News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
August 2019
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Computer training kicks off the year
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 34, Issue 1
The Class of 2023 goes to Camp Allen The Freshman Class attends the annual retreat for a day of bonding before school starts
BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer At the start of each school year, new incoming students are equipped with new laptop computers. Each of the students attends the Laptop Computer Training in Anderson Lecture Hall as part of this technological handoff. These meetings took place this year during the two weeks before school started in early August. It gave the new Knights the opportunity to set up their Apple computers, one of the most important tools they will have to be successful navigate their time at Episcopal. The training courses are led by the IT Mr. Greg Melius, who also works at the Help Desk, and he is assisted by a number of current and graduating students. Not only do the new computer owners learn about their new computer’s functions, but they also learn about the programs that come with them. The computers stay with each student for their four years of high school. Many teachers prefer students to use these computers as a means of notetaking and other classwork. They are important for any accessible online textbooks and library data bases, for example, but most importantly,
New Knights Kate McQueary and Lindsay Sauer brave the daunting high ropes course with a classmate during the Freshman Retreat. The students participated on the zipline and other outdoor activities during the full day of bonding. Photo by Julia Toups. CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer
The Freshman Retreat kicked off the school year with a bang this past weekend. Students traveled to Camp Allen for a day of bonding activities and trust exercises to faciliate their first day of school. Grouped by advisories, the Class of 2023 had the chance to meet classmates and prepare for their next four years of high school. Learn more about the Freshman Retreat on Page 3 Freshman students receive new computer training. Photo by Julia Toups they are the primary form of communication among teachers and the student body. From a new math assignment to an honors society application, email is a crucial part of getting information at Episcopal. Receiving these computers is another signal of the start of a new year and high school experience for incoming Knights.
INSIDE Field Night First all-school activity unites students and families
PAGE 4
Theater Rehearsals Theater begins its preparation for The Man Who Came to Dinner
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Features ........................ 2-4 Culture......................... 5 Entertainment .............. 6 Opinion ........................ 7 Sports ........................... 8
Summer renovations around EHS campus CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer Many construction and renovation projects occurred over the summer at Episcopal, which have a tremendous impact on the school. As school begins, students and teachers alike have taken notice of some of the visible changes around the EHS campus. These changes range from a wider driveway in front of Trotter to new lighting and court design in Scurlock Gymnasium. The Trotter driveway, where many freshmen and sophomores are dropped off and picked up, has been expanded. With this new expansion, there will be more room for cars to pass if needed and creates two separate and efficient carpool lanes. Another major revamp at EHS was an update of Scurlock Gym. According to JV Blue Volleyball Coach Stephanie Gloor, the floor inside of Scurlock “has a new coat of paint” as well as new lighting, which, according to Gloor, was “so needed” and has been beneficial for her and her team during practice and games. Although not as obvious as Scurlock’s floor or the widened carpool lane in front of Trotter, sports locker rooms were refurbished as well. Inside the Hildebrand
Updated lighting and a new court design were part of the Scurlock Gym renovations. Many facility projects were completed over the summer. Photo by Nick Held. Athletic Center, the boys locker rooms have been cleaned out thoroughly and repainted. Though these were not drastic changes, the locker room areas look new.
In addition, multiple shelves were added in Hildebrand in various storage locations for a variety of programs for equipment and uniforms.
News ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ August 2019
Episcopal welcomes new faces to faculty and staff ranks
PHUC LUU Religion
EVAN HARRIS English
Something surprising about me is I acted in an independent movie and recently did a reading for the play “Gates,” put on by the Ensemble Theatre. My favorite thing to do with free time is spend time with friends talking about the important things in life: theology, art, literature, and film. If I weren’t a teacher, I would be a full time writer, only if I could be independently wealthy. I couldn’t live without my wife and my best friends.
If I won the lottery, I would buy an apartment on the beach and start producing music in a home studio. Something surprising about me is I wrote a play about a dolphin that battles a celebrity sushi chef for control of a restaurant. It took me a year. My favorite thing to do with free time is go to the gym. If I weren’t a teacher, I would be a defense contractor like my dad and brother.
REMON MAXIMOS Mathematics and Computational Sciences Something surprising about me is I am 100% Egyptian and was also born there (Cairo, Egypt). My favorite thing to do with free time is spend time with my wife and kids. Also play soccer. I would tell myself at age 16 that life is too short to stress about the small things. I couldn’t live without my wife and kids.
GRANT GOULD Performing Arts If I won the lottery, I would invest it, live off the interest, travel the world and use it for some humanitarian relief My favorite thing to do with free time is playing video games with friends online. If I weren’t a teacher, I would: Be a Constitutional lawyer. I would tell myself at age 16 to get a job while in college
ANDY CLACK Religion Something surprising about me is that I lived in a van for two months. My favorite thing to do with free time is play Settlers of Catan (assuming I can find three other gamers). If I weren’t a teacher, I would be an attorney. I couldn’t live without Rold Gold pretzels.
SHAUN FLOOD Science If I won the lottery, I would set up my family and future generations for financial security My favorite thing to do with free time is spend time with my son Patrick and daughter Violet I would tell myself at age 16 to invest in Amazon I couldn’t live without Reese’s peanut butter cups.
LAUREN CUNNINGHAM
ANDREW LAUER
ROYA McARTHUR World Languages
Something surprising about me is my interest in gemstones. My favorite thing to do with free time is spend it with my wife and my two dogs. If I weren’t a teacher, I would be in the Army... still. I would tell myself at age 16 the winning lottery numbers from the first question.
Something surprising about me is I love pit bulls . My favorite thing to do with free time is read and reread Daniel Silva’s books. I would tell myself at age 16 to listen for understanding when parents talk and not just to disagree. I couldn’t live without my comfortable shoes.
History and Social Sciences
DICK GASTON Wellness If I won the lottery, I would disappear, literally. Cell phone would be deactivated, purchase land west of Sealy, TX, and build a ranch with a massive garage. Something surprising about me is I am a bit of a nerd. My favorite thing to do with free time is building motorcycles. If I weren’t a teacher, I would win the lottery.
SOLE TORIELLO World Languages
Visual Arts
AHMAD KOOCHKZADEH
Technlogy Help Desk Technician
Something surprising about me is I have three citizenships: Chilean, Italian and American. If I weren’t a teacher, I would be a pediatrician. I would tell myself at age 16 that I will meet an amazing guy, have 4 beautiful kids, and will raise my family in different places. I couldn’t live without visiting family in Chile.
If I won the lottery, I would go back to school and be a full-time student. I love learning new things! Something surprising about me is I am an introvert. I love people but have to balance social time with quiet time. My favorite thing to do with free time is go to an art museum, play the piano, or ride my bike. I couldn’t live without beauty and laughter.
TONY DePRATO Director of Educational Technology
MARY CATHERINE JACKSON Library
MIKE ALFORD Saftey and Security Director
MAUREEN MYERS Attendance Administrative Assistant
LEE FELLER Technology Help Desk Technician
DAN MURPHY Marth Support Instructor
FRANKLIN MIDENCE Maintenance Technician
Gong Squad reloads for 2019 ALEXA HENDRICKS Guest Writer
Football season helps kick off the new year of school, and with that comes weeks of fun games and pep rallies. Helping to cheer on the teams and their school, the EHS Gong Squad can be found in the stands with their giant metal gong. The leader this year is Dean Jess Adams. Making up the student group is Gong Master
this season: 8/30: HOME vs. Navasota - Gold superheroes. Dress as your favorite character from Marvel, DC, or anything in between. 9/13: AWAY vs. St. Pius - Patriotic. Give your support at the first away game of the season with some red, white, and blue. 9/20: HOME vs. ESD - Armor up KnightsBlue out. Show off your EHS pride by decking yourself out in the school colors. 10/4: HOME vs. St. John’s - Pink out and/ or western. Still waiting for someone to combine the two.
Jack Podsednik, Daniel Davis, Pierce Zylman, and Cole Aaronson - Gong Squad 2019. Photo by Amelia Traylor. Jonathan Clay. With fellow classmates Will Walmsley, Diego García-Moros, and Weston Stanley, the squad’s goal as always is to pep up the crowd. With every football game comes a new theme, and the themes this year will help members of the student body show off their school spirit. Here are the themes for
10/18: AWAY vs. Kinkaid - Camouflage. Kinkaid will never see us coming. 10/25: HOME vs. Legacy Sports Science Disco. Bring back the 70’s… for better or for worse. 11/1: HOME vs. Houston Christian - Neon Knight. A wonderful theme, but will the puns never cease? 11/9: SPC Championship - To be announced. Everyone loves surprises.
PATTY TSE Admission Associate
LAUREN ROACH Human Resource Manager
Welcome new Faculty and Staff
The Knight Times ∙ August 2020
Features ∙ Page 3
Freshmen embrace retreat CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer It can be exciting yet terrifying to be an incoming high school freshman. Faced with a new environment, new people, and a higher level of classwork, these newbies must navigate strange, intimidating waters. In light of this, Episcopal High School holds an annual Freshman Retreat to encourage student bonding and lessen some of this anxiety. This is the first year that Freshman Retreat was not an overnight stay, a change made in response to previous students’ feedback. When students get on the bus to Camp Allen, they are grouped into advisories with others who share their interests. Events such as class games, advisory
competition, and a high ropes course ultimately help students interact with and learn more about each other. The Class of 2023 attended the retreat accompanied by administration and faculty and several sophomore, junior, and senior students from the Freshman Advisory Mentors Program. As a group, veteran and new Knights participated in several icebreakers and received answers to many of their questions, from managing homework to trying out for sports teams. There’s no way to really get to know someone in a single day, but Freshman Retreat can be a positive transition into high school as freshmen are encouraged to be open to new things, do their best, and relax… because it is going to be a great year.
Sophomore Andrew Archer can claim most of the world as home OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer
ily moved to Italy, then again returned to Morocco for three more years. Andrew’s fondest memories include
Andrew climbs a sand dune with his brother in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Photo courtesy of Andrew Archer.
Ms. Russe’s freshman advisory competes against other advisories in the historically fun balloon suspension game. Photo by Mauro Gomez.
Andrew Archer, a sophomore at Episcopal, has traversed most of the world while still a teenager. Born in California, Andrew started far away from Texas. At the age of five weeks, he moved to Morocco with his family where he was able to travel overseas for vacations such as safaris and skiing. At the age of five, he moved from Morocco to Austin along with the birth of his younger brother. Following his move to Austin, his fam-
scuba diving in the Red Sea, riding camels in the Sahara, and visiting ancient towns and cities. According to Andrew, one of his hardest adjustments coming to Texas after living in so many diverse places was switching schools and adjusting to a new environment. Although this was a struggle, Andrew’s ability to live in so many places provided enriching experiences and powerful memories.
Knights working hard across the Houston area LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer Many Episcopal High School students spent their summers experiencing what it would be like to have a position in the professional work force. Some know exactly what they want to strive for in their job future, while others are gaining the knowledge and skills to carry out various jobs. Here are some of their stories. Braden Guthrie ’21 – IT Help Desk Assistant In the twenty-first century, students, faculty, and staff are all dependent upon the use of technology to assist them in getting through everyday tasks. What many people do not know is that a group of students spend two months of their summer preparing laptops for incoming freshmen and transfers and checking the functionality of electronics on campus. Guthrie was tasked with these challenges. He is an aspiring computer science major who wants to pursue a career in game design or possibly work at a major tech company like Google or Apple. The job opportunity at EHS allows students like Guthrie to earn experience with expensive pieces of technology, giving them the upperhand when it comes to applying for future jobs and to colleges with computer science programs. Without people like Guthrie taking time out of their summer, the EHS community would not function properly. He also found out something important about an IT position: “Microcenter is your friend.” Guthrie is always on the lookout for opportunities to further his knowledge of computer science in and out of the classroom, as exhibited by his time spent at EHS this summer.
Sydney Coward ’21- Life Guard One of the things junior Sydney Coward has been passionate about throughout her life is swimming. She spent the past summer working as a lifeguard, allowing her to immerse herself in the hot summers of Houston and swimming. With dreams of going into sports management or something relating to sports, lifeguarding is a good way to expose herself to one specific sport. Through this experience Sydney learned how to properly perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a skill that everyone should know in case of an emergency, and how to properly carry out a job that consists of people management. Moving forward, Sydney plans to continue to improve her swimming skills and will spend her time focusing on her junior year. Next summer she may return to the pool as a lifeguard, soaking up the sun and keeping everyone safe.
Junior Lyndon Walsh stands in front of MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Alkek Pavillion. Photo courtesy of Lyndon Walsh.
Lyndon Walsh ’21 – Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery Clinical & Surgical Internship Since the age of four, rising junior Lyndon Walsh has wanted to pursue a career in the health professions, specifically a career in cardiovascular thoracic surgery. Having such a specific interest is one of the challenges he deals with, because many programs only provide a general introduction to medicine for teenagers. Walsh managed to land himself in a twomonth opportunity at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the #1 ranked cancer center in the world, observing what it really means to be a surgeon in the field. To simulate the closest experience to holding a job at a world-renowned institution, it meant he would wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to eat breakfast and be ready to make his rounds (seeing patients) by 6:30 a.m. with two rotating surgical residents and two fellows. This hands-on experience is more valuable than reading a medical textbook because he was able to see every aspect of what being a surgeon is like, including five, sometimes six, workdays a week for up to 15 hours a day. “Being a surgeon is more than a profession; it’s truly a lifestyle. Unlike other fields of medicine, surgeons’ patients are unpredictable and could have an emergency any minute.” Walsh had the opportunity to see every aspect of patient care, from following patients from their original clinic appointment to surgery, where he viewed procedures such as thoracotomies and robotic lobectomies, as well as postoperative care, until their discharge from the hospital. Next year, Walsh has begun discussing with surgeons the opportunity of taking part in research and contributing toward publishing a paper.
Gigi Gaetti ’20 – Sales Associate Summer time is not only a time to pursue interests but also a time to gain experience being part of a work force. Senior Gigi Gaetti got a job as a sales associate for Flower and Cream, a new ice cream parlor that opened in the Texas Medical Center area. Gaetti spent around 45 hours a week working in the shop, serving customers and learning important skills that she will carry on past her high school years. Over the eight weeks of employment, she says she learned how to handle food according to food sanitation laws, how to communicate properly with co-workers and customers, and how to properly handle money. All of these skills will enable her to pursue a wide range of careers in the future. As of now, Gaetti is interested in a career in criminology or something relating to counterterrorism. People might say being a sales associate completely differs from these fields, but the skills are the same. For careers in criminology and counterterrorism, prospective workers have to know the laws, how to communicate with a team of people to achieve a common goal, and also how to manage money in their everyday life. For the time being, Gaetti will work as a sales associate while nurturing her big aspirations for the future.
Senior Gigi Gaetti works hard at Flower and Cream. Photo courtesy of Gigi Gaetti.
Features ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ August 2019
Admissions Council gives a Senior slogan, fun and games warm welcome to new students highlight annual Field Knight CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer The beginning of a new school year means new student faces on campus as the incoming freshman class gets situated in the Episcopal community. Making sure their transition is an informative and smooth one is the Admissions Council and Knight Ambassadors. The goal of Admissions Council is to not only make new students feel welcome but also make them feel like EHS is the perfect fit for them. The council looks to accommodate every student’s interests and needs to make his and her experience a positive one. The organization consists of three representatives from each grade whose duties include taking perspective
students on tours of the campus and making them feel comfortable. When Episcopal has Open House, New Knight Picnic, and many other events, Admissions Council is there with a smile on its representatives’ faces, ready to make those events emblematic of Episcopal’s ideals and values. Admissions Director Carol Wasden, explained that the students “represent a broad range of middle schools and are involved in every aspect of EHS student life,” making it easy to create connections with the perspective students looking at the school. Those interested in being a part of this rewarding club find it to be a unique path to involvement in the school and another way to stand out.
Prior to Opening Day, incoming freshmen received additional information on knighthood as an ongoing process in their admission. Photo by Julia Toups.
Knights maintain Episcopal reputation in summer baseball TINLEY KANE Staff Writer Although the spring baseball season is months away, some Knights choose to play over the summer. Far from Borg Field in Chicago, senior Tanner Witt played in the 12th Annual Under Armour All-America game powered by Baseball Factory. Undergoing intense tryouts with players from Canada and Puerto Rico, Witt was selected as one of forty players to compete in the game. Hosted at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, the game saw Witt competing against the best of the best rising seniors in his class. Representing the American team, he took the mound and stood in the batter’s box and represented
Episcopal well. Junior Gunnar Brown, sophomores Tres Organ and Oliver Snell, and freshman Jonathan Redding competed in the 2019 Senior League Baseball Series in Easley, South Carolina. The tournament is one of the nine events Little League International sponsors with ages ranging from 13-16 years of age. Competing against five other regions in the States and six regions internationally, the Knights represented the Southeast division and played against Team Hawaii, Team South Carolina, and Team East and had an overall record of 1-2 in the series. Given the opportunity to play on such big stages this summer, all five of the boys had quite the experience and were seen on some ESPN broadcasts.
At left, senior Tanner Witt played in the Annual Under Armour All-America game at Wrigley Field. At right, Tres Organ, Oliver Snell, Gunnar Brown, and Jonathan Redding were part of the Senior League Baseball Series in Easley, South Carolina. Photos courtesy of Tanner Witt and Mauro Gomez.
EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer
Knight is seen as a key aspect in initiating school spirit. Dean John Colello feels that Field Knight “sets the tone for [the school’s] unwavering support and spirit for all EHS
Field Knight is one of Episcopal High School’s most heavilyattended events, held on campus in what is the first all school activity to welcome the new school term. On Thursday, August 22, the student body was asked to wear their “Got Blue” t-shirts to the school-wide event in Alkek Gym at 5:00pm. Created in 2000, the event was designed to bring students, parents, faculty, and staff together through spirit and fellowship activities. The night consisted of class competitions such as relay races as well as Episcopal’s world-famous game of musical chairs. Later, the night included performances The Class of 2020 stands proudly behind their class motto at from both the Impact Field Knight. Photo by Dance team and the students, as well as the overall Episcopal Knight cheerleaders, who later lead the High School community.” community in singing school favorite Randall Holstead, a junior, believes that songs like “Sweet Caroline.” The event Field Knight is a “great opportunity for also featured the Pep Band entertainthe EHS community to get to know each ing the community with songs and band other and really see everything that Epischants. Lastly, the seniors took their class copal stands for.” picture with their slogan banner. After nineteen years, Field Knight conAfter the events, the EHS community tinues its mission to unite the entire EHS was invited to enjoy chips, burgers, and community and kick off the school year in drinks provided for by the Parents Asan energizing, spirited way. sociation and Dad’s Club. To many, Field
Introducing Slice of π GLORIA NI Guest Writer
a place where we advertise and promote upcoming events sponsored by the Math Club. We are extremely excited for this new school year. Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta have a variety of fun and exciting celebrations, fundraisers, competitions, and meetings planned, and you
Hello and welcome to Slice of π, a monthly column involving all things math. I am Gloria Ni, Math Club President this year. I would like to start by introducing the Math Club Officers for the 2019-2020 school year: Ethan McAlpin (External Vice President), Ben Wasden (Internal Vice President), Craig Choi (Secretary) and Garrett Sisk (Social Media Coordinator). In addition to the new Math Club officers, these are the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society Officers for 20192020: Anna Moise (President), Blair The EHS Math Club is excited to introduce new officers for Barineau (Vice President), Wilson both Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta, as well as tease about Grant (Treasurer). what is to come. Image courtesy of Gloria Ni. Dr. Papakonstandefinitely don’t want to miss out. If you tinou (Dr. P) is the well-respected and have any questions regarding Math Club much-appreciated faculty sponsor of both or Mu Alpha Theta, don’t hesitate to let Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta. one of us know. Also, feel free to stop by We are very pleased to announce that Dr. P’s room (A130) to discuss any matwe have the honor of expanding to The ters regarding math. Knight Times this year. Slice of π will be
The Knight Times ∙ August 2019
Culture ∙ Page 5
ZACK DONOVAN Staff Writer Cada año en el dieciséis de septiembre, ocurre una fiesta celebrando un evento en la historia de México. Se llama El Grito de Dolores, nombrado por un discurso de la Guerra de Independencia de México. Este año, las festividades actuales estarán en el día antes, domingo el quince. Aunque cambian entre comunidades diferentes,
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Recently I visited a new, prominent restaurant in the River Oaks District - MAD. After hearing glowing recommendations about the interior décor and desserts, I immediately called and booked a reservation, somehow escaping their six-month wait list. Upon arriving, my friend and I were greeted with a warm smile, seated right away, and given waters and menus. A decent amount of time passed before a waiter took our order, though, so while we waited, we admired the ornate design. The Spanish colors, textures, and music filled the energetic atmosphere of the restaurant, which is an ideal setting for a formal gathering. As we sat on a decorative couch sur-
rounded by artistic neon lights, our waiter informed us that the tapas were around three to four ounces, so we promptly ordered five different plates to share. Although there were options for a moresubstantial entrée, some prices reached over $100, so my friend and I stuck to the tapas for our wallets’ sake. The dishes quickly reached our table, displaying an impressive effort put into the plating. We split picture-perfect portions of food and agreed that the restaurant incorporated fresh, elaborate flavors and innovative food combinations. I did not feel full until we ordered two plates for dessert that were both completely different but equally as delicious. My trip to MAD was worth the expensive tab, and I encourage you to experience an untraditional food journey in the River Oaks District.
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LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer
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Restaurant MAD lives up to the hype, but be ready to pay
las actividades durante la celebración en Houston incluyen música y bailas tradicionales, un concierto gratis, comidas, y otras actividades divertidas para las familias. Esta celebración está en Trader’s Village, uno de los mercados de pulgas más grandes en Houston. Todos pueden venir y celebrar la ocasión.
Theatre rehearsals well underway for comedy
Customers young and old can enjoy this Mexican restaurant with modern decor and traditional Spanish influence, all within the River Oaks area. Photo by Lucy Howley.
The MVP Machine reveals the science of America’s pastime SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer Launch angle, spin rate, and hitting accuracy. This is where Silicon Valley meets baseball, making average players into MVPs. In The MVP Machine, authors Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal
the modern logic and technology behind foreword thinking teams. The book highlights players like Trevor Bauer by describing his rise to a Cy Young contender and his path to success by approaching training from a different
view. The authors illustrate World Champion teams like the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros secret to their success - technology. This book thoroughly takes readers through the evolution of baseball and brings them to a new revolution of America’s pastime. It describes how farm teams came to be and the lasting impact of them, reveals the advancement of technology that improves players techniques, and moves step-by-step into how mediocre players were able to become MVPs and win a World Series. The MVP Machine reaches back to Babe Ruth and Jim Sundberg and analyzes their careers by using modern approaches that were not recognized then. These new approaches are used on baseball’s best players to further their careers. During the 80s and 90s, athletes’ careers took off due to steroids, but in the modern era, careers can explode just because of new valuable information. Technology is the true reason for this growth. Categories like spin rate and launch angles are tracked and improved. It’s not that these terms were just created; it is that they were just acknowledged. Babe Ruth and Bob Feller had launch angle and spin rate, but it was not a known commodity. If readers enjoyed Moneyball, this book is definitely their next read. “Read it, and you won’t think about baseball in quite the same way.” – Nate Silver
Students prepare for their upcoming fall comedy performance under the direction of Mr. Paul Revaz. The comedy premieres September 26 in Underwood Theatre. Photo by Amelia Traylor. CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer Rehearsals for EHS Onstage’s fall production The Man Who Came to Dinner, a comedy by George Kaufman and Moss Hart, have started strong. With the show coming to the newly-renovated Underwood Theatre September 26-29, rehearsals have required actors to be practicing their parts for weeks. The comedy is set in the small town of Mesalia, Ohio, right before Christmas. Sheridan (Sherry) Whiteside is invited to the house of Ernest Stanley and his family for dinner when an unexpected event leaves him stuck in the residence. The play focuses on the lives of those inside this house, as Whiteside turns out to be a bizarre guest who actively insults his host and invites many strange and possibly dangerous guests as well.
Since this is the first production of the 2020 school year, it is a big event for the entire Arts Pillar and the school in general. Director Paul Revaz showed his excitement for the production, saying, “It’s been great getting off to such an early start with the fall production. The cast came into rehearsals starting August 5 to get ready for the opening performance. We haven’t had an all-school performance of the fall play in a couple of years due to construction. It’ll be great to share the students’ hard work with the entire EHS community.” The cast is also excited to perform this comedic production as sophomore David Andrews, who plays Richard Stanley, remarked, “I have fallen in love with this masterpiece of comedy, and I hope you will also.” Get ready to see The Man Who Came to Dinner during the all-school performance.
Entertainment ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ August 2019
Toy Story saga lives on in fourth installment
Netflix delivers (finally) the next season of hit ST
OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer After making a comeback following a ten-year hiatus, the Toy Story franchise finally hit theaters early this summer with its latest installment – Toy Story 4. The movie was released on June 11, 2019, and has reached $1.002 billion in box office profits. As the ninth highest -grossing animated film of all time, Toy Story 4 was one of the top watched movies of the summer
with a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Alongside a new character named Forkie, Woody, Buzz, Bonnie, and the gang once again take off on a new journey filled with challenges, strife, and redemption. The adventure leads to a shocking run-in with former toy friend Bo Peep, who, to the surprise of Woody and the others, has been without an owner for over seven years. While out on their adventure, Bo Peep, Woody, and the gang make a valiant attempt to retrieve Forkie from the evil hands of enemies. Meanwhile, they at-
tempt to form an alliance with their enemy in spite of what is truly best for them in hopes of finding them a home and their voice box to be the best toy they could be. Amongst all of this chaos, Bo Peep and Woody nostalgically look back at memories with former first owner Andy as well as many others which lead them to wonder, or come to a conclusion, are they truly better off without an owner? While the Toy Story legacy undoubtedly will survive for future generations, this fourth film lacked the convincing substance of the first three in the series.
Toy Story 4 features some new faces along with well known characters offering the viewers a nostagaltic feeling for older audiences, also being a movie enjoyable for the youth as well. Photo credit forgetoday.com
TINLEY KANE Staff Writer Nothing is better than a nostalgic, 80’sthemed TV show like Stranger Things, consisting of teenagers in their most definitive years of life, Russian invasions, and the Upside Down. (No spoilers ahead for any Knights who haven’t seen the show). After much hype and excitement, the show’s producers put a pause on production due to special effects taking up time. The rationale was to “deliver something bigger and better than last year” according to Polygon.com. Stranger Things finally debuted its third season on July 4. Talk about fireworks. This July 4, the show broke Netflix’s viewing records with over 40.7 million people watching the show within just the first four days of its release. A whopping 18.2 million households managed to complete the eight-part series in that same time frame. With records like these, the show was granted a fourth and potentially last season. The talented actors and crew of the hit series should be receiving plenty of nominations as awards season nears. With young love, sorrow, and friendship, it’s clear as to why the show is such a hit. Many questions remain after the show’s season finale, and how the show will move on with such a shocking end is anyone’s guess. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait quite some time to see how the story will unfold in Season Four.
Summer releases satisfy the listeners of all musical genres
Gaming’s “loot boxes” give a predatory quality to the industry
Prequel. Released on June 7, the compilation hit number one on US Top Country Albums by the end of July. “Beer Never Broke My Heart” became the number one The summer of 2019 saw the release of song off the album and number two on US albums of all genres and beat-inspiring Hot Country Songs. Whether you were concerts from Shawn Mendes and Khalid. at the beach or the lake, The Prequel was Starting the summer with country vibes worth a listen. July brought the heat and melody from two amazing R&B/Soul and Pop artists. Starting on the eighteenth, Khalid’s tour Free Spirit was one to remember. With Khalid’s complex dance numbers and colorful displays, the sold-out show filled the Toyota Center. July 25 belonged to dedicated Shawn Mendes fans known as the “Mendes Army.” The floral décor and acoustic solo from Mendes didn’t disappoint his “soldiers” who never wanted the night to end. Trippie Redd took a faster beat and closed the summer with his latest album !, released on August 9. Trippie has yet to make Billboard records but has not failed to amaze his audience. His song “Under Enemy Arms” earned the spot of number one on his album. Trippie raps about self-confidence, relationPhotos courtesy of consequenceofsound.com and wikipe- ships, and overall mental dia.com. health, and dedicated the album to XXXTentacion, was Luke Combs with his album The whom he still mourns.
CONNOR SMITH Staff Writter
LEANNA GREENE Staff Writer
The popular use of loot boxes in video games is receiving a major overhaul as publishers and manufacturers alike work together to try and fix these so-called addictive and abusive practices in gaming. On August 7 at a hearing with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the three biggest console manufacturers - Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony - agreed to make changes to try and eliminate cruel loot box practices. Starting possibly as early as 2020, any game published on the three companies’ consoles will have to disclose the odds to receiving specific items in their loot boxes. This will allow players who buy or receive the loot boxes to know the odds of winning a certain prize or item. For those who don’t know, a loot box is a virtual item, which can be purchased or redeemed for a chance to win a variety of items from cosmetics to game-altering
equipment. They appear in many of today’s popular video games such as Overwatch, FIFA, and CSGO. This push for loot box transparency has gained traction due to many lawmakers describing loot box practices as predatory and addictive toward kids and young adults. When used incorrectly and abusively by publishers, the loot box system could be seen as online gambling and encouraging kids to spend money to be better at the game, the so-called pay-to-win scheme. Though this is one of the first major steps to stopping this predatory practice, it is not the first. Earlier this August the popular sports game Rocket League announced it will be getting rid of loot boxes entirely after being purchased from Epic Games, and in June of last year, the Netherlands became the first country to enforce a ban on all loot boxes. While not all loot boxes are considered bad or predatory toward young gamers, they will certainly begin to change in the upcoming years to make gaming as a whole safer and more fun for the players.
The highly controversal use of a “loot box” has been causing debate as to whether it is a form of preying on young gamers. Photo courtesy of reddit.com.
The Knight Times ∙ August 2019
Opinion ∙ Page 7
The Personal Is Political: The importance of young people voting NICK HELD Staff Writer This calendar year is the first time millennials will surpass baby boomers as a voting bloc in the United States. This demographic fact gives millennials incredible influence and therefore power to decide our future. This influence and power is all the more important right now because there is so much at stake in the 2020 election – including economic policy, immigration, gun control, climate change, and international relations. People under 30 tend not to vote. In fact, 41.9% of eligible voters did not vote in the last election, meaning that polls (and maybe even public policy and our laws) don’t fully reflect the population’s priorities, interests, and opinions. While not trying to bash younger people for a lack of voting, I should point out that this low voter participation has been a pattern throughout America’s voting history, even before 1971 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. It’s not like baby boomers voted when they were young either; in fact, they had almost identical turnout percentages when they were of voting age. The fact that our generation and the baby boomer generation’s voting participation is similar undercuts their claims that our generation is just lazy – especially when today’s younger
generation volunteers significantly more and tends to seek higher education at higher rates than the baby boomer generation. Most democratic nations have a problem with low voter turnout. So the question is: why aren’t young people voting? A couple of factors come into play. Most young people don’t own property or have children, so they don’t have to worry about school boards or property taxes, which are issues that incentivize many voters to get out and vote. The education system has strayed away from educating the youth about government and civics since the conflict it caused during the Vietnam War period. And these courses only tend to be a single semester, which is not nearly enough time for one to completely comprehend the power that the people hold over the government. This is shown in GenForward’s 2016 survey where only 26% of adults could name the three branches of government (which, by the way, are legislative, executive, and judicial, in case you were wondering). Another key factor is voter suppression, tactics used to discourage people from voting. Many people think of voter suppression in the context of race or class, but in reality, it affects young people just as much. Did you know that you can register to vote when you are 17 and 10 months old in Texas, so long as you will be 18 years old at the time the election takes place?
https://www.votetexas.gov/register-tovote/. Register now so you will be ready when the election comes. And if you will be away from home, such as to college, be sure to get an absentee ballot so that you can vote and have your voice heard. Money also comes into play. Older people tend to be wealthier, giving them what seems like an advantage due to their more lenient work hours. It is common that young people don’t have the time to research candidates due to their workload. The issue of actually getting the day off arises as well. Obviously, if people cannot get the voting day off, they will not be able to go to the polls. Transportation is also an issue. If one does not have a car, one can’t get to the polls, which are sometimes a major inconvenience to certain areas. The two-party system is incredibly detrimental to young voters because as it turns out, many people are totally dissatisfied with the two major political parties and decide not to support either party’s candidate. The same 2016 GenForward poll reported that only 28% of young adults feel that the two parties actually represent the interest they hold. While there are other parties in the U.S., they tend to be unconventional and largely irrelevant. If a voter does not like the two major political parties, they probably will not like the candidates either, giving them less incentive to vote. University of Southern California’s
Mindy Romero, an expert on youth voting, said in a 2018 interview, “Campaigns do little outreach to young people.” However, I think that campaigns have started to pay attention to younger voters in the current election because our block is so large. I am by no means telling you who to vote for, but I beg you to let your voice be heard. If you want to see change in politics, go out and vote. If you are not old enough, do the research and become informed. Young people have a responsibility to become more active in politics because it is not a 70-year-old boomer’s future. It is ours.
Young Voters protest in London for their right to decide their future. Photo courtesy of hercampus.com.
Caster Semenya creates controversy on track field JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer Intense controversy surrounds South African runner Caster Semenya after an unfair ruling by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). The ruling states that Semenya will be unable to defend her title as the fastest female middledistance runner in the world at the upcoming World Championship this September. The decision to prevent her from running was made after it was discovered that Semenya has hyperandrogenism, a condition that could possibly affect her athletic performance. Having hyperandrogenism means that her body naturally produces more male sex hormones than most women. After this discovery, the IAAF told her that she would be required to take hormone suppressing drugs for six months prior to competition to be able to compete. A few years ago, her body chemistry came under question after she won the World Championship and was later subjected to “gender verification tests.” These tests resulted in the discovery that Semenya had no ovaries but had internal testes. This strange discovery has led to speculation over Semenya’s true body chemistry.
The discovery of her condition and the response of the IAAF has sparked heated debate on the Internet and in the world of track and field. One argument states that she shouldn’t be able to compete because she could be taking the first place spot from a “real woman,” and the other side says that the IAAF has no right to decide what makes someone a man or a woman, and therefore she should be able to run. While both sides have valid arguments, they are not taking into account the true reality of the situation. In reality, the IAAF has no grounds to keep her from competing due to lack of evidence. The IAAF rules for female gender are that an athlete must legally identify as a woman or intersex and that she must, in order to compete with the women, lower her blood testosterone level to below 5 nanomoles per liter six months prior to competition. Semenya has openly complied with the rule about her legal identity but refused to comply with the second rule. The reason that she refuses to take the hormone-suppressing drugs is because she fears what other affects the drugs may have on her body, and she accused the IAAF of using her as a “guinea pig” since they had never done this to any other runner before. Even though her body produces more testosterone than the “typical” female athlete,
the IAAF isn’t aware of exactly how much testosterone her body produces. Since the governing body is currently unaware of her blood testosterone levels, it has no evidence that she has broken a rule. Given this circumstance, the IAAF has no right to prevent her from competing since it doesn’t
have a good reason other than suspicion. Hopefully, the situation will be resolved soon and Caster Semenya will be able to run in the World Championship this September and be absolved of most if not all judgement from both sides of this controversial matter.
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400
Head of School Ned Smith
Editor-in-Chief Bailey Junell
Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg
Social Media Coordinator Olivia Hopwood
Principal Kim Randolph
Staff Writers Nick Held Chris Lahoti Alexa Hendricks Sydney Coward Zack Donovan Jazzmin Duncan Claire Frankfort Lucy Howley Trinity Kane Connor Smith Charlotte Sullivan Lara Verstovsek Lydon Walsh Emma Claire White Leanna Green
Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator David Framel Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Editors Julia Toups Amelia Traylor
Photographers William Baumgartner, Craig Choi, Alex Diaz, Calvin Kelly Sydney Kelso, Sophie Martin, Brendan Massaro, Mary Carol Ray, Jessica Wang, Reese Barrett, Sophia Black, Colby Gay, Margrethe Jensen, Christophe Merriam, Jami Rassy, Lexi Sagers, Skyler Witt, Marisa Angulo, PAris Bailey, KArma Elbadawy, Sarah Pulaski, Madison Stanke, Emma Claire White, Mimi Elizabeth Wilson
Caster Semenya holds her country’s flag after beating her personal record in the 800 mm run at the London Olympics. Photo courtesy of sportsillustrated.com.
The Knight Times is a product of students in the Episcopal High School newspaper class, who are solely responsible for its creation and editorial content. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Episcopal Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff. Published ten times a year, The Knight Times is a non-profit educational tool. The staff encourages the submission of letters, editorials, and story ideas from the community, but reserves the right to edit and/or use said articles.
Sports∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ August 2019
Ready to Rumble
Fall programs putting in extra time during preseason preparation
Spirit starts with cheer squads Knight football wants to take it back EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer The Knight cheerleaders are beyond excited to kick off the fall season as the Varsity, JV Blue, and JV White squads attended a three-day speed camp hosted by the National Cheerleaders Association in Spring, Texas this past summer. The Knights attended the camp along with several other teams from the Houston area. Each team was taught new stunting tricks and skills that will be showcased at pep rallies and games during halftime. Toward the end of the camp, the cheerleaders were given the opportunity to try out for All-American, which is a title given to individuals who have exemplified showmanship, poise, technique, and crowd-leading skills. The tryout was tough and selective but was given to the most spirited cheer-
leaders. As well as the speed camp, the Knights also attended choreography camp. Their routine will be presented at games and eventually will be performed at the NCA competition held in November. Recently, practices have started up again and created a sense of excitement for the upcoming season. Varsity Captain Avery Edens said that “the teams are very excited to perform and cannot wait to cheer on the Knights.” The cheerleaders have been working hard all summer preparing for the school pep rallies and games. Morgan Garrett believes that, “the team this year is very talented and [that] the student body should expect new and exciting things.” The cheerleaders performed at Field Knight Sunday, August 25 and would love for everyone to come out and show their Knight pride.
CC plans to go the distance JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer As preseason for fall sports kicks off, Head Coach Julius Michael, Coach Biz Kechejian, new coach Andrew Lauer, and the cross country team are excited for the coming season. With goals for both the girls and the boys teams set, the program is showing promise in the weeks ahead. After a short four-day trip to Georgia this summer, full of rigorous exercise, team bonding, and fun activities, the cross country team is fit and ready to take on any
challenges that they may face. With high expectations, the boys and girls look to dominate at the SPC championship. Standout veteran athletes and some ambitious incoming freshman are sure to make a statement to the other SPC schools. The teams will be competing at the John Cooper School in the Woodlands on Saturday, August 31. This competitive meet will be the first chance for the coaches to see the group of runners perform within the SPC. They will also be competing at the 6A Region Preview at Kate Barr-Ross Park on Saturday, September 7.
Boys volleyball digs in ZACHARY DONAVAN Editor-in-Chief Already climbing from a last to fourth place finish at SPC last year, EHS boys volleyball has quickly become one of the fastest growing sports programs in the conference. The team has seen improvement regarding player commitment and participation, with roughly seventeen returning and eight new players, even adding a new member to the coaching staff to help the burgeoning program. After an upset loss in the SPC semifinal match against Trinity Valley, the six returning varsity players seek to “bring the South Zone its first championship win in SPC history,” as reinforced by the coaches during the first week of tryouts.
Already on that path, the varsity team, over half of which are sophomores, has already won its first matches of the year against St John’s and Kinkaid, with their first official tournament following in the first weekend of school year. The coaches have sought to not only increase the players’ skills but to also develop a family atmosphere for the participants. Contributing to that aspiration, many alumni returned August 9 to share their experience in the program. The team travelled to Galveston for a bonding experience over the summer, swimming and playing beach volleyball. The team has also hoped that their increased performance will encourage student attendance at matches, especially home games currently set for September 17, 20, and 21 and October 23 and 30 (Senior Night).
William Taylor strategically tips the ball over the net. Photo courtesy of Julia Toups.
LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Football season has arrived. Although preseason began earlier than ever this year, this huge physical and mental advantage gives the Knights a tremendous head start in all areas. With the addition of three new coaches: Martin Ifedi, who played at the University of Memphis and will work with the defensive line; Darrell Colbert Jr., a graduate of Lamar H.S. who played at SMU and will work with QBs; and Jonathan Holland, a LA Tech and Oakland Raiders player working with the freshman team, the football program is definitely one to watch. Players and coaches are extremely excited about the overall chemistry and experience of the team. Assuming captain’s duties is junior Donovan Jackson, who was named MVP at the National Nike Opening Camp this summer. Coaches claim he s the perfect man for the job and will be a great leader for the Knights.
Senior linebackers James Ogunrin and Obediah Lewis made the Touchdown Club of Houston Preseason Watch List this year. Offensive line coach Kary Kemble said, “Each game is a new opportunity to do something special.” The varsity opens its schedule August 30 at 7:00pm at home against Navasota.
Jarvis Butler jumps in attempt to block Nick Mayberry’s pass. Photo courtesy of Julia Toups.
Field hockey takes first steps to title LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer By pushing through intensive preseason practices with admirable effort, girls field hockey has established its tone for the fall season. During the first week, the players tried out for teams by completing drills, workouts, and scrimmages and were then split into JV and varsity. Coaches Shelly Edmonds, Emily White, and Jessica Adams have improved both teams’ work ethic and kept the players in shape through running exercises while building their stick skills. Although field hockey did not travel to Greenhill this year to compete in the mini tournament, JV and varsity were able to scrimmage with each other and thus focus on the dynamics of teamwork and learn how to play together.
Centered around hard work and high energy, seniors Meg Alexander, Rollins Bell, Christina Betti, Meredith Betti, Sophie Bowers, Elizabeth Hunt, Anabelle Kurtin, Mary Margaret Knolle, and Charlotte Schaeffer have done a remarkable job leading the teams by providing an example for incoming players, specifically freshmen. This month, both teams had a packed schedule that consists of away games against Kinkaid on August 22, St. Agnes on the 27th, and Memorial on the 28th, with more games coming in September. With the players getting increasingly better each year, the future of the Episcopal field hockey program looks bright and promising. Preseason has shown that both field hockey teams are off to an amazing start, and the players are looking forward to their hard work paying off throughout the season.
Season to be one of reclamation LEANA GREENE Staff Writer Starting the season strong is the 2019 girls varsity volleyball teams. The varsity has already participated in the Adidas John Turner Classic and competed against College Station in its first official game of the season. Competing against other high-level public and private schools throughout Texas in the tournament, the Knights showed their potential and fought hard, earning third place in the gold division. Later the next week against College Station, the Knights worked well together in victory in three sets. Joining the veterans this year are vital new additions: Ava Harrington (freshman), Brynn Anderson (junior), and Lara Verstovsek (junior), each bringing great energy and opportunity. Together, the girls hope to make big steps in SPC and reclaim the title. The girls will open next month’s schedule at home against St. Agnes on September 3, and the following week they will host Concordia Lutheran. The SPC Fall Sports Tournament runs November 7-9, and the girls are anxious to return.
Trinity Watts preparing for the season by improving on her skills. Photo courtesy of Julia Toups.