Student Standouts: Ray ’23, Janes ’23, Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball in the News
Congratulations to this week’s standouts below. Way to go #RamNation! And as always, if you have a story to share, please email weeklynews@micds.org.
Ray '23 Earns More Accolades
Head Girls Cross Country Coach Jim Lohr reports: Julia Ray ’23 was voted to the All-Metro Cross Country team for the second season in a row. The All-Metro team includes the top runners from the St. Louis area as well as schools in Illinois. Julia was also named the Metro League Runner of the Year. She was the Arnold Invitational Champion, the Parkway West Invitational Champion, and Metro League Champion. She was MSHSAA Class 5 District Champion as well. Julia finished 4th in the Class 5 Missouri State Championship.
Sophomore Breaks It Down With This Enzyme Rap
Referring to herself as Lil’ ATP, Ava Janes ’23 decided to take her science project to another level. “Ms. Tourais challenged us to use our creativity to illustrate how enzymes work specifically during respiration,” she said. “I decided to make my own rap song and take on the project as a caricature of an enzyme.” She wrote lyrics like “It’s rhyme time, no one’s got this flow, I’m an enzyme, not gonna lie and say I’m surprised, I can break it down better than these punchlines, I’m an enzyme” and “I’m a catalyst, never been dissed, my rhymes are mean, all jacked up on this protein, high on acid, Amino, point mutation, I’m tú amigo”.
Janes not only created the lyrics to the rap but also produced the song. She plays six instruments: violin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dulcimer, cello, and ukulele. She is also the concertmaster in the MICDS orchestra and earns service hours for helping teach multiple students violin lessons on the weekends. She has been taking violin lessons since she was four years old. Janes is also a member of both Webster orchestras and the Saint Louis Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Janes said, “I think one thing people do not know about me is that I have always wanted to be a surgeon. I have a deep passion for music and it moves me, however, I have always been fascinated with the body…I could not wait to join the Anatomy club just so I could dissect a turtle. I really am a science nerd and that’s why this project was so special—it allowed me to combine both of my passions and try to create a fusion of ideas.”
What a great song, Ava!
If you would like to hear Janes’ song, check this out:
Girls Basketball Triumphs Over Duchesne
Check out this recap in STL Today of the Rams victory over Duchesne Monday. Zaire Harrell ’22 was featured for her 16 points. Way to go, Rams!
Boys Basketball in the News
The Boys Basketball team is once again in the news this week with a recap of their game against Lutheran South. The STL Today article highlights Nick Roper ’21 for 21 points and 16 rebounds. Hasani Spann ’21 is mentioned in another STL Today article that highlights his shooting success. He set the single-game record of 3-pointers too during the Lutheran South game, scoring 9 of 14 long-range shots. Additionally, he helped his team land 15 3-pointers, another school record. Way to go, Rams!
