The student news site of Grand Center Arts Academy, St. Louis, MO

GCAAtoday
The student news site of Grand Center Arts Academy, St. Louis, MO

GCAAtoday
The student news site of Grand Center Arts Academy, St. Louis, MO

GCAAtoday
All content by Elyse Luecke
Graduate headed off to Berklee College of Music

Graduate headed off to Berklee College of Music

Elyse Luecke, Contributing Writer
June 1, 2018
My senior year reflection: perseverance and commitment

My senior year reflection: perseverance and commitment

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
May 18, 2018
Tim Foust, Rob Lundquist, Austin Brown, Adam Chance, and Adam Rupp pose for a picture so the fans can get a perfect shot to post to social media. The University of Missouri- St. Louis' Touhill Performing Center was the perfect venue for vocals to blend together.

Home Free: the country version of A Cappella group Pentatonix

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
May 15, 2018
The official Playbill for Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hamilton is a rapped-through musical that tells the life story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

“Hamilton” provides students with opportunity to perform on the Fox Theater stage

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
May 13, 2018
Senior Spirit Week kicks off Monday

Senior Spirit Week kicks off Monday

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
May 11, 2018
Students wait on the Cardinal Ritter football field for further instructions. This location was selected as a predesignated evacuation spot earlier in the school year.

Students and staff evacuate building due to bomb threat

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
May 3, 2018
Ean Johnson, sophomore

Ean Johnson, sophomore

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
April 12, 2018
Imani Smith, 8th grade, Patra Patton, senior, and Jorja McAfee, junior, pause for a moment of silence in honor of the 17 students killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglass school shooting. Patton then listed how many students have been killed in each attack since Columbine.

[Photo] Students participate in nationwide walkout to honor school shooting victims, advocate for gun law reform

March 21, 2018

Royce Martin, senior

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
January 30, 2018

The Phoenix Report – episode 4

Quinlan Holt, Aurora Phillips, and Elyse Luecke
January 30, 2018
The PVC pipe ruptured at a 90 degree angle causing the flood that leaked out into the hallway and surrounding areas. It was unknown that there was an active pipe behind the closet door in room B210.

Low temperatures cause basement pipe to rupture; instruments, music materials damaged

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
January 22, 2018
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Reyna Russell, junior

Reyna Russell, junior

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
January 9, 2018
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Various pieces of art hang on the wall in the mezzanine in the Sun Theater. The theme of this year's fall art show was "Identity".

Fall art show encourages viewers and artists to find their “Identity”

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
December 19, 2017

[Video] Students embody live portraits, inspired by the works of Alexa Meade

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
December 18, 2017
A group of GCAA students pose for a picture in the Whittaker room of Powell Hall. During intermission, singers talked and got to know others from schools across the St. Louis/Illinois area.

Holiday Festival Chorus at the St. Louis Symphony: How my views on the holidays have changed

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
December 18, 2017

[Video] The Phoenix Report – episode 3

December 15, 2017
Rusty Smith, high school counselor

Rusty Smith, high school counselor

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
December 8, 2017
Caroline Knapp, Tessa Wild, Quinlan Holt, Elyse Luecke, Brooke Schuessler, Natalie O'Dell and adviser Travis Armknecht pose for a picture in downtown Dallas near Pegasus Plaza. "I think this award reflects all of the hard work I've been doing ever since I first joined staff," said Knapp.

Students receive Honorable Mention ratings in national competitions

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
November 30, 2017
Lunch, minutes before being served in the North cafeteria. Students have multiple options, and are to take a fruit, vegetable, and a milk. A La Carte items are also available.

New lunch program implements feedback, conforms to desires of students after miscommunication

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
November 11, 2017
Shaniah Fitts, junior

Shaniah Fitts, junior

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
October 31, 2017
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The Princeton Summer Journalism class of 2017 poses for a group photo outside of The New York Times headquarters. Students had the opportunity to tour the building, as well as ask reporters about their experience in the field.

Princeton Summer Journalism Program sheds light on diversity in the newsroom, offers opportunities for aspiring journalists

Elyse Luecke, Managing Editor
August 31, 2017
The class of 2017 stands on the stage, waiting for the National Anthem to be sung by choir students, standing in front.

Second graduating class of 2017 continues to set high standards with 100% graduation rate

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
May 30, 2017
Patra Patton takes a picture of a group of friends. (Left to right) Katlyn Miller, Nicholas Baggett, Chase Doctor, Caroline Knapp, Chloe Ward, and Maasai Rodgers, who are all in Calculus together, wanted to remember their times in class together.

GCAA holds second prom in school’s history: Enchanted Gala

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
May 30, 2017
"Journey to the Past" will take place Friday, May 19th starting at 7pm in the Black Box theater on the 6th floor. Ramsey encourages all to attend.

[Photo] Senior Isobel Ramsey produces show about her musical theater experiences

May 18, 2017
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Weekly Announcements 5-16-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
May 16, 2017
(Left to right) Juniors Crystal Woods, Mariah Watson, and Anthony Orozco pose for a picture. "My favorite part of prom was being surrounded by all of my friends and just having a good time, and seeing everyone in their beautiful outfits," said Orozco.

Dejah Farmer, senior, and Lisa Kaczmarczyk, high school principal, just after Farmer was announced Prom Queen. "People were saying, 'Go Dejah!' and that made my reaction," said Farmer. She describes the best part about winning, "just knowing that a lot of people care about me and that I have their love and support- that's a really good feeling."

Seniors Antonio Snow, Abigail Gray, and Senecy Jackson smile for a picture as they enter the Windows on Washington venue. When asked his friends, Snow said, " They're always there for me when I needed them to be, they're always fun, we can always hang out, but I'm just really lazy and never leave my house. But they force me to leave my house, so that's fun,"

Marissa Moore, Dean of Students, and Chanel Davis, senior take a selfie. When asked about Moore, Davis remarks that "she's been very influential in my life these past few years. She's one of those teachers or one of those people who come to you with a smile on their face. When I'm down, I know I can talk to her,"

Jamaikah Banks and Shane McDaniel, seniors, posing for a picture at prom. "Jamaikah and I are really close friends, and I love her personality. She's a really great person," said McDaniel. "She was always there for me. I really hope we continue our friendship after high school

Junior Nadeya McMiller and senior Oscar Nshimirimana dance. McMiller jokingly mocks Nshimirimana as he is on the phone.

Weekly Announcements 5-10-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
May 10, 2017

Weekly Announcements 5-2-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
May 2, 2017
Dresses hang on a rack in the lobby of the Urban League of St. Louis. "It was just a really good bonding experience for a large group of girls and boys that maybe not would have necessarily gone shopping together." said college counselor Erica Snelson.

Urban League provides select students with prom attire at no cost, releases financial burden for families

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
April 27, 2017

Weekly Announcements 4-26-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
April 25, 2017

[Video] Green Machine

April 10, 2017

Announcements 4-5-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
April 5, 2017
GCAAtoday Editor-in-Chief Jerell McCole (right, in hoodie) joins media professionals from St. Louis Public Radio and KMOX during a Sept. 4, 2015 press conference about a newly formed teacher union. As a parent representative, Katie Belisle-Iffrig, responds to questions about the union from a new point of view. She showed support for the teachers and their unionization. Belisle-Iffig is a founding parent at GCAA and is the mother of Sophie Iffrig, 10th grade, and Emma Iffrig, 12th grade.

How to be a student journalist: reaching success as a writer

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

The final step in the writing process: edit, revise and the finish the piece to be published.

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

The assignments, the deadlines, the questions, the staff – everything the editorial board must manage.

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

Step out of your comfort zone when put in any situation in or out of the classroom.

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

Communicate effectively and interact with new people.

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

How to get training and experience in the journalism field: getting informed and involved.

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

Know the basics and foundations of journalism; identify the rules of ethics and your freedoms.

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2017

Announcements 3-28-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 27, 2017
Announcements 3-14-17

Announcements 3-14-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 13, 2017
Announcements 3-7-17

Announcements 3-7-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2017
View from the fourth floor of Arts Academy Plaza construction site. The Plaza is scheduled to be completed by Spring of 2017.

New park renovation offers outlet for recreation, expression

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2017

Weekly Announcements 2/22/17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
February 22, 2017
Sixteen poems written by freshmen students hang on the fourth floor. Each poem is used to express to readers what it mean to be an American.

[Photo] Freshmen express what it means to be an American through poetry, "We, Too, Sing America"

February 9, 2017

Weekly Announcements 2-8-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-In-Chief
February 7, 2017

Weekly Announcements 1-31-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 30, 2017
Tracy Mense

Tracy Mense

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 27, 2017

Weekly Announcements 1-24-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 24, 2017

Weekly Announcements 1-18-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 17, 2017
Fred Bachman

Fred Bachman

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 14, 2017

Weekly Announcements 1-11-17

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 11, 2017
Stegmann-1

[Photo] Luke Stegmann

Isaiah Maupin, Staff Writer
January 7, 2017

Announcements 12-12-16

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-In-Chief
December 12, 2016

Announcements 12-7-16

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
December 7, 2016

[Video] Students see different side of staff members through ‘Laramie Project’ roles

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-in-Chief
December 1, 2016

Announcements 11-15-16

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-In-Chief
November 14, 2016

Announcements 11-8-16

Elyse Luecke, Web Editor-In-Chief
November 7, 2016
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