Prom Court

Girls: Baili Dickens, Becky Hermann, Anna Sedgwick, Rachel Vaeth, Chelsey Gegg, and Laura Rhodes.
Boys: Kyle Abt, Wade Vitale, Jacob Turek, Nolan Ritter, Trevor Billings, Lance Pippin.

Prom King and Queen will be announced on Prom Night which is set for Saturday, April 16, 2011, at 7:00 PM at the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge.

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Can Taking Hands-On Electives Help in Life?

On February 14-15, the 2011 Junior Class took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Application Battery) test. Many of the questions on the test pointed towards hands-on activities.

When taking the ASVAB, students discovered vocational-type questions. In relation, many noticed we have several vocational classes at SGHS that can help in the understanding of this test.

One of our main vocational courses at SGHS is Industrial Woods.

“I was inspired to take shop. I like to build things, and the satisfaction of knowing I can build something is just terrific,” stated Junior Xavier Grither.

Industrial Woods is a yearlong class. The class ranges from twelve to fourteen students a class period.

“Hearing the roar of the machines as I press the on button just makes me want to grab a two-by-four and cut it in half,” stated Grither.

The teacher of Industrial Woods is Mr. Brian Jett, a teacher with plenty of experience to handle a classroom full of tools. Mr. Jett has been teaching at Ste. Genevieve High School for 27 years.

“I was always a person who liked to work with my hands. When I was younger, I used to watch my father, who was not a handy person. After watching him, I told myself that I did not want to end up like that,” stated Jett.

After taking the ASVAB test, most people found themselves asking if taking a class such as Mr. Jett’s Industrial Woods class would help them in the long run.

“Students who are not exposed to industrial tech classes are missing out on great problem solving skills, practical application of math/science, and insight into many aspects of  the construction industry,” stated Jett.

Taking vocational classes can benefit a student in more than just one way. More students should try taking a vocational class even if it doesn’t pertain to their plans.

“It may save me money to build small projects instead of just buying them,” stated Junior Derek Brown.

LEARN BY DOING. Mr. Jett sands project in Industrial Woods Vocational Classes such as Industrial Woods can help you for test like the ASVAB

Stepping out of Tradition: Males asked to Join Emeralds

Shimmying, dancing, and shaking are what the Emeralds at SGHS are generally known for doing. However, with a few new additions to the Emeralds team, they are becoming more commonly known for something else-- new male members.

The males were chosen by the Emeralds to be dance partners during a few half-time performances. The new dancers had  to practice just as often and hard as the girls. In addition, they had to dance to the same songs as the girls. Some of the songs were: “Milkshake” by Kelis and “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.

In bigger city schools, male dancers would be more common. However, the idea is something fairly new to a smaller school like SGHS, and has been treated as just something funny more than anything else. “It is exciting because it is not completely serious. It is more of a joke,” explained dancer Derek Brown.

In light of the silly situation, The Spirit decided to interview a few of the new additions:

Q: Why did you agree to be an Emerald?
A: “Because I’m Nick Schwent!”-Nick Schwent.
“I was needed.”-Ben Bader     
“Dancing is my life!”-Lucas Palmer 

Q: What is the worst part of being an Emerald, Why?
A: “Not getting to wear what the girls wear.”-Lucas Palmer
“Toe touches, because they hurt!”-Steven Basler
“I have to work with people who think they can dance!”-Nick Schwent
“The awkwardness and having no skill.”-Derek Brown
“Having to tell my Dad.”-Nick Vaeth
“The feminine dance moves.”-Josh Baker

Q: What is the best part of being an Emerald, Why?
A: “You already know the best part. (The girls)”-Corey Cabral
“Having fun, and laughing at your self.”-Steven Basler
“I know everyone is looking at me and thinking ‘What a Man!’”-Nick Schwent
"Learning to work as a group, and being around girls.”-Derek Brown

Q: Do you feel you are hot in your Emeralds outfit?
A: “No, because they aren’t tights. If they were tights the guys would look better than the  girls.”-Nick Vaeth
“YES! I feel like I’m the best looking one out there.”-Nick Schwent
“No, I feel hot all the time.”-Lucas Palmer

Q: What do you think of your fellow Emeralds, male and female? Why?
  A: “The girls are hot, and the guys not so much.”-Dylan Noll
“They don’t stand a chance against me.”-Lucas Palmer

Q: What is your favorite song you dance to with Emeralds, Why?
A: “Milkshake, because it’s like a dance-off.”-Derek Brown
“My Milkshake, because I like shaking my body.”-Nick Vaeth
“Milkshake, because I get to shake my butt.”-Steven Basler
“Shake it, because I do a back flip.”-Tyler Greminger

Q: Why did they pick you to join Emeralds?
A: “I don’t know, I think it’s because I’m an amazing dancer.”-Benjamin Bader
“They picked me because of my body, and because I know how to use it and shake it.”-Lucas Palmer

Q: Are you excited to perform in front of your peers, or nervous?
A: “I am super pumped; it’s going to be a good show!”-Corey Cabral
“I am excited to ‘strut my stuff’ and show them what I am made of.”-Lucas Palmer
“Neither, I am just ready to rock it.”-Dylan Noll

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to say to your general audience?
A: “We are much better dancers than the girls. We should just replace them.”-Nick Schwent.
“Unlike the girls, we are good.”-Nick Vaeth

Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 February 2011 20:29 )
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I Want Candy: Students Join in the Snowcoming Fun

Snowflakes fall in the halls of Ste. Genevieve once again for Snowcoming. Snowcoming is Jan. 24-28. This year’s theme is “It’ll be Sweet,” with everything being Candy Land related.

The Snowcoming dance will be Friday, Jan. 28 right after the basketball game at 9-11 p.m.

During the girl’s basketball game Jan. 24, the Emeralds performed a special dance with male Emeralds.

Every year, to decide a theme, Student Council votes just like Homecoming. This year our theme was the runner up for Homecoming.

During the week, one can and will see almost anything candy related. The dress-up days are: Monday: Come as You Are; Tuesday: Dress like Your Favorite Teacher; Wednesday: Starburst Day; Thursday: Nerd Day; and Friday: Green and White Day.  

Another difference this year is the price to get into the dance. Instead of just paying ten dollars, one could pre-order a t-shirt and get in for free.  

The t-shirts are yellow; they say “SGHS Snowcoming 2011” on the front and “It’ll be Sweet” on the back.  Also, at the dance, the Snowcoming King and Queen will be crowned. Last year’s winners were Kristen Meyer and Ryan Mueller.  

“Snowcoming is just a dance for the winter sport season, just like fall sports have Homecoming and spring sports have Prom,” stated Junior Stu-co member Logan Giesler.  

Last year was the first year for Snowcoming, as they changed the title from Court Warming to Snowcoming.

Mini-Me. Look-a-like principals take over the school on “Dress Like Your Favorite Teacher. Danny Lurk, as an assistant to Mr. Hoehne, did “observations” of teachers, much to their surprise.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 January 2011 19:48 )
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Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees and Neither do Tassels

Senior year is notorious with parents and their graduating children. It is costly. The year starts with paying for that final walk to pick up a diploma and the cost of a gown, cap, tassel, and stole. It tends to end in payments on more items, such as pictures, dances, a yearbook, invitations, and other small things family and friends tend to feel are necessary to bestow upon their precious little ones before sending them into the big adult world.

“Graduation, class expenses, lunch money, gas, it all adds up,” stated Senior Erica Enloe.

Not only are there a lot of items for graduating seniors to pay for, but there are many very expensive items. According to Jostens.com, a basic cap and gown package is $35.95 without extras such as senior t-shirts, sweats, and decorative tassels.

In addition, the prices for accessory packages, which include items such as thank you notes, and memory books, range from the cheapest at $131.95 to the most expensive at $242.20.

“You shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg just to walk,” stated Senior Carl Joggerst.

It is true that seniors do not need any of these expensive extras to graduate. However, don’t all students deserve equal opportunities to receive these items? The school should provide more opportunities for students to raise funds that go beyond what is included in the basic package.

“Public school is supposed to be free, and some students really cannot afford the price of even walking at graduation,” stated Senior Lacey Courtway. 

On top of the prices for regular items, graduating seniors also have to consider the costs of their next step in life. The next step for some seniors may be moving out of their parents’ house and finding a job, and for others it will be college. No matter what step they decide to take after high school, it will also be expensive, unless they decide to live with their parents the rest of their life.

“I plan on paying for college anyway I can,” stated Senior Alyssa Kastner.

Many students are dependent upon government funding and loans to pay for future college tuition and housing expenses.

“I plan to pay for college with grants and working myself,” stated Senior Alex Brandt.

Seniors and their parents have a lot to think about with the first semester of their final school year already over. Senior year only happens once, and there are a lot of new items which only appear during senior year that will need to be budgeted.

The school provides many opportunities for students to raise money for various events and items, such as prom and a yearbook. However, the school does not seem to consider how costly graduation really is to students.  Fundraisers could be created to help students raise funds to cover graduation expenses. The school could even ask willing graduating students to return their cap or gown to the school for financially incapable students to reuse.

“The school should offer some sort of help to students. Everyone should be able to walk,” stated Terry Sanders.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 January 2011 19:56 )
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