since the release of Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001 by Bun-gie Software, the franchise has set a worldwide standard for the FPS (First Person Shooter) genre.

The release of Halo 2 in 2004 upped the ante, particu-larly in the realm of multiplayer modes and once again set the template for how most online FPS went about ranking players and finding suitable matches.

“Halo 2 was my favorite. It took everything good about the first Halo and added a seamless multiplayer system that was like nothing else out at the time,” senior Rory Trankler said.

Adding competitive edge, gamers found “glitches” in the game to gain an upper hand against their opponents.

“There were glitches you could use from super jumps to cheating with the button movement such as B-X-R which was a little cheat to punch the enemy and then immediately shoot him for the kill,” senior Ryan Mead said.

Then, on Sept. 25, 2007, Halo 3 was released complet-ing the Halo trilogy and ending the campaign mode where gamers played as Master Chief.

“Halo 2 was just building on Halo 3 and it’s not a bad game but there was just nothing too special about it,” former Lafayette student Joe Longo said.

Nearly two years after Halo 3, an expansion was released under the title Halo 3: ODST on Sept. 22, 2009.

“I felt like [it] was more about downloadable content than a full addition to the series,” Trankler explained.

Now with the buzz of the final installment in the fran-chise, Halo: Reach, to be released on Sept. 14, 2010 gamers have high hopes that it will live up to previous titles.

“The different armor abilities definitely change the game play. Being able to fly, sprint, become invisible and invulnerable might be fun to play with,” Longo said.

“Halo: Reach feels like Bungie’s last gasping breath of their franchise,” Trankler said.

“I’m looking forward to see how the close combat beat down moves work. It would be cool if they did it how they did in Gears of War with all the different kills you could do when your enemy is down. Also, this makes it more interesting than in Halo 3 where a large portion of fights can consist of taking the assault rifle and running towards someone holding “R” then pressing “B” once you get close enough to beat them down,” he added.

Bungie released a beta version of Reach where players could play multiplayer modes and give the developers feedback before the final product was made.

“During the short time the beta was playable I would almost forget that I was playing Halo at times. There are a few changes that have deviated the game from a lot of things I really enjoyed about the previous Halo games,” Longo said.

“Somebody that loves Call of Duty 4 and thinks it’s the greatest game ever, this game might be fun for a little while without complaint,” Longo added.

Mead, also a beta tester, said, “One feature I was not very fond of was the ammunition for the Battle Rifle because it now has a single shot rather than a three round burst, which will increase the amount of times you will have to reload. But, this cannot be certain due to the beta which was to see what players enjoyed so this might change for the game.”

“The invulnerable armor ability is annoying. When I played the beta it made me pretty angry that bad kids could become invulnerable at any time and just run away after the ability has worn off,” Longo said.

“Being able to roll and sprint isn’t something I’m looking forward too. This game has almost a CoD (Call of Duty) feel instead of Halo like it should be. It’s like Bungie ‘noobed’ up Halo,” Longo added.

Despite the reactions of beta testers, gamers have to wait until the release on Sept. 14 to decide if Reach can live up to the previous titles, being the final installment.

“It’s always been a good game and I think it’s pushed video game developers to create better games to try to beat the precedents of Halo. It really showed people legitimate professional gaming, that’s pretty cool,” Longo said.

A Decade Later:Halo saga comes to an end with ReachAdam Harris / Entertainment Editor

Set to be released Sept. 14, Halo: Reach will be the final installment in the Halo franchise after nearly 10 years of hit games made famous on the Xbox and Xbox 360 game systems. “Halo has definitely made an impact on the gaming world not only by setting the bar for console FPS’s to come, but by also creating a reference point for how online multiplayer should be in games of that genre,” senior Rory Trankler said. (Photos from Bungie.net)

Infotainment16 Sept. 3, 2010