Clubs & Organizations
Students take stage for successful fall improv show
By: Solange Roth
Jan. 10, 2024
On Nov. 19, Play Production students presented their fall improv show: the audience picked props, location and characters and actors created stories directly on stage.
“We are making fun of the craziness that is the holiday season and are completely improvising the entire performance,” Mrs. Katelyn Papin said.
Usually, the fall show is a play, with a script, but this year, circumstances made it different.
“[It was] frankly, because of time,” Mrs Papin said. “The students were doing improvisation the whole time while I was gone [on maternity leave], so I thought it would be amazing to have the first show for comedy improv!”
This is also why only Play Production students were involved. Senior Ayden White, president of the Theatre Club, explains how Theatre Club members felt about that:
“I think a large majority was disappointed but it gets them excited for the musical.” White said.
With not having a script comes students’ apprehensions.
“It's out of everyone's comfort zone,” sophomore Lucy Hunsley said. “It's very fun but I am terrified of just blinking on stage.”
Mrs Papin approves: “You have to use your own creativity,” she said.
But they can see all the abilities that it will bring them:
“If we're doing [a show] and somebody forgets something, then I can use the skills that I learned and just think of something to keep the show going,” Hunley said.
Mrs Papin is very enthusiastic about it.
“I just want them to have fun and learn how to overcome the nervousness of being on stage,” Mrs. Papin said. “Hopefully it will create more confident and creative students.”
White agrees on how Theater has been relevant to him.
“I definitely encourage people to do acting,” White said. “Theater has greatly boosted my confidence when otherwise it would probably be pretty shallow.”
A big and very important part of Theatre is also the crew.
“I chose to be a crew member when I was a freshman,” sophomore Chloe Dixon said. “I was a stage manager. It's basically controlling everything backstage.”
Senior Gage Schilly is in charge of sound and lights.
“I'm really good with technology. I've learned basically everything there is to learn about the PAC. It's pretty cool,”Schilly said.
The next step for Theatre is the upcoming spring musical, which is very exciting for students.
“Anyone can audition for the spring musical. It will be an after-school commitment from January. to March. The songs are a blast, choreography is easy and everyone can do it. Everyone can shine!” Mrs. Papin said.
New library club created to promote reading in high school.
By: Solange Roth
Oct. 25, 2023
Librarian Mrs. Staffen created a Library Club to provide high school students time to read and encourage them to read more through club membership, a Book Bag Program and a new reading app.
Indeed, reading is an important and very interesting activity, but nowadays, students struggle more and more with it.
“I think the main struggle is finding time to read,” Mrs. Staffen said.
Marlena Lueken, a sophomore student who signed up for the club agrees:
“I didn't really get a chance to read outside of school I guess because of homework and then, like, sports,” she said.
And that’s a big issue: according to the IRIS Center, approximately 40% of the United States students cannot read at a basic level. Reading is important for earning scholarships and then, the professional world, but it also brings a lot of personal benefits.
“It kind of gives me some sense of calm I guess, like taking a break from everything,” Lueken said.
Senior Aden Eisenbeis approves:
“During reading I feel very immersed and afterwards, wanting to read the next book if it's a series or one that's very similar,” he said.
And the problem does not come from the fact that students don’t like reading.
“I think anyone who finds the right book or finds the time loves [reading],” she said.
That’s also why she created a new concept last year: the Book Bag Program. The goal is to put books in high school students' hands. This program is for all high school students, not just those who have signed up for the Library Club.
“Any student at the high school is eligible,” Mrs Staffen said. “I tried to entice them by adding treats to the bag. So I use money to buy treats and little novelty items to stuff in a bag along with a book and it gives them an opportunity to get a book that they're interested in, and also hopefully promotes reading to other students.”
Another reason teenagers read less is that they spend more time on screens; social media, video games, etc. So to combine these with reading, SGHS is also equipped with the Sora app. It’s an online reading app to encourage reading.
“That works just like Kindle or anything else,” Mrs. Staffen said. “Each school puts in a little bit of money and then as a group, we kind of buy books and add titles. And it's on any device.”
The goal is that all these resources put in place will succeed in promoting a culture of enjoyment of reading, and meet the expectations of students!
“[My expectations for this club are] talking about books and, like, different genres and, like, finding the right book for you and then also just reading,” Lueken said.
Supervised Business Experience positively impacts students.
By: Sofia Cellitti
Oct. 26, 2023
When students swarmed school in August there was an increase of students taking advantage of a program called SBE, ‘Supervised Business Experience’. With a dramatic influx of students, the program's impact has shown through.
SBE, a work program for students to get outside experience and money during school hours has grown this year, from two students under the predecessor to nine, now to nineteen students accepted. Although the program is attractive to a select group of students, a higher GPA, attendance, and grades are required for this program.
“I think what's challenging for me first of all, as I'm trying to create a program that meets the needs of exceptional students, because as you know, to get in this program, you have to be exceptional to begin with. Dr. Gary Smith said.
“I actively reach out to vendors, to suppliers or employers, once I try and figure out what students want. So if somebody was interested in veterinary for example, I would contact vets which is the first time we've done that as well because we have people in the community, employers and even what the program was."
The program that many students have taken advantage of isn't just impactful on the director. Students are expecting even more of themselves from their director, the school, work, and life balance. It can be messy and hard for them to decipher everything they have going on.
“I think it's balanced pretty easily. senior Jayci Beckermann said.
You know, I come to school for five hours and then I go to work till 5 pm and it's perfect. I get off at five. I can still like going to a game, still have time to get my homework done, and hang out with friends. Like I think it's a perfect balance."
As the participation of SBE grows inside the school, the impact of the program is shown through the students and the community. It encourages other sophomores and juniors to work harder on their schooling so they can get into the program in their next or final year of school. Although these students are hidden in plain sight they are doing some very remarkable things in their everyday life.
“..I did see a lot of positives coming from the other students. senior Faith Dailey said. “They're very hardworking. They make money while they're going to their job. They get more experience in the work field. They get to pick and choose what kind of career they want. They might realize, oh, I don't like this one. Or, hey, I might want to do this. You know?”
Ceci Annee Club Français Activités
By: Ellie Lalumondiere
Nov. 20, 2023
The French Club offers students the opportunity to learn a different culture along with the French language. Even though the club is still in its early stages this year, there is much to look forward to exploring and learning. For instance, there are many exciting activities planned for this year.
"We have like 10 ideas throughout the year, and I guess sort of once or twice a month we’ll have something we do in French Club,” senior Hawthorne Jokerst said. “ I believe something in November might be Nov. 1. I think we might be doing a French cursive lesson with a fountain pen.”
Although the French Club is not necessarily taking any trips, the French students have the opportunity to take many exciting trips this year.
“French students were invited to go see Cirque du Soleil in December; French I students are going to the art museum again; French II students get to go to the Holocaust museum and eat at La Bonne Bouchee, which is the most fabulous French bakery and cafe in St. Louis; Then French III, IV, ,V students and National Art Honor Society students are going to Indianapolis,” French teacher Madame Breana Uzzell said.
While there are many fun activities and trips going on in the French Club, there are always obstacles ready to present themselves.
“Probably getting everybody to agree on certain activities or the pay that might be going on or possible dates for each of these trips with everybody having such a different schedule and maybe not even being in a French class itself,” senior Sofia Cellitti said. “I think that’ll be hard for Mrs. Uzzell or the presidents of the club to manage.”