Anohkin talks about the founding of the club and what other experiences the club will go through.

“The medical club is definitely directed towards people who have a serious interest towards medicine,” Anohkin said. “I founded it so that people who know that they want to go into the medical field would have a chance to do stuff outside of the classroom, such as visiting the anatomy suite at Washington University, the autopsy at the city morgue, and other typical stuff students usually don’t have access to.”

Not only does the club help with medical experiences, but also encourages a specific career path in the medical field. Senior member Alex Yepez shares his experience of how medical club will help him in his career choice as a pharmacist.

“The club is useful in that kids are more acquainted with the realities of career choice,” Yepez said. “I personally might be able to land a volunteer-type job where I would be able to train as a pharmacist assistant, which was possible through the medical club and Mrs. Jacus.”

Anohkin talks about the possible eye-opener experience with the club, and her excitement with the exposure of the medical field.

“I’m excited to learn more about medicine, which is something you don’t typically learn in the high school curriculum,” Anohkin said. “Also, it’s great to know that it is possible to have more exposure to different parts of the medical field before college.”

Though the medical club is currently an all-senior club, Anohkin mentions the hopeful expansion to the junior grade next year.

“I think the medical club will definitely be successful,” Anohkin said. “At the end of the year, it’ll be great to expand to the junior grade as well, so that the club can be carried on and help other students experience more of the medical field.”

For years, some students have expressed a desire to do more psychology than in class,” Aiello said. “I like to only sponsor clubs when the kids follow through, and this year, Isabella decided to recreate it.”

Jacobs describes what activities she would like to do for the club after creating the group.

“We got a group together and we plan on going to Washington University for some psychology classes and experiments,” Jacobs said. “I have been to some of these experiments and I think it would be great for a lot of students to see them.”
Aiello also adds other activities that the psychology club plans to do.

“At open house, I asked students’ parents if they majored in psychology or were involved in neurology,” Aiello said. “There are a lot of potential guest speakers, which would be great for students in psychology club. Also, I hope to do something with NAMI, the National Association of Mental Illness, such as awareness for mental health issues.”

Jacobs gives some final words on the hope for success for psychology club and the continuing of the club in the upcoming years.

“I hope it will be successful,” Jacobs said. “I know I’m not going to be at Clayton to do it next year since I’m graduating, but hopefully interested students in psychology or the club will rise up to run it next year.”

Many students are happy with the new building and show positive input in the recent addition.
“I feel like the new building lets in much more light than the old section,” sophomore Adam Rangwala said. “It’s a lot more pleasant and there’s more working space through the hallways than the other buildings.”

Sophomore Mac Rechan agrees with Rangwala and includes additional support.

“I think it’s pretty amazing overall,” Rechan said. “The transformation from last year has been pretty impressive and it’s like having an entirely new school.”

Not only are students happy with the layout of the building, but they are also impressed with the new design of the classrooms.

“The new classrooms are definitely a lot nicer than the old classrooms,” Rechan said. “It is a lot more up to date with different technology and there’s a lot more space in the new classrooms.”

Students are not the only ones that are satisfied with the new building. Teachers also show great appreciation for the new building, especially science teachers.

“The space we have is much more functional that what we previously had,” AP environmental science teacher Mr. Collis said. “The spacing of the desk in relevance to the whiteboard makes more sense. Also the layout of the lab is even bigger than before and I’ve never had this much room. In the old buildings, there weren’t even lab rooms. They were just two classrooms combined so the new building is a huge improvement.”

Collis continues to talk about the new possible curriculum and classes from the new wing and the impact of the greenhouse.

“The greenhouse will definitely be a curriculum changer,” Collis said. “Science classes will have additional plant based labs, and next year, it is possible that a class will be created that revolves around growth science.”

Though many people are satisfied with the new wing, some are unhappy with a couple parts.
“The hallways are so spread out and you never see anyone,” senior Taylor Gold said. “I used to see some of my friends all the time, but now it’s just longer walks to classrooms without seeing anyone.”

Not only are walks longer between classes, but there is also a vital part missing from the new wing.
“One thing that I found really odd and disappointing about the new wing is that there are no bathrooms,” sophomore Lily Niswonger said. “If you’re in the new building and you have to go the bathroom, you have to walk all the way to the old building.”

Students are also dissatisfied with the ongoing construction and look forward to the finished school.
“I look forward to seeing school construction coming to a close,” junior Seth Lewis said. “I’m excited to see the finished product of the school without the interference of construction in the hallways.”

Senior Sydney Wright also agrees with Lewis.

“I’m wondering when things will settle down,” Wright said. “It’s hard to concentrate with fire drills and construction noises during class.”

Though there are mixed opinions on the new wing, overall, the new wing has been successful in accomplishing its main goal of providing plenty of space for the science, language, and other departments. Hopefully, the finishing touches of construction will be done soon so that CHS can return to its peaceful school days.

They were both mission trips so a lot of times we worked with kids, with orphans, and helped feed them and teach them. We also were distributing clothes, and just providing people with things they didn’t have. We also did some construction, for example we built a church a stage.

Jake Lee smiles with a young boy at an orphanage in Haiti. Over the summer, Lee went on mission trips to Puerto Rico and Haiti. (Courtesy of Jake Lee)

How are the people of Haiti, and the country as a whole, doing after the earthquake?
Often when people think of Haiti they think that the people are really poor and sad. But actually the people of Haiti have a lot of pride in their country.

And I had a conversation with a man from Haiti, and he said, “We don’t want Americans to be thinking, ‘Oh they’re so poor and they have nothing’ because we still have a lot of pride in our country, and although parts of the city are still in rubble we are happy with our lives.”

What were some of the things you did with the kids?
We flew into Port au Prince and then drove for six hours on really bumpy roads in a bus, and then got to our work site where we would stay for a week. And we were there for religious reasons so we would teach vacation Bible school, but the people there also wanted us to teach the kids English, so we would teach English for an hour everyday as well, and all the kids were really excited to learn English.

What was one of your favorite memories from the trip?
The kids at the orphanage near Port au Prince have fun, but they can’t really go out much or do a lot. So one of the days we all went to the beach together.

We drove for three hours, and in the car they were all throwing up from motion sickness because they don’t go on car trips like this. But when we got to the beach they were so happy because they’ve never been to the beach before, because most of them were like ten or under. And we played with them for the whole day there. And they were just so happy and grateful for the opportunity they were given, when for us it was normal to go to the beach. And we were able to take them with our funds, because they wouldn’t be able to go on just their funds.

Why is it so important to you to travel and take part in these service projects?
First of all, I don’t want people thinking that I just do this for my résumé or do it to look like a good person. I actually do it because I really love just helping people out and traveling.

I want to be a doctor in different countries and, I want to be like the doctor that I shadowed in Ethiopia. He traveled the world and just tried to help out as many people as he could. So I guess this is also helping me build experience so it’s easier to travel to third world countries as a doctor. It’s what I really want to do, and I feel like it’s just my calling.

Pam’s Barber Styling on Wydown Blvd. continues the location’s long-established barbershop tradition. (Dustin Kessler)

Continuing the barbershop tradition from the 1930s, Pamela Saputo replaced the classic barbershop on Wydown with her own shop, Pam’s Barber Styling. However, what happened to the previous owner of the ancient barbershop? The previous barbershop, known as John’s of Clayton, is considered to be an antique building of Clayton and the sudden closing of the shop caused surprise to many.

“John was here for 46 years, but because of health reasons, he had to retire,” Saputo explained. “He was 86 years old.”

Though the legacy of John’s Barbershop has ceased, Saputo revives the barbershop, both literally and figuratively.

“After doing a total makeover,” Saputo said. “Everything in my shop is updated with state of the art equipment. Previously, it was from the 1930s, so before the building was old and worn-out.”

Along with the remodeling of the building, Saputo also brings a unique air to the ancient barbershop.
“Women used to not be allowed in the barbershop,” Saputo said. “It’s a new thing. There are very few female barbers so that makes me unique from the other shops and to this building as well.”

Even with the remodeling of the barbershop and the new feeling Saputo brings, she claims that it is still the same shop for men to come to.

“It’s still that same barbershop for men,” Saputo said. “But it’s not an old school barbershop like it used to be.”

Not only does the modern feel of the barbershop guarantee the comfortableness of the customers, but Saputo also talks about how the location in Clayton makes her feel at ease.

“This shop has always been a barbershop since the 1930s which is one of the reasons why I chose to start my business here,” Saputo said. “Not to mention it’s very visible and the pedestrian activity makes it a great location. I love it here because it’s a neighborhood feel but you’re still in the city.”

To top it off, Saputo’s versatility in her haircuts is sure to bring success and satisfaction to customers.
“I can do any style of work,” Saputo said. “Clipperwork, sheers, full face, razor shaves with hot steam towels, color, and manicures. It’s a full service shop for men only.”

No matter the type of haircut, the prices remain between the affordable price range of $15 to $24, $15 for kids, $18 for college students, and $24 for adults. The shop is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and 8:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Appointments can be made and walk-ins are also welcome.

Saputo reveals why she decided to become a barber and how it affected her current career.

“Being exposed to the Barber business from a family member gave me the idea and opportunity to become Barber stylist,” Saputo said.

Saputo is confident she will be as successful as the barbers she knows and believes that her shop will thrive for many years.

“It’s the only modern updated barbershop around here and I love this area,” Saputo said. “I look forward to becoming the new neighborhood barber stylist.”

I had first heard of India Palace from some family friends. They recommended the $9.95 Monday through Friday and the $12.95 Saturday through Sunday lunch buffet. A fan of Indian food, I decided to go in the slim time slot of 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

When I first arrived to India Palace, I was not impressed. Already impatient from the elevator ride to the 11th floor, I was further displeased with the service. I was waiting at the “Please be Seated” sign for a waiter to direct me to a table. Though there were several waiters, some occupied and others not, they all ignored me and expected another waiter to seat me. After five to ten minutes, a waiter finally decided to come to my stomach’s rescue.

Not wanting to wait any further, I walked immediately to the buffet section, where I was once again disappointed by the small selection of foods. Only having around 10 items to choose from, including dessert and salad, I decided to get a little bit of everything and had a seat.

Unhappy with my first impression of the restaurant, I failed to realize the location of the restaurant. At the 11th floor of the Airport Plaza Inn, there was a beautiful view from the surrounding windows of the restaurant. Since the restaurant is located by the airport, I also saw a couple airplanes launch off the airstrip, a very unique form of entertainment.

While looking outside, I finally picked up a fluffy yet crispy piece of nan, the traditional baked leavened bread, and dipped it into the red chicken tikka masala, a kind of curry made with tomato sauce. To my surprise, the food was delicious. I quickly grabbed another piece of nan and this time tried the goat curry, which is a famous kashmiri delicacy. Unfamiliar with goat meat, I hesitated in trying a piece, but did not regret it. It was different, but at the same time similar to beef and it left a pleasant aftertaste in my mouth.

The last dip was the palak channa, which is made up of spinach and garbanzo beans mixed in a mild crème sauce. Though I do not like spinach, in this particular sauce, it did not taste like spinach or garbanzo beans. It was a whole new flavor and was my favorite out of the three sauces. I had completely forgotten about the negative factors and enjoyed my meal.

The great thing about the different sauces was not just the taste but the variety in taste. Being able to switch up the order of the different tastes, I did not tire of any taste and felt encouraged to consume more.

One last great thing about India Palace lunch buffet is the unlimited amount of rice, nan, and the notorious tandoori chicken. Tandoori chicken is seen in all Indian restaurants, but the red meat broiled over mesquite left a distinguished taste in India Palace. Though other tandoori chicken taste a little plain, this chicken had a particular barbecue flavor to it, leaving the mouth watering for more. The vegetable pakora, which is made up of fresh vegetable slices dipped in garbanzo bean batter, also added a nice balance to the tandoori chicken, grains, and the different curries.

Though the selection of foods is quite small and the service may be a bit unsatisfying, the low price for a buffet made up of delicious delicacies overrules the negative factors. By far, India Palace is the best place for Indian food in St. Louis and I am sure to return soon.

Nearly every high school student knows backpacks are the most efficient way to carry school supplies. For ages, textbooks, pencils, binders, and paper have been crammed into a bag pack to be carried around to prevent holding everything by hand. Along with the unchanging backpacks, school supplies have also not changed, and are heavy as ever.
Some students believe that teachers are the cause for this because they are so oblivious to the fact that students have other classes, and thus other books.
“It seems like most teachers don’t pay attention to the load they put on students. Literally,” sophomore Karley Woods said. “We end up carrying around multiple textbooks at once because we’re required to have them each and every day, and sometimes stopping by your locker isn’t always an option.”
CHS has granted all Clayton students lockers, but students still struggle with carrying their textbooks for every class. Most teachers may believe the solution to heavy backpacks is to use lockers frequently, but little do they realize how difficult it is to simply put books away.
“I use my locker occasionally,” junior Simon Warchol said. “But it simply isn’t practical to use it between every class, so regardless, I end up with at least two text books and at least that many binders in my back pack at all times.”
One example that teachers overlook is the location of the lockers, which has been a problem to several students.
“Unfortunately my locker is all the way near the art and history classrooms so it’s really far away and not always conveniently accessible,” Woods said. “The only time I have to switch out books is during my lunch, but that still means three or four binders and textbooks to carry around at all times.”
To show the heavy weight of backpacks, students have testified to physical pain from carrying backpacks and the ridiculous weight of them.
“Prolonged periods of wearing my backpack are incredibly uncomfortable,” Warchol said. “When i put my backpack in the passenger’s seat, it weighs so much that the car things it’s a person and beeps about how it doesn’t have its seatbelt fastened.”
According to orthopedic neurosurgeon Sam Cho, back sores are not common from carrying heavy backpacks for a long period of time.
“If you are carrying a heavy backpack for too long it can cause sores,” Cho said. “They can be sore for a couple of days from your back muscles being overworked.”
Though the effects on the body are not too serious from carrying heavy backpacks, nevertheless, they are still a hassle to students.
“I think it’s clear that a student is carrying too much when their backpack is bigger than them,” Woods said. “I believe tiny people like myself have the hardest time.”
Students suffer greatly from the overloaded textbooks and agree that carrying around a laptop with accessible textbooks online would be much more efficient than carrying textbooks for each class.
“It would be a lot more efficient to have a laptop for school,” Warchol said. “I think that having a physical text book is nice to keep at home, but in class, it would be much nicer if we could just pull the text up on our computers.”
Textbooks being on laptops have already been an open idea. Some Clayton classes such as Spanish and History use Quia, where students can study for their classes online. However, several math courses such as honors precalculus and honors geometry literally have their texts online and thus, students with internet access do not have to carry their math textbooks home to study. Keypress, the company that creates the math textbooks for CHS, creates a textbook online as well as physical textbooks. Though they only sell math books, it is a start to most textbooks being online.
Math teacher Mr. Kohmetscher supports Keypress and future textbooks being online.
“If every student had a laptop or a CD with the textbook program on it, it would be much more efficient,” Kohmetscher said. “But the downside would be that if the internet is down, none of the students would be able to access any of their textbooks.”
Kohmetscher also agrees that laptops would be taken better care of than textbooks.
“For something so expensive, kids are bound to take better care of their laptops,” Kohmetscher said. “Textbooks get torn up over time and are taken less care of than expensive technology by students.”
Even though there may be financial problems for all students to own laptops and have internet access at home, some teachers are still able to get around the problem of students carrying too many textbooks. Chemistry teacher Mr. Howe solves this problem by letting students leave their textbooks at home and photocopying pages from the textbook needed for that day’s lesson.
“I believe my students already have a lot of textbooks to carry around,” Howe said. “I try to help them by letting them keep their books at home. It’s worth it to spend a couple of minutes of my time photocopying pages to help out my students.”