Valley Breeze September 2014 - Valley Park School District

Learn About Yoga
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ALS Ice Bucket Hype
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Paul Stastny Joins Blues
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VALLEY BREEZE
Volume 80, Number 1
One Main Street Valley Park, MO 63088
September 2014
New Faces at Valley Park
By Cidney Grimes
We have two new faces at Valley Park
High School this year. Ms. Magalli is taking
over for Ms. Connelly, and Ms. Sewell has
moved up the high school from middle school
SSD and also coaches volleyball.
Graduating from Illinois Wesleyan
University and Maryville University, Ms.
Magalli has been teaching for seven years.
Prior to coming to VP, she taught four years
at Grandview and before that, two years at
Hazlewood and one year in Illinois. Though
since middle school, she has always wanted to
be a teacher.
Her love for the trumpet and music in
general intrigued her into majoring in music
education. Her first semester of undergrad
wasn’t quite what she expected, and her dislike
of simply studying music led her to resentment.
That’s when Ms. Magalli realized that music
was more of a hobby for her than a career.
Leaving her trumpet behind, she found herself
studying literature more often and it clicked
very well.
When asked about her favorite aspect
of Valley Park, she responded, “Everyone
is so nice! The teachers are professional
and knowledgeable. The administration is
supportive and the students are easy going and
fun!”
If she could give one person one word
of advice for their whole life, and it would
be the only advice they would ever receive
she would tell them: “Find something to be
passionate about and then BE passionate! Learn
about the passion, do something with it, and get
better at it. Life is too short to feel “vanilla”.”
Ms. Sewell is a new assistant SSD
teacher and volleyball coach at VPHS.
Majoring in Secondary English, she attended
SEMO in Cape Girardeau. Ms. Sewell wanted
to become a teacher because there are always
new lessons to be taught and new experiences
to observe and create. Her favorite thing
about Valley Park is how friendly the staff is.
From the administration, lunch ladies, and
janitors, she says “Everyone has made me feel
welcomed!”
When asked about her hopes for the
Volleyball team, Ms. Sewell stated that she has
high hopes and believes that they have a good
shot at winning district! Her favorite thing to do
includes spending time with her daughter. They
love to go to the City Museum, The Magic
House, the library, or even just a fun jog.
Ms. Magalli teaches her Honors American Literature about
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” (Photo Source: Cidney
Grimes)
How to Not Hate Your Life During the School Year
By Arijana Husic
School has started and let’s be honest,
we’re not the happiest people right now. We
have to wake up early in the morning (I’m
sure roosters haven’t even woken up at this
point), drag ourselves to school, and listen
to teachers for what seems like a countless
amount of hours. We, as students, dread the
thought of school.
You could be this pessimistic the
entire school year, but why would you want
to? You’re going to be here for nine months
whether you like it or not, so you might as
well make the most of it. There are plenty of
ways to maintain a positive lifestyle during
the school year.
Waking up for school is tough.
Instead of feeling miserable, smile for one
minute. Did you know that if you smile for
a minute, you will actually feel happier? If
you are in a good mood in the morning, you
will make the people around you a little bit
Going on a run with a friend is a fun way to relieve stress.
(Photo Source: Arijana Husic)
happier. Smiling is contagious!
Stress affects all of us during school.
Physical activity is a great way to manage
stress. Ride your bike, go on a run or walk,
do some yoga; whatever it is, do it every
day! During physical activity, your body
releases endorphins. Endorphins produce a
good feeling in the body. Also, studies show
that physical activity improves self-esteem,
boosts positivity in your mood, and reduces
your risk of depression.
Maintaining good grades during
school is important, but maintaining your
social life is important too. Don’t forget to
hang out with your friends because they keep
you grounded. They’re your support group
and they make you happy.
Positivity is the key to a good school
year. There is no point in being a pessimistic
loner. Make your time in high school a
positive experience.
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September 2014
Breeze
Fall Concerts to Rock St. Louis
Around The World in 73 Days
By Samantha Wilson
Fall is quickly approaching, and with it
comes new tours and concerts! The following
venues are hosting concerts in the upcoming
months:
Fubar:
October 16th: State Champs, Hand Guns,
Forever Came Calling, Front Porch Step, Heart
To Heart, Brigades
October 24th: Fit For A King, Being As An
Ocean
November 5th: You Me At Six
The Pageant:
October 6th: The Used and Taking Back Sunday
October 16th: Jason Derulo
October 23rd: The Pretty Reckless
October 28th: Bassnecter
November 12th: New Politics
The Ready Room:
October 25th: The Wonder Years
October 26th: New Found Glory
November 10th: Mayday Parade
November 13th: Issues
December 5th: Atilla
Chaifetz Arena:
November 20th: Hunter Hayes
The Peabody Opera House:
October 16th: Jason Mraz
October 19th: Ryan Adams
Over the summer Valley Park students,
staff, and family took their first international
ten day trip to Italy. The people who went were
Ms. Light, Ms. Libby, Mr. Harris, Parker Light,
Todd Combs, Alyssa Haines, Jasmine Maloney,
Hillary Gwinn, Angie Libby, Allie Libby, Jennifer Walden, Kathy Libby, Hailey Halvarson,
and Alex Tuberty.
The tour included exploring cities such
as Verona, Venice, Florence, Sorrento Region,
Pompeii, and Rome. “Florence was definitely
my favorite part,” Mr. Harris commented. Ms.
Light also added “Not only was the food and
weather great, it was overall a great experi-
From St. Louis to Miami and across
the pond to Europe, we are going to travel the
world with Sam Rhoads, Todd Combs, Mrs.
and Mr. McFadden, Mrs. Deterding and myself.
We all went to a different part of the world over
the summer and are going to share with readers
what we did. The memories made this summer
last a lifetime.
This past summer I spent five weeks in
Europe visiting London, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium.
I spent time visiting friends and family, and
sightseeing. Traveling the world is something
that changes a person. You make memories that
last forever. Some of the things you see and
do - even a picture can’t give someone the full
effect.
This summer, Fall Out Boy brought “Monumentour” to the
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Drummer Andy Hurley,
Bassist Pete Wentz, Singer Patrick Stump, and Guitarist
Joe Trohman (not pictured) put on a high energy show for
20,000 people. (Photo Source: Samantha Wilson Photography
VPHS Takes Grand Tour of
By Alyssa Haines
By Andrew O’Brien
Italy
ence.” Hailey said “It was awesome and Venice
was my favorite.”
While touring Italy, students were immersed with the culture, food, and everyday
lives of the people. For example while in Venice
students went to see a glass blowing demonstration; in Pompeii students saw a cameo shop and
a master craftsman make a cameo pendant.
Not included in the grand tour of Italy,
students had the somewhat unfortunate but
exciting surprise of getting “stranded in Paris”
Some tourists of the Valley Park group went
to the Eifel Tower and didn’t get back to the
airport-provided hotel until after midnight.
Currently, plans are in the works to take
a trip to Germany during the 2016 summer. For
more information, see Ms. Light and keep your
eyes and ears open for travel information meeting times.
Sam Rhoads traveled to Florida and
went to three different cities. He went to Tallahassee, Orlando, and Miami. His favorite part
was going to the beaches in Miami.
Todd Combs also traveled the world
this summer as he went to Italy on the school
trip. Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City
was his favorite place to visit while in Italy. He
plans on traveling the rest of the world throughout the rest of his life.
Mrs. Deterding traveled to Pensacola,
Florida this summer with her family. When
asked what her favorite part of the trip was she
said, “Watching her kids play in the ocean.”
Mrs. Deterding and her family return to Pensacola every year for vacation.
Mrs. McFadden and Mr. McFadden took
a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada this summer for a
weekend to enjoy their time off. Her favorite
part was the 24 hour all you can eat buffet.
When I asked her if she would ever go back she
said, “Yes. Absolutely I want to!”
As you can see, VPHS students and staff
got around the world this summer, and everyone featured would agree that traveling enriches
your life. Until you travel the world, you have
no idea what it’s like on the other side of the
fence.
This map shows the route the traveling students, staff, and families took through Italy. (Photo Source: EF Educational Tours)
The Santa Maria Duomo, one of the sights that the Valley
Park group saw in Florence, Italy. This grand church shows
the strong religious value of the Italian culture. (Photo Source:
Alyssa Haines)
In June, Arijana Husic and her sister traveled to Croatia to visit
family and friends. (Photo Source: Arijana Husic)
September 2014
Breeze
3
Yo , G o F o r Yo g a : S t r e t c h I t O u t
By Arijana Husic
Most people think that yoga is just good
for stretching, but yoga has many benefits. Yoga
is a good way to gain muscle. The poses don’t
look like they’ll make your whole body hurt the
next morning, but trust me, they will!
One pose that I do not like (but do it
anyway) is the kneeling balancing side plank.
For this pose, you must lift one leg to hip height
while balancing the rest of your body on one
knee and stretching the opposite arm towards
the wall.
Other poses include:
The Downward Facing Dog
(Photo Source: Nike Training App)
The Cobra
Mrs. Weber, who has been doing yoga
for a long time, said, “Yoga is a practice for the
body as much as the mind. It requires a subtle
strength of both to be successful. You can’t just
power through difficult poses. That actually
defeats the purpose. The purpose is to challenge
the body without alarming the mind.” Mrs. Weber also added, “Your poses aren’t going to look
like the pictures. But that’s okay. That’s why it’s
called a yoga practice.”
Yoga can also reduce stress and improve
the spine. With so many benefits, why not give
yoga a try? You don’t even need to attend a
yoga class; there are other ways to learn yoga
poses. You can look up videos on the internet or
you can download yoga apps on your phone. My favorite app for yoga is Nike Training. This app has many different yoga poses as
well as other exercises. If you are interested in
doing yoga, I highly recommend this app. Life
is all about trying new things; trying a new way
to improve your physical and mental health is a
good way to start.
Yoga Fun Facts
(Photo Source: Nike Training App)
The Crow
(Photo Source: Nike Training App)
Although this pose is hard, it challenges you
and you may be surprised with how well you
do.
It is our intent to bring our readers accurate and
objective news about Valley Park High School. The
views of the staff are to be regarded separately than
those of our administration, faculty, peers, and advisors. The Valley Breeze is published by the students
of the Journalism classes at VPHS. The Valley
Breeze staff welcomes signed letters-to-the-editor.
We reserve the right to edit them for grammar, clarity, obscenity, and length. If you wish to write you
may drop your letter off at room 212, e-mail us at
[email protected], or write to:
Valley Breeze
Journalism Dept - Room 212
Valley Park High School
One Main Street
Valley Park, MO 63088
Editor-in-Chief:
Samantha Wilson
Briana Chadd
Cidney Grimes
Alyssa Haines
Arijana Husic
Fahmid Islam
Alexis Mason
Staff
Andrew O’Brien
Matthew Pearlman
Brendan Ratay
Alexis Stoehr
Haley Ward
Advisor
Ms. Magalli
It is our intent to bring our readers accurate and
objective news about Valley Park High School.
- Some 16 million Americans practice yoga
and spend $5.7 billion dollars a year on gear.
- Doga is a type of yoga in which people use
yoga to achieve harmony with their pets.
- The yoga symbol “Om”, which is found in
Hindu and Tibetan philosophy, is said to be the
sound of the universe and is related to the Ajna
Chakra or “third eye” region.
- According to research, yoga may improve
social and occupational functioning in schizophrenic patients.
(Photo Source: Nike Training App)
If I Stay: Coming of Age Story About Teen Love
By Alexis Mason
If I Stay, a film-adaption of the young
adult novel by Gayle Forman, tells the story
of teen Mia Hall who gets into a car accident
and ends up in a coma. During an out-of-body
experience, she must decide whether to wake
up and live a life far different than she imagined
or avoid the changes and slip into death. As
Mia grapples with her decision, viewers watch
her remember moments from her rich, full, and
interesting life as a cello prodigy. The mix of
current and past conflict makes for a compelling
story.
Chloe Grace Moretz’s performance as
Mia, and the easy chemistry she shares in flashbacks with co-star Jamie Blackley as her boyfriend Adam, help create a story that is rather
emotional and realistic. One of the saddest parts
is when Mia, after hovering over her own comatose body, runs frantically through the hospital
searching for answers to her family’s condition.
The movie isn’t just about Mia’s coma.
Throughout it we see, Mia, a cello prodigy with
the dreams of attending Julliard, fall in love
with her boyfriend Adam over the shared love
of their music, audition to Julliard and enjoy
girl talk with her best friend Kim. While Mia is
in her coma, she thinks about her past memories
that she had with her friends, family and boyfriend. Prior to the accident, Mia’s dilemma was
whether to move across the country to pursue
her dreams or stay home for the safety of true
love, but now she has a larger dilemma: should
she stay alive, or go?
Jamie Blackley as Adam and Chloe Grace Moretz as Mia dominate the screen with their chemistry. (Photo Source: dekhliyo.
com)
Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz as Mia Hall, Mireille
Enos as Kat Hall, Jamie Blackley as Adam,
Joshua Leonard as Denny Hall, Liana Liberato
as Kim Schein, Stacy Keach as Gramps.
Director: R.J. Cutler
Novel: Gayle Forman
Now playing in theaters.
September 2014
Ask Jane Doe
Kids vs. Divorce: Everyone Deserves Happiness
Breeze
4
Double Tap That Selfie!
Not Gone, Just in New Place
By Cidney Grimes
You’re in the car on your way to school
Dear Jane Doe,
My boyfriend is moving. Our one year is and you’ve been yearning to take a decent
picture! You look nice today, your hair is done,
next Tuesday. What should I do?
so you slide up the camera button and your
-Broken Heart
home screen, turn to the front camera, and start
snapping away pictures of yourself. You take
so many selfies of yourself that you’re probably
Dear Confused Daughter,
Dear Broken Heart,
Having a family go through a divorce
When someone moves they are not gone, only going to like one out of fifty.
What is the real definition of a selfie?
is a hard thing to deal with. Most kids blame
they are just in a new place. So my first piece of themselves. However, it’s not their fault what
advice would be to remain calm and don’t over- According to the Oxford Dictionary, a selfie
is “a photograph that one has taken of oneself,
so ever. It may be hard, but I encourage you to react.
typically with a smartphone or webcam and
speak to your parents and explain to them how
Long distance relationships aren’t easy
uploaded to a social media website.”
you feel.
by any means, but if you two are willing to try
Almost everyone takes selfies, and they
A lot of kids will try and fix the divorce. to make it work, you should.
have become a part of mainstream and society
Instead of trying to fix it, you should accept it. Depending on how far he is moving,
culture. Songs like “Let Me Take a Selfie” even
Just realize that they once were in love, but now there are different options you have. If he is
they aren’t.
semi-close, ask a family member or maybe even peaked at number nineteen on Billboard’s Hot
Sadly, divorce is a very common thing
a friend to give you a ride to his house. Howev- 100. According to Time Magazine the most
selfies are taken in the Philippines, Manhattan
nowadays. The upside about that is you know
er, if he isn’t close, there is always video chatcame in at 202 selfie takers per 100k people,
you’re not alone because someone around you
ting.
and Miami came in third!
has been in your shoes.
You always have the option of dump
Selfies are intimate to many people
Just remember: your parents aren’t
ing him, but if I was you I’d give long distance
because they represent a personal experience,
happy together anymore, and everyone deserves a chance. Especially since you two have been
usually one that is also social. The social aspect
happiness.
together for about a year.
In case you need further advice you
If you want more advice, feel free to talk of selfies gives off a level of self-conscious that
is different from a candid photograph - they are
can always speak to a counselor. I recommend
to the school counselor. A few sites I recommore raw and perfect.
checking out these websites: http://kidshealth.
mend to check out are http://www.ehow.com
Though selfies can be fun to take and
org/teen/your_mind/families/divorce.html#,
and http://www.rookiemag.com. Both of these
share,
some
psychiatrists believe that selfhttp://divorceandteens.weebly.com/, and http://
sites have articles dealing with long distance
ies can be linked to mental health conditions
www.radicalparenting.com/2011/10/18/dealing- relationships.
that focus on a person’s obsession with looks.
with-divorce-advice-for-teens/.
Pamela Rutledge from Psychology Today said
Love,
Love,
that “selfies definitely trigger perceptions of
Jane
Jane
self-indulgence or attention-seeking social
dependence.”
By Alexis Mason
Many people are intrigued by celebrity
selfies because they give you a hint into that
The brilliant, deep-voiced scientist and
private, candid moment. Psychcentral.com says
professor (Morgan Freeman) whose theoretical
that selfies bridge the gap between an icon and
studies of the human brain’s untapped potential
a regular human being. James Franco, a famous
make him an information source and then finally
actor, is titled the “Selfie King” because of his
a kind of partner-savior to Lucy.
“flawless” selfies he posts on Instagram.
Selfies are going to be around for a
In my opinion, Lucy reminds me of the
very
long
time, and people are always going
original The Matrix because it’s a sci-fi movie,
to take them. It’s unfortunate that it may repreand if you loved that movie then you’ll love
sent self-indulgence in some ways, and it may
Lucy.
Scarlett Hohansson stars as Lucy, a woman who evolves greater
cause people to feel less of themselves because
than any human being. (Photo Source: bellanaija.com)
a picture isn’t up to par, but it’s society. We are
Cast:
Scarlett
Johansson
as
Lucy,
and
Morgan
always going to live in a world where people
Lucy is a thriller about a woman (played
look to peers and media for social acceptance.
by Scarlett Johansson) who gets kidnapped and Freeman as Professor Norman
Director:
Luc
Besson
Selfies may be a minor cause, but there are
abused in Taiwan by Korean gangsters. These
many bigger factors that play a role. It all
gangsters forced Lucy into service as a drug
Now playing in theaters.
comes down to this: If you would like to take a
mule bearing experimental synthetic hormone.
selfie, then take a selfie! You’ll be okay!
She accidentally absorbs some of it, and then
sheds her physical, intellectual and perceptual
limits and escapes to seek justice.
Dear Jane Doe,
My parents are getting a divorce, and I
don’t know what to do. Do you have any advice
for me?
-Confused Daughter
Lucy: Eccentric but Exciting Thriller
Lucy is a thrilling, violent and sadistically playful movie. As you watch the movie,
you may become less engaged, but as the
movie introduces new information it draws you
back in. For example, when Lucy calls Professor Norman and tells him that she can control
technology such as television and internet, then
to proves it by popping onto the screen while
engaging in conversation viewers will definitely
get their attention grabbed.
The Honors American Literature class takes a selfie. (Photo
Source: Cidney Grimes)
September 2014
Breeze
5
Ice Bucket Challenge: Coolest Way to Raise Awareness
By: Haley Ward
Since July 29, 2014, social media has
been booming with people pouring buckets
of ice over their heads. Everyone – teenagers,
adults, sports teams, even the world’s biggest
celebrities – has begun participating in this new
trend. In the weeks since its first appearance,
the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has raised
awareness, and $88.5 million, for a disease that
was somewhat of a mystery until this point.
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”) is a condition that
progressively breaks down nerve cells in the
brain and in the spinal cord. After these cells
degenerate and motor neurons in the nervous
system die, sufferers will lose the ability to
control their muscle movement. For this reason,
people in the last stages of ALS normally
become completely paralyzed. They also tend to
lose their speaking ability, and over time, their
organs shut down, causing death.
So, how did the Ice Bucket Challenge
start? 29-year-old Pete Frates, former captain
of the Boston College baseball team, is a victim
of ALS. In order to raise awareness for the
disease, he took to social media and asked some
of his Boston teammates to take the challenge.
Within days, news stations had begun coverage
of people across the nation dumping bowls,
buckets, and even 30 gallon trashcans of ice
water over their heads.
The rules are simple: after you are challenged,
you have twenty-four hours to douse yourself
in gallons of ice and post a video of it on
Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. You are then
required to donate $10 to the ALS Association
and nominate other people to take on the
challenge. Failure to complete these tasks within
the allotted time results in a $100 donation to
the ALS Association.
Even Valley Park High has participated
in The Ice Bucket Challenge. The school raised
$150 for the cause by asking students to give
money to see their favorite teachers take on the
ice. Ms. Sommer, Ms. Krumm, Mr. Dierks, and
Dr. Bailey accepted the challenge at the Fall Pep
Assembly on September18.
If you don’t get nominated by anyone
but still want to make a difference, or even if
you have been and still want to get involved,
you can visit www.alsa.org and click on the
“Advocate” or “Donate” tab. There, you can
find everything you will need to contribute to
the cause. While the Ice Bucket Challenge is a
fun way to get the word out, the most important
part is to give back to the ALS Association.
Hopefully with a little effort from everyone, we
can help to end this awful disease for good.
Senior Mary Lay is buried in ice as she takes on the Ice Bucket
challenge at her home in August. (Photo Source: Mary Lay)
Knock, Knock
By Jessica King
September 2014
Breeze
6
Fenton Car Club Welcomes Gear Heads
By Alexis Stoehr
Make sure you follow the Valley Breeze on facebook at
ValleyBreezeVPHS (Photo Source: ihd-wallpapers.com)
Follow us on twitter @vp_valleybreeze (Photo Source:
blogspot.com)
Fun Facts!
Compiled By Cidney Grimes and Fahmid Islam
1. The most powerful earthquake to strike the
United States occurred in 1811 in New Madrid,
Missouri. The quake shook more than one million square miles, and was felt as far as 1,000
miles away.
2. Bees have 5 eyes. There are 3 small eyes
on the top of a bee’s head and 2 larger ones in
front.
3. Insects outnumber humans 100,000,000 to
one.
4. The sound of E.T. was made by someone
squishing their hands together.
5. Before acting, Tom Cruise wanted to be a
Catholic priest.
6. 2/3 of people tilt their head to the right when
they kiss.
Many people have hidden interests here
at Valley Park High School. For some, it might
be performing or acting, and for others, cars and
racing. I will be reaching out to the people who
have a love for cars and driving.
As you may not be aware, there are
clubs you can join to become part of the “Gear
Head” lifestyle. One specific club is Fenton Car
Club. This club is a group of people who go on
cruises in nearby cities such as SOCO, Cape,
and Downtown STL. They also love to work on
their cars (engine work, body work and such),
and show them off to the public in car events
like Midnight Madness and car rallies in SOCO.
Owners Ben Williams and Ian Roach
say, “Fenton Car Club is all about a bunch of
people who love to cruise, race, and show off
their cars by going to car events, anyone is free
to join!”
Ben and Ian want to reach out to the
community and get as many new members as
possible, they’re already up to 179!
In order to join, you can contact both
Ben and Ian via Facebook by looking up Fenton Car Club. Just shoot them a message and
they’ll let you join!
Fenton Car Club shows off its muscle group with a few powerful v8s. (Photo Source: facebook.com/fentoncarclub)
Put Down the Books; Pick Up the Remote!
By Matthew Pearlman
Everyone needs to wind down and relax
after a hard day of work - why not relax by
watching TV? With all the new shows coming
in 2014-2015, there will be a show for everyone
to watch.
We’ll start with The Mysteries of Laura
which aired last week. This interesting show is
about a hardworking mom in the NYPD. She
cracks her cases almost every time, and she is
raising a family back home. (NBC)
In the show Scorpion a genius/computer
expert named O’Brien, recruits fellow geniuses
to help solve very complex problems around the
world. It airs on September 22. (CBC)
Gotham shares the story of Commissioner James Gordon’s rise to the top in Gotham
City… before Batman arrives. It airs September
22. (FOX)
There were a lot of great shows in the
2013-14 year. When we think of which shows
were the most popular, I’m sure a lot of us think
of the NCIS duo. NCIS had 19.7 million views,
and NCIS: LA had 16 million views according
to insidetv.ew.com. On September 23, NCIS:
New Orleans debuts. In this show, officers will
be investigating military crimes. Which will get
most views? (CBC)
Victimsofcrime.org says 6.6 million
people are stalked in the U.S. With this being
said, a new show called Stalker comes out on
October 1. In this TV drama, two detectives will
be investigating stalkers all around Los Angeles.
(CBC)
Super hero fans will be very happy to
hear that there is another super hero show coming out. Captain America is one of the most
famous fictional characters ever. Fans of his and
the characters in the movie will be very excited
when Agent Carter airs in January 2015. Agent
Carter is Captain America’s girlfriend. After
they thought Captain America died in the explo-
sion, Peggy Carter becomes the S.H.I.E.L.D.
agent while WW2 is taking place. (ABC)
These are just some of the shows coming out, but here are even more shows to come
in the next few months. Keep your eyes open,
so you don’t miss what could be your new
favorite show.
After a long day of work, why not sit down and relax by watching some new TV shows? (Photo Source: Shutterstock.com)
Valley Breeze staff wants to know...
What do you want to see in our
next paper?
- Fashion
- Sports
- Exercise
- Music
- Destination Spots
-TV & Movies
If you have another idea, let us know.
Give your response to any staff mem
ber - find their names on page three - or
deliver to room 212.
September 2014
Breeze
7
Stastny Returns, Blues Have New Offensive Weapon
By Brendan Ratay
It’s a homecoming for St. Louis native
Paul Stastny, as his contract with the St. Louis
Blues becomes official this season. After some
tough losses, a new center and scoring problems
in the Blues’ 2013-2014 season, Stastny seemed
to be the perfect addition to the new roster.
From Stastny’s impressive previous
record, it is hoped that he will help the Blues
keep pace with some of the western conference teams, such as the Ducks. Coming to the
Blues is the 7th overall scorer from the 2005-06
NCAA season. Stastny seems to be their best
shot at a new offensive weapon.
When asked where Stastny might fit in
and who he would play with, St. Louis Blues
coach Ken Hitchcock responded, “We have an
opportunity to play him with a line with [Alexander] Steen and [David] Backes or Steen and
[T.J.] Oshie. We have so many opportunities
here, but where Stastny fits depends on where
Lehtera and Lindstrom fit.”
While Stastny clearly has a spot on the
Blues, it isn’t determined based solely on his
own skill and neither will he help the team out
single handedly, but rather his line mates that
will be out there with him, and where they fit in
as well.
However, gaining Stastny wasn’t the
only change for the Blues. Ryan Miller, their
former goalie, will not return this season after
maintaining their focus on an offensive, goal
scoring capability. Adding Stastny being and
letting Ryan go was part of this strategy. The
Blues general manager, Doug Armstrong, believes that it was not worth the gamble to re-sign
Miller to the team, and that they are good with
what they have. When asked about this decision
in an interview with an NHL.com correspondent
Louie Corac, Doug responded, “We just felt at
this time it was better for us to go with Elliott
and go with Jake Allen. They provide us with a
good tandem as we move forward.”
Like father like son, Stastny’s dad, Peter
Stastny was a hall of fame hockey player and
a two time Olympian for the United States.
While Stastny could of course been whoever he
wanted to be in life, his father was of a greater
influence. When asked about the previous lineage of hockey in the family and of himself, he
responded, “Whether I want to play like him or
play like myself I’m always going to have part
of me be like him because I’m so influenced by
him.”
How does VPHS feel about Stastny’s
Move?
Matt says:
“Stastny has made a big difference on the
other teams he’s played for. Hopefully he
leads us not only to the playoffs but the Stanley Cup, too!”
Andrew says:
It’s awesome! I’ve met him. He’ll be a great
offensive weapon.”
Paul Stastny comes home this season to help the Blues create a better offense. (Photo Source: Sports-kings.com)
Are You Ready for Some Football?
By Fahmid Islam
Football is finally back! To celebrate
this occasion the Valley Breeze crew has compiled an NFL Power Rankings which lists the
best and worst teams heading into the regular
season. So with no further ado, here are our
NFL power Rankings:
1. Seahawks
9. Lions
17. Chargers
25. Titans
2. Broncos
10. Bears
18. Ravens
26. Vikings
3. 49ers
11. Eagles
19. Buccaneers
27. Bills
4. Saints
12. Cardinals
20. Cowboys
28. Jaguars
5. Packers
13. Panthers
21. Jets
29. Redskins
6. Patriots
14. Chiefs
22. Dolphins
30. Texans
7. Colts
15. Steelers
23. Giants
31. Browns
8. Bengals
16. Falcons
24. Rams
32. Raiders
Listed at number one are obviously the
2013 Super Bowl champs, the Seahawks, who
come into play with practically the same championship roster. The Broncos and 49ers follow
the Seahawks, and the Packers round out the top
5.
The biggest surprise on the list is surely
the Lions rated at number nine, but they are
bound to have a breakout year. With a healthy
Calvin Johnson and prized new addition, Golden Tate, the Lions will have a high powered
passing game along with a couple of respectable
running backs under the new coaches. Their
defense should be decent, too.
The Rams, listed at 24th overall, suffered a devastating injury to their starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, who is out for the whole
year. However, the Rams running game is still
respected, and their defensive line is feared
throughout the league. With Shaun Hill at the
helm of the Rams, and newly added receiver
Kenny Britt, the Rams season is definitely not
down the drain.
At the bottom of the list are the Raiders,
who are still struggling to figure out how to get
their offense clicking, and their defense is still
filled with gaping holes. Now with the season
officially underway, it’ll be interesting to see
how the teams matchup with the Valley Breeze
NFL power rankings.
The defending champions, the Seahawks, look to repeat their
Superbowl run but will have stiff competition. (Photo Source:
standingsports.com)
Breeze
September 2014
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Cross Country Off To A Running Start
By Alyssa Haines
The 2014 volleyball season is underway, and new coach Jasmine Sewell appears
eager: “I think we have improved so much in
three weeks of preseason, and I’m so excited
for games to start.” Captain, Kelly McCluskey
added “This year is going to be great, I’m confident in my teammates this year.”
The Lady Hawks’ season has consisted
of competing in the Hancock Varsity Tournament, and their first home game against Valmeyer. The next home game is September 30th
against Crossroads.
The Varsity Lady Hawks include:
Seniors Stephanie Ashabranner, Kelly McCluskey and Samantha Wilson; juniors Katie
Edwards, Alyssa Haines, and Celine Khashram;
sophomore Kris Grisham; and freshman Taylor
Thompson.
Junior Varsity includes junior Anna
Schmidt; sophomore Shayla Cain; and freshmen Alyssa Bell, Rebecca Chereji, Chassity
Hayes, Gracie Kettler, Alysia Lockhart, Emily
Schmidt, and Kelly Stiles.
By Haley Ward
Being a Valley Park Cross Country runner is no easy task. While similar to Track and
Field, Cross Country requires members to race
on natural terrain instead of around a man-made
course.
Runners are not permitted to miss practices, and an “easy day” consists of running 5
miles. Throughout the season, members of the
team work to build endurance and stamina so
they can run at their fullest potential at the end
of the season. The goal of every runner is to
make it to the state finals in November.
Coach Christy Hefele is excited for the
season. “I’m looking forward to seeing how this
group comes together as a team,” she commented. “I love seeing which students will emerge
as leaders and who will surprise everyone by
doing more than we ever thought possible.”
The team consists of freshman Drew
Kircher; sophomores Matthew Blankley, Kobe
Gettys, Zachary Sullivan, and Cameron Wells;
juniors Zaid Khashram, Alexis Mason, Cortez
Snipes, and David Thomas; and seniors Usama
Ahmad, Meaghan Fowler, Tyreke Jones, Nick
Siebold, Mara Teer, Zachary Vanelli, Charles
White, and Devin ‘Lee White.
The Hawks have already had a couple
races and their next run is scheduled for September 27 at Hancock, so come support your
classmates. Here’s to a great season, Hawks!
Teamwork has been the main focus of the Lady Hawks. The
bond shows when JV and Varsity take a group picture.(Photo
Source: Alyssa Bell)
The bond between team members is obvious as the runners
cheer on their friends at the September 5 race at Jefferson Barracks (Photo Source: Robert Woerhide)
VPHS Soccer Scores Goal With New Team
8
First Football Season Underway
By Andrew O’Brien
The opportunity to have a football team
has come to our school after the state approved
Valley Park join with Kennedy for football.
This provided Valley Park students with the
first ever football team in school history. The
combination also helped Kennedy maintain a
football team within their school.
With the inaugural season of Valley
Park High School football underway, the team’s
hard work seems to have paid off as they have
created a strong team bond between all players
and coaches as they work to make a name for
Kennedy football. Valley Park’s played its first
ever football games against Jefferson R-7, and
Brentwood high school taking place in the past
few weeks.
The season started off with an away
game at Jefferson high school. After a slow
start the Celts found themselves trailing 14-0,
but they were able to compose themselves and
started to march down the field. Sophomore
JeChaun Moore scored the first ever touchdown
on a 50-yard run. With the help of multiple
long runs by senior Quinton Tomso, the Celts
were able to pull back within seven to make it
27-20.
Despite a hard effort throughout the
half, the Blue Jays were able to score a last
second touchdown. The Celts came back for
the second half strong. Donovan Marshall
returned a kickoff for 80-yards. The defense
stood strong in the final minutes but the Blue
Jays forced a fumble to put an end to the Celt
comeback. The Celts, despite the valiant effort,
came out on the losing end of a 45-28 score.
On September 5 the team traveled to
Mizzou as the played against Father Tolton
Catholic High School. They were able to tour
most of the athletic facilities and even took
passes from Missouri Alumni and NFL player,
James Franklin. As game time approached, the
team suited up and took the field as they took
on the Trailblazers.
By Matthew Pearlman
The Valley Park soccer team has been
working really hard this year getting ready for
the upcoming soccer season. Coach Lancaster
remarked, “We have gone back to the basics. We are
working on simple things, and building on them.”
Coach Lancaster is looking forward to many
different things this year in soccer such as starting
over with a brand new team. The team has more
new players than ever before, and Coach Lancaster
says that new teams are the most fun. He is looking
forward to seeing how well the team does, and to
see the progress the team makes.
One of the returning veterans to the team,
senior Jacob Ostrowski, has some “unique” goals
he says: “Since we aren’t as talented as the years
before, my goal is to play 100% every game and
make sure, as rare as it might be, to deserve our
wins.”
As a returning veteran, he’s had many
highlights in his high school soccer career, such as
his transition from a bench player to a starter. He
explained that once he got his chance, he didn’t let
the team down.
Sophomore Austin Ly-Vu is a first year
player on VP soccer this year, but has already
experienced some highlights, including playing his
first game and winning a head ball.
Austin Ly-Vu and Jacob Ostrowski both had
similar things to say about the family aspect of the
team. Jacob said, “I’m mostly looking forward to
the bonding part. As cliché as it sounds, this is more
than a team, this is a family. We have each other’s
backs in and out of the games.” Austin’s favorite part
is, “the players and coaches. We’re like a big family
and we all help each other out. Our coaches are
outgoing and fun most of the time, and they can get
serious whenever it’s game day or when we need to
practice. They make soccer fun, but they also show
that we need to work hard to get to where we want to
be.”
The roster consists of freshmen Jacob Buck, Ryan Courtney, Andrew Donnell, and Eric Sanchez;
sophomores Ra’ul Estrada-Avalos, and Austin LyVu; junior Bonsuck Koo; seniors Phillip Chaux, Jack
Iven, Jacob James, Javier Mireles, Jacob Ostrowski,
Brennan Rausch, and James Williams.
The 2014 Valley Park Football Team visited Missouri University on Friday, September 5, to play against Father Folton
Catholic. (Photo Source: A.D. Joe Walterbach)
GOOD LUCK TO ALL 2014-2015 SPORTS TEAMS!