THE GRYPHON TIMES Friday, March 12, 2021 Volume 13 Issue 4 Siblings: The From UA to the State House By Nani Hill New Classmates Newly elected Missouri State Representative Maggie As a state legislator, she also values the inside look UA Nurrenbern used to teach at University Academy. Now in- gave her at charter schools. Charter schools in Missouri are By Zahara Jordan stead of reporting to a school for work every day, she unique to Kansas City and St. Louis and are often misun- checks derstood or judged, Rep. Nurrenbern said. Having worked Having siblings around while doing important things into her in one, she has an interesting perspective to bring to the is tough. But having siblings around while doing virtual desk at legislature. school is even more of a challenge. the capi- A favorite UA memory was her opportunity to take a At University Academy, 120 Upper School students tol build- group of National Honor Society students to San Francisco have one or more younger siblings who also attend UA. ing in for Spring Break. This means more than half of Upper School students have Jefferson “That was one of my absolute highlights of my teach- multiple UA “classrooms” coming into their homes simul- City. ing career, experiencing that with students,” Rep. Nurren- taneously each day. So while some students may be able Rep. Nur- bern said. “That trip to San Francisco was incredible.” to work with no dis- renbern Rep. Nurrenbern was well liked by staff and students at tractions, others don‟t taught UA. have a choice at all. Spanish Upper School English teacher Mr. Andrew Blakemore Reginald Locke, and even said she “cared deeply about her students” and was “a great a UA freshman, said, Rep. Nurrenbern spoke on the legislature some person to “It‟s crazy having floor in Jefferson City, Mo. journal- work with.” siblings around while ism at Mr. doing school. Some- UA for five years before leaving to work at North Kansas Blakemore times they can be City High School for the 2016-17 school year. She worked recalled a annoying and loud there until she had to resign this past December to accept funny story while I‟m doing her seat in the legislature after being elected in November. from when he work.” She and her husband Gregg have three young sons. was being Locke‟s siblings As a state representative, Rep. Nurrenbern will intro- noisy in the who attend UA are duce and advocate for bills and resolutions that align with hallway, and Natalie (9) and Jay- her beliefs. She will also serve on committees and fulfill Mrs. Nurren- den (12). other duties associated with the legislative branch. As she bern came Another UA carries out these duties, past life experiences will help to out of her freshman, Xzayveon inform and guide her. classroom to The Nurrenbern family smiled for a Cunningham, said, Working at UA was a unique teaching opportunity that find out who photo at a campaign event last year. “My siblings are Rep. Nurrenbern said she is grateful to have had, especially was “causing sometimes annoying since it is a school with a majority of students of color. such ruckus” and reprimand them. When she saw it was Mr. when I‟m doing a test Growing up in a white, middle class area her entire Blakemore, he was embarrassed, but she acted kindly. or something and school life, Rep. Nurrenbern said she couldn‟t grasp the He said, “She ran a tight [ship] but was a phenomenal Reignald Locke (back left), pic- they would be super reality of the experience of being Black in America. Hear- teacher and coworker.” tured with his mother and three loud.” ing UA students‟ stories of experiences with racial profil- UA graduate Alexis Tolbert loved having Mrs. Nurren- siblings, does virtual school near Cunningham‟s ing, police brutality and other race related topics really bern for journalism her senior year. Tolbert actually volun- his brothers and sister each day. siblings who attend opened her eyes. She said those are the stories she carries teered at her campaign kickoff event and was excited and UA are Sophia (6), with her in her new role. Aiden (8) and Cameron (12). SEE NURRENBERN ON P.5 When students have siblings at home around them all the time, things can get difficult. The younger students may ask for help a lot and be noisy. They're also on a dif- ferent schedule from the Upper School. But when all sib- lings are in class at the same time, even that can be tricky An NCAA Season to Remember since one student can hear everything going on in other By Trevon West family members' classes, too. So why doesn‟t the older student just move to a qui- This year‟s NCAA college basketball season has look a little different. All of the March Madness games will eter place in the house? looked very different from seasons in the past. be played in Indianapolis, Ind. The arena will only be filled Cunningham said, “I always wish there was a better Games have been canceled and postponed, players sat to 25 percent capacity. If a player tests positive for COVID- space for me to do work, but since I have to watch my out games and practices 19, he will not be allowed to play until siblings until my parents come back, I don‟t really have a due to positive COVID he serves a 10-day quarantine, tests choice.” -19 tests and power- negative three times and has no symp- Locke said he wishes he had a better place to do house universities did toms of COVID-19. school, too, because he wants it quiet so he can concen- not play at their usual Another difference this year is that trate on his teachers and assignments. Locke said he does levels. Teams including for the first time in a long time, blue his work at the dining room table, and his sister does her Kentucky, Duke, North bloods like Kentucky, Duke, North work next to him. Carolina and Michigan Carolina and even Michigan State are Cunningham also does his work at his dining room State are in jeopardy of not ranked in the Top 25 going into the table until 2 p.m. each day. not making it to the tournament. Fans are used to seeing When school is in person, teachers and classmates are NCAA March Madness these teams on their March Madness usually the first ones students go to when they don‟t un- tournament. These brackets, and without them the tourna- derstand something or need help. In the virtual education teams will need to win ment could feel very different. world, though, older siblings often become the easiest the majority of their Lang thinks March Madness will resources for their younger brothers and sisters. remaining games in Masks were a common sight at NCAA basketball still be fun and competitive even if the Locke said, “They ask me for help, but they always order to have a chance games this season. powerhouse teams don't make the tour- expect me to give them the answers without them doing to make the tourna- nament. the work themselves.” ment. “The athletes are playing for a reason, and that‟s to These two freshmen, and probably all UA students Former University Academy student and current Ray- [prove they deserve to] get paid. There‟s really not going to with siblings also in virtual school, have developed strate- town High School senior Noah Lang is a huge college bas- be a difference in atmosphere,” he said. Although he does- gies and tricks for managing the distractions. ketball fan. Lang enjoys watching Auburn men‟s basketball n‟t watch March Madness every year, he said his favorite “I try to tell [my siblings] to be quiet, but they don‟t because they have one of his favorite point guards, fresh- part of the tournament is how excited the fans get. The ar- listen. But I try to listen to music to distract myself from man Sharife Cooper, who is actually currently sidelined guments people have about calls during games are hilarious them being loud,” Locke said. Cunningham also listens to with a left ankle injury. Cooper is projected to go in the first to him. music as a tool for better focus despite the noise and dis- round of this year‟s NBA draft. On the other hand, UA senior Devin Hinson watches tractions happening around him. Lang said, “I look forward to Sharife recovering from March Madness every year and is looking forward to seeing Despite the inevitable difficulties, a lot of memories his injury so he can lead his team to a championship.” all the young talent. can be made during this time where everyone is at home. Currently, top men‟s teams in the country are Gonzaga, “I like how competitive it gets,” Hinson said. Hinson‟s In fact, many students would say that they prefer online Baylor, Illinois, Michigan and Iowa. The only team that favorite team is Arizona State. school over in person school, even though it presents a remains unbeaten this season is Gonzaga. Baylor has one The tournament is set to begin on March 14, and the variety of challenges. regular season loss. national championship game will be played on April 5. Some students might even end up missing their sib- As teams wrap up the regular season and play for seed- Which team will pull through and bring home the hardware lings when they go back to in person school.