News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
November 2021
EHS welcomes grandparents to campus
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 37, Issue 4
Coffee House returns after two-year hiatus
Members of the EHS community share their exuberant talents at annual event
CHRIS LAHOTI Editor-in-Chief Grandparents Day is not just another Hallmark holiday; it carries incredible meaning. My grandparents immigrated to America from India via England. They had a vision of the future and made sacrifices to achieve it, using both their tremendous work ethic and persistence to set the foundation for my parents and my future. Grandparents Day was founded by Marion McQuade as a means of honoring the national advancements created by seniors throughout history. McQuade had expounded on the work of Jacob Reingold, known for his speech about recognizing the role of the elderly at the 1961 White House Conference on Aging. After almost eight years of reaching out and coordination with both political and civil officials, Congress officially designated Grandpar-
Episcopal students celebrate the return of Coffee House. This year students from all grade levels and faculty members participated in the event, with many showing off by playing the guitar or singing karaoke. Photo by Laruen West. ISABEL O’GORMAN Staff Writer
Mr. Ned Smith speaks to the grandparents during the Thanksgiving Chapel service. Photo by Wade Arntzen. ents Day in 1978 as the first Sunday after Labor Day. Episcopal celebrated Grandparents Day on Friday, November 16. Students convened in the Alkek Gym to meet with their grandparents for a special Thanksgiving service consisting of hymns, scripture readings, and the homily, which was given by Head of School Mr. Ned Smith. Episcopal reminds us that our past generations have tremendous importance in molding us into the leaders of tomorrow. Their hard work provides the opportunity to achieve something truly great.
INSIDE Fall Dance Concert EHS 2021 Dance Concert makes its way to the stage.
PAGE 2 Advisory Spotlight Read about the special bond Mr. Matthews’ advisory has created.
PAGE 2 Features ........................ 2-3 Culture ......................... 4 Entertainment ............... 5 Opinion......................... 6 Sports ........................... 7 Knight Shift...................... 8
‘‘On November 16, students and faculty shared their talents with the Episcopal community during Coffee House. Coffee House, an Episcopal tradition lasting over twenty years, is a special event that celebrates both student and faculty talent and promotes the community’s involved and joyful spirit...’’ Learn more about Coffee House on Page 3
EHS Alumni Leadership Day educates seniors CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer On November 16, Episcopal High School hosted the seventh annual Alumni Leadership Day. The event, held both in person on campus and virtually, provided a variety of panels to educate seniors on future opportunities. The panels included art, entertainment, finance, business, entrepreneurship, engineering, law, marketing, medicine, education, and more. Over 50 Episcopal graduates came to talk about their careers after finishing high school. The day began with keynote speaker Leila-Scott Price, Class of 1993, who was also on the Healthcare/Medicine panel. She is the co-founder & owner of The Center for Healing Arts & Sciences. Before Leadership Day, Alumni Chapel was hosted with Moody Heard from the Class of 2012 speaking to the student body. The hybrid aspect of the event is the first of its kind. After virtual panels tried last year during the pandemic were successful, the alumni committee decided to combine it with in person. Online panels have allowed for people to join from all across the country. Many speakers for the Arts and Entertainment Panel live far away from Houston, and without the choice of online presentation, they would not have been able to
speak at the event. A great amount of work went into preparing for the day. Planning began in June as the team reached out to potential speakers from a wide range of class years and careers to provide seniors with a clear view of their future opportunities. Ms. Ashley Long is the Director of Alumni Affairs and acts as the primary contact
for alumni. Along with that, she oversees the planning for all alumni-related events, including Homecoming, Holiday Lunch, and Leadership Day. Mr. Chief Achilefu works as the Advancement Coordinator for the Alumni Association. His job includes administrative support, maintaining relationships with alumni, planning, and writing communication magazines.
Alumni in the real estate industry came back to speak to dozens of seniors in rotating panels. Other alums in other professions also returned to campus to mentor current seniors. Photo by Lauren West.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
Tightly-knit: A look into Mr. Matthews’ advisory MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer After four years together, English teacher Mr. Bob Matthews and his advisees have gotten close–so close that he sometimes refers to them as his own sons. His advisory members value the relationship and camaraderie that has been acquired over their four years spent together.
During allotted advisory time, the group engages in many fun activities from Among Us to Fantasy Football to even (respectfully) imitating Mr. Matthews. They enjoy having deep conversations with each other and “nothing is off limits,” said senior Sam Gonzalez. Amongst the fun, Mr. Matthews has taught the members of his advisory important life lessons that they will carry with
them in the future. “Being a member of this advisory has taught me about unity and creating new everlasting friendships,” said Sam. Mr. Matthews also encourages his group to make good decisions and has taught them how to be kinder and better people for the EHS community. They cherish the support he offers when going through times of trouble and in their daily lives at EHS. He is always available to listen and the group feels safe to talk to him about just about anything. As the advisees enjoy their final year of high school, they are preparing for the dreaded goodbye. Though Mr. Matthews is optimistic about meeting his new advisory as alumni next year, he is going to miss the bond he has created with these boys. “I have never had a group that is this tight-knit,” he said. He has thoroughly enjoyed his time with them and watching them grow and
mature throughout the years. Over time, Mr. Matthews has watched each member come out of their shell and become who they are today. “After we had advisory every day last year, all of them put their guards down,” he said. He loves how comfortable each member has become with one another and the thing he has enjoyed the most is the spontaneity of the group. “I love not knowing what is coming next,” he said. He never knows what they are going to do or say, and he loves laughing at their surprising jokes. During Homecoming Week, the whole advisory boys dressed up as Mr. Matthews. They all donned Mr. Matthews’ signature cardigan and honored their special bond. This is something that will never be forgotten and will last forever as one of the fondest highschool memories of this group.
Dance Program returns to stage JALYNN WOOLLEY Staff Writer
The Matthews Advisory. Top: Cameron Lu, John Dameris, Samuel Gonzalez, Matthew Harkness, Nicholas Oldham, John Bruton, Carter Dixon. Bottom: Vaughn Johnson, Mr. Matthews. Photo courtesy of John Bruton.
EHS hosts annual Texas Jamboree
Players to watch are Cam Amboree ’22 (Shadow Creek), Terrance Arceneaux ’22 (BMT United), Sam Bradford Goose ‘22 (Memorial), Kade Douglas ’22 (LanAfter a one-year hiatus because of Covid caster), Jacolb Cole ’22 (Bellaire), Jaland restrictions, Episcopal High School hosted Lowe ’23 (Marshall), Wesley Yates III ’23 (BMT United), Justin Begg ‘24 (Episcopal) and Jakeel Registe ’24 (Episcopal). With big name sponsors such as Nike, Boost Mobile, and Nelson Brands, many NBA players have participated in the event with their previous high school teams. Athletes such as Chris Bosh (Dallas, Lincoln), Tim Frazier (Houston, Strake Jesuit), Justice EHS was proud to host the 19th Annual Texas Jamboree on Novem- Winslow ber 26-27. Photo courtesy of nelsonbrandsports.com. (Houston, St. John’s), Jarrett Allen (Austin, St. Stephen’s Episcopal), the 19th Annual Texas Jamboree basketQuentin Grimes (Woodlands, College ball invatational on November 26-27. Park), Jordan Clarkson (San Antonio, The Jamboree was established at Texas Wagner), Danuel House (Fort Bend, Southern University and moved to Strake Hightower), Greg Monroe (New Orleans, Jesuit College Preparatory before finally Helen Cox), and more have played in the landing at Episcopal. Head Boys BasJamboree. ketball Coach Wayne Jones is one of the Coach Jones stated, “The Texas Jambocoordinators of the event and has been ree has been a vital experience in estabsince its inception. lishing Houston and the state of Texas as The Texas Jamboree isn’t a traditional one of the meccas of grassroots baskettournament. Games are predetermined ball. Having the elite level programs on marquee matchups based on local, state, and national rankings. The event brings in our campus during the Thanksgiving break is a coach’s dream.” some of the best. LEANA GREENE Production Editor
Excitement is definitely in the air as the Dance Program returns to the stage for a live performance of the Fall Dance Concert after the virtual dances last year. On December 3 and 4 at 7:00 P.M., the dancers will make their return to the stage in front of a live audience with Resurfacing. Held in the Underwood Theatre, soloists and group dancers will present the routines they have been perfecting for weeks and are thrilled to experience the reaction of a live audience that they missed last year. After overcoming the obstacle of making sure to schedule rehearsals around sports practices and outside-school activities so that everyone would be able to attend, Dance Coordinator Ms. Kristina Burgess is extremely proud of the girls’ effort and of the dedication they put into rehearsing their routines until mastered. Rehearsing every day after school from 4:00-6:00 P.M. and on Saturdays from 8:45
to noon so they would be well practiced, well-versed, and well-prepared for their performances, the girls showed their tremendous dedication and passion for the art of dance. The dancers are excited to finally return to the stage and are inspired to do their best to impress their friends and family in the audience. With freshmen and sophomores experiencing their first live Fall Dance Concert and seniors enjoying their last, all students are elated to have EHS returning to its annual traditions. Left: Senior Eliza Thompson performing during last year’s dance concert. The event was held without an audience to comply with social distancing guidelines, with a recording available to the public. This year, the dance program is proud to hold their first in-person concert since COVID-19.
Slice of π
Hello, everyone. I’m Sean MacConnell, the Co-Chair of the Competitions Organization Committee. First, congratulations to the 30 newly inducted members of Mu Alpha Theta, making a total of 70 members for 2021-2020. November was a great month for Math Club, brimming with a grand assortment of math events and competitions. Our schoolwide Pre-Fibonacci Day Celebration was a great success, selling tons of treats and lots of contests. We held our second Math Club/Mu Alpha Theta meeting this month and members competed in the Texas Math League Contest. We announced upcoming events including the University of Houston Math Competition that’s open to everyone in January. Members who have yet to compete in a competition, the UH competition is the perfect opportunity for you to get started. This month, we continued to compete in the weekly Math Madness national
bracket competition. Also, five teams comprised of juniors and seniors participated in the annual international COMAP HiMCM two-week-long math modeling competition, culminating with a 25-page technical solution report! Look out for more opportunities to participate and compete! Also, cCub merch, including masks and t-shirts, is available to order through the Math Club canvas page. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ehsmathclub to stay in the know!
Photo courtesy of freevector.com.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
Features ∙ Page 3
Episcopal brings back annual tradition of Coffee House celebrates both student and faculty talent and promotes the community’s involved and joyful spirit. Due to COVID restrictions, the event On November 17, students and faculty was put on hold during the 2020-21 shared their talents with the Episcopal school year, making this year’s Coffee community during Coffee House. CofHouse new to half of the student body. fee House, an Episcopal tradition lasting Despite this newness, all grade levels over twenty years, is a special event that came together by participating in the opportunity to perform for their fellow students during 5A and 5B lunches. With acts ranging from vocal performances and instrumental pieces, the performers did not disappoint as they shared the joy of artistic expression and student ability. Ms. Hailey Zipfel, the coordinator for Coffee House, exEpicopal boys from the French class led by Junior Mark-An- pressed her excitement thony Mey (right) show off their dance moves at this year’s for the return of the event, saying, “Over Fall Coffee House. Photo by Lauren West. ISABEL O’GORMAN Staff Writer
Student art featured in exhibition ISABEL O’GORMAN Staff Writer Arts students spent all month gearing up for the Fall Arts Exhibition, which opened Monday, November 29. This exhibition is a collaborative effort between all of the fine arts teachers in an effort to highlight all of the EHS students currently in visual arts classes. The exhibition winners remain unknown until the visiting art professional jurors the works. These jurors are outside of our Episcopal community and are different each time, so the students get feedback from professionals around the country. Paintings, ceramics, mixed media, drawings, and sculptures are installed in the gallery in B building as well as the new hall gallery in Trotter (for 3D and 2D works). These pieces will be on display through the end of the semester, so be sure to stop by as this exhibition is the
the years, Coffee House has changed from an outdoor event to an indoor showcase of artistic talent. Last year, Coffee House did
not occur due to COVID restrictions. We are thrilled to have the event this year to celebrate student talent.”
Seniors Abigail Klinkerman and Mac Bechtol team up with Mr. Bradshaw to sing “What’s Up” and play the guitar during the fall coffee house. Photo by Lauren West.
Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Dan Casey tactics that helped him, and can help other teams, perform above others on the field. Mr. Casey says that his favorite part of the writing process for these two books Mr. Dan Casey, the newest addition to was being able to interview and talk to the Episcopal High School staff, is more than a history teacher and football coach. many college and professional football Mr. Casey brought his football career to coaches. Released in 2021, his books have light when playing for Davidson College, more meaning than just teaching the readand after deciding to not continue profes- er about football. He hopes to write more sionally, he turned to coaching. Moving to on how one can become a high-achiever Raleigh, North Carolina, he coached high and help people reach their potential. His debut in football strategy books gives him the perfect tools necessary for him to later publish more works. Although the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic left many people at home looking for things to do, Mr. Casey says this was optimal time for him to continue his writing, something he had not had the time to do prior. During this time is when he was able to write the bulk of his projects, especially his two football strategy novels. CORY KARDESCH Sports Editor
Junior Quinn Moore’s piece “Turtle Teapot” is on display in the Underwood Student Center art gallery. Photo by David Trauba. “very best that EHS has to offer for art and visual expression,” according to photo teacher and gallery curator Mr. Japheth Storlie.
Coach Casey shows off his new novel “The Ultimate Guide to Screen,” the second of his two books on the interesting world of football. Photo courtesy of Dan Casey. school football, taught religion classes, and was even a chaplin. His skills in teaching and football strategies brought him to EHS, where he took the job of teaching United States history to juniors and the position of Offensive Coordinator for the football team. The skills do not stop at teaching and coaching though. Mr. Casey is an avid writer and has published two books covering football tactics: The Ultimate Guide to Counter and The Ultimate Guide to Screen. These are not guides but rather passion projects to inform readers on the
Coach Casey celebrates a touchdown with Senior quarterback Tres Organ. Photo courtesy of Lauren McGinnis. Along with hoping to continue and expand his writing career, Mr. Casey hopes to see the strategies from his books implemented into the EHS football team in future seasons.
Culture ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
u Yo ge ua Co rn er
students would grow in their understanding and appreciation for the amazing art, music, dance, and literature… that came out of the unique time period of the Harlem Renaissance.” Sophomore English Honors teacher Mr. Bob Matthews believed the event “served the students well: they danced together, analyzed together, worked out historical puzzles together.” Sophomore English Level teacher, Ms. Emma Tsai credited the event as a success, saying, “The Harlem Renaissance was an exciting and inspiring period that celebrated art, writing, and music, and both Ms. Hall and Ms. Succi did a great job planning an activity that introduced all facets of this era to students.” Students were able to engage in an interactive way opposed to an audible lecture that wouldn’t resonate well with students.
g an rL
The students of the sophomore class were able to go to the library along with their English classes for a fun and interactive station activity that offered an introduction to the Harlem Renaissance as they were beginning to study and explore the classic Harlem Renaissance novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. The stations included an introduction video discussing the significance of the Harlem Renaissance, a timeline of literary and world events in that time period, I, Too and As I Grew Older: poems by Langston Hughes, a popular dance during the time period, and participation in analyzing pieces of art from the time period. Librarians Ms. Kate Hall and Ms. Jennifer Succi organized the “lesson to understand the time period that Zora Heale Hurston lived in.” Their hopes were that “the
NATALIE KEATING Guest Writer
The 2022 Winter Olympic Games are going to be held in Beijing, China this winter! From February 4th to February 20th the athletes representing the United States will fight to take home every gold
medal possible. While on the 2020 interim term trip to China, EHS got to visit the Olympic Park from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Everybody was amazed by the architecture and how they already had a countdown clock to when the winter games would officially start. Being an athlete, I was moved and got a picture of myself doing a handstand in the middle of the park. Seeing the Beijing National Stadium in person I thought about all the Olympians who have been there and competed only yards away from where I was standing. Although there are not going to be fans from outside China, I cannot wait to cheer on Team USA in the 2022 Winter Olympics from home.
A cultural, artistic, and musical revival occurred in the African American community during the Harlem Reniassance. Photo by The Viator.
F shion Sen¢e with Raigan Clay Among those in the sneaker head community, the debate between Nike and Adidas has put sneaker aficionados at a crossroads, specifically, the preference of Kanye West’s Yeezy or Michael Jordan’s Jordan. Both of these shoes are iconic and have helped to mold the sneaker head community and the streetwear subdivision of fashion. Yeezy, the brainchild of Kanye West, fits right in with West’s brand as an artist, and is arguably the best shoe produced by Adidas or by a rapper. The revenue brought in by Yeezy alone through Adidas now reaches in the billions and has kept Adidas a part of the shoe conversation in the sneaker community. Nike controls the market mostly through the infamous “snkrs” app and is the brand backing the Jordan, a staple in the world of sneakers. Jordan, arguably the best basketball player alive, draws in a crowd
different from the more fashionable or casual Yeezy lover. Micheal Jordan appeals to the young basketball player but is also dueling with the casual sneaker market with the evolution of the Jordan 1. Iconically, the colorways and themes set Jordan 1’s apart; for instance, the original “UNC’s” are designed from when Jordan played at the University of North Carolina and resemble Carolina’s colors: baby blue and white. The “Shattered Backboards” are the pair that Jordan wore when he shattered the backboard at a game in Italy in 1985. This debate between the Yeezy or Jordan has dwindled down over the years and now many sneaker heads don’t pin the two brands against each other, but they do appreciate their differences and value them in their own ways. It’s up to you to decide for you to decide which pair you are going to purchase.
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-4000 Head of School Ned Smith Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg Principal Kim Randolph Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator David Framel Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Editors Karma Elbadawy Lila Henningsen Photographers Wade Arntzen Syndey Brooks Mya Broughton Olivia Chapman Mckenna Foteh Isabella Goytia Lauren McGinnis Amelia Novotny Jules Weinstein
The famous Michael Jordan Jordans. Kanye West’s Yeezys and MJ’s Jordans are often competeting for the title of the most stylish shoes. Photo by British GQ.
Co-Editors-in-Chief Chris Lahoti Connor Smith Production Editor Leana Greene Opinions Editor Jazzmin Duncan Copy Editor Lily O’Gorman Sports Editor Cory Kardesch Social Media Coordinator Estefania Lopez-Salas Staff Writers Gabriel Oderich Morgan Herod Jalynn Woolley Isabel O’Gorman Yana Sharma Jake Berlin Kate Freeman Campbell Richardson Raigan Clay
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.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
Entertainment ∙ Page 5
Jojo Siwa makes history on TV’s Dancing with the Stars first same-sex partnership throughout its 16 years of running time. The two had an amazing run on the show, winning a If you’ve watched Lifetime’s infamous perfect score of 40/40 for their foxtrot reality dance show Dance Moms, chances dance to Olivia Newton John’s iconic are you know who Jojo Siwa is. But what Grease song “Look at Me, I’m Sandra you might not know is what she has been Dee (Reprise).” up to since she left the show in 2016. During the Television Critics AssociaTo start, she appeared on Time’s list of tion summer press tour, Siwa commented, the 100 most “I think it influential breaks a people of wall that’s 2020, was never been featured on broken down Keeping before” and Up with the she spoke Kardashians, to LGBTQ+ went on a rights, sayworldwide ing, “I think stadium tour, it’s really came out of special that, the closet as not only now pansexual, do I get to collaborated share with on a cloththe world ing line with that you’re JCPenney, going to love and starred who you in a Nickelwant to love, odeon movie but also you (just to name can dance a few). But with who most recently you want to Siwa, a dance with.” professional Former Dance Moms star Jojo Siwa performs with pro- Siwa’s dancer, made fessional dancer Jenna Johnson in Season 30 of Dancing incredible history in the with the Stars. Photo courtesy of J-14. performances 30th season on Dancing of ABC’s competition dance show, Dancwith the Stars showed the world that the ing with the Stars. Jojo Siwa of Dance Moms has grown up Paired with dancer Jenna Johnson, Siwa and matured into a talented young woman broke boundaries as part of the show’s who has a bright future ahead of her. LILY O’GORMAN Staff Writer
The music industry releases music to satisfy lovers of every genre, such as hiphop, R&B, and country, and December is full of releases and appearances to make everyone happy. On December 1, Canadian singer songwriter Tory Lanez will release his 80’s themed Alone at Prom, as announced on social media platforms Instagram and Twitter. This is supposed to be his bestselling album of year. Blake Shelton wooed his fans with his album Body Language, which he released in May, earning him Billboard records. After having released “Come Back as a Country Boy” back in October, Shelton fans are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the release of Body Language Deluxe on December 3. Alicia Keys announced her new album Keys will release on December 10. Keys aims to share with her fans two sides of her music: the Original and the Unlocked - in a musical effort to share the old and the admired along with new sonic vibrations. R&B soul artist Giveon is coming to Houston, Texas. Performing at The Warehouse Live on December 11, Giveon is expected to draw in a crowd of all ages to enjoy his romantic rhythms. Planning on performing on Wednesday December 15 at the House of Blues is R&B artist Pink Sweat$. Performing his top songs “Pink Moon,” “I Feel Good,” and “Heaven” on his tour Nothing Feels Better. NLE Choppa is releasing an album on December 17, including six old songs and six new songs. “Me vs. Me” features arguement between the old Choppa and the improved Choppa.
Giveon will perform at Warehouse Live, and Blake Shelton released a new deluxe album. Photos courtesy of Twitter and BlakeShelton.com.
House: The best weirdest movie you will ever watch GEORGE TRAYLOR Guest Writer People love movies that are so bad they’re good. Films such as The Room or the original Dune would fall into this category. For some people, the movie House is another good example, but I disagree. I think it is a masterpiece. House is a Japanese fantasy horror film from 1977 directed by TV ad wizard Nobuhiko Obayashi. It features seven girls who go to an aunt’s house for summer vacation. There, they experience the horrors of a vengeful ghost who kills unwed girls. Trust me, it gets weirder from here. For some context, after the widely successful Jaws came out two years prior, Japan was looking for its own summer blockbuster. The Toho film studio asked Obayashi to develop a similar script to Jaws and he made... something. Obayashi took major influence from his young daughter Chigumi and her fears as a child. Things such as suffocation by futon, mirror attack, and fingers caught between piano keys were all fears that Chigumi had as a child. Obayashi believed adults come up with easy-to-understand, boring ideas when approaching fantasy. Meanwhile he believed children have the remarkable ability to come up with the unexplainable. With this concept, Obayashi made a truly unexplainable film. The movie is, ultimately, weird. First, the main group of girls are the most onedimensional characters ever created, and their names reflect that. Classic characters such as Gorgeous (she is gorgeous), Fantasy (she daydreams a lot), Melody (her only purpose is to play music), and my favorite character, Kung Fu (selfexplanatory). Also, the film is filled to the
brim with visual effects but with a limited budget; they could not afford top-of-theline visuals like Star Wars, which came out the same year. Instead, it has hilarious low-budget visual effects that will for sure make you laugh. This, along with aspects like a character turning into a bunch of bananas, a girl’s head turning into a sentient watermelon and biting Fantasy’s backside, and 80% percent of the soundtrack existing as different versions of the same song, make the movie seem to be a waste of viewing time. But once you dive more into the film, you unveil the genius of it. Obayashi is from Hiroshima and saw many of his friends die from the bombings. That’s why in House, one of the major symbols is the Hiroshima bombings that is represented by a cat, and one of the major messages is that the younger generation doesn’t appreciate how great they have it compared to people in the past. Ideas like this begin to show up, and you begin to realize this movie is more than a goofy horror movie. House is a beautiful, well-thought-out film that is encased in questionable acting and funny visual/sound effects. This blend of humor and seriousness makes House one of my favorite films, and I would highly recommend anyone to watch this masterpiece.
Guest writer senior George Traylor has given the EHS community an out-ofthe-box movie review of the 1977 film House. Japanese director Nobuhiko Obayashi (right) was awarded Japan Academy Prize for Popularity Award and Japan Academy Prize for Specialty Award shortly following the release of his film. Photo courtesy of Dubi.
Opinions∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
Opinions Recent elections dictate America’s political future GABRIEL ODERICH Staff Writer
It has been nearly a year since Election Day 2020 when incumbent Republican President Donald Trump lost to Democratic Vice-President Joe Biden. A year later Election Day 2021 has come around. One of the most hotly contested of its elections was Virginia’s governor’s race, which tightened as election day neared, and it looked as though the Republicans would finally be able to win a statewide race in Virginia after over a decade. Democrat Terry McAuliffe was leading the polls up to October 27, when Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate, was able to edge out McAuliffe, taking a one percent advantage according to Five Thirty-Eight polls going into election day. Youngkin inevitably won by nearly two and a half percent, and on top of that, the Republicans won the Virginia House of Delegates, Lieutenant Governorship, and the Attorney Generalship. Only a few months prior, McAuliffe had led in the polls by nearly eight percent, according to Five Thirty-Eight. So, what led to the Republicans’ unlikely win in Virginia? It was a perfect storm for the Republicans, as President Joe Biden’s approval rating has sunk to forty-two percent according to NBC News, and seventy-
one percent of the population believes that the nation is headed in the wrong direction. Youngkin also utilized strategic ambiguity regarding Trump, neither endorsing nor denouncing him. This allowed Youngkin to take advantage of suburban voters who turned on Trump during the 2020 election, especially in Virginia, where Biden won the state by a tenpoint margin. Youngkin heavily critiqued Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the Virginia education system (there is some controversy regarding whether CRT is taught within the Virginia education system). All-in-all, Youngkin won, not only because of Biden’s failures but also because of a newfound winning strategy within the Republican party - appealing to suburban voters through critiques of a “politicized” education system. While some may have thought that the pressure of this major loss would lead to the Democratic party uniting in some form, it seems that it has only become further divided. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia called the election “a wake-up call” during a Fox News interview, going on to lambast Biden’s policies, which Manchin believes could result in added inflation due to economic spending. This division will result in inaction, and inaction will result in more disapproval, especially from some within the Biden
electorate who expected an impactful, progressive president. Meanwhile, the Republicans have discovered their winning strategy; Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
said, “The one thing you will find is, the Republican Party will be the party of education,” about Youngkin’s appeal to suburban parents through critiques of CRT and COVID-19 policy within schools.
Virginia Republican Glenn Youngkin speaks in an interview during his campaign for governor. Photo courtesy of The Washington Times.
HOT TAK ES
With Jazzmin Duncan
Bread is the best food ever made. It’s literally been around since the beginning of humanity (or close enough to it), and it has truly earned its longevity. Bread is delicious regardless of where in the world you get it. Naan. Sourdough. Concha. Texas Roadhouse rolls. There are infinite recipes across thousands of cultures. Whether a person is American, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Nigerian, or other ethnicity, he or she is likely to have a recipe or remedy for bread specific to their culture. They’re all timeless, delicious, accessible masterpiec-
es that deserve to be revered for the rest of time. Absolutely no other food can even STEP to bread. Mac and cheese, while a classic, is nowhere near as versatile or timeless as bread. The same goes for any other food: chicken, beef, Cheez-it’s even, can never, and will never, be bread. Bread is so good that it has even become synonymous with money; that’s enough alone to put it on the leaderboard. I mean, THE Lil Wayne and THE (I’m not sure if he deserves this recognition but whatever)
Rick Ross made songs SOLEY about getting bread. Not only is bread a blessing to our taste buds but also to the entertainment industry. Who knows where music would be without the current use of bread as a euphemism for copious amounts of money – probably in the same place it is now, but you get my point. I’m willing to bet that almost every culture in the world has its own type of bread and that every single one of them will be just as, if not more wonderful than, the last.
Bread is the most universal and amazing thing that humanity has ever been gifted. Absolutely no food can even compare in any setting. Bread is at the foundation of human history, and it deserves to last until the dissolution of humanity. Dating back to 8000 BC in Egypt, bread has outlived thousands of civilizations and persevered through pandemics (according to Lyon Bakery). Its longevity, universalness, and taste more than earn it a spot in a hall of fame in all its forms.
The Lily Pad With Lily O’Gorman Methane. Coal. Fossil fuels. Deforestation. These topics were some of the main talking points at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP26 (meaning the 26th Conference of Parties). Here are a few highlights from some of the conversations that occurred over the span of the 12-day long conference from October 31 to November 12. One of the, if not the most discussed topics during the conference was coal, the single largest contributor to climate change and rising global temperatures in the modern world. The conference successfully brought 28 new members to the Power-
ing Past Coal Alliance, or PPCA, gaining promising momentum in the end of coalbased energy for the future. However, it is highly important to note that the United States, China, and India failed to sign on to this alliance, seeing as those countries are the three largest burners of coal worldwide. On another note, the conference presented an opportunity for President Biden to speak on his proposal for addressing climate change within the United States. He spoke on his administration’s commitment to halving domestic emissions and reaching net-zero by 2050.
World leaders gathered at the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference which was held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. Photo courtesy of premiumtimesng.com.
According to the United Nations Global Methane Assessment (which can be found online in full .pdf form,) the world could potentially deter a raise in global temperatures of 0.3 degrees Celsius by cutting emissions up to 45% in the next 10 years. Overall, the conference brought many conversations and issues to light about the future of our planet - unfortunately too many to discuss in The Lily Pad this month. However, according to the New York Times, “Mr. Biden told reporters the meeting had re-established the United States as a leader on what he has called an existential threat to humanity.”
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
Sports ∙ Page 7
Fall SPC Debriefed Girls cross country team crowned SPC champions JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer In what can only be described as a combined effort, the girls cross country team kept its focus on the title during a solid performance at the 2021-2022 SPC Championships in Dallas, November 6, crossing the finish line victorious to cap off a remarkable season. The girls displayed incredible resilency throughout the season, and the win marks the first for the program in EHS history. With four Knights finishing in the top-20 and All-SPC honors, a 10-point margin separated the team from runner-up Hockaday. Freshman Madison Morgan ran to an impressive third-place finish and time of 19:04:82, while sophomore Julia Newman (seventh), junior Lucy Holden (eighth), senior Ella Newman (fourteenth), freshman Asher Luengas (twenty-second), senior Kate Freeman (twentyseventh), sophomore Shepherd Gregg (thirty-seventh), junior Ella Marino (eighty-fourth), and sophomore Elizabeth Randall (ninetieth) completed the team victory. Head Coach Julius Michael reflected,
Field hockey puts up 14 goals in two games at fall SPC ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Social Media Coordinator The girls field hockey team, though it fought hard and strong, lost its first game 1-0 against Fort Worth Country Day in the 2021 Fall SPC championship. The girls worked hard and created many scoring opportunities for themselves, but ended up on the short end of a heartbreaking loss. The girls did rebound and they scored 14 goals over their next two games to solidify ninth place at SPC. The team had a large senior group this season who really stepped up to lead the
“I loved the team’s toughness on a hilly course and their support for each other during the race. They had to step up. The girls stayed calm under pressure and expectations were that Hockaday had the advantage going into the meet, but Lucy Holden had a great day, and Asher Luengas and Kate Freeman beat out Hockaday’s fifth runner to secure the championship.” A seventh-place finish at SPC also set a new milestone for the boys team, its best finish during Coach Michaels’ tenure. Sophomore Sam Marino captured the tenth spot in the SPC final, and senior John Bruton finished twenty-fifth in his final race for the Knights. “I was pleased with the way all the runners competed. In a championship race, the place you get is more important than the time. The runners surpassed our expectation, especially on the girl’s side. Junior Ella Marino ran her fastest time of the season by improving by 15 seconds and sophomore Lizzy Randall dropped 3 minutes from her previous 5k time.” The cross country team and coaching staff is currently looking forward to next
The girls cross country team lifts the SPC championship trophy after defeating all other teams and giving EHS its first title. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Durand. season, when the girls’ team plans to defend their title and the boys intend to improve upon this season’s results. Regarding his returning team, Coach Michaels added, “Next year on the girls’
side we will have to replace seniors Ella Newman and Kate Freeman, but we believe Shepherd Gregg will step up. If anyone is interested in running, there is plenty of room on the teams.“
Boys volleyball finishes fifth in SPC in hard-fought season YANA SHARMA Staff Writer SPC Tournament Weekend on November 5-6 at Dallas Greenhill was an opportunity for the boys volleyball team to make its talents noticed in the conference. The steady growth of the program has been obvious both in player numbers and in wins, and the tournament was a place to present that success. On Friday, team played OC Casady in the quarterfinals. In the first two sets, the boys played tremendously but found themselves in a 2-0 hole. They came back in the third set on the play of seniors Zach Donovan, John Dameris, Connor Smith, and sophomore Ethan Romero. However, the Knights fell to Casady in the decisive fourth set but showed aggression and teamwork, which they would carry over to
Saturday’s game against rival St. John’s. The early morning matchup for fifth place in SPC called for a team effort from the Knights, who proved to be too much for the Mavericks. Strong passing and
hitting from senior Carter Dixon changed the game’s momentum, as did consistent middle attacks courtesy of senior Wells White, bringing the team to a 3-1 shellacking of South foe.
The seniors on the boys volleyball team stand with a banner congratulating them on Senior Night. Photo courtesy of Olivia Chapman.
Girls volleyball leaves an impactful mark after Fall SPC RAIGAN CLAY Staff Writer Girls volleyball had a phenomenal year, finishing the season with a record of 2311 and 2-1 in SPC Conference play.
In Dallas at SPC, the girls played sixth seed in the North, Fort Worth Country Day, to start the tournament, beating them 3-0. Friday, they played second seed Oakridge, who had a stacked team of girls this year in the North. The Knights
Senior Audrey Post with her parents on Senior Night. Photo courtesy of Amelia Novotny. team through the season. Coach Shelly Edmonds said, “I am so proud of our nine seniors and the leadership they displayed. The younger girls on the team really look up to them and admire their hard work, determination, grit, and dedication to the sport. We are going to miss them and are very proud of what they accomplished in their final games. This season was definitely full of memories for such a special field hockey team, and the girls really grew closer. I look forward to what they can accomplish in the years to come.”
After winning 3 sets to 1 against ESD, girls volleyball placed fifth at SPC. Photo courtesy of Shannon Harrington.
lost three of four sets, but came back the following day to beat Episcopal School of Dallas 3-1 and place fifth in SPC. A memorable moment from the season wa s the win over St. John’s. The five setter was such a close game but EHS battled it out for the win. The program lost 10 seniors that contributed greatly to the team the last four years and also won an SPC championship, but the girls of JV Blue accepted the challenge of filling such large shoes. The team chemistry on and off the court was effortless between the girls, which made for a nurturing environment where they could all grow and thrive. Such a great team dynamic allowed for the girls to rally and play their hardest even when the competition was tough. The girls never backed down from a challenge and with the great leadership embedded within the team they were able to play at the highest level. Overall, the group of girls is budding with talent and worked hard all season long to represent Episcopal well.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ November 2021
Speaks Out
Resident Jester
“What is your favorite Thanksgiving Day food?”
Cartoon by Lily O’Gorman. HASHIM SAEED “Garlic mashed potatoes”
GIGI WONG “Stuffing”
CHLOE STYLES “Rolls”
WILL MASTERSON “Mac and cheese”
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
Crossword Puzzle
Junior Julia Zichy performs in the winter play Eurydice. Photo by Lauren McGinnis.
FALL FUN CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1
2
YOUSUF SAEED “Yams”
TASIA RUSHING “Potato casserole”
3 4
5
6 7
CATHERINE MACCONNELL “Cranberry sauce”
SAM GONZALES “Turkey”
8
9
MS. BERRY “My baked mac and cheese”
Down: 1. Tree droppings 2. Pronged tool 3. Last month of autumn on the Down: Gregorian calendar 1. what falls from a6.tree Autumn The in specific hue, saturation, and brightness of a pumpkin 2. used to gather leaves MR. SMITH
“Pumpkin pie”
3. last month of autumn 6. the color of a pumpkin
Across: 4. Used to scare the crows from the field 5. The season for gathering Across: an agricultural yield 7. Animal that to gathers andthe crows from 4. used scare stores for the winter 5. theSummer. gathering of crops 8. Spring. Autumn. Winter 9. Snow White’s fruit 7. like to store and eat nuts
t
8. Spring Summer Fall and Winte 9. fruit you bob for