The Eagle's Eye; Issue 3; Volume 18; Akins High School

The

EAGLE’S EYE

W. Charles Akins High School Austin, Texas Volume 18 December 17, 2018 “Everything that concerns you.”

@AkinsJournalism

@AkinsEaglesEye

AkinsEaglesEye.com

Budget crunch

State forced cuts could lead to crowded conditions Page 12

In News

Akins to begin early college program Page 6

In opinions

Changes could limit DELTA program Page 8

In sports

New faces on basketball team Page 21

Upcoming Events

Akins at Large

Senior Alerio Flores smashes a pumpkin during lunch at the Key Club’s Nov. 8 fundraiser. Students paid to hit pumpkins with bats. Photo by Christian Silva.

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TEASERS

ELECTRIC VEHICLE Campus gets charging station GRIT The merits and downfalls of education scale FALLOUT 76 New game has major shortcomings TEACHERS Teachers take second jobs for money ORCHESTRA New director leads performances EDITORIAL POLICY

The Eagle’s Eye is the official student newspaper of Akins High School. It is published once per six weeks, for the students, staff and community.

The Eagle’s Eye is an open forum for student expression, not reviewed by school administration prior to distribution, and the advisor will not act as a censor. Content represents the views of the student staff and not school officials.

The Eagle’s Eye will avoid bias and/or favoritism. We will make our content meaningful, timely and interesting.

Our articles will reflect our objective of reporting news and will be held to a high standard of quality.

We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph. All icons used are from flaticon.com.

Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined.

Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Eagle’s Eye staff or administration as a whole.

The Eagle’s Eye welcomes reader input. Please send any letters, articles, comments or corrections to akins. journalism@gmail.com or mail them to 10701 South First Street Austin, Texas 78748 or drop them off in room 223 with advisor David Doerr or an editor. Letters must be signed, and emailed letters will require verification before publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

The Eagle’s Eye does not necessarily endorse the products or services found in advertisements from local businesses.

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17th 5th and 6th Period Finals 18th 3rd and 4th Period Finals 19th 7th and 8th Period Finals 20th Winter Break Begins 21st

1st and 2nd Period Finals School released at 1:10 p.m.

School released at 1:10 p.m

School released at 1:10 p.m

School released at 1:10 p.m Classes resume Jan. 7.

HONORS

ILPC/UIL

Bronze Star Award 2007 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

NSPA

All-American - 2013 Nominated for Pacemaker - 2013

TAJE

Superior Coverage 2005 2008 2007 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2010 - 2nd Sweepstakes 2011 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2016 - Best In Show

CSPA

2011 - Silver Medal 2012 - Gold Medal 2015 - Gold Medal

The Issue’s Comic

On the Cover Austin ISD budget cuts

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he school district has been forced to make budget cuts that have affected the campus’ overcrowding and programs. A major component of Austin ISD’s budget crisis is recapture, a practice in which property-wealthy districts such as Austin give money to the state. The state then reallocates these funds to property poor districts that do not generate as much tax revenue. This year, 46 percent of the AISD budget goes toward recapture.

Read the full story on page 12. Cover photo by Mylo Bissell.

STAFF LIST Comic by Anthony Womack

Interested in having a comic featured in The Eagle’s Eye? Go to tinyurl.com/akinscomics

Editor-in-Chief* Bethany Bissell News Editor* Mylo Bissell In-Depth Editor* Dee Carreon Sports Editor* James Mendiola Life and Style Editor* Angela Glass Staff Writers Joshua Guerrero Phoenix Braly Anneliese Olivo Gregory Roque David Ridge Justin Wan Jaden Garrion Nathan Martinez Rito Pineda Monserrat Rubi Soto Emily Bellinghausen Angel Mendez Samantha Salazar Aubrey Hill

Opinions Editor* Jennifer Espinoza Entertainment Editor* Andy Clay Photo Editor* Diego Gutierrez Graphics Editor* Ash Catalan Life and Style Editor* Jon Garza Jamie Bain Diego Cedillo Eliana Ramirez Jose Garcia Isaac Villafranca Eli Calderon Zeta Handy Evelyn Moreno Arianna Farner Christian Silva Tania Dominguez Austin Rutledge Brianna Cozzi

Editorial Board* All titles marked wirh an asterisk contribute to the staff editorial Icon Credit:* Some icons from flaticon.com

News

Page 4 - December 17, 2018

Early college courses will benefit incoming freshmen MYlo Bissell

A

News Editor

kins has earned a reputation for preparing students for college and careers with specialized programs to help them focus in on their dreams.

And in the 2019-2020 school year, Akins will be adding to that reputation the distinction of becoming an “Early College High School,” adding to the many opportunities the school offer students.

Freshman Heba Dalu said the program sounds like a great opportunity.

“I think it would be a really good addition to our school and it would provide people with opportunities they couldn’t get at any other school,” she said. “I want to finish part of college in high school because it would save my family a lot of money and help my education financially.”

Christine Kesling, who is in charge of coordinating and recruiting students for the program, said she is looking for eighth-grade students to sign up because the program has to be started during students’ freshman year.

Kesling said counselors will examine certain aspects of students’ backgrounds when recruiting.

“Early college high school is set up to reach three different populations: students who are first-generation college goers. Students that are in populations that are underserved in colleges.

Certain demographics don’t go to college as often as others do so we give them a head start. Then students who just want to get two years of college done with.”

Kesling also said there’d be an application but it wouldn’t be a determining factor in enrollment.

“Students are not turned away from this program,” she said. “There will be short answers and mini-essay questions but (the applications) aren’t to choose students. It’s a way for us to get to know students.”

Associate principal Manuel Garcia outlined what the workload would be like for students in the program.

“When the students come in as freshman they’ll take one (college) class in the fall and another in the spring so it’s like a soft entrance and as sophomores they’ll take classes at Akins in the morning and classes at Austin Community College (ACC) in the afternoon (same in the junior year) and then their senior year they’ll be taking all their classes at ACC,” Garcia said.

The program will take a minimum of 75 students next year and is expected to grow. “ Those (early college) students will be (in a) cohort together. In an early college high school no matter how many students you have they are grouped together in groups of 25. So those are individual cohorts.

Those students will take their core classes together.”

Kesling said she wants them to feel supportive of one another.

“Today our ACC representative described it like they become a little family and that’s how we want them to feel,” she said.

Garcia said that eventually these little cohorts will become integrated into an individual academy.

“In the next three or four years, when we have kids in all fours years, it’ll be its own academy. Eventually, we may

Photo illustration Ash Catalan, Diego Gutierrez

Benefits of Early College High Schools

60 free college credit hours Students earn Associate’s of Arts Introduction to college with high school support Mylo Bissell

redo another academy or consolidate. We don’t know yet.”

Garcia also stressed that students don’t have to sacrifice their interests for the sake of this program.

“Students will have a little bit of space in their schedule to do exploration.

So if you want an endorsement and at the same time want to be in Early College High School, or, for example, you want to be double blocked in band and be

in the marching band you can still do those things, but you would have to go to summer school at ACC to keep up with those 60 hours, and when you go to ACC through the Early College High School program it’s free.

You can do both as long as you understand you may have to take ACC classes over the summer.”

“It’s a way for students to get an Associate’s degree at the Kesling said.

News

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 5 - December 17, 2018

Quantum computing class brings new field to campus Angela Glass

A

Life & Style Editor

kins High School prides itself on trying innovative things to offer new career opportunities to its students, and it will keep this tradition going next school year as two teachers pilot a dual credit quantum computing course.

Akins will be the first high school in the country to offer dual credit quantum computing. A professor from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin contacted Akins in order to set up this class. Christina Berry, the STEM Academy Coordinator, said that the professor chose Akins for this class because of its demographics and programs.

“He went out on his own and got grants to make this happen on his end,” Berry said. “He totally came to us with this idea.”

This class won’t be considered a UT OnRamps course, but it will function quite similarly. Berry said that the goal of this course is to get high schoolers exposed to this field, which is projected to grow in the next 10 years.

“There are multiple pathways at UT you can take along with quantum computing,” Berry said. “They have what they call the Applied Research Lab which is completely dedicated to quantum computing.”

Quantum computers have the capacity to solve more complex problems than traditional computers. Classical computers use data that is binary, meaning that its capabilities are limited. Quantum computing uses data comprised of quantum bits, called qu-

bits, which are not binary like regular bits.

This makes them more powerful. While classical data can be copied, quantum data from qubits cannot be.

“When you deal with computing, it is very binary, like ones and zeros,” chemistry teacher Derrick Tucker. “With respect to quantum mechanics, it’s as if you’re making use of all the space between the one and the zero.”

This solves the storage problem with classical computers. Because quantum mechanics is used to maximize storage, these computers can compute very large numbers that would be impossible for a regular computer to use.

“Quantum computing is sort of the next greatest huge technology,” Berry said. “It is even hard to wrap your mind around because it is so big and different than what we’re used to.”

Tucker will be teaching this class in the fall. He was sent to a training seminar at the University of Waterloo in Canada to help him better understand the material so he can help students with the coursework. The UT professor is currently working with his students to replicate a quantum computer.

After the basics of the class are taught, the students will be able to experiment with quantum computing.

The only prerequisite for next year’s quantum computing class is algebra II. Tucker said that the course will cover the basic ideas of quantum mechanics and its relation to the world, and then delve into topics such as light polarization and vector notation.

AOL

QUANTUM POWER

A radiation wall that holds a quantum computer. The computers must be kept at low temperatures.

“You would be surprised at how well grounded your understanding of quantum mechanics can be with some high school level math and a couple of rules you consistently apply across systems,” Tucker said.

Berry said that she recommends that students interested in STEM subjects take the course next year. She said that the course generates good opportunities.

“It has a lot of really good outcomes or possibilities,” Berry said. “That’s why everybody’s kind of excited about it right now.

Junior Noah Perez said that he thinks the class has good potential. He said he thinks it could change the future substantially.

“It is probably in my best interest to take it even if I don’t want to pursue it in the future,” Perez said.“It would be something to try out.”

Tucker said that the class is difficult but worthwhile. He said that he encourages students to try the class.

“Nothing worth doing is easy,” Tucker said. “It’s engaging in that challenge that causes you to grow.”

What is QUANTUM COMPUTING? 1 0

!

Command +C

Regular Computing Quantum Computing uses binary bits that are limited in their capabilities.

uses bits that can be at both 1 and 0 at once, so they can perform at a higher capacity.

Unlike regular data,

Quantum Data cannot be copied.

= 42 And only the output of work on a

Quantum Computer can be observed.

Bethany Bissell

News

Page 6 - December 17, 2018

New charging stations expands electric vehicle access RIto Pineda Staff Writer

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n November, Austin Energy celebrated the “EV’s for Schools” initiative with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Akins new Electric vehicle charging station.

The event featured speakers like Jackie Sargent, Austin City Council Member Ann Kitchen as well as various Austin ISD administrators.

They spoke about the value of this new charging station and what it means for the future of electric vehicles in Austin.

Kitchen said she is excited to see more stations being installed at schools.

“I am an owner of an electric vehicle and I love to see (these charging stations) all over town,” she said. “Austin is on the verge of exciting and fundamental changes and how we move people around the city of Austin and electric vehicles is a plentiful part in that change of our mobility.”

The event celebrated the continuing growth of Austin Energy’s Plug-In EVerywhere program, which has created an EV charging network of more than 760 charging ports powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The program puts a focus on affordability by providing unlimited charging for only $4.17 a month.

Akins is one of the few AISD schools that has an EV charging station. In the coming months, Austin ISD will also be retrofitting 17 other campuses to make them EV-ready in coming months.

At least two teachers take advantage of the charging station on a regular basis. Social studies teacher Rich Kelly recently started using the charging station after he purchased a hybrid vehicle in November.

Kelly said he enjoys that Austin Energy offers a discounted rate to charge at the charging station. Users only have to pay $4.17 a month to use any of the EV stations in Austin.

Social studies teacher Rich Kelly said he has noticed a pick up in use of the charging station since the ribbon cutting event.

“There are frequently two cars charging at once and then those parking spots,” he said.

Kelly said he also thinks that it’s good to have more EV stations around the City of Austin.

“I know that when we decided to get an electric car we were definitely looking at maps and saying where do we charge,” Kelly said. “So I think that by putting in more stations you will encourage more people to buy an electric car.”

Senior Ally Anjum thinks that electric vehicles will do a lot in terms of helping the environment “I think it helps a lot with air pollution and helping decrease the levels of it in the environment,” she said.

Carlos Barron

RIBBON CUTTING

Students stand with Councilwoman Ann Kitchen as Jackie Sargent cuts the ribbon with Austin Energy mascot StEVie the T-rex. The ceremony was held on Nov. 14 during FIT.

Inclusion teacher Jay Hammers was excited when he found out Austin Energy was installing a charging station at Akins.

“The fossil fuel burning car needs to be a part of our past,” he said. “Many scientists have reported that if we do not do something about human-made climate change there will be very dramatic effects on our environment. I’m trying to do my part to ensure that there is a world worth living in for (my daughter) and her peers.

Austin Energy’s Green Choice program ensures that the energy used at the charging stations is 100 percent renewable.”

Hammer said he also like to see more EV in Buda and Kyle and places where charging stations are not easy to find.

“I think our charging station is more important for those who live in the Buda / Kyle area,” he said. “There are fewer charging stations in the surrounding in the areas than within Austin.”

Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent said that the EV stations will help the city achieve its affordability and climate protection goals. “(The program) opens the door to launch programs like it in other schools and school districts in the Austin area,” she said.

EV for Schools offers: Raises awareness for energy efficient transportation

Curriculum about electric vehicles

Charging stations installed at schools

$4.17 a month to charge at any Austin Energy station Bethany Bissell

Opinions

The Eagle’s Eye

Bethany Editor-in-Chief

Mylo News

Page 7 - December 17, 2018

Jennifer Opinions

Andy Entertainment

Dee In-Depth

Angela Life & Style

Jon Life & Style

Jj Sports

Diego Photo

Ash Graphics

Editorial: Legislation needed to protect student press

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ur newspaper on campus is immensely privileged. We have been able to move more or less autonomously in our reporting and we have maintained a pleasant relationship with our school’s administrators while doing so. In writing and reporting on our stories, we are always able to find students and staff members willing to speak and engage with us, no matter the issue. At many schools across the state, however, administrators on campus attempt to suppress and regulate student news publications through prior review and censorship.

What is Prior Review?

Prior review is a practice in which a school’s administration or principal requires that a school’s publication submit its content for review before it is published. In many public college cases, this was deemed unconstitutional, but high schools and middle schools have no such legal history. Most of this is because of a 30-yearold Supreme Court ruling in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that some high school student news organizations aren’t intended as a public forum and student journalists do not have full rights under the First Amendment.

The practice of prior review for student journalists is dangerous for a number of reasons, but the heart of all of the matter is the same: an administrator reviewing a paper has different interests in mind than a journalist or adviser. For an individual running a school, the public image of the school is always going to be a top concern.

Because of this, a principal may think that the primary goal of a campus’ newspaper should be to serve as “good PR” for the school and disapprove of stories about things that are negative or might make a school look bad.

What is Censorship?

Censorship through prior review occurs when the individual reviewing the content requires that a piece is cut or removed. Stories are often censored for reasons such as negativity. The reasoning behind such censorship shows a critical misunderstanding of the fundamental purpose of journalism, scholastic or otherwise. Journalists provide a service to the public centered around the truth. This service does not take into account optics or morale. As a student publication, our primary concern is what information is most immediately pertinent to students, good, bad or ugly.

Honest and quality reporting to a student body is especially essential now when social media allows for rumors and word-of-mouth about major school events to spread like wildfire. Censorship from an administration often keeps such quality journalism out of the hands of students who need it.

Ash Catalan

Self-Censoring

Perhaps the most dangerous side effect of prior review and censorship is that it teaches student reporters to stifle their own ideas. If a student at a school where the prior review is brainstorming ideas to report on, they might shoot down their own ideas before going to their staff or adviser if they think they are too controversial or negative. Self-censorship teaches citizens to turn a blind eye to wrongs that they see. If a student journalist learns to strike down their desire to investigate and ask questions about the world around them, they will apply that practice to every aspect of their lives. The practice of self-censorship trains students to participate passively in the world around them, and prior review sets the stage for this habit.

Accountability and Professionalism

In addition to creating bad habits in student journalists, prior review reinforces harmful misconceptions about how student newsrooms —and newsrooms in general — operate. Requiring that scholastic news organizations submit their work for review before it is published implies a distrust in the students’ ability to report responsibly and hold themselves accountable. This shows a misunderstanding of the way that journalism works.

Journalism and reporting are centered around internal accountability. It is an institution that learns from its own mistakes, filled with communities of colleagues that

expect honest and thorough reporting from one another.

Assuming that student press organizations would behave any differently is vastly underestimating these organizations. Student newspapers such as ours are shining examples of the responsible and quality work that can be done without the impediment of administrators. Many student organizations across the state are able to report well, and irresponsible scholastic journalism is incredibly uncommon because their readers and communities demand high-quality journalism.

New Voices

In order to protect students from prior review, we are in support of New Voices legislation, which is currently being proposed as a state law in Texas This bill, filed by state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, states that school administrations cannot institute prior review or censor student news organizations of any kind. New Voices would also provide protection for journalism teachers who advise student publications.

This law is exactly the kind of protection that student journalists in Texas need. All Texas student journalists deserve the ability to do their work independently like the staffers at The Eagle’s Eye. New Voices would ensure this right across Texas for students who do not have school administrators that respect the student press as much as ours do. We greatly encourage our state representatives to vote in favor of this legislation in the up-

opinions

Page 8 - December 17, 2018

Changes in DELTA program, programs for credit repair Zeta handy Staff Writer

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ifeline. This is the word that is often used to describe the Diversified Education through Leadership, Technology, and Academics program, better known as DELTA. This program is designed for students who are behind in their high school credits for various reasons, such as failing a class or loss of credit due to poor attendance. This program is an on-campus, computer-based class that allows students to make up coursework at-your-own-pace format.

For some students, especially seniors who are short on credits to graduate, DELTA has been their best option to make up the required credits to earn their diploma. In the past, students have been allowed to take many computer-based classes at the same time.

However, the school district is proposing changes to DELTA that could have a negative impact on future students. Of particular concern is a requirement in which DELTA students will be limited to working on one course at a time. Another concern is that going forward there will only be one DELTA teacher in the classroom which typically would have two or three staffers to help students who take ranges of classes, including English, social studies, math, and science.

I believe these new requirements are

bad ideas that could bring negative effects on students.

DELTA is the last resort to the seniors trying to gain back the credits they lost.

As a senior myself in the DELTA program just this semester I’ve completed five courses and have three more to take. The great thing about how DELTA works is that one can work at their own pace but the courses do have a time limit.

Jesus Medel, who is classified as a freshman based on earned credits is supposed to be a junior, is currently assigned DELTA for all of his classes except for physical education, which he takes in the gym.

Medel said he appreciates how the program has helped him earn back many credits quickly in a single semester.

“I have completed 10 courses out of 13.

Next semester I should be able to go back to classes as a sophomore and not be in DELTA anymore,” Medel said.

Twilight is another program that helps students earn back lost credits.

Melinda Van Horn, academic counselor for the Academy of Business, Leadership, and Legal Enterprises (ABLLE) said it is another good option for students who need to make up credits and can stay after school to do the online classes on a computer.

A new option is Garza High School Online courses.

The difference between Garza online courses and DELTA or Twilight is that Garza courses are done completely independently at home. No one is monitoring

New DELTA requirements

• • •

students unlock tests, assist students and make sure the rest of the students are not getting off task.

I believe the school district is pushing the online Garza classes as a way to eliminate teaching positions at Akins to lower costs instead of helping students who are in the most need.

The online Garza classes might be a good option for students who are highly motivated and disciplined to finish coursework independently. But let’s face it, most of the students in DELTA are in there because they struggle academically.

Reducing staff to save money is not in the best interest of students especially those who are trying to do better in school.

2018 DELTA fall enrollment by grade level 8.33% 16.11%

Soph

omo

21.7%

55%

men

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Students must be scheduled into DELTA Students entering DELTA may only work on one course at a time Students will receive progress reports at the end of every reporting period Fall Semester- Students will have 82 days from the day they enter DELTA to complete a course.

Spring Semester- Students will have 92 days from the day they enter DELTA to complete a course (The number of days in each semester will vary each year).

Students who do not complete a course by the end of the semester will receive an “Incomplete” on their report cards.

Upon enrollment into DELTA, students will be notified of the time-frame for course completion All DELTA students have the option to continue to work on course assignments outside of the school day with the exception of tests and quizzes which must be completed in class

students’ progress. Another downside of Garza online courses is that it doesn’t offer as much variety of courses as DELTA or Twilight.

Currently, 180 students are enrolled in DELTA courses at Akins. Typically, there are two or three teachers in the room helping students unlock their tests so they can take them again if they fail or helping students review the items they miss on their assessments. On average, the class has 20 or more students at any given time.

Just from a classroom management perspective, I think it is a bad idea to have only one teacher overseeing the DELTA class at Akins because it would put too much stress on a single teacher to help

Fresh

• • • •

Ash Catalan, Phoenix Braly

res

Juniors

Source: Stephanie Fowler, DELTA instructor

Seniors

Opinions

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 9 - December 17, 2018

Colleges shouldn’t use grit as a college entrance exam Jennifer Espinoza Opinions Editor

G

r it is the latest buzzword in education that is being seen as a silver bullet to assess the potential of students to be successful.

It’s no surprise to anybody that colleges look into how smart a student is in their high school career instead of finding out the amount of hard work they had to put into getting those grades. There are definitely instances where a person’s grade may not reflect the work they did to receive it.

High school is definitely a start before the start of college but there is still that system of holding a students hand at the beginning, middle, and end of high school. During the high school years, students get told that college will be different which also includes how they will not receive the type of help.

Recently, Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University and a former governor of Indiana, wrote a column in The Washington Post in which he advocated for the creation of a Grit Potential Assessment that could be used by colleges as a tool to decide who should be admitted to college. According to Daniels’ article, there is a currently a trend in which some U.S. colleges have announced that they will no longer require applicants to provide standardized test scores, but instead will look to high school grade-point averages and subjective information. Daniels writes that these colleges are doing this because they believe that a student’s GPA is a better indicator of gritty characteristics like discipline, persistence, and resilience — all of which are necessary to succeed at the college level. However, Daniels cautions that GPA may not be a great indicator of grit because of rampant grade inflation that occurs in high schools.

What’s truly troubling is that Daniels believes that grit can be objectively measured with some kind of test. This would shock and appall Angela Duckworth, who is the social scientist who is recognized as the most prominent advocate of the power of grit to improve student success.

While Duckworth promotes the development of gritty characteristics among young people she has adamantly opposed the idea of using Grit over GPA. According to a piece that Duckworth wrote in The New York Times, she is excited that policymakers are interested in emphasizing the importance of gritty characteristics in young people, but she says it is a bad idea to “turn measures of a character intended for research and self-discovery into high-stakes metrics for accountability.”

For some students who work hard during high school, this change doesn’t affect them as much because they are used to working independently and persevering from difficult problems or hard work. There are instances where there are students who do try their best and work the extra mile but have trouble with reaching their desired goal. This is reflected on their GPA and of course colleges look at these GPAs and makes a decision of how smart that person is but will never look of how studious and driven the person actually is which could shatter that drive that they have hoped would take them into a college they would love to attend.

Ash Catalan

There are also instances where there are students who by chance have a teacher’s favoritism or receives answers from outside sources that, of course, improperly raises the student’s GPA and deceives college admissions workers into approving students who have not truly proven themselves as ready for the rigors of college. Many of these students drop out of college during their freshman year when they realize that college isn’t like high school and there is more independence required.

When also thinking of Grit it can also be argued that people may also cheat or lie so it may seem that they can take more than they could. I also worry that there is not much information on even how to measure Grit and encouraging the system to basically reset all the research that was done to create GPA sounds reckless.

Morally speaking, there are good intentions with measuring with Grit but without much information about how we can replace with years of research that GPA has. Although it is a morally good suggestion it can also exclude does who do not have the proper tools to improve themselves or do not have the privilege to be in an environment that can provide the necessary ways to show a student’s full potential.

There is also the factor that Grit can’t be taught, which can be difficult for those who have a strong mind but sim-

ply can’t persevere. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they shouldn’t go to school because of this flaw because the GPA system works the same way with measuring how intelligent a person is and using that knowledge to see if they are eligible to go to school. It excludes a lot of people who have Grit but their GPAs don’t showcase their hard work or their problems that happen such as jobs, helping parents, and participating in clubs. Instead, they only see the GPA numbers As a method, I do like the idea of incorporating some sort of a way where students can show their grit such as writing an essay in which they explain how they have overcome adversity in their life. I do not, however, like the idea with just having that as the deciding factor to let students be accepted to college because there is not much evidence that this could be a successful deciding factor.

I think the idea of measuring grit is wrongheaded and is susceptible to abuse and fakery.

Nonetheless, in a society like ours in which we are obsessed with testing, there will be proponents of pushing proposals to test grit and use this as the basis of college admissions or other important evaluations of student achievement and potential. After all, grit is an unmeasurable characteristic that can’t be taught.

Local Entertainment Page 10 - December 17, 2018

Student band ‘s demo garners following quickly issac villafranca

S

Staff Writer

tudent band Muros fell into place because of three friends’ shared passion for music.

Muros is a band comprised of four members: a guitarist, bass player, drummer, and a producer. Sophomore and guitarist Matthew Reyna said Muros mostly plays alternative rock, but they have fun with what they play so it sometimes doesn’t fall into a traditional genre. “Whatever we are feeling at the moment we play,” Reyna said.

Sophomore Jacob Hernandez started Muros. He is the producer and plays rhythm guitar. Hernandez said that he is very invested in making his band succeed and hopes to start a small fan base.

“We want to help people,” said Hernandez.

“There is always a good cause to music.”

Reyna and Hernandez have been friends since middle school and one day decided to start a band.

Reyna said that he hopes to see their band grow as a whole and become more known.“I want to see growth within us and growth within our community,” Reyna said.

Junior Eli Gutierrez, who previously worked as a

Staff Stories:

solo artist, is the drummer for the band. Hernandez asked him to him to join the band because he knew Gutierrez was a good drummer and had previous knowledge of making beats, making him a positive addition to the band. Gutierrez said that he hopes for the band to grow a bigger fan base.

“I hope we blow up and spread good messages and good vibes to people and change up the music scene,” Gutierrez said.

Muros shares their music on Soundcloud. The band released their first demo last school year, and they surpassed their goal in plays and likes.

“It has 6,000 plays, and has 114 likes, Hernandez said. “I was not really expecting that.”

Although Muros has had success in their demo, they’ve had obstacles. Gutierrez said that the band has had trouble working together and finding a sound that all the members agree with putting in their next song.

“The hardest challenge is agreeing with each other and not fighting over music,” Reyna said.

Muros begins writing each song with Hernandez coming up with chords for every instrument. Every band member contributes what they think and then they create a song they all enjoy.

Eli Gutierrez

“We play our instruments and hear something we like and then we go from there,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said that the band puts hard work in order to gain a following. He said that even though they work hard, they still enjoy what they do.

“We all like making music, so it is fun to work together,” Gutierrez said.

When or how did you find out the truth about Santa Claus?

David Ridge I found out Santa wasn’t real when I got older simply because I looked more into the law and wondered why its different for Santa to break into peoples houses. From then on, I just thought that he was a criminal. In the sixth grade, my friends started to say he wasn’t real and I just went along with them. I think what really confirmed it was when my older cousin told me the truth and I finally put Santa to rest.

Nathan Martinez

I was about 10 years old when I found out Santa wasn’t real. For Christmas, I wanted a Nintendo DS. One day my mom, siblings and I were watching movies in the master bedroom. I went to the kitchen and was trying to find some popcorn but instead, I found a receipt with “Nintendo DS” on it. When I saw, I asked my mom if they were the ones who bought the Nintendo for Christmas. She, of course, admitted it and I found out Santa wasn’t real.

Nathan Martinez

Nathan Martinez

Monse Rubi

Issac Villafranca Every Christmas, my grandpa would dress up as Santa and pass out the presents, sneak away and change, then rejoin the family. Once I got older, I started to get suspicious of my grandpa because I realized he was never there when Santa was. One year, I was watching my grandpa’s every move and I followed him to his room and waited outside his door until he came out. Once he opened the door, my whole childhood was ruined and explained the truth about everything.

Local Entertainment

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 11 - December 17, 2018

Theatre prepares for Chicago by adding new coaches Bethany bissell

L

Editor-in-Chief

ast year, the theatre put on a production of Hairspray that was a major hit. It was nominated for seven Austin area awards and won an award for best lighting.

Following the success of last year’s performances of Hairspray, the theater department had to work hard to live up to expectations going into their upcoming musical, Chicago.

“There’s pressure that we want to compete in the greater Austin high school musical theater awards and put our best product forward,” said theater director Brad Distelhorst. “There’s always pressure that we want it. We want to do the best that we can.”

In order to meet this goal, the theater department hired specialized coaches to help prepare for the performance. They brought on vocal coach Tara Gillespie and choreographer Sara Burke. Gillespie said that she was nervous about the outcome of her efforts when she began to work on Chicago, but has gotten more confident as time has gone on.

“I’m just really proud that they’ve kind of like pulled it together and they’re all really committed to making a great show,” Gillespie said. “I’m super proud of them.”

Kaleb Stevens

SPECIALIST COACH

Vocal coach Tara Gillespie works with senior Opal Sanchez. The coaches were brought in at the beginning of the year to assist students with music and dance for the Chicago Musical.

While the students have worked hard with coaches to perfect their performances, they were faced with a quickly approaching deadline that made it difficult to make props and prepare costumes. Freshman and crew member Edith Tinney said that she had to spend lots of time after school creating props for the musical.

“A lot of people had to stay after school because we were cramming trying to build all the boxes in one week and painting them and doing costumes,” Tinney said. “There was a big time crunch.”

Sophomore Kacey Wasson is playing lead role Roxy Hart in Chicago. She said that the time made it difficult to juggle re-

sponsibilities. Because some students were also in the production of Alice in Wonderland, coordinating rehearsals was difficult.

“There were a lot of people that were in it,” Wasson said. “I’m choreographing the show, so its kind of hard to teach the people that were never at rehearsals because they were at rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland.”

Although she has seen these difficulties, Wasson said she has seen much improvement in the rehearsals from last year.

She said that she thinks working with the specialists has helped the actors this year.

“Last year was rough,” Wasson said. “And this year like we have a vocal coach and someone teaching us how to dance. We’re working with the choir director on harmonies, we’re really improving.”

Although there was a quick turnover from Alice in Wonderland to Chicago, Distelhorst said that he is not concerned about time going into the musical. He said that there is always a feeling of not being able to complete everything they want to, and that he is confident in the upcoming performances.

“I’m very excited and happy to see how far Chicago is along and shows you from years past,” Distelhorst said. “We all see the same vision and we all want the same product to come forth.” Eli Calderon and Nathan Martinez contributed to this story.

What does it take to make a musical?

”

Akins Journey Theatre

“

It takes a lot of self confidence. You have to get used to working with all new people.

Akins Journey Theatre

Nathan Martinez

Kacey Wasson, Actor

Tara Gillespie, Coach

Brad Distlehorst, Director

“

It takes a good vision and good people to work with that are willing to work really hard.

”

“

(It takes) commitment to making a great show. (It has to be) taken a little more seriously.

”

in-depth

Page 12 - December 17, 2018

Austin ISD budget cuts interfere with Akins' structure Austin Rutledge

M

Staff Writer

oney matters.

It’s a truth that people often wish were not true, but is one that cannot be denied, especially when it comes to education.

According to the National Education Association, Texas spent $10,456 per student for the 2017-18 school year — $2,300 below the national average. That leaves Texas ranked 36th in the nation for per-pupil spending for the 2017-18 school year.

The lack of funding for public schools has been acutely felt in Austin ISD, which now sends almost 46 percent percent of its own local tax dollars back to the state to be sent to other school districts across the state. It has many in Austin ISD upset, considering the drastic budget cuts the school board is considering making to keep the doors open next year.

Increasing class sizes, cutting teacher planning periods and closing campuses are all on the table as Austin ISD’s recently created budget stabilization task force works to find solutions to shore up the district’s financial situation.

“My biggest concern is just the effect on students because like I said the larger the class size the more challenging it is for a student to get a good educational experience,” science teacher Ashley Gahan said. “So I mean it's hard when we're already over the proposed average that the district is giving to things that were already above the average and then moving even higher is a little daunting.”

A Historic Problem

Since at least 1876, when the Texas State Constitution was passed, Texans have been fighting about who should be paying for public schools. According to Article 7, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution, “it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”

While this language seems clear enough, state lawmakers appear to be struggling with this now that the state government only pays for about 38 percent of the cost of public schools. The majority of the rest of the funding for public schools is covered by local property taxes that are mostly paid by average homeowners.

The state Legislature had a history of underfunding its public schools or providing funding inequitable ways. After several decades of lawsuits, the problem got so bad that in 1993, the Legislature passed a court-mandated equitable school financing plan for all school districts in the state.

Recapture and Robin Hood

This plan, which is commonly called “Robin Hood,” involves property-wealthy school districts sending locally collected property tax revenue to the state to distribute to lower-wealth districts and charter schools. This process of collecting tax dollars and redistributing them is also known as recapture.

The goal of the recapture system is to help make public school funding more equitable between school districts.

However, according to a recent report by the Center

for Public Policy Priorities, today recapture has a bad reputation because Texas public schools are so severely underfunded. The lack of funds causes property-wealthy districts like Austin ISD to lack sufficient funds to meet the growing needs of their students.

Critics of the Robin Hood system say that the formulas used to determine the guaranteed level of per-student funding are outdated and do not reflect the true cost of providing a high-quality education. As a result, some districts have seen their recapture payments grow — and more districts have fallen subject to recapture.

Recapture’s Impact on Austin ISD

By the fiscal year, 2019 Austin ISD anticipates the district will send $669.6 million to the state in recapture funds. This amount is predicted to increase by $115 million to $784.6 million in 2020. From 2002 to 2019, Austin ISD will have paid the state of Texas more than $3.7 billion in recapture payments, according to an email response from Cristina Nguyen, an Austin ISD spokesperson.

Austin ISD currently spends almost half of its tax revenue (46 percent) toward the rest of the state. This affects AISD disproportionately because it means the district can’t focus its funds on things it needs and must maintain, Nguyen said.

Budget Impact on Schools

With so much of Austin ISD’s tax money being sent to the state, that leaves a limited number of dollars to actually use toward students in Austin. In the current year’s budget, only 32 percent goes toward paying for instruction, curriculum, and staff development.

One way this impact has been felt at Akins in recent years is the cutbacks in staffing that have affected the campus’ academy system. Until the 2017-2018 school year, most students in each academy took their core classes with other students in their same academy. The idea of students taking core classes with only students in their academy was promoted as a way Akins offers smaller learning communities despite the fact the campus serves more than 2,800 students.

However, budget constraints have forced campus administrators to abandon that approach, and since the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, core classes at Akins are comprised as a mix of students from all over the school and are not academy specific like they used to be.

"I remember it being that way during my freshman year.

I kind of liked it," senior Ben Dobbs said. "These were the people that I was like when I was with, mainly STEM students. I still have my (elective STEM classes) like my regular engineering classes, but I mean there are times where there are no STEM kids in a single class."

Another way Akins has suffered from budget cuts this year is the loss of district support for sheltered classes for English Language Learners at the high school level. Sheltered classes allow students who are learning English as a second language the chance to take their core classes with other English learners.

Without sheltered classes, students who are recent arrivals and know very little English often struggle when they are placed in large core classes in which the teachers are not

trained to support them. The district decided to shift its resources for ELL students to the elementary level.

To avoid sending these English learner students into regular core classes, the Akins administration decided to scrape together campus funds to pay for the sheltered classes for this year.

Social studies teacher Christine Velasquez, who specializes in ELL, said she understands why the district wants to focus on the elementary level so they can help younger students transition to English earlier. However, she said the district’s shift in resources away from the secondary level will leave recent arrivals without support unless campus administrators step in to address the need out of their limited discretionary funds.

“So my understanding is that the funding was here at the high school was taken and given to elementary schools,” she said. “So that way there would be something in the years to come and we wouldn't have so many students coming from elementary still being considered English language learners in high school. And so that's why now we're limited in staff because the funding moved to elementary but we still have newcomers that do come to the schools.”

The Strain on Security

After a student was spotted with ammunition on a bus bound for Akins last February, prompting a lockdown, administrators have worked to improve campus security. Entrances to the main building are locked on a more regular basis than they used to be, but there are still ongoing concerns that have not been addressed.

"I feel like if they wanted to increase security more they probably want to start putting an officer at every door almost at all times to prevent these things from happening again," Ben Dobbs said.

The campus’ more than 20 portable classrooms are particularly difficult to secure because of their lack of fencing and open-air nature. The portables cause problems for both teachers and students.

One example is sometimes students can’t use the restroom because the gates to the building are locked and the doors to the cafeteria are sometimes locked so students can’t easily access a restroom.

However, there is no funding to replace the portable classrooms with a permanent building that would be more secure and provide easily accessible restrooms. Currently, the district is only able to allocate 8 percent of its entire budget toward security to all its schools.

in-depth

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 13 - December 17, 2018

AISD Currently Sends

46%

What is

of Tax Revenue to "Robin Hood"

$

That's at least

$$

$670

Each year, the state of Texas guarantees a certain amount of funding per student in each district.

$

$

Because districts vary in their property wealth, the amount of revenue from property taxes that can be allocated for education, some districts cannot meet this guarantee.

$$$$ $$$$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $$ $ $$$ $ $ $ $$ $ $$ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $$ $$$$ $ $$ $

Million in

Each year, the state of Texas

$$ $

$ $$ $ $

info graphic by Bethany Bissell

stats from austinisd.org

RECAPTURE?

$

$

$$$

$

$

$

$

RECAPTURE funds to

$

To remedy this, the state requires “property wealthy” districts such as Austin to give some of their funds to “property poor” districts.

$

How AISD tax revenue compares to recapture $1500

$1,477 Tax Revenue

Chapter 41 Payments

$1,397 $1,299

$1,186

$1200 $1,056

The

STATE OF

TEXAS

art by Ash Catalan

Millions

$924

$888

$900

$790 $670 $546

$600

60.2%

$403 $300

51.9%

$266

56.5%

46.0% 38.2% 28.8%

$0

FY 2016 Actual

FY 2017 Adopted

FY 2018 Projection

FY 2019 Projection

stats from austinisd.org

FY 2020 Projection

FY 2021 Projection

Reviews

Page 14 - December 17, 2018

Fallout addition is a total let down: fans disappointed josh guerrero

F

Staff Writer

allout 76 the recent installment to the franchise by Bethesda Game Studios released November 14 has a very new perspective on this popular series because of its new multiplayer format.

This is a major departure in style considering that every other Fallout game has been single player. This has intrigued many fans of the Fallout universe who have wanted to play the game with their friends for years. Unfortunately, this is not what fans got when they loaded into Fallout 76 for the first time. Instead, they were met with a very buggy, rushed, empty, broken, shell of a game.

I score the gameplay a 4 out of 10 because you can barely play the game without encountering a bug or glitch that can be so severe that the game is unplayable, preventing players from making progress or continuing on with the story. Players also often experience lag as the game constantly performs at low frame rates. And worst of all is the frequent disconnections from the server. Sometimes the game simply won’t allow you to join other players which is infuriating considering this is supposed to be the main selling point for the game. It was also stated at E3 2018 that the game is playable alone but this is hard sometimes because you will encounter certain enemies or areas that are near impossible to go through and continue with the “story” without having help with other players. The enemies sometimes don’t even move and or work properly, getting stuck in a wall and

Ash Catalan

not moving at all.

I score the plot of this game a 2 out of 10 because there is no plot to the game. Since it was marketed as a multiplayer game with a make-your-own-adventure style. Bethesda wanted players to go and explore this land with friends and find things to do, but there isn’t much to do at all except a small storyline during the main quests. There are a bunch of small simple side quests that are not very interesting or fun especially for the primary story. The main quest in this game can’t even be described as a storyline

because it just takes players around the map looking for someone. Halfway through I was left thinking, “Why am I doing this again?” or “What am I even doing here.”

There really is no end goal, meaning players can play until whatever level you could want to but you would be doing the same thing as you when you first started the game. Mostly that means just killing enemies and doing plain simple quests. Overall, it’s just not an interesting or fun story at all.

I score the graphics for this game a 7 out

of 10 because they are really not bad. There not great by all means but they’re not bad.

Fallout 76 uses the same engine that Fallout 4 uses meaning that they look exactly the same. This is good and bad because Fallout 4 came out three years ago and looked great but with graphics in video games improving every year it’s somewhat sloppy on Bethesda’s part. It feels like Bethesda just copied and pasted Fallout 4 into Fallout 76.

It’s still decent, but it but it just feels sloppy.

When considering the game’s lasting appeal I would give a 4 out of 10 because although you can basically go around killing all you want, whenever you want but that gets boring after you complete the little storyline and side quests. Unlike previous Fallout games being a truly amazing open world that you can spend hundreds of hours in talking to characters finding places, killing crazy creatures doing, fun quests Fallout 76 just doesn’t live up to its predecessor.

For my final verdict of Fallout 76 I give this game a 4 out of 10 which I think is very generous. Fallout 76 is a rushed, non-polished, buggy, mistake, bland, broken, failed experiment of a game which is just sad to say. I’ve been a fan of Fallout for years and love their games that they have put out but this game just doesn’t live anywhere near the other games. It is a sloppy job by Bethesda that they need to do something about. Fallout 76 isn’t completely awful but for a $60 game being released by a massive and very highly praised company like Bethesda is sad because I think with a more work and effort they could have made a game that fans would have loved and enjoyed.

Just Cause 4 continues story, brand new environment Angel Mendez

T

Staff Writer

he Just Cause series is centered around an open world environment, focused on doing crazy stuff as the character Rico Rodriguez in South America.

Just Cause 4 is no exception. In Just Cause 4, you try to take down the organization “Black Hand” led by Gabriela Morales, and find out the truth about the death of Rico’s father.

Just Cause 4 is a game where you can have fun. It’s supposed to be unrealistic; you can make a goat fly by attaching balloons to it or put rocket-type gadgets on cars and make it blast off into the air. Dying in Just Cause 4 takes longer than other games so you can get shot by multiple people and not die, giving you the chance to escape.

If you’re done with the story or just want to enjoy the open world, then you can explore the four different biomes that are found throughout the map: the Rainforest, Grassland, Alpine, and the Desert. The weather affects your abilities, providing advantages and dangers.

There is returning equipment from Just Ash Catalan Cause 3, including the grappler, parachute, and a wingsuit. You can upgrade your gadgets to improve combat effectiveness and delivery cargo, which will get an airplane to drop vehicles to lend a helping hand.

Once you beat the story, there isn’t much to do other than explore the map and find the cool Easter eggs that are found in the map and a cool minigame. Even though fans have been wanting it, there is no multiplayer for Just Cause 4, which will possibly affect the replayability.

Overall, Just Cause 4 is a fun game to cause some mayhem on the open world with the new advanced weapons and the new weather. Although Just Cause 4 is a good game, I don’t think it’s a game where it’s worth the full $60 because of the fact it has no multiplayer and uses microtransactions. I would rate Just Cause 4 a 4 out of 10 because of the lack of multiplayer and iffy replayability.

Reviews

The Eagle’s Eye

ELorE

EXplores:

Page 15 - December 17, 2018

Venues across Austin that are cheap and friendly for underage students

Christian Silva tania dominguez

A

Staff Writers

ustin is known for many things but is particularly popular for its concert venues. The live music industry is a large aspect to Austin cul-

ture and helps keep it thriving. These venues have a variety in genres and have something for everyone.

Places like Emo’s and Mohawk are well known for their concerts held on a regular basis. Everyone loves to go see their favorite artist at a live show, the only problem is that it’s either too much money, or there is an age limit. Austin, on the other hand, is full of cheap venues who host live

music, accessible to underage teens.

The Eagle’s Eye has curated a list of venues that are not only accessible to all ages but fun places to go as well. If you want to go to a concert of your favorite artist for little to no expense, go ahead and check out these popular Austin venues.

Emo’s is a venue located on 2015 E. Riverside Dr. Originating in the punk rock trenches of the Red River Music District in the early ’90s the venue brought a strong authentic rock personality, which helped shape Austin’s thriving culture of live music.

The venue also has a website to buy tickets in advance so you don’t have to buy at the door. The website is emosaustin.com which provides information on upcoming events. Emo’s provides entertainment other than live music such as comedy shows, movie screenings, and charity functions. For more info follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @emosaustin.

Mohawk Austin

Empire Control Room

Mohawk Austin is a bar and event venue located on 912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701. This venue hosts events regularly, including concerts and private events.

“Mohawk is so cool. The area in front of the stage is so intimate,” said junior Laurel Bodah.

What is another good thing about this venue is that it does have an area where people can go for other reasons free of charge. There are many concert-goers that like to be close to the stage but for those who don’t like to be, there is a balcony upstairs where you can see the concert just as fine. For more info follow Mohawk Austin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @mohawkaustin.

Empire Control and Garage room is located on 606 E. Seventh St. Empire is a venue that gives off a “quirky warehouse” vibe because the the location is split into three sections. Empire garage, Empire control room, and finally the Empire patio. The venue’s website is empireatx.com which provides details about the upcoming shows.Shows host upcoming artists, and big artists like Ski Mask the Slump God, and Comethazine who will be performing with Lil Gnar in January.

There is a $5 fee if you’re under 18 at the door and you’ll be “marked”. For more info follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @EmpireATX.

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q

The Parish

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is located on 801 Red River St, Austin, TX. Stubbs is a restaurant but it’s also popular for the concerts held in the amphitheater in the back. Since Stubbs is a more spacious venue, the events are enjoyable.

Everyone can be packed together, but it provides areas where you can go if you get uncomfortable.

For example toward the back of the venue, there are concrete areas where there is enough space for one to take a breather if needed. Overall the concerts here are very energizing and amd you can grab a bite to eat. For more information, follow Stubb’s on Twitter, and Facebook @ StubbsAustin and Instagram @stubbsaustinsss.

The Parish is Located in the heart of downtown Austin on 214 E Sixth St. The Parish is a venue that hosts shows spanning from indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, funk, and everything in between. Despite The Parish being located on the second floor it gives off an underground vibe. In addition to their reputation for amazing live music, they host the Moontower Comedy Festival.

The Parish is well known for being one of the best indoor live music venues in all of Austin. For upcoming shows go to theparishaustin.com to see who’s performing and when. For more info follow them on Twitter, and Instagram @parishatx and Facebook @theparishatx.

Courtesy of The Parish

Cheer up Charlies is an LGBTQ bar located on 900 Red River St, Austin, TX. The venue presents a variety of acts, ranging from indie to dance. Not only is it a cool place but it also gives off an easy going vibe. Junior Laurel Bodah said“The environment is naturally very open and accepting. Everyone is just doing their own thing and support you doing yours.”

The outside set up is just a small stage, not even a foot off the ground, and just an open floor where concert goears can stand without being squished or anything. For more info follow Cheer up Charlies on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @CheerUpCharlies.

Courtesy of Empire Control Room

Emo’s Austin

Courtesy of Emo’s

Cheer Up Charlies

life & Style

Page 16 - December 17, 2018

Working on the weekend

Teachers are not making enough to live in Austin forcing them to get an extra job Monse Rubi SOto Samantha Salazar

T

Staff Writers

he average Austin ISD teacher makes about $23,019 less than the amount that Go Banking Rates estimates is needed to live comfortably.

In Austin ISD, an average teacher’s salary was $50,144 in the 2016-2017 school year, which is the most recent year the data is available. This is about $2,400 less than the state average.

According to an article listed on the Go Banking Rates website, it costs about $73,163 to live comfortably in Austin. The article compares the average median household income and then uses the commonly accepted 50-30-20 budget rule (50 percent for essentials, 30 percent for discretionary spending and 20 percent for savings) to calculate the amount.

With Austin ISD teachers’ salaries so far behind the $73,163 recommended to live in Austin comfortably, it’s no wonder that so many Akins teachers are working a second job besides teaching.

“I couldn’t afford to live and be a teacher if I didn’t work a second job,” social studies teacher Katie Delmore said.

For many teachers, the decision to take on a second job is viewed as a necessity to support their families. Science teacher Enrique Reyes, who is single, said that he doesn’t think he could sustain a family with his salary.

“I don’t think I can have a family with the kind of salary that I’m getting. I don’t know how other teachers do it, I could never be a single parent working just as a teacher.” Reyes said.

Some teachers said that working second jobs impact their family in a negative way. History teacher Richard Kelly said that he doesn’t have enough time to do chores around the house or spend time with family because if he does, he will be losing the income his second job provides for his expenses and family.

“I’d love to spend more time with my daughter and stuff like that,” Kelly said.

English teacher Ebone Zamarron, who works as a host and a waitress at Magnolia Cafe, has worked a second job since 2014. She had to get a second job to support her two daughters. She said her income as a teacher was not enough to support her family.

“It’s definitely not enough to support two

Angela Glass

WORKING FOR EXTRA CASH

Ebone Zamarron works a hosting shift at Magnolia’s Cafe to earn extra cash to help provide for her two daughters. She also works another job for some extra spending cash.

kids and to pay all your bills to live in Austin,” Zamarron said. “So I have two other jobs basically to stay a teacher.”

Math teacher Becky Lego said that she thinks that aid should be supplied to teachers in order to help cut the cost of living. Lego said that rent should be subsidized for teachers.

“I’ve heard of plenty of towns and cities where they have subsidized rent for teachers particularly,” Lego said. “I’m not saying they need to pay for all of it, (but) then I wouldn’t have to work a second job and I could just concentrate on the job of a teacher.”

Zamarron said that she believes that teachers need to be paid more money, although she is aware of all of the outcomes that would hold. She said that raising pay for teachers is difficult because it could require raising taxes.

“That’s why private school teachers get paid more since people are paying tuition,” Zamarron said. “The state pays us, but the state only gets money from property taxes so from people owning their homes. If people don’t want to raise their property taxes, we don’t get any more money.”

Why do you work this second job?

75%

80 70 60

Supplement my income Extra spending cash

58.3%

Doing it as a hobby To gain experience

50

Build up my retirement

40 30

25%

20 10 0

8.3% 8.3% Numbers generated from Online survey

life & Style

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 17 - December 17, 2018

“

Do you think working a second job has a negative impact on your ability to be a good teacher?

16.7%

Yeah, that’s why I do this, because I have a wife and a daughter and then two step kids who are in their twenties.

”

Yes

Rich Kelly

No Sometimes

41.7%

“

41.7%

How much does your second job help you financially?

41%

Couldn’t afford to live without the second job

59%

It’s definitely not enough to support two kids and to pay all your bills to live in Austin. So I have two other jobs basically to stay a teacher.

”

Ebone Zamarron

“

Could Afford to live without the second job

All numbers generated from Online survey conducted by The eagle’s eye between November 25-30. 12 teachers par4ticipated.

My biggest issue is that teacher salaries are currently rising at a rate below inflation. So for every year, teachers are losing purchasing power.

Armin Salek What kinds of stress does working a second job cause you?

Comments generated from Online survey

“For me, just knowing I have to take jobs in the summer and feeling like my summer doesn’t belong to me after a long school year.”

“Less time to relax, to rejuvenate, and to have fun.”

“Since they are closely related and beneficial to my full time position it does not have a negative impact nor additional stress.”

“I think teaching can be an emotionally heavy job, and many of the cases are emotionally demanding as well.”

”

life & Style

Page 18 - December 17, 2018

New team of directors bring change in band program Arianna Farner

E

Staff Writer

xtracurricular program sponsors for programs like choir, orchestra, and the band can often spend more time with students during the school year than they do with their own kids.

When the former head band director Tate Fincher and his two assistant band directors left at the end of the last school year, it came as a shock to the band students who had only worked with him in their time as members of the Akins Eagles band. New Director of Bands Babatunde Onibudo was originally hired to be an assistant band director, but he was soon named to the top position shortly after Fincher announced his departure. Jason Martinez, associate director of bands, and Daniel Sharp, associate director of bands and Director of Percussion Studies, came on board shortly after and had to adjust to their new roles.

“I think that coming into this everyone was pretty shocked,” senior Elizabeth Rocha said. “It kind of happened really fast.

But you really just take a step back and look at it. It’s been a positive change on everyone between all the members of the band and the color guard.”

The new directors have high hopes for the band program and want to continue to grow the program. They have goals of being more musically advanced and increasing membership in the band.

“I think it’s more of a continuation of growth and then just achieving high excellence,” Onibudo said. “Just keep adding

“

GIVING SCHOOL SPIRIT

A group of band members playing on the field during halftime.

They performed at the Akins and Crockett game.

to the success (the past directors) already had and creating new success where not only are students able to be happier and play more advanced music, but be able to have a fun musical experience.”

Seniors, who have the most experience with the past directors, have had varying degrees of adjusting. Students generally seem to like this new system that pushes for harder work, more progress, and a greater amount of competitive spirit.

“I personally feel that we as the program have gotten a lot better than where we have been before because we’ve been

making it to finals constantly and before it would be rare if we made it,” senior Elyssa Castillo said.

Many students said that they felt the same and that the new directors are influencing the program to become better than before.

“This year it’s definitely directed towards getting things done. Honestly, the biggest change that I’ve noticed is a change in mindset. Everybody just seems to be more focused on getting to our main goal and just being the best band that we can be,” senior Jayden Knight said.

The Player’s View It’s very fun and the directors are very independent. If you need it, they’re very supportive when it comes to music.

-Victoria Rodriguez, Freshman

“

Tarryn Britt

(The directors) push us really hard, a little too hard sometimes, but that’s for the better of the program.

-Owen Cardenas, Junior

” ”

“ “

Although many students have welcomed and even liked the change in directors, some are more hesitant to accept the change. With such a large change in staff, students sometimes struggle adjusting to new personalities and how the program is run. Some students left the band program altogether.

“A lot of kids quit after Fincher left.

More of the harder workers have stayed in. The ones that still want to do (work) even though the directors are all different,” junior Logan Austin said.

This change in student population hasn’t seemed to affect the band as a whole or the directors’ plans for the program.

“We’re hard on the kids because we care about their education. But we also care (about them),” Sharp said. “We show up early and we leave late every day make sure (the students) have access to everything they need in order to be successful.”

This year, 12 students made the Region 18 All-Region band, and 7 of those students advanced to area. The band as a whole received a first division ranking at district competition for marching and advanced to the area competition. It was also ranked seventh overall at the USBands Remo series finale.

“With (the previous directors) I feel like we were getting to a point where it’s kind of stagnant with the program as a whole like we’re all just used to the normal,” senior Christian Morales said. “So with (the new directors) here it’s a change that not everyone’s going to accept, but I think it’s good to have something different.”

(The directors) are really nice and are also encouraging and supportive. If you’re like ‘I can’t do this’ they encourage you.

-Allison Giral, Sophomore “I think (the program has) changed a lot. It’s hard to adjust but eventually, you get used to it and you can even see progress in some way.

-Madison Maxwell, Senior

” ”

Sports

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 19 - December 12, 2018

G ING THROUGH CHANGES New varsity coach takes over, brings new perspective to the culture of Akins soccer JJ Mendiola

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Staff Writer

he Boys Varsity Soccer team has undergone one of the biggest changes in its history as it adjusts to the new leadership of its second coach since the school opened

in 2000.

Social studies teacher Chad Timmons took over the team after the end of the varsity team’s season, replacing former head coach Bob Williams who had led the team since the opening of the school in 2000. It’s the first time for Timmons to serve as a varsity coach although he has had years of experience as a player and a coach.

Timmons, who has played soccer since he was five years old, played for his high school team and for a men’s league while he was in college. Timmons also served as a JV soccer coach at Anderson High School before he transferred to Akins.

He said one of his biggest challenges as a new coach has been creating structures and systems to hold players accountable.

“I’m trying to encourage them to hold each other accountable but also build it up in a way that they believe that we can win,” he said.

Timmons said the team has already improved “leaps and bounds” since when he started leading practices after the end of the last season.

“Last year it was sort of guys would show up when they wanted to. And they did they wouldn’t be consistent with bringing their gear,” he said. “This year we tried to put some pretty strict rules in place. If you miss a workout, you make it up. If you don’t, you only have so many chances to bring your stuff before I’m going to move you out of the class because you’re not committed to the process.”

Senior Brian Medina said he appreciates Timmons serious approach and his dedication to the team. He said he has noticed the team members stepping up and showing their increased commitment in turn.

“It was the nonstop thing. It started the last offseason and it hasn’t ended even through the summer we were putting a lot of hard work in,” he said. “It all to lead us to this season and so far

COACHING AT ITS BEST

it is paying off.”

Timmons said he has been putting in his own time preparing for the season by going to clinics, earning new coaching credentials and planning practices.

“I spend a lot of time and thought about what we’re doing, what’s working, what’s not working on my own,” he said. “I’ve told all these boys yesterday I’m my worst critic when I screw up. I think about it for a long time and I reflect a lot.

Senior Jason Guevara said the players have been showing up every day ready and prepared for Timmons workouts and drills because they know it will improve them for when their games start in late December.

“We literally train every day that is how much coach wants us to succeed,” Guevara said. “We know we are gonna have to put in the work but we are willing to put our hearts into this program” Winning first place in the district playoffs is a common goal across the team after the team fell just short of that accomplishment last year. However, Timmons said he wants the team to stay focused on the fundamentals to help them accomplish their goals.

“There are so many things that are beyond our control,” he said. “A ref could make a bad call that could blow a game for us.

Half the team could catch the flu. There are just things that you can’t control. But what we can control is we show up every day.

We’re up on time. We’re committed to the process. We put in the work and those things that we can control will help get us there.”

If the team can develop the right mindset and stay committed all the way through the season, Timmons said that will be the winning combination it needs to be successful. Timmons said as a coach he doesn’t want to have any regrets at the end of the season.

“I don’t want to look back on this season with the talent that we have this year, and think I could have done more I should have done this differently,” he said. “I want to look back and say I did everything that I could as a coach to try and help these young men succeed.”Diego Cadillo contributed to this story.

Deigo Gutierrez

Boys Varsity soccer team Head coach Chad Timmons gives directions to soccer players during practice. Timmons is the new head coach this year.

Sports

Page 20 - December 17, 2018

TEAM

Girls’ varsity basketball team in reboot mode with recruitment of younger players Evelyn Moreno

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Staff Writer

he Lady Eagles varsity basketball team has had a bumpy road this year and there are different causes for this but the team has stuck with each other through thick and thin.

With a lot of seniors leaving last year and a new shift in the team a lot more underclassmen have taken bigger roles some even making starting spots on the team.

Freshman Emma Perez said “joining varsity is a dream of mine knowing what my sister did can put pressure on me but I know I’m gonna leave my mark on this team just like my sister did”.

Despite girls varsity basketball team is 4-12 at this moment in the season, this year the varsity team has a lot of talented players on their team. They all have been blending well together and have been putting some really impressive performances against Del Valle and a blow win against Travis showing that when the team is clicking good things are coming out of it.

This year there are three freshmen on the girls’ varsity basketball team. Head coach Erica Routt said ” having such young players on varsity can be a good and bad thing.”

“Well it’s a good feeling and you know it can be a little bit scary at the same time because they’re talented but they all have that experience,” Routt said.

Multiple Upperclassmen players stated that it could be a good or bad thing playing with freshman players because they need more learning to do as they play. Building experience is all apart of the bumpy road for this team but they know that its gonna pay off this season.

“It can be frustrating sometimes because it’s a little hard because we have to tell them stuff multiple times but they will get it through their head eventually but other than that I like to know that

TEAMMATES ARE NOT JUST FOR PASSING

Jose Hernandez

Junior power forward Raquel Gonzales sets up a screen for her teammate junior point guard Jaidyn Trevino. Akins won this game with a score of 57-51.

they’re young and like they’re on this level or like it’s pretty cool,” said senior Kaylani Hernandez.

Hernandez is passionate about what she does and is willing to help out her teammates no matter what grade they’re in.

Eventually, they will learn something off of that and they’re techniques will get better as well. Shes learned to take on a leadership role for her team because she’s been at

where they are at right now and its a scary thing but she knows it will give them confidence going forward.

“I think the team has a lot of learning and growing to do since we lost 7 seniors last year so we’re all kinda in the same boat, But we’re getting there,” said junior Jaidyn Trevino Trevino knows that the freshman need to work on some techniques but she also

knows that the team will do really great if the underclassmen are ready to give it they’re all. But she understood that at the end of the day they all continue to benefit from each other and will build chemistry to finish this season.

“Being on the varsity team is an amazing feeling and it’s been my dream come true, “ said freshman Emma Perez. Jaden Garrion contributed to this story

Sports

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 21 - December 17, 2018

Turnover

Boys varsity basketball team identifies top performers as it begins district games

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Staff

hen Akins varsity basketball players hit the court before a game, it’s easy for them to make assumptions that will affect their performance.

Sometimes they decide they don’t have to play their hardest because the team isn’t known for being a strong opponent. The players will then only perform at a minimum level instead of playing their hardest.

“We take it easy on opponents that we think we can beat,” said senior Marc Duran. “And that’s a real big problem with us. Like against San Marcos High School we should have honestly killed them, but we played to their level.”

Getting into the right mindset before games is just one of the challenges that the boys Eagles Varsity Basketball team is facing this year as they begin their regular season.

This year, the team is lead by junior Alfred Ortiz, who is a third-year varsity team starter. Last year, he was the team’s offensive player of the year.

Culver said he is glad to see junior Beto Morales stepping up this year and showing a lot of maturity and leadership potential. He said he thinks they will be top performers this year.

Ortiz said he thinks the team is doing a better job this year of working together as a whole.

“We’re doing best in like communicating and like being a team,” he said. “Because last year we weren’t more like a team and now

LINING UP THE SHOT

we get along better together.”

Culver said the team has had to work through some leadership challenges early in the preseason.

“We only had I think three guys returning that have varsity experience so we got new guys and this is their first year playing at a high level and a lot of those are seniors,” Coach Culver said.

“The juniors that we have are doing a great job,” Culver said. “Their experienced and they’re trying to kind of get out of their comfort zone and be the leaders and be the vocal guys since they are considered upperclassmen now.”

For some of the seniors, this is their first year playing on a varsity team.

“Some seniors are trying to learn as they go and also try to be the leaders of the team since they’re the oldest so it’s definitely been a challenge.”

Culver said he is pleased that the team has a 5-3 record before starting district games.

“We’ve shown promise there,” Culver said. “Now is just being able to play through adversity being able to play the lead. We’ve had the lead and pretty much every game so the games that we have lost is just not being able to finish and battle through adversity.”

One example of adversity the team faces is that the Eagles team does not have a lot of tall players. Senior Sherrod Whitley said it’s a challenge for them to go up against teams with players that are 6’7” or 6’10”.

“So like we’ve got to play small balling. We really like really box out and try to get big with the other team,” Whitley said the height problem was a factor in the del valley game were the Eagles lost by three points in the game.

Culver said he is pleased with how the team is developing. And so far the team as a record of 3-10 as reported he just wants the team to remember to have fun this season as it goes against some strong basketball programs this year.

“Winning is important but it’s not the most important thing,” he said. “I want the kids to have a good experience to have fun and to develop as young men.”

Aubry Hill and Jaden Garrion contributed to this story.

Lucia Ramirez

Senior Sherrod Whitley pulls back for a free throw in the second quarter at the Akins vs San Marcos game. The Eagles won with a score of 79-70.

photo essay

Page 22 - December 17, 2018

MAESTRO MANN

Orchestra director Thomas Mann leads the orchestra during their winter concert.

Mann wrote seven pieces over the course of his graduate course to get his masters, including a piece for the Akins orchestra to perform.

Diego Gutierrez

New director in orchestra department provides students inspiration, opportunities Bethany Bissell

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Editor-In-Chief

ike many programs on campus, the orchestra department had been going through changes.

The new orchestra director, Thomas Mann, has been encouraging a more involved program. As part of his graduate program, Mann wrote orchestral pieces that the orchestra performed at Texas State University. Mann said that he was excited for the students to experience a more “official” type of concert.

“It’s almost as close as you can get to an internship,” Mann said.

The orchestra students that performed at Texas State got to perform in the school’s new center. Senior Melaina Newman said that the Texas State show meant a lot to her.

“I will be attending Texas State next fall as musician,” Newman said. “I hope it won’t be the last time I’m on that stage. It really set a realistic goal in my head.”

Mann said that he was excited about the show because it signified finality in his

graduate degree. In addition to this, he said that the performance provided a good opportunity for orchestra students.

“Some of them then were going (to Texas State) for music, so they (were) able to meet the people that are going to be their professors for the next four years,” Mann said.

In addition to the Texas State performance, the students had a winter concert they performed in the theater. Newman, first chair, said that she worked hard to prepare for the performance.

“I prepared myself and my orchestra by scheduling sectionals for my violins, giving instructions for each of them and being understanding and patient with other members,” Newman said.

Newman said that Mann has been a good teacher to her during his time with her during the program. She said that he has been a good adviser to her.

“I think he’s a wonderful teacher,” Mann said. “He’s quickly become a role model for me in such an important time in my life, showing me what I should expect in college and life as a composition student.”

photo essay

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 23 - December 17, 2018

1.

Zeta Handy

2.

Jennifer Espinoza

3.

Diego Gutierrez

4.

5.

6.

Diego Gutierrez

Diego Gutierrez

Diego Gutierrez

TEXAS STATE AND WINTER SHOW 1.Orchestra director Thomas Mann (center) leads the orchestra in a rehearsal of the piece they performed at Texas State. Mann wrote this piece specifically for the Akins orchestra. It was a paddock pedagogy piece, which means that it’s written to teach something, and while it’s designed for intermediate performers, Mann said he included it because “(the orchestra) can play it so perfectly.”

2. Mann (right) conducts the advanced orchestra during their performance at Texas State University. Mann said that while the preparation for the show was hectic, the performance was significant. “Akins gets to play in it and that’s super,” Mann said.

3. The orchestra’s string quartets perform a piece of their choosing without their director. Conducting themselves and performing on their own works well to display their talents and show how good they are at what they do.

4.The advanced cello and bass section crescendos at the peak of their piece. Any orchestra member will have the option of performing Mann’s piece for UIL if they so choose, as it was added to the list following his graduate work.

5. Sophomore violinist Alaina Nesby checks to see if she’s on beat and continues to play. She’s one of two violinists in the quartet.

6. The violinists and violists begin the finale to their piece as the show winds down. The orchestra was given a standing ovation, as well as a commendation from Mann following their performance. While the opportunities afforded to this group of orchestra students are unique to them, it may open the door for more opportunities for future students. “I really want to build a relationship with Texas State and the Akins orchestra,” Mann said.

seasonal

Page 24 - December 17, 2018

Decorations that are quick and easy to make for the holidays

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eE Emily bellinghausen

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Staff Writer

uring the holiday season spending time with loved ones is a must. What better way to bond than with this small little crafts? It’s easy to gather and create cute little decorations.

Plus everything you need can be bought at the dollar store to make it inexpensive and fun. So whether you’re crafting by yourself, with parents, siblings or friends, everyone can enjoy making some festive creations.

Choose your favorite stuffed animal, any plain ornament you can find and some embellishments to add a unique touch to each ornament. Put on your favorite holiday movie, gather your supplies and let your imagination take hold of this cute project.

Stuffed Animal Ornaments Difficulty: Easy Time: 45 minutes Supplies: - Glitter - Stuffed Animal - Ornament - Hot glue - Embellishments

Instructions: Remove limbs and head from a stuffed animal.

1.

2. Sew limbs and head closed.

3.

Attach limbs and head to ornament.

4. Paint name on ornament.

5. Allow paint or glitter to dry.

6. Add embellishments to stuffed animal.

7.

Attach ribbon loop to head of stuffed animal.

8. Hang and enjoy!