The custodial staff here at Parkway Central High School put in the effort every day to keep our building clean, staying after students and teachers leave the building to make sure it’s spotless for the next day.
In January, math teacher Sarah Reeves was voted 2023 Teacher of the Year for Parkway Central High School. Reeves teaches Honors Algebra Two, Algebra Two and Leadership. Starting this school year, Reeves is also the sponsor for the Student Council.
“A lot of people in the math department really look up to Ms. Reeves,” fellow math teacher Janell Byrd said. “We think of her as a leader in our department. I know that she wouldn’t necessarily consider herself that way, and that’s one of the reasons why I think she deserves this honor so much. She’s very humble, and she does whatever she can to support others.” English teacher Sarah Burgess is preceding Reeves as the 2023-24 Teacher of the year.
D1 Purdue commit Will Jost, capped off a successful senior season., The co-Post-Dispatch All-Metro Boys Swimmer of the Year helped lead the Colts to their second consecutive state championship. Individually Jost posted a 100 freestyle of 43.97, beating out not only the school record, but the record in the state of Missouri. Jost also won in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.12, breaking another previous school record. Jost helped contribute in the relays, leading the Colts to more school and state records such as the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay, swimming the anchor in both.
Senior Skyye Lee dominated the track and field season, winning four individual events at the state meet. Lee won not only in her signature hurdles but also the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Lee claimed four school records, running 13.36 in the high hurdles, 11.67 in the 100 meters, 24.19 in the 200 meters and 43.31 in the 300 hurdles. She set state records in both the 110 high hurdles and the 300 hurdles. Lee helped lead the Colts to third place in the state meet finishing with 40 out of their 48.5 points. Since then, Lee committed to running Division 1 at the University of Florida.
Alex Moore took on the role of theater director this year following Nicole Voss’ departure at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Moore Grew up in St. Louis, attending Mehlville High School and worked as the theater director in Osceola, Florida.
Moore directed this school year’s first play, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” in November and will direct the upcoming musical “The Addams Family,” in February 2024.
In early 2023, Parkway’s administration made a decision to decrease teacher plan time by 135 minutes. 90 minutes were cut at the start of this year. After backlash, the district backed off of an additional 90 minutes. Teachers are currently using that time supervising the hallways during classes.
Teachers now have less time to give feedback to students and to grade their work. These cuts affect clubs, sports and activities because teachers now have less time to tend to them.
Despite losing key seniors, Quinn Wolf and Jake Hansen, the Colts persevered, winning back to back state championships. Winning by a large 142 point margin over second place holder, Parkway West. The team was bolstered by a steady core of upperclassmen including Tyler Bryant, Will Jost, Daniel Richman, and Cole Smith. The Colts were also complemented by underclassmen Brody Blatt and Connor Muran. The Colts won every relay that they were a part of, including the 400 Free Relay, 200 Free Relay, and the 200 medley relay. They also set a multitude of state and school records.
The girls track and field team capped off another successful season after winning state in 2022 by placing third behind Kearney and Pleasant Hill high schools. The team was led by Skyye Lee who scored 40 points for the Colts winning two sprinting events and two hurdle events. Jiyah Owens placed an impressive second place finish in the triple jump, jumping 10.93 meters netting eight points for the Colts, and Josie Robinson added on 0.5 points, tying for eighth in the pole vault, jumping 2.9 meters. The Colts also set a multitude of state and school records.
The PCH theater department holds multiple plays a year with student actors. They audition, then meet after school to rehearse for each play. Finally they perform them after months of practice. These performances take place after school and on the weekends as advertised on theater posters around the school.
In 2023, the theater department held three plays. In January, they performed “Gee’s Bend,” originally written by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder and set in the 1930s, 1960s and 1980s, in Gee’s Bend, Alabama. In March, they performed “You Can’t Take it With You,” originally written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart;set in New York, New York in 1936. In November, they performed “The Play That Goes Wrong,” originally written by Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis and Henry Shields and set in the production of the fictional play “Murder At Haversham Manor.”
Many students have been taking new initiatives by transitioning their passions into clubs. From religious clubs like the Catholic Faith Club, to academic clubs like the math club, and even more recreational clubs like the Tea Club, now more than ever students have an opportunity to engage in activities at Central.. This year Parkway Central has over 50 clubs, many of which are bringing positive changes to the community, for example the Sister Project helped lead a drive for the STL diaper bank.
