This is the vision behind James Surls’ recently commissioned sculpture for Shaw Park titled Molecular Bloom with Single Flower.  18 feet tall and 10 feet wide, this new sculpture, set to be complete by the spring of 2013, will be a significant addition to Clayton’s world-class collection of public art.

Molecular Bloom with Single Flower by James Surls is set to be completed by the spring of 2013. (Courtesy of James Surls)

Almost a year ago, the Clayton Century Foundation, in a joint effort with the City of Clayton, established a committee to begin the selection process of a piece of art for the corridor between the ice skating rink and pool in Shaw Park.

“This is a great place to have a commissioned piece that is about Clayton, for Clayton and specifically designed for the site and this city,” Patty DeForrest, the Director of Clayton Parks and Recreation, said.

The committee sent out 40 requests for proposals to artists across the country.  Then, this past December, the committee unveiled the final four proposals to the public.  Ultimately, the committee selected Surls’ tall bronze sculpture of a single flower in a slender vase.

In his written proposal to the committee, Surls explains how his inspiration for the sculpture was derived from the simple notion of the uniqueness of a single flower in representing a city in bloom: “As an artist, my sculpture begins with an idea, a belief, a truth I consider to be a universal concept.  This concept will reflect the importance of the City of Clayton’s 100 year of existence, it’s centennial, and promote the region’s artistic stature.  It will reflect and recognize the people of this remarkable area and will become a landmark for all humanity.  To create a legacy for Clayton and Shaw Park is a personal honor.”

DeForrest indicated that she is very thankful and appreciative of the community’s dedication to public art like this sculpture by Surls.

“I think it’s great that we are bringing a world renowned artist’s work to Clayton and also that the community has been so supportive of public art,” DeForrest said.  “I just think it’s a very striking and beautiful piece of art.  I’m very excited to have something by [Surls] in the city.”

The Centene Corporation, a national health care company headquartered in Clayton, was at the forefront of the community’s support, pledging to donate the entire $400,000 for the commissioned sculpture through the Centene Charitable Foundation.

The sculpture will be dedicated in the spring of 2013 along with the surrounding new Century Garden.

“We are going to redesign the garden [around the sculpture],” DeForrest said.  “There will be a landscape architect brought on to work with the artist to redesign the site to really accentuate the art piece…I can’t wait to see the final product.”

For several years, the idea of a community dog park in Clayton has been a highly controversial issue.  Complaints of neighbors have repeatedly chased out proposed dog park locations including Oak Knoll Park and Concordia Seminary.  However, with the presentation of the Haddington Court dog park proposal at the Jan. 9 Clayton Parks and Recreation Commission meeting there is renewed optimism and hope for a dog park in Clayton in the near future.

Two years ago, the Haddington Court residential subdivision off Clayton road west of Brentwood Blvd. was declared an official flood zone due to serious, periodic flooding.

As a result, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) joined the City of Clayton through a grant to help buy out the 12 residential homes in the neighborhood.

After being declared a flood plain, the Haddington Court residential subdivision was bought out by the City of Clayton along with FEMA and today is a bare, empty field. (Zach Praiss)

Today, after the demolition of the houses, Haddington Court is about three acres of empty land owned by the City of Clayton, posing as a possible location for a one and a half acre dog park.

“A significant number of Clayton residents have been focused on creating a dog park in the city, and we have been looking for an appropriate location that does not infringe on existing park land,” Mayor of Clayton Linda Goldstein said. “When Haddington Court became available for other reasons, it made the property a logical choice for the dog park.”

For Patty DeForrest, the Director of Clayton Parks and Recreation, the Haddington Court dog park proposal came as great news.  She explained how after searching and studying various proposals for many years, she finally feels that this is the appropriate location for a dog park in Clayton.

“It was an excellent surprise,” DeForrest said. “I was so excited that we might have an option that satisfies the majority of residents.”

With the support of the Clayton Board of Alderman and Parks and Recreation Commission, the proposed dog park is on track to be completed by mid-summer with funds raised by a group of residents according to DeForrest.

Nonetheless, Clayton City Manager Craig Owens noted that the proposed dog park has yet to clear several important hurdles. Those include permission from the FEMA and other government agencies involved, along with further analysis by Clayton’s Parks and Recreation Commission and the Board of Aldermen.

DeForrest explained how the Clayton dog park would operate like other municipal parks in the region. Dog owners who want to use the park would buy memberships that would offset the cost of maintaining the facility.

“I think it will be a wonderful dog park,” DeForrest said. “I cannot wait to see it come to fruition.”

There is little rest in this fast paced melody of school.  At times, unfortunately, it seems like the only song in our playlist – an endless stream of academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.  Five days a week, it echoes in our ears as we struggle to stay afloat and fight to swim towards the bright horizon of the weekend against the ever-beating tide of schoolwork.

Each of us has developed our own nearly- mechanical routine for combating our schoolwork that keeps us up late at night or up early before sunrise. At times, it’s a vicious cycle that wears us down to the point where we hopelessly seek refuge in the blue solace of Facebook.  This might be a slight exaggeration; however, there is no denying the fact that school, homework, sports, activities, and a brief period of sleep define the majority of our daily existence.

It’s time we break the cycle.

A routine is only as monotonous as you make it.  Take a second to catch your breath.  We all need to step away from our schoolwork sometimes.

Challenge yourself to do at least one thing differently each day or at least each week outside of school.  For instance, have breakfast with your friends, read a novel, bake, take the time to relax and leaf through this copy of the Globe Newsmagazine, or go out to dinner with your family.  Anyways, when was the last time you had a long, sincere conversation with your family or friends?  What ever happened to those Saturday morning bike rides or Sunday night family traditions?  Where is your spontaneous behavior?  For the most part, it’s these times when we break the routine that we have the greatest productivity upon returning to our schoolwork.

So do something different today.

Whatever you decide to do, make each day special in some way to stand out from the routine.  Today should not be just another date that you etch in the top corner of a handout.  Seize the day.

We are the “I” generation.

Ever since our childhood and early days in kindergarten, we have been taught that we are all unique individuals.  Each of us is different in our interests, ideas, passions, and preferences.

Steve Jobs capitalized on this ideology engrained in our society by providing us with the ability to customize technology to fit our precise individual wants and needs.  The individual – the “I” – is at the forefront of each of his revolutionary technological marvels: the iPod, the iMac, the iPhone, and the iPad.  Each of these technological innovations has in some way changed how we communicate, interact, learn, read, and listen.  Although Jobs recently announced his resignation as the longtime CEO of Apple, his ideas and technology have impacted and continue to impact our way of life.

35 years ago, Jobs was busy working away in his garage to create the personal computer.  With a friend and funds pooled from their sale of an old Volkswagen and scientific calculator, Jobs created a computer logic board called the Apple I.  With the success of the revised version of the computer, Apple II, their new company quickly took flight.

Since then, Apple technology has most certainly advanced and evolved.  Jobs has repeatedly pushed the limits of computer technology beginning with the first all-in-one Macintosh desktop computer.  Today, the iMac and MacBook continue to set the standard for desktop and laptop computers.

However, one of the greatest transformations we have witnessed over the course of the past ten years is the dramatic shift in how we listen to music.  In 2001, Jobs unveiled the iPod with its signature click wheel for efficiently scrolling through playlists and selecting music.  The iPod was an immediate sensation in the marketplace along with its online music store, iTunes.  Today, due to the success and growth of MP3 players and iTunes, the music industry is no longer predominately focused on albums, but rather, the online sale of single hits.  Furthermore, iTunes is a part of our culture – it’s our sanctuary of limitless music, videos, and television shows, which can all be downloaded in a matter of seconds.

Jobs redefined the direction of technology yet again with the release of the iPhone in 2007.  Although it was released only four years ago, the iPhone has one of the largest consumer bases in the smart phone market. As a fusion between an iPod and cell phone, the iPhone offers tremendous opportunity for personalization through the purchase of applications in the App Store.

The iPhone is an integral part of the technology that defines our generation.  We cannot keep our fingers off Job’s groundbreaking iPhone touch screens.  Everywhere you go in the high school’s hallways, you’re bound to run into someone busily texting on their iPhone.

The most recent addition to Job’s chain of success stories is the iPad.  Although it has been seen as simply a large iPod, the iPad has had huge consumer popularity and catalyzed a new market of tablets.  In many respects, Jobs sees the iPad as the future of the laptop with its attractive, glossy large touch screen.

Jobs is the technological innovator of our time.  He has pushed technology on an accelerated path of rapid improvement.  In Jobs’ contagious mindset, something can always be faster, lighter, and thinner.  Thanks to the growth of Apple and its influence in the global marketplace, we live in a world of technology, surrounded by screens.  We carry our cell phones everywhere, the internet fits in our pocket, and although each iPod, iPhone, and iPad is the same, each is tailored to fit our personal interests and preferences.

No one knows precisely where Apple will be headed without Jobs as CEO.  However, there is no denying Job’s incredible legacy in revolutionizing the technological market and changing the way we live.

Construction workers finish the landscaping of the Quad. The new addition includes state-of-the-art science labs, new world language classrooms, a broadcast studio, and a cooking classroom. (Paul Lisker)

Some may call us crazy, but we’re actually excited to be coming back to school this year. There was no need to slap the snooze button this morning as we jumped out of bed, ready to head off to the high school. Indeed, we’re all eager to reunite with our long missed Greyhound family, but for the most part, we cannot wait to see the final product of over two years of construction at CHS.

Prepare yourself to be amazed.

You may not recognize it, but you’re actually walking through the halls of CHS. It’s a remarkable transformation, but to call it a facelift is an understatement.

Over two years ago, the old Cottage and Tech building were demolished after Clayton voters approved Proposition S by a mere two votes. The purpose of this $51 million bond issue for the School District of Clayton was mainly to provide state-of-the-art science facilities at the three elementary schools and CHS. Approximately $31 million were allocated to CHS to construct a new three-story wing to the existing building in the place of the Cottage and Tech building and completely renovate the entire science floor.

Since then, we’ve had our quad cut in half as the metal skeleton of the new wing slowly rose from the grave of the beloved Cottage, which used to be the cramped home of journalism, yearbook, broadcast, and cooking. At times, we had to endure the noise of the construction, and every morning we struggled to find a parking spot. Yet, in the end it all paid off.

As if magic, over the summer the old part of the academic wing has turned into a seemingly new building. The once strikingly new corridors of the new building blend in with the former academic wing. The simple design elements of lighting and floor tiles flow throughout the hallways. In addition, as if our wish came true, all the bathrooms in the academic wing were also renovated over the summer.

At the heart of the new and renovated academic wing, however, are the classrooms, which are sure to blow you away. With all new lighting and carpeting, they are brighter and more comfortable. Then, the science labs are not only state-of-the-art and spacious, but also beautiful in offering excellent views of Shaw Park or the Clayton skyline.

So, we encourage you to explore and wander around. Discover your new area to relax and study with friends during your free period whether it is in the library or one of the common areas in the new wing.

In the end, we hope this guide helps you acclimate to the new and renovated high school campus. Whether you’re a freshman or senior, you’ll need the following maps to learn the layout of the academic wing to locate teachers, classrooms, or department offices. Once you know the layout, this guide can help you learn how to get involved at CHS and find your niche in the high school community. Then, we’ll give a brief run-down of the administration and, finally, we hope to leave you with a little Greyhound spirit to get you ready for another great school year.

1. Learn the facts

See what each of the departments got out of the construction and renovations

2. Know the layout

Bottom Floor of the Academic Wing

Middle Floor of Academic Wing

Top Floor of the Academic Wing

3. Get involved

With over 50 clubs and student organizations at CHS, you can definitely find your niche and get involved.  Determine your interests, explore the array of clubs, and contact the sponsor to get more information.

4. Meet the administration

Say hello to the CHS administrative team.

5. Be a Greyhound

To be a Greyhound… What is it that defines the spirit of a school? Is it the school building? The administration, or the students? Or perhaps something abstract, an indefinable passion that unites all in the quest for learning, progress, and an endless effort to improve? No; it’s the magical convergence of each of the elements, amalgamating each defining feature of the school to create what we proudly call the Greyhound Spirit.

As the school year begins, we take our first steps into a new and renovated building; the memory of the recently graduated seniors is still fresh in our minds as we welcome the freshman class to the next episode in their lives. As society changes and generations pass, the meaning of being a Greyhound evolves, but the honor of being one is perennial. The Greyhound Spirit is and will always be to excel in academics, to be indefatigable in athletics, to pursue worldly extracurriculars, and to persevere in the face of adversity.

The new building serves as a significant addition to CHS - a whole new world for students. (Zach Praiss)

Starting with the demolition of the Cottage and Engineering building nearly two years ago, CHS students have witnessed a significant transformation of the Quad with the Proposition S construction of a new three-story addition to the current school building.

The new addition features state-of-the-art science labs, career and technology classrooms, and world languages classrooms.  Over the summer, the current CHS building will undergo significant renovations, especially for the science classrooms.  For more information concerning the floor plan of the new building, click here.  The new addition will be open and functional for classes by the start of school in August, 2011.

Click and check out our photos from early April of the new building below:

It’s truly the only way to describe the new Apple iPad 2.  Sleeker, lighter, and faster, the iPad 2 serves as a significant improvement off the original ground-breaking technological marvel.

At less than one and a half pounds, the new iPad has a 10 hour battery life with a minimum storage space of 16 gigabites.  Its front and back cameras open a whole new realm of opportunities including FaceTime, high definition video recording, and Photo Booth.

Nevertheless, despite these improvements, Apple has maintained the same price for the iPad 2 as the original, starting at $499, and now offers the iPad in black or white while having 3G options provided by AT&T and Verizon.

In addition, to complement the iPad 2 is Apple’s new Smart Cover, which masterfully integrates with the device, magnetically snapping onto the side and over its screen.  The new cover’s configuration allows you to prop the iPad up vertically or create a slight horizontal incline, optimal for typing.  Furthermore, it showcases the nearly instantaneous startup time of the iPad 2 because as you open the cover, it immediately awakens from its sleep, ready for use.

In the end, one might wonder what they could do with an iPad that is sometimes seen as merely an oversized iPod.  Yet, the options are mind-boggling, considering the over 65,000 iPad applications that are available in Apple’s App Store.

The iPad 2 is a blank palette – a beautiful multi-touch platform – for you to install, explore and enjoy any multitude of applications from the App Store that personalize your iPad to fit your lifestyle.  Whether you are a high school student or a grandparent, there are numerous ways of utilizing your iPad, including some of the following:

Yet, for the more than 270 CHS students who have registered for summer school in the Clayton Summer Academy (CSA), summer break is seemingly the perfect time to set aside the beach towel, return to school, and complete a required course or gain an extra high school credit.  With such high levels of registration this year, however, the administration faced significant difficulties in attempting to meet the needs of students and is now considering revising the current registration process for future years.

The CSA offers a variety of 4-week courses from the state mandatory classes of Personal Finance and American Government to more unique classes that allow students to focus on a specific topic.

“CSA serves several purposes,” CSA Director Paul Hoelscher said.  “It allows students to make up some missed credit in courses like math and English, it provides other opportunities for kids to take required courses such as government, fitness and personal finance; lastly, it offers unique classes that are not found in the school year like filmmaking, computer programming and the history of St. Louis.”

Despite the fact that the State of Missouri does not require school districts to offer summer school programs, the Clayton administration acknowledges the student interest across the district by providing summer opportunities for elementary students and middle school students as well as CHS students.

However, summer school is a significant financial commitment for the School District of Clayton.  It costs the District approximately $350,000 to operate its K-12 summer school programs.  Like the regular school year budget, 80 to 85 percent of the operating costs are for teacher salaries.  Yet, the district cannot charge students by law who are receiving academic credits that will be going on their transcript.  As a result, many school districts that are struggling to balance their budgets are now reducing or even eliminating their summer programs.

“Summer programs, while very important and valued by school districts, are costly to deliver, staff, and operate,” Dottie Barbeau, the Clayton Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, said.  “Some of our neighboring school districts are facing financial challenges and in some cases have had to make significant budget cuts and teacher reductions… Every dollar that is spent for summer programming is a dollar that is not spent during the school year.

When cuts start impacting teaching and learning during the school year, districts have to look everywhere possible to reduce costs and unfortunately because the state does not require summer programs that is one possible place for reduction in costs.”

This year, Clayton’s summer school programs are limited to only Clayton students, precluding students from other districts to attend the Clayton summer programs.

“If we look at other districts, I think we should very grateful for the chance to provide summer school,” Hoelscher said.  “While there are obvious limitations with a short program, our teachers provide our students with a valuable learning experience.  Every year, I am amazed at the amount of content that is presented in four weeks.  Teachers use every minute of every day to help students.”

With the first come, first served approach to registration this year, around 150 CHS students raced to turn in their summer school slips on the first day of registration.

“While there has always been demand for certain classes, the counselors this year helped provide information on summer courses,” Hoelscher said.  “As a result, there was a much heavier number of returned applications on the first day.  The district administration is reviewing this process and has already made some plans for changing the structure for next year.  It is challenging to offer enough classes to meet the current demand.”

Personal Finance quickly filled up with 83 students registering within a few days and 76 students signing up for American Government within a couple of weeks.

In response, Barbeau explained how the administration decided to create an additional Personal Finance section and increase the class sizes for both of the mandatory courses.

Originally the Personal Finance class was going to be taught by two teachers with a limit of 30 students.  However, due to the large student registration, the Personal Finance class was split into two separate sections each with 24 students.  Likewise, five students were added to each of the American Government classes that originally had 30 students each.

“The summer school staff has been working tirelessly,” Janet Crews, the director of the District’s summer programs, said.  “It’s been a difficult process confronting the increased student registration this year and having to create waiting lists for classes.  Nobody wants to turn a student down…We are truly trying to meet the needs of all the students.”

Nevertheless, the administration recognizes the flaws in the current registration process that promotes the competitive race for students to sign up for the popular mandatory classes offered in the CSA.

“The [current] registration process, while in use for a long time, results in inequities for those students who do not get their applications in during the first few hours of the registration window,” Barbeau said.  “We want the registration process to be fair for all interested students, and therefore are working to revise the registration process for next year.”

The administration is already considering a lottery system in the selection process for next year’s summer school program.

“For next year, the actual registration process will involve the counselors and will be modeled after a registration window – lottery type selection process rather than a first in first served model,” Barbeau said.  “We know this doesn’t help the students who have already been placed for this current year, but we have tried to make accommodations to help serve more students in the current course offerings.”

In the end, the administration will continue to listen to feedback from students, parents, and the community, as it continues to strive to meet the needs of students in providing summer school programs.

“Our administration supports our summer programs and feels this is something our community values as well, so we plan to continue offering summer opportunities for our students,” Barbeau said.  “Our goal is to be responsive to student interests and also responsive to student needs as we plan for the summer programs offerings.  Because our summer program coordinators are dedicated to providing the best program possible, they are continually evaluating the program and analyzing feedback so that we can make changes or improvements where needed.”

However, as the District continues to face difficult economic times, it will continue to evaluate its summer school programs.

“As we enter into deficit spending status we do have to more closely monitor our district costs, and that means looking at all of our budget items for areas to conserve funds where possible without adversely effecting programs and services that impact students,” Barbeau said.  “The budget and summer programs costs will also be part of our evaluation process conversations, just as they always have been in the past.”

To learn more about this popular vacation destination, click here.

This year, the warm approach of spring is not only reviving the flowers and tree lined streets of Clayton, but it is also breathing life into the new sprouting seedling of the Patch in the community.

The Patch was founded in 2007 to provide local news coverage for individual communities through the platform of an engaging and interactive news website.

After being bought in 2009 by AOL, the Patch has flourished, blossoming in over 750 communities and towns in 19 states across the country. This past December Clayton was introduced to the Patch with the creation of the joint Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch.

“Patch is really an effort to give communities throughout the nation, most typically around larger more metropolitan areas like St. Louis, a really good feel for what’s going on in their community,” said Nate Birt, the Editor of the Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch.

All of local Patch Editors live either within or in close proximity of the community they cover.

Instead of working from an office, editors work out of community centers, coffee shops, cafes, or parks to further embrace the atmosphere and livelihood of their communities.

As a result, the Patch reports on specifically community news such as local governmental decisions like the Clayton School Board of Education’s recent approval of the final designs for Wydown Middle School or controversial neighborhood issues like the Hadley Township in Richmond Heights.

The Patch brings these hyperlocal issues to the attention of community residents with regularly updating information.

“St. Louis is a very media savvy area,” Birt said.  “People read a lot of different media and are very engaged in what is going on in their communities…As a Patch Editor, I am here to supplement the media coverage that’s already being given and provide some additional coverage in areas that have not been explored.”

Furthermore, Birt innovatively utilizes the website to engage readers and viewers.
Each evening, a video called a PatchCast is posted to the site that summarizes the highlights of the day’s local news of the region.

“Part of my job as an editor is to use the web medium to best serve our readers and viewers,” said Birt.

At the same time, the Patch seeks to create a conversation between members of the community and their local editor.

Birt, who avidly takes advantage of social media, is always open to comments, story ideas, and recommendations from readers and viewers.

“As a company, Patch is really making an effort to interact with readers not only through its website but also through social media like Facebook and Twitter,” Birt said.  “It promotes a conversation…As an editor for Patch, my goal is to be someone who can interact with readers.”

A central part of the Patch is this community participation.

Anybody in the community has the opportunity to report something on the site that they feel is newsworthy.

“It’s really about interactions with people in the community and giving them kudos and giving them the credit for being our eyes and ears when we are not always able to be everywhere,” Birt said.

The Patch also allows its readers to post announcements about local events on the website’s calendar that, as Birt explains, you might not see on the 6 p.m. news but are still important to a lot of people.

In the end, Birt looks forward to continuing to grow and improve the site by engaging the residents of Clayton and Richmond Heights.

“I am really excited about the possibilities.” Birt said.  “I think it’s a great opportunity and I’m having a blast.”