Student Life
Senior students join the Army prior to graduation
By: Lily Largent
Jan. 10, 2024
The high school has three active military members in high school, and more to join once graduated. The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program prepares high school students for leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities and privileges as American citizens. With unknown situations brings courageous personalities.
“I am in the Army, I don’t necessarily know how my situation would be, I know I would get the normal buzz cut, I will be disciplined strongly,” Senior Nathaniel McElligot said.
Some have a better understanding of what their life will look like being in the military, or Army in this case.
“I will be waking up to do exercises, eating and then shooting weapons,”Kaleb Wilson said. “Life will be super busy and I don't know what to expect.''
Students from Ste. Genevieve takes pride in holding onto family legacies very strongly. Some students are the third or fourth generation of an immediate military family.
“I am the fourth generation of the military,” McElligot said. “I’ve got a great grandpa, grandpa, dad and then me who have all been in the military. They did not influence me so to speak. I am doing this mainly for the benefits. The benefits will help me in the future. It’s not specifically all about the money.”
Other students have family members that were in the military that are not necessarily immediate family.
“I am joining the Army because my family has been in the army for a long time, “Kaleb Wilson said. I looked up to my uncle as a role model and he was in the army,” Wilson said.
Joining the military can and will give benefits to lots of people in many different ways. People can go to school, have different jobs, and work on different levels.
“I’ll be doing school during the military, afterwards I will be a mechanic and I will get different commissions with good deals,” McElligot said. “I am mainly doing this for the benefits, this will help me out a lot in the future.”
Dr. Gary Smith was in the Air Force and talked about the training and how hardcore it could be. He also talked about the time frame of being in school to train for what he did in the Air Force. Boot camp is like football or wrestling practice or training.
“If Doc can do it, anyone can do it,” Dr. Gray Smith said. “They will break you down to build you back up,”
Seniors Kaleb Wilson, Kaden Smith, and Nathaniel McElligott get recognized during the Veterans Day assembly.
Photo credit: Mrs. Jessica Harlow
Students transition between high school and college.
By: Makayla Bowen
Jan. 10, 2024
High school students and graduates express their feelings and explain the transition between high school and college. They have to learn how to manage their time better and take on more responsibilities since it's different than high school.
“I would change that high school definitely switches up there, like rules and the way they did some of their classes to better fit like to prepare for college," former Dragon and current college sophomore Faith Lincoln said.
To succeed in life, high school students have to prepare themselves for the real world and decide what is more important: partying or doing well in school.
“It's definitely a lot harder. And Miss O'Brien is preparing me for the real world,” Lincoln said. “All of her pep talks and Advisory and her saying that C’s that get degrees definitely paid off. And I think listening to teachers in high school definitely will help you in the future because they know what they're talking about.”
Students had to find activities to keep themselves out of trouble.
“I would always get together with a group of friends and we would drive around and listen to music, rant about our day or what we were having trouble with or what happened,” Lincoln said. “We also always went to Dairy Queen and hung out in the parking lot and ate some ice cream.”
Senior year is a big deal and should be taken seriously, so students can look at all of their accomplishments later on in life.
“My biggest accomplishment was graduating and made me feel good because I wasn't stuck in a classroom,” 2023 graduate Austin Bowen said.
All throughout senior year, students decide what they want to do after high school,
“I'm thinking of occupational therapy, or going into mass media journalism,” senior Lily Largent said.
Foreign exchange student lives the American lifestyle
By: Kendra Vogt
Jan. 8, 2024
Foreign exchange students are getting used to the American culture and adjusting to the new environment.
“I think just like American school because that's very different from france,” senior Solange Roth said. “It's really fun here compared to friends and like all the events that you're organizing homecoming from and not about school, I would say the celebrations like Fourth of July, Thanksgiving because that's not something we had.”
Roth wanted to be an exchange student for the experience and traveling to new places
“I think essentially wanted to discover other places, other country, improve my English and meet new people and learn differently,” Roth said.
Although Roth is enjoying America, she is also missing a couple things back home in France that aren’t in the United Sates.
“I would say food because, food here is very different and I love my French food,” Roth said. “And that's not something I can really find here. But I don't really miss friends actually. And I think it's going to be hard to come back at the end of the year.”
When being in America foreign exchange experience things that make good memories
that they wouldn't in different countries.
“That was really fun,” Roth said “Going to like the Friday nights games. I think my favorite memory about homecoming week on the dress up days. And not only for homecoming, everyone making spirit days and then going to the dance that was fun.”
Solange Roth (12) flips her hair over her shoulder in Journalism class.
Photo credit: Journalism Staff
Do 2024 students have too big of shoes to fill?
By: Ellie Lalumondiere
Jan. 8, 2024
Every class has problems but some notice that the senior class of 2024 has gotten some heat since middle school. The class has some troublesome students, but what class doesn’t? With this, the class of 2024’s treatment can be reflected in some of the students’ behavior.
“I do believe there’s some bad apples in our class,’’ senior Sofia Cellitti said. “You know, you’ve got the people that do not try, constantly fight. But the majority of the class is good students, hardworking students. They may be stressed, but they get their stuff done, and are, most of the time, respectful.”
While the majority of the class of 2024 are good students, it seems that all of the 2024 class is being treated the way some would treat the problematic students. Although it seems that this mistreatment did not start in high school.
“I mean we were told as 7th graders and even 8th graders by several teachers that high school teachers already hated us,” senior Selene Raney said. “I mean, I got sat down by two different science teachers in our last week of school as 8th graders and they were like, I hope you know that all of the high school teachers already hate you because of your behavior and your immaturity. So we kind of came into high school with a bad rep already. So I feel like some people either fed off that or were like, oh well, now I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing because they already hate me. And we ended up finding out as like juniors that was never really true. Yeah they know we have a couple of disciplinary problems, but they didn’t hate us.”
Finding out what the 2024 class was told in middle school wasn’t completely true could have altered how these students act. Even so there is always a chance that the 2024 class deserves the treatment they are given.
“I think 2024 students are kept on like a tighter rope than previous classes,” senior Hannah Woodruff said. “I think that teachers feel like they can’t give them as many privileges as they have other classes.”
This might be the class of 2024’s last year but perhaps there is a chance to change their attitude and treatment before their year is up.
“So I think if somehow we would start acting our age, we would probably be treated a little bit better, and we might honestly be better examples too cause the underclassmen too maybe start being like, man, maybe I shouldn’t be such a doodoo head. Maybe I should be a little more mature and act my age because what I'm doing really isn't funny. It’s just annoying,” Raney said.
Makayla Bowen (12) and Lily Largent (12) listen to a radio teaching seminar at SEMO on the Journalism field trip on Nov. 15.
Photo credit: Mrs. Jessica Harlow
Anticipation for graduation is high, celebrations near
By: Sofia Cellitti
Jan. 8, 2024
Excitement is building at a fast pace as the senior class of 2024 prepares for graduation. Despite varying plans, a celebration and stage waits for them at the end of the tunnel.
“I think it's just the feeling of something you waited for a long time for and then you're finally able to go through with it, we've all had,” senior Penny Yang said. “I had siblings or friends who are upperclassmen, and we watched them become seniors, and we went to their graduation, and just family, and all that; it's just a very anticipated event. It's reality for us; it's our turn. I think that's the most exciting.”
Although there is still a bit of time before major events take place for the seniors, their nerves and anticipation are in their heads: final prom on April 27, 2024; senior BBQ on May 16, 2024; graduation practice on May 17, 2024; and finally graduation on May 18, 2024.
“I have to say the senior trip will probably be the most fun part," senior Sara Bone said. “But I also have to save the barbecue only because my birthday is on the barbecue." "... I guess next semester we will plan more on the senior trip, and hopefully, it's a lot more fun than just something simple like going to the zoo.”
Many seniors are ready for their final hurrah in celebration of their 13 years of dedication. Dr. John Boyd wants the students to remember some words of advice as they move forward to their next chapter.
“I always remind kids to enjoy it, celebrate it, and take it all in,” Principle John Boyd said. “The ceremony will be a couple hours long, but really enjoy and cherish everything that comes with it because it's such a special moment, it's such a special opportunity. Then it's an opportunity to spread your wings and figure out what the next step is.” “...You might decide that you're going to go to college and you're going to study, you're going to be a police officer, or criminal justice and you decide a month into that program, it's not for you and you decide to change your mind. That's okay.” “…my last word of advice: whatever it is outside of graduation, figure out what it is that you love to do. It's not about the money. Yes, money makes life easier sometimes. But it's not about the money. It's about enjoying and truly having that happiness with whatever you do.
Senior Ana Bennett smiles at the crowd after being elected to Homecoming Court during her final homecoming.
Photo credit: Sara Bone
Senior Jack Farlow excites the crowd after being crowned Homecoming King.
Photo credit: Sara Bone
Freshmen transition to high school culture.
By: Kendra Vogt
Oct. 30, 2023
Incoming freshmen are getting used to high school life as they are new to the building, adjusting to the new environment, having more opportunities, and overcoming challenges throughout their first couple of weeks in high school.
¨ I think it just opens you up to more opportunities to know what it [ways to help get to graduation] is whenever you graduate,¨ freshman Chloe Wehner said.
Wehner is definitely excited for more opportunities and having more people in the building.
¨I think the classes are really different. Because you can get advanced, more advanced classes. And just the amount of people that are there. It's four which doesn't seem like a lot but it is so,¨ Wehner said.
As the freshmen are coming into the high school building there are many changes and differences from middle school that they are liking and enjoying.
¨I think that it's a good change because then you get kind of used to the world and stuff instead of being used to not being around that many people,¨ Wehner said.
Freshmen get a senior mentor to help get the students involved and feel welcomed into high school. Sara Schmieder is a current mentor for our freshmen and she gives them tips about high school.
¨The main things I focus on with my freshmen is attendance, their grades and different things like that because they have to realize that they have to be at school and get good grades to move forward in high school,¨ senior Sara Schmieder said.
As freshmen are weeks into high school, they have been finding ways to overcome challenges and be more successful in their classes.
¨Try to study more and ask for help with some things that you are able to do in high school that you couldn't in middle school, more classes and yearbook classes and stuff like that,¨ freshman Lyida Boyer said.
Students use time management to balance commitments.
By: Makayla Bowen
Oct. 25, 2023
High school student athletes and students with jobs balance their commitments with time management. They have to limit social life to focus on school work and other activities.
“Well, if I don't manage my time well, everything will build up and I will have a million things to do” and yeah senior Lily Largent said.
Largent has to deal with her time management by limiting social life to go to work or have time for homework. Everyday students deal with this and it can be overwhelming,
“I cry if I get too stressed,” senior Shyanne Brown said.
Time management is key for a busy student that has to keep themselves happy and healthy. Some students don’t have the choice on working or not.
“Usually, when I get off work, I come home and do my homework, '' senior Nick Capps said.
Socializing with friends gets a little more complicated as students grow up and get older because they have more responsibilities. The amount of time in the day almost seems to get shorter everyday because of all of the things high schoolers have to do daily.
“When I have a lot of homework, I just take a deep breath, turn on some music and do it,” senior Shyanne Brown said.