News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
December 2019
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Therapy dogs aid in the stress of midterms
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 34, Issue 5
Light Up the Knight!
Senior Class dives into the fashion world during the annual Senior Style Show.
BAILEY JUNELL Editor in Chief In the week before midterms in order to relieve stress and anxiety, therapy dogs visited EHS to help students overcome the stresses of testing. The dogs are a part of the Faithful Paws Pet Therapy, an association which aims to train animals to provide therapy to adults and children. They arrived on December 11 during both 5A and 5B in Brown building room 104. With their arrival, students were seen decompressing while interacting with the dogs. The dogs are personal pets that undergo training to develop into therapy dogs. Therapy dogs must also have all their vaccinations, be in great health, and must pass the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test in order to come to EHS or any other facility. A total of six dogs - Champ, Lily Grace, Sonny, Tulip, Roscoe, and Cooper – came with their owners who joined the Faithful Paws Pet Therapy community and get to travel Liam Griffin and Brennan Howell shared the spotlight with their senior classmates during the “Light Up the Knight” style show held at the Westin Galleria Hotel. Photo by Camille Hanna. CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
Photo by Mr. Scott Cunningham. around Houston to share their compassion. The Faithful Paws Pet Therapy Association, founded in 1997, is a ministry of the Bellaire United Methodist Church. It is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers. The certified pet therapy teams visit many facilities around Houston, including various hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, schools, and community groups. The association boasts over 350 teams and 150 facilities in the Houston area. The goal of this visit was for the students to become calm and relaxed before the stressful midterms, and it achieved just that. With many students rushing to meet and play with these adorable dogs, the event proved successful. Hopefully, it will become an annual tradition.
INSIDE NHS Sock Drive National Honor Society partnered with The Beacon to give back with a sock drive
PAGE 2 ETV Show Students screened their ETV productions at Studio Movie Grill
PAGE 3 Features ........................ 2-3 Culture......................... 4 Entertainment .............. 5 Knight Shift ................. 6 Opinion ........................ 7 Sports ........................... 8
The Class of 2020 walked the runway during the annual Senior Style Show. The featured outfits came from various department stores around Houston, such as Dillard’s, Macy’s, Orvis, and Al’s Formal Wear. The students paraded in pairs to fun music and bright lights. At the end of the show, the seniors walked once again while Dean John Colello recognized them and their individual accomplishments throughout their Episcopal High School careers. Learn more about The Senior Style Show on Page 3
Students’ work displayed at the EHS Art Exhibition CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer Every year in early December, the Episcopal Visual Arts Department celebrates and shows off its students’ work in the Fall Student Arts Exhibition. Many sculptures, drawings, paintings, and forms of photography were displayed throughout the USC Art Gallery, the B building Atrium, and the glass cases in the Underwood Library. This exhibition serves as a way to show the hard work the Episcopal visual art students put in every day. The event was started so that these students will learn the importance of preparing work for an exhibition and consider the perspective of the viewer when creating their art. Students use this event to show the community their skills as an artist and allow outside judges to critique the wide variety of art. To judge the student’s art, the Episcopal Visual Arts Department brought in outside judges to make the tough decisions on the many mediums. The works that are seen as the best in the eyes of the judges were awarded during a ceremony on December 4. These awards are a way to motivate the Episcopal students into putting hard work into their final projects and help them improve throughout their Episcopal High School visual arts career. Though the Fall Student Arts Exhibition has been the same for many years, the
types of art have changed greatly. This year especially, the works of art have changed due to a new teacher in the Mixed Media class, Ms. Lauren Cunningham. The newest faculty member in the department, she has guided her class into new styles of art. These different works from the students have added more variety into the exhibition than ever before. 2D Awards: 1st Place- Quinn Moore (Painting) 2nd Place- Megan Smith (Drawing) 3rd Place- Samantha Hoover (Mixed Media) Best in Show- Aiden Hunter (Painting)
3D Awards: 1st Place- Blake Bagwell (Sculpture) 2nd Place- Chloe Butler (Ceramics) 3rd Place- Kate Freeman (Sculpture) Best in Show- Rachel Barker (Ceramics) Photography Awards: 1st Place- Sydney Kelso 2nd Place- Craig Choi 3rd Place- Tanner Fox Best in Show- Olivia Chapman Instructor Awards: Studio Arts- Sophia Liollio Photography- Brendan Massaro
Olivia Chapman, Brendan Massaro, Hutch Coward, Tanner Fox, Yana Sharma, River Reinertsen-Forehand, Craig Choi, and Sydney Kelso were award recipients in the photography category. Photo by Annie Katz.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
Episcopal students from around the world describe their diversity LEANNA GREENE Staff Writer Episcopal is extremely fortunate to have among its student body foreign students who are proud to call themselves Knights. Sophomore Christina Amelio has been in the United States for four years. During her childhood she moved throughout the world for her parents’ jobs, living in Italy for three years, Germany for one year, and Portugal for another three before moving to Spain. Overall, Christina emphasized the great memories she has of Spain after her six years there. She attended The British School and transferred to the International School of Spain. Not much has changed in her daily routine now that she is at EHS, but she did say the most significant difference between Episcopal and the International School of Spain is Winter Break. Every year around February, she and friends would take a two-week trip to the slopes and go skiing. With much love for Spain, Christina did not enjoy the goodbyes she had to say to many of her friends and now looks forward to setting roots in Houston with her family. Coco Balyhill, a freshman born in Houston but who moved to Ascot, England when she was three because of her father’s
job in the natural gas industry, eventually moved to Singapore when she was nine. Going throughout a day with a similar routine she now has in Houston, Coco shared that one of the main differences is the school size. In England, classes consist of 16 students per grade, and in Singapore the school’s population was over 2000. Despite the wonderful memories created in these countries, Coco loves Houston for the diversity - not just in the people but in the foods and everyday activities. Senior Catalina Alverez was proudly born and raised in Columbia and moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. Surprisingly, school life in Columbia is not dramatically different than a day in Houston. Catalina shared that during school breaks she often went to the beach or to her ranch with her sister and mother. Though loving Houston, she recalled her love of the social interaction among the people in Columbia, such as kisses when greeting someone and hugs often. Catalina says the main difference between Columbia and the United States is the food. In Columbia everything is healthier and “straight from the source.” Even though Catalina misses her home and family in Columbia, she admires the calmness and opportunities Houston has given her.
KT meets with Lizzie Fletcher NICK HELD Staff Writer Lizzie Fletcher is western Houston’s Democratic representative in our country’s the House of Representatives. Prior to her political career, Congresswoman Fletcher lived a life similar to many of ours. She was born and raised in Houston and attended St. John’s where she did things that EHS students like to do, such as attend the Rodeo. In high school, the most prominent cause that Rep. Fletcher advocated was Young Adults for Reproductive Freedom and environmental issues. Since her graduation in 1993, she has noticed the growth in diversity within Houston, calling it a “global city.” The congresswoman believes that “our democracy really works because people participate, and so we want people to be educated about the issues and about the system and how they can engage in the process,” but she sees a roadblock in Congress right now.
Congress seems “to be operating on different sets of facts and information, so everyone is talking past each other,” which prohibits them from gaining a common understanding of the problems they work toward solving. This creates a risk of people losing the ability to see all the different sides. She actively works to resolve this problem because she believes it is her duty to listen to those whom she represents and “take it to the folks [she] works with and expand the conversation with all these different perspectives,” Her message to high schoolers: ”You don’t have to know exactly what to do; just show up if you care. If you want to help, just show up and someone will show you what to do. If you are concerned about the world around us or the state of our politics or anything else that is happening, issues specific in our community, get involved, get engaged, and you will find people that will help you channel your interests and really make a difference.”
Top left, Catalina Alvarez at her home country of Columbia. Through her time in Houston, she has been able to adapt to the Texan way of life. Photo courtesy of Catalina Alvarez. Top right, Coco Balyhill with her friends from the school she attended in Ascot, England, where just 16 students were in her grade. Photo courtesy of Coco Balyhill. Bottom left, Christina Amelio in her fourth year in the United States. Photo by Olivia Hopwood.
NHS helps The Beacon with its first sock drive for the homeless BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer During the week of review, The National Honor Society partnered with The Beacon to help give back to the homeless population for this Christmas season. Starting on December 10, NHS began
To further emphasize the competition between classes, each donation resulted in a colored ornament being placed on the tree in the cafeteria. Each ornament was a color representing each grade level along with the name of the student who donated. Throughout the competition, the tree helped keep a visual
Seniors Rollins Bell and Wilson Grant get in the Christmas spirit as they run the NHS “Socks from Santa” booth during both lunch periods. Photo by: Bailey Junell.
Nick Held and Democratic representative Lizzie Fletcher spoke with each other on wide topics. Representative Fletcher offered EHS students some advice in her time with th school paper. Photo by Madeline Abadie.
its first class competition to raise money for socks that had already been purchased, making it the easiest way to give back. Throughout the week, NHS encouraged students to give back by setting up a booth during 5A and 5B lunches. The Beacon is a nonprofit organization serving the homeless around the Houston area. Their ultimate goal is to end homelessness completely in Houston. This past summer, the NHS leadership team developed the idea to serve at The Beacon by putting on this sock drive, specifically during the holiday season.
track of the progress of each grade. By the end of the week, the ornaments were counted and the winner was announced. The NHS leadership team is comprised of Brennan Howell, President; Blair Barineau, Vice President; Winnie Gordon and Rebecca Rose, Parliamentarians; and Amelia Traylor, Secretary. Faculty Mrs. Kathryn Ray and Mr. Alex Bruton aided in the service success. With the help of the Episcopal community, the National Honor Society made a profound impact on the Houston area through The Beacon.
The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
Features ∙ Page 3
Students embrace holiday spirit ETV showcases its latest films present for each night. A candle is lit and a present is opened for each night of this week-long holiday, making it a pretty chill holiday compared to the Christmas events. With this in mind, Episcopal students With Thanksgiving over and winter started thinking about the activities that break in our midst, it is time to start were going on around school for the last thinking about Christmas. The day after few weeks of hard work and finals. Returning from Thanksgiving Break, the students were surrounded with Christmas trees, wreaths, and more, all in Episcopal blue. EHS students marked their calendars for the many events that went on at this exciting time of year, including Advent Chapel and the Sing-Along Chapel. Advent Chapel fell on Tuesday December 10, and started promptly at 6:00. Advent Artwork by Nicole Hopwood. Chapel was filled with fun Christmas hymns and prayer, making it a nice way to Thanksgiving, it is finally acceptable to relax before the stress of finals kicked in. put up the tree, decorate the house, and Along with Advent, there was also Singstring up the lights. While this is common Along Chapel when students picked their for most of the Episcopal High School favorite Christmas songs to sing during community, there are still some people this interactive, cheerful Chapel, which who do things a little differently. took place during Review Days. For others in the community, it is time With the semester coming to a close, to put up the menorah, make those latkes, The Knight Times wishes you and yours a and spin the dreidel; yes, it is Hanukkah Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah. time. Hanukkah is eight days and one
CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer
during annual SMG film festival ZACK DONOVAN Staff Writer ETV students’ hours of dedication to produce their films as part of the first episode of the year were finally realized this past Monday, December 9, when their peers and family attended a screening of their work at Studio Movie Grill. The show included works by students from Mr. Milani’s ETV class and first period animation class and touched on a range of subjects, from serious matters like societal issues to suspenseful horror shorts and uplifting comedic ventures. Seniors Su Spector and Lani McHenry spoke before the showing, chosen by Mr. Pejman Milani for “their maturity, their leadership, and their dedication.” Mr. Milani also recognized senior Austin Reppert for his contributions to the program. The show began and ended with group
ETV showcased months of diligent work at the SMG film festival. Images courtesy of Mr. Pejman Milani.
The EHS Senior Class lights up the Knight CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer On Saturday, December 7, the EHS Class of 2020 reported to the Westin Galleria at 6:45 a.m. to model in the annual Senior Style Show. This year’s theme was “Light Up the Knight.” After breakfast and much-appreciated coffee, Fashion Event Producer Lenny Matuszewski and his partner Tamera Klosz Bonar and their team welcomed the class and sorted everyone into their scenes for introductions and a rundown of the day’s events. There were eleven scenes, each with a different theme, such as American, Collegiate, Holiday, and Crystals.
As some were practicing their walks down the runway, others got their hair and makeup done by professional artists from Visible Changes and Lenny’s team. Near showtime, the senior models donned their snazzy outfits from wellknown department stores Dillard’s, Macy’s, Orvis, and Al’s Formal Wear. Looks ranged from casual collegiate apparel to full on black tie and sequins. The girls looked stunning in their gorgeous party attire with their hair up, accentuated by flowers, and the guys looked dashing and handsome in their western hats, Irish caps, and formal wear. Accompanied by fun music blaring and lights flashing, the seniors strutted onto the runway, striking memorable poses and having an amazing time. The grand
Profit from these helpful EHS fall exam study tips LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer
Claire Jesulaitis strikes a pose at the end of the runway. Photo by Camille Hanna.
Senior Will Walmsley carries out senior Wilson Grant, much to the delight of the audience. Photo by Camille Hanna.
efforts by ETV students. The introduction included a Smash-Brothers parody featuring Mr. Milani, and the show concluded as all are, with a series of bloopers and behind-the-scenes cuts testifying to the underlying family atmosphere which the community feels for moviemaking. Though not all the pieces can be mentioned in detail here, many stood out. Spector’s work on societal norms with her piece Juliet and Juliet spoke out as one of the serious pieces for the night, while her horror story showed a different side in her affinity for moviemaking. McHenry also dedicated a thoughtful piece to her grandmother who passed away when she was a child. Sophomore Kaia Chambers produced a number of shorts early in the presentation and remarked on how she had “learned a lot not only from Mr. Milani but from [her] peers as well.”
finale, which was comprised of the whole Senior Class walking out together, was followed by individual recognition of each senior. Dean Colello introduced them and read out answers to questions they had answered previously, such as “What do you want Santa to bring you?” and “What advice would you give to EHS freshmen?” as each student made one last appearance down the runway. After the show, the students and their families enjoyed a festive lunch together at tables beautifully decorated by the mothers on the committee. The Senior Class agreed that this day was an amazing bonding experience and a memory they will look back on and cherish forever.
Midyear exams are sneaking up on the student body, so the age-old question is what is the best way to study? Although there is no perfect answer to this question, here are some tips to help find what works best and makes achieving high level grades easier. First, start studying as early as possible and build a study plan. As Junior Dean Mark Mitchell always says, “If you think you have that amount of time, you only have that amount of time in theory. Start studying now.” Building a study plan to follow in the time leading up to midterm exams will eliminate the stress of studying. The American Psychological Association states that it is more beneficial to study shorter periods of time everyday than cramming before a major exam. A second tip to assist with studying is making visualizations. Some students find that matching images with concepts helps them retain the information. For students of world languages, this may be matching images with vocabulary words, biology students labeling different diagrams, or Pre-Calculus students filling out the notorious Unit Circle. Having that image will put the information into long term memory, ultimately helping with the midterm and final exams. Third, use test reviews. For teachers that provide a midterm exam review, use that as a resource to know what to expect on the exam. Guidance can also be found by utilizing past test reviews in search of materials that may be covered on the exam.
Culture ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
BEN WASDEN Guest Writer
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One of the new faces (or not so new face) on campus this year is Mrs. Mary Catherine Holliday, who is a new librarian in the Underwood Library. Mrs. Holliday is an alum who graduated from Episcopal High School in 2008 and has had the privilege to experience all sorts of changes around campus over the years. When she was an EHS student, she said that her time here was “a great experience” and that some of her favorite classes included Mr. Flanagan’s physics, Mr. Lerch’s history, and Mrs. Willcutts’ painting. Mrs. Holliday said that the biggest change she has seen over the years is the “physical footprint of the school.” When she was a student, Episcopal’s building spaces were
much different from what they are today. The new Underwood Student Center used to be the old Alkek Gymnasium, and Episcopal had tennis courts that were later used as a parking lot where the new Alkek Gym now resides. After graduating she attended Texas A&M University where she studied for a degree in Recreation Parks and Tourism Sciences, thinking she would become an event planner in the future. It was not until working at a large venue that she realized that event planning was not the route she wanted to take with her life. She got a job at Annunciation Orthodox School (AOS) working in the library, and this was her entrance into the education world. When asked what brought her back to Episcopal High School, she simply replied, “Fate.”
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LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer
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EHS alum returns home as librarian
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Hey Knights, my name is Ben Wasden, and I’m the internal-vice president of Math Club. Our last Math Club meeting of this year was held December 10, and we would like to thank everyone for coming out to the meetings this semester and participating in the monthly Texas Math League contests. We would also like to congratulate our three HiMCM teams for their fantastic performances on a very difficult two-week math modeling challenge. We eagerly await the results. Before Thanksgiving Break, the Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta hosted the first ever Pre-Fibonacci Day event. We would
like to thank all who participated and announce the four winners. The third highest scorer in the math contest was Sean MacConnell. The second highest scorer was Ethan McAlpin, and the highest scorer was Will Arntzen. The person who most closely guessed the number of erasers was Eveline Tcherniak. (The actual number was a Fibonacci number.) All winners received prizes. We have a lot of exciting events planned for the spring semester, so be on the watch. Also, there are a ton of competitions next semester that we can’t wait for. We are also awaiting the arrival of our new T-Shirts, for everybody that ordered one they are on the way. Last, we would like to wish everybody a happy holiday. May it be filled with good times and lots of math.
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Slice of π
ZACK DONOVAN Staff Writer Un estudiante en la comunidad de Episcopal quería comentar en las tradiciones que ha observado en las comunidades hispanohablantes a atreves del mundo. Solamente son pocos de muchos, pero el pasaje siguiente describe algunos de los más interesantes. “Hay grandes diferencias en la forma de celebrar la navidad en los países hispanohablantes. En México, por ejemplo, usualmente no celebran la navidad hasta el ocho de enero cuando creen que los reyes magos se presentaron en frente del bebe Jesús. También en Venezuela hay la tradición de comer una grande cena el día antes de navidad con hallacas. Las hallacas son tubitos de maza de maíz rellenos y mezclado con pasas, aceitunas, y pollo mechado. En Argentina, mucho como nosotros en los estados unidos, decoran las casas con luces y guindan coronas en las puertas. También comen una grande cena el día antes muy similar a la cena del día de acción de gracias en los estados unidos. Además de todas las tradiciones que combinan las creencias nativas y las creencias
católico. En Guatemala, por ejemplo, el siete de diciembre queman estatuas en las plazas mayores de los pueblos para simbolizar quemando el diablo. Las tradiciones de los países hispanohablantes, aunque están cercas en el mapa, diferencian muchísimo
Stra. Berry ha celebrado la navidad por semanas con su ropa y el abol. Foto de Zack Donovan.
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The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
Entertainment∙ Page 5
Despite the hype, Frozen 2 Popular tourist attraction, The fails to meet expectations Color Factory, comes to Houston EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer The original Frozen left us with an album of great sing-along songs, not to mention the internet’s obsession with Olaf, making this movie hard to beat. Set in Arendelle, Elsa and Anna continue their magical quest in Frozen 2, which set back Disney $700 million. Ultimately, Frozen 2 is more like a trip down memory lane than it is about continuing Elsa and Anna’s magical adventure. While Frozen 2 brings home the climax we had all been wanting, the plot is hard to follow. Disney tries to depict Elsa as a “water-bender,” but viewers still sees Elsa as the Snow Queen, which creates confusion as to what her power really is. The plot contains elemental spirits that bring back memories from Elsa and Anna’s childhood; however, these memories only tie into the plot sometimes. Also, there really isn’t much of an antagonist, as it seems like it is just a personal struggle which can be difficult to watch for the movie is close to two hours.
In the original Frozen, Hans captured the audience’s heart with his charm and accidental love for Anna; however, their betrothal felt more like a burden and seemed forced. Last, Frozen 2 failed in terms of music because the music was simply forgettable, unlike the first movie’s hit “Let It Go.”
LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer
The Color Factory has finally made its way to Houston in the past weeks, and its major popularity has led to the filing of people into the museum daily. Houston has never seen anything like this before. The exciting exhibit in River Oaks consists of many different types of installations, many of which visitors love to use for selfies and group photo backgrounds. Each one of the fourteen rooms convey unique sensory experiences combined with outstanding art pieces while using a palette of 30 exclusive colors selected for the Houston location. The creative team behind the special art exhibition took an entire year to design and perfect each imaginative adventure
bursting with color. Color Factory Houston is one of three; the other two are located in New York City and San Francisco. Although each room is a wonderland and a dream for amazing pictures, certain rooms even allow visitors to touch and become one with the distinctive setting. For example, one exhibition lets visitors swim in a large pool of turquoise play balls, as if one were a little kid again. In other rooms, the main excitement is being surrounded by music and light. One of the main goals of The Color Factory is for viewers to experience art in a unique way and to prove that it is more beautiful to experience, not photograph, all of the time. The pop-up art exhibit is said to have been rented out for a year, so there is time to check out this exhilarating gallery.
Things to do around town during the Christmas season EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer While Houston’s weather does not fit the perfect picture of a “White Christmas,” Texans still find a way to participate in the holiday spirit. Of course, the Houston Ballet puts on its annual performance of “The Nutcracker,” but if you are wanting a little more of a Nutcracker twist, head over to the NRG Center where you can attend the Nutcracker Market and find the best gifts for your loved ones throughout the whole month of Decemeber. If you live in the Heights, might as well visit 107 W 12th Street to take a tour of Houston’s best Christmas lights. Not to
mention, River Oak’s homeowners always put on a show, with their extravagant display of lights and other christmas decor, bringing holiday cheer to the Houston area. For those who want a little bit more of a hands-on activity, Discovery Green’s ice skating center will certainly put you in the holiday spirit. Here you can enjoy a night of Christmas music and hot chocolate while letting a horse ride take you to see all of downtown’s Christmas displays as well as the chance to play in fake snow. If you love to bake, head over to Sur La Table where you can take a cooking class and learn how to make the best Christmas dishes.
The Color Factory finally makes it debut for Houstonians, offering color galore for a picture-perfect aesthetic. Photo by Brendan Massaro.
Harry Styles releases new album LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer Harry Styles, former member of the classic boy band One Direction and now extremely popular single artist, has recently released his second album. After much anticipation, Fine Line came out at midnight on December 13, two years after his release of Harry Styles, the album. The track features twelve songs, includ-
Homeowners put up Christmas lights around the River Oaks area to participate in holiday festivities. Photos by Emma Claire White.
Arriving just in time to mess-up everyone’s best-of-the-year music lists is Harry Styles’ sophomore album Fine Line. Image courtesy of nypost.com.
ing the three he released before the scheduled date: “Lights Up,” “Watermelon Sugar,” and “Adore You.” First, “Golden,” “Watermelon Sugar,” and “Lights Up” feature uplifting, energetic guitar melodies. Following these songs, “Cherry,” “Falling,” and “To Be So Lonely” disrupt the upbeat tone and could reference his famous ex Kendall Jenner. They have a somber, break-up energy about them. Next is “She,” which tells the story of a man lost in his thoughts about a mysterious woman, eventually consuming his life, although he cannot quite picture her. “Sunflower Vol. 6” and “Canyon Moon” are slightly bittersweet tracks in which Styles recalls happy moments from the past and admits he longs to return home. Second to last is the song “Treat People with Kindness,” which has been Styles’ marketing slogan since 2017 during his first solo world tour. Spreading his common message of treating others with love, the song has a positive, retro sound to it. Finally, “Fine Line” ends the album. This song reveals the meaning behind the emotional highs and lows presented in the whole record and presents his concluding message: the fine line one must walk to gain self-love and acceptance will not be easy, but you will get there eventually.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
Speaks Out What is the worst Christmas gift you have ever received?
NASH CHICKERING “Beanboozled jelly beans”
MADISON SCHOLTES “A newspaper”
Cartoon by Zack Donovan.
PhotoJ Photo of the Month CARSON HICKS “A rock”
MARGO ZENNER “A sock”
GAGE HERROLD “An avocado”
SAM NEWLAND “Coal”
From the back of Benitz Chapel during Episcopal’s annual Advent Chapel. Photo by Julia Toups.
(Celebrity Look-Alikes) GARRET SICK “Socks”
GIGI GAETTI “Stuffed polar bear with a Made in China sticker”
MR. STORLIE “I don’t get presents. I’m Jewish”
MS. PHILBRICK “Oranges” Faculty member Mr. Andy Clack might be a bit older than your average high schooler, but his youthful essence helps him blend in among students, especially when you consider sophomore Oliver Snell. Think about it. Have you ever seen these two in the same place at the same time? Exactly. Photos by Nick Held.
Christmas Facts CAMERON THORTON “A Dallas Cowboys Jersey”
ANGELINA CIARAVINO “Harry Styles ”
MATTHEW KALLMEYER “Playdoh”
Ka’LYN WATSON “Ugly flannel clothes”
- ”Jingle Bells” was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. - Rudolph’s red nose is probaly the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system. - In Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, finding a spider or a spider’s web on a Christmas tree is believed to be a harbinger of good luck. - Two weeks before Christmas is the one of the two most popular times for couples to break up. - Iceland has 13 Santas and an old lady who kidnap children. - America’s first batch of eggnog was made in the Jamestown settlement in 1607. - Some zoos take donated Christmas trees and use them as food for animals. - The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is donated to the people of London every year by the people of Oslo, Norway, in thanks for their assistance during World War II. - Bicycle, the U.S. playing card company, manufactured cards to give all the POWs in Germany during World War II as Christmas presents. These cards, when soaked in water, revealed an escape route for POWs. The Nazis never knew.
The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
Opinion ∙ Page 7
The unexpected impending crisis with fast fashion LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer Have you ever thought that your fashionable, new sweater or trendy pair of boots could harm the earth? If you are like me, you might have frequently walked past popular stores in the mall, like Zara or H&M, without a single thought of how their clothing has an effect on the environment. However, these “fast fashion” brands are seriously devastating for our planet. The term “fast fashion” is used to describe clothing brands that produce an abundance of inexpensive, low-quality items and commonly advertise new products on a weekly basis. This marketing technique has been increasingly speeding up trends and shortening clothing seasons, meaning those outfits you bought last winter are probably already out of style for this upcoming season. According to a study in 2016, Americans alone throw around fourteen million pounds of old apparel in the trash a year; that’s about eighty pounds per person. The number will only grow if brands continue their fast fashion ways. You might be wondering how these clothes could be so damaging to the environment, and the answer to that question is waste. The companies are burning through the planet’s natural resources in order to constantly supply these clothes, not to mention the amount of waste left behind when a trend dies out and the stockpile of those products winds up at a landfill, although, consumers contribute to this issue as well. Customers hop on these short-lived fashion trends, and because they spent so little on the clothing, they don’t feel bad about throwing it away or donating it. The sad reality is that only 0.1% of clothing col-
lected by charities and take-back programs is recycled into new textile fibers. The material from these companies - think Zaful, Boohoo, or Forever21 - is too low quality and unsustainable to be remade into new items. Donating your out of style clothes might clear them out of your closet, but it doesn’t clear them out of our oceans and landfills. So, how can you help? The bright side is there are many attainable solutions within reach. You could
invest in higher quality clothing from sustainable brands, or you could purchase less from those trendy, cheap stores and go thrifting. There are plenty of stylish and sustainable products from stores you know. Brands like Athleta, Patagonia, Reformation, and even ASOS ECO offer environmentally friendly attire that’s still up to date on fashion trends. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, if consumers
worked together to keep all the toxic clothing chemicals out of landfills and instead put their clothes into a recycling program, it would be similar to taking around seven million, three-hundred thousand cars and their carbon dioxide emissions off the road. So maybe think twice next time you go on Zara’s website, or the next time you clean out your closet and toss your clothes in the trash. If we combine our efforts, we could put an end to this impending crisis.
Fast fashion has taken an unpleasnt turn, causing harm to the environment by using Earth’s natural resources only for the trend to die and the clothes to go to waste. Photo courtesy of twentyfirstsummer.com.
Have the Houston Astros turned into the Disastros? TINLEY KANE Staff Writer How the mighty have fallen. The 2017 World Series champions are in a heap of trouble with cheating allegations coming at them from all different directions. What exactly did the Houston Astros do? During the pursuit of a championship in the 2017 season, the organization allegedly used a camera positioned in center field in order to steal signs during games. These
cameras relayed a feed to team personnel in the dugout, and the resulting information was then signaled to a batter through the hitting of a garbage can. The Astros are now under investigation for other possible sign stealing methods extending from 2017 to their 2019 season. Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic published an article shining light on the allegations, In it, the writers revealed that four people associated with the Astros admitted to the allegations. One
of these people was Mike Fiers, ex Astros pitcher. Cheating in any form is wrong and cannot be justified, but what I believe is that these allegations have been blown out of proportion. What the organization has done is introduced a new era of intel into the 21st century, and people aren’t sure how to feel about it. The sport has a history of cheating, and Major League Baseball insiders are rigid in their stance against it. Take, for example, a player with MLB
After the loss in the 2019 World Series, hometown heros the Houston Astros are under investigation for an alleged cheating scandal during the 2017-2019 seasons. Artwork by Nicole Hopwood.
records such as career hits, career singles, career games played, and most RBIs in a season of 100 or more games, just to name a few. Pete Rose will probably never be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame as a player because he bet on his own team while managing the Cincinnati Reds, long after he made a name for himself as one of baseball’s greats. For decisions made as a manager, this man will never have the opportunity to be recognized for accomplishments made as a player. Many professional baseball players agree that Rose should be admitted into the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. Rather than holding onto the bad things Rose did as a manager, he should be recognized as the player he was with records yet to be broken. In the MLB over the years, cheating issues have escalated from simple gambling and unfair advantage through HGH (growth hormone steroids) to speculation on teams using high-tech videography equipment to get an advantage. Interestingly enough, prior to the 2019 World Series, the Washington Nationals were made aware of the Astros’ alleged sign stealing. What’s truly game-changing is the Nationals embraced this “sign stealing” and supposedly changed up their signs during their away games at Minute Maid Park. The irony is that the Astros lost all four games at home and only won games as visitors. Pete Rose was a winner on the field, but should he ever make it to the Hall of Fame, baseball’s diehards will hold onto his cheating history, whether it earned him his records or not. Do the Astros deserve an asterisk next to their 2017 title, or have they simply ushered in a new technological age of finding a winning formula? The Nationals might be saying, “Let them cheat. We got this.”
Sports∙ Page 8
Sports Brief WRESTLING SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer
Coach Steve Leisz has high expectations for EHS’ varsity wrestling team. Coming off an SPC Runner-up title last year, Leisz said he is excited for this season. “Even though [the team] is young,” he is looking forward “to a run at that title.” Some key team members are seniors James Ogunrin and Lane McCool. Ogunrin, at 220 pounds, is in the top 15 in the country, which adds hope to this team winning the championship. He is mature on the mat and physically gifted, explained Coach Leisz about one of his star wrestlers. Lane McCool was runner-up for the state title in finals last season. Through the experience of the returning wrestlers and the new mindset of incoming teammates, this team is looking solid, and by the looks of it has the possibility of securing a championship. Team captains junior Paul McGarry, Ogunrin, and McCool will guide their fellow teammates through the 2019-2020 campaign to SPC.
GIRLS SOCCER BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer The varsity girls soccer program has had an eventful month, playing many challenging games as well as growing as a team. They have been winning and hope to continue this streak into the new year and throughout SPC. In November, the team started the season by beating Emery Weiner 10-0. Though it was their first game, the team displayed an overall talent worthy of a seasoned group. They have proven to be a strong team with talented upperclassmen as well as underclassmen. However, later in the week, the team fell to St. Agnes 6-0. The girls have also played Beaumont Kelly, who they beat 5-2 in a close match, and they upended Yes Prep 9-0. Likewise, the team played Concordia Lutheran from Tomball and ended victoriously with a final score of 1-0. Towards the end of the month they played HCYA, the homeschool team, and Second Baptist both in a close match. Then, on December 20th through the 21st, the team will travel to San Antonio. During this overnight trip they will play Antonian Christain and Boerne High School.
SWIMMING JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer The boys and girls swimming and diving teams started the season ambitiously with a young team full of sophomores and freshmen that are excited and ready to compete. While participating in the first meet at Lamar High School, sophomore Sam Randall and freshman Estefania Lopez-Salas set school records in their respective events. Freshman Mya Broughton also performed well in the 4x100 relay, her lead leg immediately putting the group in scoring position. They and the rest of the team have their sights set on the school record board and making an impact this winter season. Right now, both the swimming and diving teams stack up well against their competition in the SPC. The next swim meet that the teams will be competing in is on January 4, in the Kyle Tilley Invitational at Westside Aquatic Center.
The Knight Times ∙ December 2019
Girls varsity basketball takes HC championship LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer During Episcopal’s Thanksgiving Break, the girls varsity basketball team competed in the Houston Christian Tournament. The three-day long tournament was held in Alkek Gym on the EHS campus. The Knights participated in five games throughout the weekend agaisnt St. John’s, Anahuac, St. Agnes, Tomball, and Houston Christian. The first game against St. John’s was an impressive start as points were distributed evenly among players in a 40-28 win for the Knights. Soon after, the girls played Anahuac, who they beat in a lopsided win 60-28. In an intense game that followed against St. Agnes, sophomore Taylor Cross took a charge in the last minute to save the game and Ka’Lyn Watson blocked a 3-point shot in the last seconds to secure a 44-42 win. As a result of the Knights fighting their way through the tournament undefeated, on the last day, the team competed in the championship game against Houston Christian. During the game, Watson guarded the Mustangs best player and held her to 11 points, frustrating her on both ends of the court. Courtney Davis lead the team with 12 points. In addition to their hard
work, Watson and Davis earned All-Tournament honors. “I am most proud of our team defense and team chemistry,” said Head Coach Courtney Arnold. “We have held the other teams to an average of 31 points, which is due to
our aggressive on-ball defense and knowing that we have help under the basket. Our team chemistry is unlike many other teams - our girls love each other and want to work hard for each other. This chemistry is seen in practice, at games, and around campus.”
Girls varsity basketball started the season undefeated in seven games. Photo by Coach Courtney Arnold.
Boys varsity soccer seeks to keep the SPC title CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer The Episcopal High School boys soccer team has again started strong with victories against The British School of Houston and Cristo Rey Jesuit. With the last four years
ending in championship victories for the team, the athletes continue to work their hardest to remain as one of the best teams in the nation. With the loss of many seniors, many of the juniors on the team have stepped up on the field and have become leaders. Stepha-
Boys varsity soccer controls the ball during a game against Cristo Rey Jesuit held at Simmons Field. Photo by Jessica Wang.
no Cotsoradis ‘21 is a great example of this as he is described by his coaches as having a strong work ethic and leading the team to achieve higher goals and play the best they can. The leadership from the upperclassmen on the team will not only bring the team to a great season this year but for years to come. The 2019-2020 campaign kicked off with The British School of Houston. The Knights earned the victory with a strong offense that scored four goals. Hamilton Estrada ’21 scored half of those, which helped to secure the squad’s first victory of the year. The energy carried over into the second game against Cristo Rey. Scoring continued to be the order of the day as the boys put six goals on the board against the Cristo Rey Jesuit School. The team only let two goals get by as the powerful offense and strong defense secured a 2-0 record. With these two wins to open the season, the team has certainly made a claim to repeat as SPC champions. The team hopes to continue their 4-year streak, and with strong coaching under Coach Travis Smith and Coach Zach Schwarz, the team has a good chance of another successful season.
Boys varsity basketball works to maintain intensity CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer Despite suffering two close losses to Shadow Creek High School and Bellaire High School, the varsity boys basketball team continues to incorporate new strategies and build upon existing techniques to boost its performance as the season progresses. Coach Wayne Jones strives to instill a philosophy of “being the best version of yourself” into his athletes, remarking that “successes and failures in our program are not dictated by the score. We judge that on how we practice and how we perform.” Coach Jones’ current focus on fundamentals is a key in developing valuable skills and consistent execution of plays. Practices are often centered around strong defense, as the team will rely on it to stop fast breaks and create its own offensive opportunities. Notable player mentions: Seton Hall signee Jahari Long is averaging
a double/double in points and rebounds. College of Charleston signee D’Avian Houston and VMI signee DJ Nussbaum are already performing very well this season,
and underclassmen Gerard Edwards, Brendon Mwamba, and Will Turlington have been steadily improving through game experience.
Senior DA Houston warms up before the game against Bellaire High School. Photo by Alex Diaz.