ECHO's Voices of Webster: Recent Episodes
Maren DeMargel, editor; reporters Emily Goben, Maren DeMargel, Lindsey Bennett, Jaden Fields, Ellise Keller, Zeke La Mantia, Emily Stisser, Zora Thomas, Ethan Weihl and Elise Wilke-Grimm.
Voices of Webster is an ECHO Newspaper production. The opinions expressed are those of the student journalists and those they interview, and do not reflect the opinions of Webster Groves High School or Webster Groves School District. Lydia Urice is editor. Music is "Beauty Flow," by Kevin MacLeod from https://filmmusic.io (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and “Poppers and Prosecco” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.
This ECHO Podcast is introduced and outro’d by print/podcast editor Margaret Korte and edited by contributing writer Isaac Choi.
Corey Toenjes, new assistant athletic director and assistant football coach, has spent 13 years both teaching and coaching before coming to WGHS.
Print/podcast editor Sam Klein talks to Marketing II and Thrive students about their upcoming trip to New York.
Print/podcast editor Sam Klein talks to students and staff about New Year's Resolutions.
Contributing writers Amelia Brangle and Ryan DeMargel talk to the tennis team's most successful season in school history.
WGHS continues an almost century long tradition with plans to throw the Friendship Dance with Kirkwood. The dance has been celebrated since 1939 and has taken place every year except the years affected by COVID-19.
Print/podcast editor Sam Klein talks to staff and students about their favorite seasons of the year.
Editor-in-chief Lydia Urice talks to students about what they will miss about high school.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to students and staff about how artificial intelligence will impact school life.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to students and staff about what they do to keep motivated.
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Sam Klein. Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to …
Podcast editor Sam Klein reports on Super Bowl LVII and students' and staff member's reactions.
Podcast editor Sam Klein reports on the possibilty of a snow day and how students feel about that possibility.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to students about the return of Winter Formal, which has been canceled the last two years.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to students about how stressed they feel during finals week.
Contributing writers Arianna Peper and Margaret Korte ask students if they believe in the paranormal.
Contributing writers Ellie Halls and Charlotte Collier ask students about Halloween jokes, costumes and trick-or-treating.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to senior golfer Ellie Nakatani about the stressors that affect athletes.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to men's soccer team captain Oliver Doyle about the season.
Social media coordinator Maren DeMargel talks to Spanish foreign exchange student Dani Llompart.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to Anna Klein, Class of 88, about how the school has changed and remained the same since she was a student.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to students about finals and the stress that come with them.
Podcast editor Sam Klein reports on the Feminist Coalition's drive to collect menstrual products.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to sophomore Olivia Reisz about why Victorian fashions should return.
Junior editor Lydia Urice talks to senior Scarlett Patton about her time in high school and her after graduation plans.
Podcast editor Sam Klein talks to teachers about issues of mental health in the face of the two years of pandemic.
With spring around the corner, and as the weather begins to warm up, students should make an effort to spend time outdoors and explore some of Missouri's beautiful state parks. Also Riley Fitzgerald talks to students and parents about Spring Break plans.
Contributing writers Eleanor Kanerva and Luca Giordano talk to the hockey team and coaches about this season.
“Harry Potter,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Captain Underpants,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” What do all of these books have in common? At some point, they have all been “banned.”
Contributing writer Soledad Lee talks to Dr. Kerry Arens, Chelsea Center coordinator about the All Write Festival.
https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/schulz_black-history-month.wav
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel and contributing writer Ali Schulz
Contributing writer Ali Schulz talks to students and teachers about how the high school observes Black History Month.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
See Also: Webster Groves High School celebrates Black History Month
See Also: Black History leaves its mark in St. Louis
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/naert-valentines-day.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel and contributing writer Lily Naert.
Contributing writer Lily Naert talks about the orgins and traditions of Valentine’s Day and asks students about their plans.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Other royalty-free music and sound effects provided by PacDV.com “Urban Spy 2” and “Kisses.”
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/kanerva-and-schultz-1.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Contributing writers Eleanor Kanerva and Ali Schulz report on the weekly Black Lives Matters vigils held Fridays by several churches on Lockwood Avenue.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
See Also: Churches bring attention to Black Lives Matters
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/mental-health-1.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Podcast editor Maren DeMargel asks students how dealing with COVID has affected their mental health.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/landsness-podcast.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Science teacher Mebbie Landsness talks about student stress and what she does to help alleviate it.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/standardized-testing-op-ed-.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Contributing writer Maya Hamid shares their opinion about standardized testing.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/planned-parenthood-rally.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Contributing writer Luca Giordano reports on the Teens for Choice STL rally to support Planned Parenthood.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
See Also: Teens rally at Planned Parenthood
See Also: Video: Local teens rally support for Planned Parenthood
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/junior-class-stuco.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Podcast editor Maren DeMargel interviews juniors about the class’s Spirit Week decoration wins.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/fall-fashion.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Business Manager Izzy Poole interviews students about fall fashions.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Jackson Parks Editor-in-Chief Lydia Urice Junior Editor Former Varsity football coach Matt Buha enjoys a moment with his family. Photo from Matt Buha
“I’m a father, and at a point in my life where there are some transitions that I need to make,” teacher and former head football coach Matt Buha said.
It was announced that head football coach and physical education teacher Matt Buha had resigned from his coaching position effective immediately on Nov. 4. Buha will continue to teach until the end of the school year.
Buha mentioned that there was a push (administrative directives) factor and a pull (lack of time with his family) factor that ultimately resulted in his resignation.
The announcement came just shy of three weeks until the annual Turkey Day game played between Webster Groves and Kirkwood High School football teams. To lead and coach the Statesmen for their final football game this year, WGHS has named assistant activities director and assistant football coach Munir Prince as interim football coach.
Buha is stepping back from his position to spend more time with and focus on his family.
“My family is next. I wanna make sure I support our kids and our students for the remainder of the year,” Buha said. “I go home every night, and there’s this feeling of happiness and sadness at the same time because you’re so happy to see your kids, but then you realize you’re a day older, they are a day older.”
“I always joke with my daughter like, ‘Oh my God, I think you grew last night,’ and it’s one of those things where you just don’t wanna miss any of that,” Buha said.
The combination of coaching and teaching full-time has had its effect on how much time Buha gets to spend with his family.
“I always tell my football team about your home team, your family, and I need to spend my focus on my home team for the foreseeable future. I just don’t wanna miss- I don’t want to look back 10 years from now with my children grown and out of the house and wish for time to come back to me,” Buha said.
“My father was a college football coach, so I’ve been around the game my whole life. There is a competitive piece that I love. There is a camaraderie piece that I love, but what I noticed growing up, is that I saw 19-20-21-year-old young men and my father connecting in a way that I just, you just can’t understand,” Buha said.
“There’s a relationship there that I couldn’t wrap my mind around then, but I knew it was special, and I wanted to be a part of something like that when I got older,” Buha said.
“You just get to a spot in your life where you have to make really awful, well not awful, but awfully difficult decisions to really highlight what it is you stand for and value. This was just one of those situations,” Buha said.
“I have two young kids at home that I rarely see throughout the course of the week because of the demands of the job,” Buha said.
“The Xs and Os, what happened on the football field, that’s got no, that had no impact on the decision I made,” Bhua said.
“It goes back to kids. You could call last year strange. I think that’s pretty fair to say. Half of the kids would come in in the morning and leave, then the other half would come in. This year’s more normal, and the school is, in a positive way, it’s really busy,” Buha said.
“I see you guys all day and I see other adults rarely, so my experience has been really great because it’s been five-six hours a day of kids coming in and just working with them. I get to meet a ton of different kids with a ton of different interesting backgrounds. I’ve really enjoyed that. You guys are unique in the best possible way,” Buha said.
“I’m really proud of the work that’s been done here in the last two years. I’ve made a lot of really great relationships, and I’m certain that those relationships will carry on for a number of years after this,” Buha said.
“We came up just short in just a number of specific spots and areas throughout the course of the season that piled up and piled up and put us in a recurring situation, but it’s not a bad one. Football’s a unique sport for sure, so a play here or a miss here can dictate a season. I think our kids are incredibly courageous. I’m proud of that,” Buha said.
“I want to keep teaching; I love it. It’s the closest thing to coaching imaginable, and fortunately in here [weight room], I get to coach kids all day. That’s all it is. It’s coaching kids through things,” Buha said.
“It’s one thing that I feel like I’m good at, and you know, teaching is something that I want to make sure I continue to do. I love working with kids; I’ve never had a bad day at school in my life; I’m fortunate to say that,” Buha said.
“A thing that was interesting to me was that every kid I’ve met here really wants to be good at something. I’ve said that to a lot of different people. It might not be journalism or weights or whatever,” Buha said. “There’s something that drives all of the kids that I’ve met in this school, and there’s definitely something special about the kids here.”
“I’m really excited about it [new head coach]. There’s been a lot in a short amount of time, you know, trying to get the team ready to go for one of our biggest games of the year,” head coach Munir Prince said.
“We need to get our energy back up,” Prince said. “I think we’ll be alright.”
The annual Turkey Day game will be Thursday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving, at Kirkwood High School from 12-4 p.m.
https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/buha-interview.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Editor-in-chief Jackson Parks and junior editor Lydia Urice interviewed Matt Buha about his recent resignation as head Varsity football coach.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
| | Jackson Parks – Editor-in-Chief This will be Jackson Parks’ first year on ECHO staff, but he made several contributions while taking journalism class his sophomore year. |
| | Lydia Urice – Podcast Editor This will be Lydia Urice’s first year on ECHO staff, but she made several contributions while taking journalism class her freshman year. |
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/christmas-music.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Podcast editor Maren DeMargel interviewed students about when it is appropriate to begin listening to Christmas music.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/student-interview-podcast-2-1.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Public relations officer Calvin Lescher interviewed senior Millie Thum, junior Xavier Jurotich, sophomore M.J. Ryan and freshman Kara Pierce about their feelings about returning to in-person school.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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https://wgecho.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/gonzalez-official-podcast-2.mp3
This week’s ECHO Podcast is introduced, outro’d and edited by podcast editor Maren DeMargel.
Junior editor Lydia Urice interviews exchange student Cameron Gonzalez, junior, about the differences between Spain and the United States.
Intro music from https://filmmusic.io
“Beauty Flow” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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