News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
December 2021
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Choices focuses on critical mental health concerns
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 37, Issue 5
Winter season brings promise for EHS athletic teams Basketball, soccer, swimming, and wrestling make their return
RAIGAN CLAY Staff Writer Choices Advocacy educates and assists students on a variety of teen-related topics within our community. The Choices Advocacy program held its first meeting November 18 to discuss the direction of the program and how students this year will be involved with the future of the program, as well as the topic of mental health. Student representatives Grace Manalac, Kara Thomas, and Raigan Clay are very excited to be overseeing Choices this year and creating a safe space for students to discuss personal issues. As the student body heads into midterms and the holiday season, Choices wants to encourage positivity and healthy behaviors. It would be beneficial for students to take a break and some time to reflect on where they are in life and perhaps establish goals that would help mold them into the best version of themselves. Mindfulness is very important for reflection and can help put a life situation into perspective by laying out what is important and what to be thankful for. If students are struggling in any way, it is important to acknowledge and, if comfortable doing so, talk to a loved one or a trusted person about it to unpack any issues affecting mental health. Another thing Choices points out is that dealing with mental health is not always linear and is measured by the individual, so it may take time and effort to build healthy habits that last.
The varsity girls soccer team huddles up at half to discuss the triumphs and struggles of their game against HCYA on Tuesday, November 30. Photo courtesy of ehsknights_gsoccer Instagram. JALYNN WOOLLEY Staff Writer
This winter season has brought victories for all of the athletic programs, with the promise of more to come. Teams are creating a welcoming culture as an influx of freshmen join returning players in each program’s pursuit of an SPC championship. The courts and fields are alive with the sounds of success on the Episcopal campus and beyond. Learn more about The Christmas Sing-along on Page 2
Advent Chapel sings its way back to EHS CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer
INSIDE Finding Christmas hotspots in Houston Learn about fun things to do around Houston this holiday season
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Teacher Spotlight highlights Mr. Lerch Honoring the dean and his contributions over many years
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Features ........................ 2-3 Culture ......................... 4 Entertainment ............... 5 Opinion......................... 6 Sports ........................... 7 Knight Shift...................... 8
Advent Chapel is a school tradition that is just about as old as EHS itself. The service is a set of “lessons and carols” much like those celebrated in Episcopal and Anglican churches across the country and the world. Perhaps the most famous of these is the one at King’s College Cambridge, which takes place every year on Christmas Eve and is broadcast around the world on BBC. The lessons tell a roughly chronological story of God’s redemptive work in history, the promise of a coming Messiah, and, finally, the birth of Jesus Christ. The carols are a variety of songs, hymns, and canticles, which are sung Christian poems from across the centuries of the Church that further express the hope and joy of the holiday season. Each is selected by Performing Arts Chair Mr. Garmon Ashby to complement the lesson with which it is paired. Readers for the service are selected from all parts of the community, including students of all grades, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. Due to last year’s changes around the pandemic, social distancing, masking up, and more, Advent Chapel wasn’t in its traditional form in the 2020-2021 school year. This year, on December 7, the entire student body and its staff met in Benitez
Chapel in the evening for the beautiful, once-a-year event. Sadly, since the Chapel is already packed with so many students, visitors, speakers, and more, parents had to wait until the following evening to come enjoy the service. The Benitez Chapel was full of candles and dim lights and really captured the holi-
day spirit. All students wore formal dress uniform and enjoyed the new blue hangings and the prophecies focused on the coming of Jesus. Advent Chapel is an event that makes EHS so special, and it helps the entire community prepare for the coming holidays by enjoying a unique event.
The choir gathers in preparation for Advent Chapel in the beautifully adorned Benitez Chapel. Photo by Jalynn Woolley.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ December 2021
Red Rising: Your guide to Houston’s Christmas hotspots A refreshing break from a traditionally uniform genre MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer
CLAIRE FORTNEY Guest Writer On the fine summer day of May 24, I came home from Barnes & Noble with a book I’d been planning to read for three years. Since finishing the novel, I’ve recommended it to at least fifty people. I’ve always been very picky about the sci-fi books I read, so I think that’s saying something. Pierce Brown’s Red Rising takes place in a futuristic society where rank is determined by color caste, such as Blue, Red, Obsidian, Gold, and Violet. While the Golds dominate the social ladder, the Reds sit at the bottom. When Darrow, a Red from Mars, loses his wife at the hands of a Gold, he makes the fateful decision to infiltrate the ruling class and tear them apart from the top-down, not only for the sake of avenging his wife but for the sake of civilization and democracy. With the help of a revolutionary group, Darrow disguises himself as a Gold and enrolls in the Institute, a deadly academy where young Golds train to rule through a years-long battle with their classmates. It’s very reminiscent of Hunger Games and capture-the-flag in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians. Moreover, each House at the Institute is named after Greek and Roman gods, such as Mars, Venus, Apollo, Jupiter, and the like. The character names are also an ode to Ancient Rome, three of the novel’s titular characters (and fan favorites) being Cassius au Bellona, Virginia au Augustus, and Victra au Julii. (Personally, my favorite is Sevro au Barca, but that’s a wormhole of a discussion I’ll try to avoid.) As I mentioned earlier, finding a sci-fi book I wholeheartedly enjoy can be a grueling task. There’s always the underlying fear that all the new terms and definitions will be too much for me to understand. I haven’t even tried to read Dune yet. The good news about Red Rising, however, is that Pierce Brown kept everything simple. The empire Darrow lives in is literally called The Society, and it’s easy to imagine what the weapons are when they’re named things like “StunFist” or “MultiRifle.” While the straightforward naming system did improve my reading experience exponentially, what I loved most about Red Rising, and the reason I keep recommending it, is because of Brown’s writing style. It’s hard to find a book that doesn’t feel too girly or too manly, and as someone who often finds herself tangled in young adult novels typically targeted toward women, reading Red Rising was like a breath of fresh air. Although it falls under the sci-fi genre, I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to be a fan of science fiction or young adult novels to enjoy the world Pierce Brown has created. It’s truly a book for anyone and everyone. Like, seriously, people from ages 13 to 40 have loved it. I’ve also seen it compared to Dune, Star Wars, and Game of Thrones at least a million times, so if you’re a fan of those, Red Rising might just be the perfect novel for you. Read it and tell me what you think, and then we can talk about Sevro.
We all have high expectations for what the Christmas season should look like, most of which come from classic holiday movies. We see characters feel joy as they walk around their hometowns, look at bright Christmas lights, and bake cookies with family. Though Houston rarely sees white Christmases, the city does offer many amazing Christmas events. From early November through the first week of January, you can visit Rudolph’s Light Show. There are light tunnels, huge Christmas trees, and snowmen. The lights sync up to the music playing on your radio, which makes the experience even livelier! Additionally, The Nutcracker, performed by the Houston Ballet, is a yearly tradition for many families. Some of the most talented dancers in the city participate in this sensational holiday performance. The ballet runs from November 26 to December 24 and ticket prices start at $27. Another classic Christmas event is Zoo Lights, an annual spectacular light show,
put on by the Houston Zoo. This event for members. runs from 5:30-9:30 pm. The zoo closes If you are looking for a sit-down at 4 pm and reopens for the light show at entertainment experience, you can visit 5:30. Ticket prices range from $12.75 to $29.95. Space Center Houston also hosts fun Christmas events. They present displays of “Galaxy Lights,” which is an interac- The Houston Ballet puts on an annual performance of The Nutcracker. tive way Photo courtesy of houstonballet.org. to enjoy Christmas lights. LED lights are used to the Alley Theatre’s classic production of light up rare space artifacts, while s’mores A Christmas Carol. These performances and hot chocolate are available to buy as began on November 19 and continue until you enjoy the holiday experience. These December 29. You can also go to their shows occur nightly from November 13 “Deck the Trees” event. through January 22. Ticket prices start at Houston has so much to offer to cele$19.95 for the public and are only $15.95 brate the most wonderful time of the year.
EHS community gathers for first post-COVID Christmas Sing-along JALYNN WOOLEY Staff Writer The Episcopal students, faculty, and staff were thrilled to reinstate EHS’ annual Christmas Sing-Along as one of its most popular traditions, it’s importance
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Hey, Knights. Paige Naughton here. As your 2021-22 Math Club External Vice President and on behalf of all the Math Club and MAT officers, thank you so much for a remarkable semester of commitment, innovation, and of course, MATH! With the conclusion of our final Math Club meeting of the year, we’d like to thank you all for coming out to the meetings and participating in the monthly Texas Math League contests. A huge congratulations to the teams of mathletes who competed in the HiMCM, the AMC, and Math Madness to represent EHS. We participated in seven rounds of Math Madness bracket competition and are eagerly awaiting the results of the other contests. We’d like to thank everyone, again, who made our Pre-Fibonacci Day Celebration spectacular. Be on the lookout for more exciting math-related opportunities and events in the spring semester. From all of your Math Club and MAT officers, have a wonderful holiday filled with plenty of math and joy! Keep your eyes out for articles published in Southwest News, Village News, and THE Knight Times that promote our math activities, and follow us on Instragram and Twitter @EHSMathClub.
especially magnified since the EHS community missed this festive event last year. Last year’s Christmas Sing-Along was unfortunately cancelled to conform to pandemic standards that prevented the community from enjoying the sing-along. Fortunately, this year, on December 10, the meaningful tradition continued as faculty, staff, and students were finally able to sing-along to Christmas carols as a community in the chapel once again. The sing-along was led by the EHS Band as well as the EHS Chorale. Both groups were very excited to perform in front of the school once again as they haven’t had many opportunities to do so this year.
For the first time since 2019, the faculty and students of Episcopal rallied together to sing their favorite holiday songs. Mr. Flanagan, an enthusiast for this event, said that he is “always excited for the sing a-long” and was particularly disappointed at last year’s cancellation. He added that he could not wait to see Santa and was not disappointed when he did. This holiday-inspired event continues its legacy as one of the best traditions at EHS, and this year was especially meaningful. The Sing-Along is a great way for students and faculty to share their love for the holiday season as well as relieve some stress that is beginning to arise with midterms coming the following week.
Happy Holidays from The Knight Times Staff!
The Knight Times ∙ December 2021
Features ∙ Page 3
EHS students attend squash competition in Philadelphia YANA SHARMA Staff Writer On Thursday, November 25, four students from Episcopal High School participated in one of the most competitive tournaments in the United States for squash. Freshmen Zaina Zaidi and Rishabh Sharma and juniors Yana Sharma and Alex Mehnert travelled to Philadelphia to play in the competitive squash tournament. The tournament lasted four days, but what exactly is squash? Squash is widely known as a vegetable, but it is also a sport. It is a very fast-paced game in which two players typically play against each other with a small rubber ball. The sport is not as well known in the United States as it is globally. Currently, it is the Egyptians that reign the court. It is a national sport in many countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, Britain, and many more. It is a vigorous sport consisting of many aerobic and cardiovascular motions. Slowly, the sport is gaining more recognition in the United States. The 2021 Nationals was the first nationals after COVID-19, making it one the most important junior tournaments played since the coronavirus. Episcopal’s foursome is nationally ranked and travels for tournaments to compete and maintain their competitive level.
Squash is a competivie sport played in many different countries. Karim Gawad is shown diving for the ball in order to continue the rally. Photo courtesy of psasquash.com. Zaina is currently number 28 in GU15, Rishabh holds the number 25 spot in BU15, Yana is at 30 in GU17, and Alex is 28 in BU17. Alex stated, “The environment at Nationals is very different. It is a very competitive environment, but it is also fun
to participate in. The tournament was very tense but has its own energetic feel.” Rishabh noted that the tournaments “are always competitive. [He] gets to play against people from all around the country, and it is also a thrill getting to travel and play in front of many.”
These Episcopal squash players will head to the US Open soon, where people all around the globe will compete on December 17. They are excited to play the Open after Covid-19 and have been focusing on training for the high-level tournament.
Teacher Spotlight: Dean of Students Mr. Eric Lerch Application begins head of school appointment at DBA in the fall for Scholastic Awards closes ISABEL O’GORMAN Staff Writer
After 19 years serving the EHS community as a history teacher, coach, and most recently, Grade Level Dean, Mr. Eric Lerch has been named the founding head of school at Dietrich Bonhoeffer Academy, a new middle school in southwest Houston. While he will be missed greatly as such a dedicated member of the community, those who have witnessed his impact on the school are thrilled for him in this new undertaking and look back fondly at the lasting mark he has left on Episcopal. Honoring Mr. Lerch’s commitment to EHS and excitement about his new position, The Knight Times discussed with him his future undertaking while asking him to reflect on his experiences at Episcopal. Can you explain the mission statement? “Dietrich Bonhoeffer Academy is an independent middle school committed to providing students transformative learning that cultivates reflective minds and compassionate hearts. We seek to be a leader in emphasizing teamwork, imagination, and courage to help young people achieve a superior education.” “Teamwork highlights the importance of working together with others to achieve great things. DBA’s unique classroom creates space for students to learn from each other and to develop the characteristics of a strong teammate. Imagination stresses the importance of creativity in solving problems. DBA’s innovative approach offers exciting new ways for students to unleash their minds. Courage focuses on the importance of grit and integrity in building character. DBA’s special community inspires young people to engage with the world in faith, hope, and love.” What is the significance of the name “Dietrich Bonhoeffer”? “The school is named for Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who was killed in the final days of World War II for his resistance against the
CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer
Grade Level Dean Mr. Eric Lerch will be greatly missed after 19 years of service as a commited member of the EHS community. Photo by Gabriel Oderich Nazis. Since his passing, Bonhoeffer’s life and devotional writings have served as an inspiration to people across the globe. Bonhoeffer had a passion for youth and their education, and the school seeks to honor his work through the establishment of a caring and supportive school community. He is also a prominent example of courage, one of DBA’s core values.” Will there be any athletic programs or other exciting programs? “As the school grows, DBA looks forward to offering diverse opportunities in arts and athletics. We will work closely with students and their families to develop these extracurricular programs based on their needs and interests. A particularly exciting program will involve frequent visits to educational locations around Houston. DBA’s flexible schedule facilitates field trips so that students can benefit from the amazing resources of this community. We look forward to some exciting adventures in the area.” What will you miss the most about EHS? “I will definitely miss my EHS family the
most. I am lucky to be friends with so many of my fellow teachers, and it will be difficult not to see them every day. Of course, I will also miss all of the smiling faces of the students I have taught and coached. A close second would be the food… I’m not sure how I am going to survive without lunch at EHS.” Is there anything you hope to bring with you that you learned from your time at Episcopal? “I have learned so much over my 19 years at EHS that it is difficult to highlight just a few things. Personally, the importance of listening, whether it is students, parents, or teachers, is so critical to understanding situations and how I can best provide support. However, I think the biggest lesson is the amazing strength of the EHS community. I have seen this place come together in so many ways throughout my years, both in good times and tough ones. I hope that we can build a community at DBA that has the same spirit and concern for one another.”
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is an annual national contest in which students can share their best art and writing. It offers academically ambitious students the opportunity to prove their artistic and literary talent. Teens from grades 7-12 from the United States and Canada are allowed to apply. Entries are selected by a group of jurors who often include former scholastic alumni. Jurors try to select submissions that demonstrate the Awards’ core values of originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. Since its founding in 1923, there have been 26 categories that have been made for various areas of creative expression. Such categories in the arts include ceramics and glass, comic art, digital art, drawing and illustration, mixed media, paintings, and many more. The writing category consists of critical essays, scripts, flash fiction, journalism, personal memoirs, poetry, short stories, and others. Entering a submission to Scholastic is simple, though it is too late for 2021. Just create an account on the official Scholastic Awards website, create and upload a talented piece of art or writing, and send in forms with an entry fee or fee waiver online. Entry fees are $7 per individual entry and $25 per portfolio entry. For students in Harris County, the deadline for entries to the 2022 Scholastic Awards was December 3, 2022. The money from the entry fees goes to the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization in charge of presenting the Awards and covering the cost of the events and exhibitions. The Harris County Department of Education acts as regional affiliate for greater Houston and sponsors the regional awards program for students in Harris County.
Culture ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ December 2021
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ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Social Media Coordinator “Las Posadas” es una fiesta religiosa que se celebra cada año en México entre el 16 y el 24 de diciembre. Esta celebración conmemora el viaje bíblico que José y María hicieron desde Nazaret hasta Belén en busca de un lugar seguro para que María pudiera dar luz al niño Jesús. José y María fueron obligados a buscar refugio en un establo donde nació Jesús. Hoy en día durante “Las Posadas”, un niño disfrazado de ángel dirige una procesión por las calles de su pueblo. Los adultos siguen al niño mientras tocan música. La gente en la procesión se para en cada casa, se leen pasajes de las Escrituras, y se cantan villancicos. “Las Posadas” culminan con una celebración durante el cual se come comida tradicional navideña, como los tamales, el pozole, y el chocolate caliente. Luego ocurre una misa después de la procesión donde los niños abren piñatas llenas de dulces y juguetes. La piñata tiene la forma de una estrella como la que guió a los tres reyes magos a Jesús la noche en que nació. Las Posadas is a religious festival celebrated in Mexico between December 16th and 24th. This celebration commemorates the journey Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe location so Mary could give birth to baby Jesus. Joseph and Mary were forced
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Tyler, the Creator’s clothing brand Golf Wang is becoming popular in modern day fashion, especially in outerwear like lettermen jackets, padded quilted leather jackets, quarter zips, and hoodies. Photo courtesy of golfwang.com..
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Unfortunate Events. The Golf Wang winter collection features lots of outerwear: lettermen jackets, padded quilted leather jackets, and quarter zips, as well as sweatshirts and hoodies. While Golf Wang merch is on the pricier side, the quality is worth it, and Tyler is meticulous and intentional about his work, so fans know the products they order. The site is still in stock with most sizes of the collection that debuted on November 13, so fans can still purchase from the new drop. As well as the Winter Collection, fans can also grab the Call Me If You Get Lost merch available on the Golf Wang site.
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Wolf Haley, A.K.A Bucket Hat T, A.K.A Tyler Okonma, or to common knowledge, Tyler, The Creator launched the Winter 2021 Collection of his clothing brand Golf Wang. This collection features many new silhouettes Tyler has curated and a new lookbook. Tyler has gotten very versatile with this launch and has introduced things like never-before-seen windbreakers for the winter line as well as many new prints and colorways for Tyler fans. Tyler is starting his world tour for Call Me If You Get Lost and the line embodies elements of his new persona: Tyler Baudelaire, a play on the show A Series of
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to seek shelter in a stable when Christ was born. During these days, a child dressed as an angel leads a procession through the streets of their Mexican town. Adults follow the child while playing music. At each stop, passages of scripture are read, and Christmas carols are sung. Mass is then held each day after the procession where children break open piñatas filled with candy and toys. The piñata is usually in the shape of a star like the one that guided the three wise men to Jesus the night he was born.
Las Posadas is a big event in Mexican culture. It is celebrated in December Photo by lchm.org.
The Lily Pad Happy December and welcome back to The Lily Pad, a column where I (Lily) try my best to make sense of the circus that is environmental news in the year 2021. This month I’m focusing on the Biden administration’s gargantuan oil and gas drilling lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico - a sale that occurred November 17 - and letting you know why it’s important. If you’re a frequenter of The Lily Pad, congrats (!) because you already know some background information that adds to the importance and controversy of this sale. If you’re not, don’t worry, I’ll provide a very brief summary. Basically, from October 31 to November 12, anybody who is anybody in the arena of global politics and environmental issues (world leaders, activists, etc.) attended the United Nation’s Climate Change Summit (AKA COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. Obviously among those present was President Joe Biden, who delivered some promising words about his administration’s prioritization of climate issues and stated that the “administration is working overtime to show that our climate commitment is action, not words.” He went on to say that “over the next several days, the United States will be announcing several new initiatives that demonstrate our commitment.” And he didn’t lie - several days later, on November 17, the administration did announce some news that demonstrates its commitment, but not its commitment
to the environment. Actually, quite to the contrary. And that brings us to the main event: the federal government’s auction of history’s largest oil and gas drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico. If your hypocrisy alarm is going off right now, you may be starting to catch on to why this sale has received major backlash from activists and even some of Biden’s Democratic allies. How can President Biden commit to “lead by example” in the fight against global warming at COP26 and contradict himself just a few days later by putting the Gulf in jeopardy of major fossil fuel extraction? Kristen Monsell, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, summed up the frustration of many, stating, “Coming in after the aftermath of a climate summit, [this sale] is just mind boggling. It’s hard to imagine a more hypocritical and dangerous thing for the administration to do.” Although it is uncertain how many of the leases will be auctioned off to oil and gas companies, the lease sale itself is massive, spanning an area twice the size of the entire state of Florida. In total, the Department of the Interior estimated that the lease sale has the potential for 1.12 billion barrels of oil and 4.2 trillion cubic ft of gas¬–an unfathomable amount of oil and gas to come from a singular area. In the words of The Guardian, “Critics say a worrying pattern has emerged dur-
ing Biden’s tenure, with his administration handing out drilled permits at a… faster pace than under Donald Trump.” This sale sets a precedent that is far less promising than the future President Biden laid out in his campaign as well as at COP26. Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee Raul Grijalva said, “[The] lease sale is a step in the wrong direction,
and the administration needs to do better.” It additionally raises important questions about action the administration will take in the future. Jeremy Nichols of environmental group WildEarth Guardians commented, “It truly calls into question whether the Biden administration’s climate agenda is nothing but broken promises.” It seems that only time will tell.
The Biden Adminstration caused controversy by selling oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy of ogvenergy.com.
The Knight Times ∙ December 2021
Entertainment ∙ Page 5
with CONNOR SMITH and CHRIS LAHOTI Welcome back to another edition of Plugged In! We hope you get to enjoy your winter break with some quality family time and newly unwrapped video games. Speaking of which, you might want to check out one the best football games of all time: Retro Bowl. Retro Bowl embodies the saying, “Keep it simple.” Combining 16-bit graphics with some of the most complex and involved management gameplay, the game allows you to be as engaged as you want in building and controlling your team. Starting out with a pre-determined team, you are immediately introduced to the management screen. Each team has 10 players, and there are designated draft and free agency periods every season. As a manager, one of the more challenging objectives faced early on is creating a strong team that still fits within the designated salary cap. Additionally, keeping up both players’ and fans’ morale throughout the season becomes integral to maintaining a steady flow of the game’s primary form of currency, coaching credits, which can be used for drafting new players and hiring new coaching staff. After each game, you will have the opportunity to make choices
that heavily impact your team’s morale, such as praising a player or coach. As for gameplay, only the offense is player controlled. While that might not always be ideal, especially during late-game situations, it actually ends up convenient. As a compensation, the game provides quick play-by-play updates. When it comes to offense, the wide receiver and running back routes are decided by the game, with the only necessary player movement being either tapping the running back or dragging a finger back to aim the pass. There are not any jukes or special moves as a ball carrier, but you can swipe your finger up and down to evade approaching defenders. Each quarter is two minutes long but is adjustable in the settings. Regardless, the games go pretty fast. Retro Bowl follows a typical NFL schedule, complete with 17 games and accurate playoff divisions. Retro Bowl takes all of the in-depth mechanics of a football manager and wraps it up in a fun, lighthearted manner. You can get the app for free on both iOS and Android platforms, and a version for the Nintendo Switch will be coming out in 2022.
The video game Retro Bowl harkens back to the simpler days of video game play. Photo courtesy of YouTube.
The music industry brings the year of 2021 to a close with the last major event in New York City, New York at Times Square during the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop with performances from modern rock artist Machine Gun Kelly, Latin singer-songwriter Anitta, and Latin icons Jennifer Lopez and Mr. Worldwide aka Pitbull. Starting the new year with who Gen-Z considers an old artist is the 74-year-o ld English singer, pianist, and composer Elton John. John is coming to Houston live at the Toyota Center on January 21-22 at 9:00 p.m. Most famous for his songs “Cold Heart,” “I’m Still Standing,” and “Bennie and The Jets,” John plans to highlight his top hits during his Elton John 2022 Tour. Bringing Latin music into the mix is Columbian singer-songwriter and actor, Carlos Vives. With top songs “Canción Bonita” and “Robarte Un Beso y Nota de Amor,” Vives is making his way to Sugarland at the Smart Financial Center
on January 22. Later in the month the music switches genres to Hip-Hop Rap with Jermaine Lamarr Cole, more commonly known as J. Cole. After releasing his new album in May, The Off-Season, he quickly followed with a single song teaser, “It’s a Boy.” J. Cole is rumored to be releasing the song as an album on January 28 officially, but nothing is certain. Last but certainly not least is former Dance Moms star and more recently the first contestant to receive a perfect score on the show Dancing with the Stars, Jojo Siwa. Siwa has managed to stay relevant through her sparkly, bright, and fun clothing line for young girls but has been keeping busy on the side as well. She has made appearances on talk shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live and placed in the reality TV show Dancing with the Stars. Jojo recently released a new song called “Nobody Can Change Me!” and plans to make her way to Houston on January 29 at the Toyota Center.
Singer-songwriter and actor Carlos Vives will perform in Sugarland. Photo courtesy of Casa de campo Living.
Pitbull will perform at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. Photo courtesy of iheart.com.
Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop stays true to the style of the original CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer When I found out Netflix was doing a live-action show inspired by the massively popular anime Cowboy Bebop, directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, I was overwhelmed by excitement. The 1998 show Cowboy Bebop is one of the best-animated shows of all time. Its 1990-esque style, along with engaging storylines, relatable characters, and a killer soundtrack, propelled the show to cult-like fame and success. So, did the Netflix-inspired show live up to the hype, or was it another failed adaptation of a popular franchise? In contrast to the thousands of angry fans online, I thoroughly enjoyed the
While the animated show is widely known to be one of the best animes of all time, some believe the remake didn’t live up to the hype. Photo courtesy of Hulu.
show. Developers of the show Christopher Yost and André Nemec stayed true to the science-fiction and space western elements of the original series while adding their own unique spin on the story and characters. While they may have ruined a couple of fan-favorite characters (they took the main villain Vicious, played by Alex Hassell, in the completely wrong direction), the show found a way to blend comedy into a violent, bounty-hunting show. My favorite aspects of the show are John Cho as main character Spike Spiegel and the unique music not seen in any other television series. For starters, Cho used his comedic background from the widely popular movie trilogy Harold & Kumar to make Spike not just a stone-cold killer but a character with emotional growth. His acting, along with Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black and Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine, made each plot feel original and entertaining. Now the music. Words cannot describe how amazing the soundtrack is. Songs like “Tank!” and “Jupiter Jazz 2” may be some of the best songs ever made. The intense sounds of banjos, trumpets, and drums, along with smooth jazz, bring dramatic scenes to the next level. While I thoroughly enjoyed the Netflix adaptation, many people didn’t share my sentiment, but I think I know why. Speaking from my experience of watching plenty of live action adaptations of popular animated shows, it is near impossible to achieve the same feeling as the original
show. It is my opinion that fans need to understand that these remakes can’t be direct copies of the original, rather they are inspired from the original show. All in all, I recommend anyone want-
ing a unique storyline with entertaining characters and fun action sequences in a sci-fi, western environment to watch this show, and while it is not nearly as good as the original anime, it is a must-see.
The cult classic animated show Cowboy Bebop got a live-action remake, bringing these iconic characters to Netflix. Photo courtesy of Blaze Trends.
Opinions∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ December 2021
Opinions Biden administration considers Beijing boycott GABRIEL ODERICH Staff Writer
The United States is considering a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. During a press conference on November 18, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that his administration was “considering a diplomatic boycott” of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The talks about this have been brewing for a while, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for this boycott during a congressional hearing in May. The move was prompted by recent human rights abuses committed by the Chinese government, human rights abuses that include alleged genocide, forced labor, and “culture erasure.” The human rights abuses have mostly been committed against Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region of China. In December of 2020, the BBC showed that “up to half a million people were being forced to pick cotton in Xinjiang (a region of China that produces 20% of the world’s cotton). As of now, the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands have flat out accused China of genocide (defined by the international convention as the “intent to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group). Those nations also reported that Uyghur women were being “forcibly mass sterilized.” A diplomatic boycott of the Olympics is almost necessary to combat these allegations against China. However, does a diplomatic boycott go far enough? Having the Western World, including the United States, show up to the China Olympics to participate in the competition would make America look complacent in the crimes against humanity being committed within China. No, it does not. Under the recommendation sent to President Biden, “U.S. athletes would take part as normal, but there would be no accompanying political delegation of officials and politicians.” There is precedent for a full boycott of the Olympics, as the U.S. didn’t compete during the 1980 Moscow Olympics after the USSR invaded Afghanistan. The inva-
sion of Afghanistan was bad, but a genocide occurring in China is just as bad, if not worse. A coalition representing the Uyghurs issued a statement in May about a “diplomatic boycott” condemning the measure and pushing for a full boycott. A representative of that coalition, Lhadon Tethong, said in an interview with the Associated Press that “this cannot be games as usual,” expressing a sentiment shared by the Uyghurs who see that the Olympic
Games happening without a single nation committing a full boycott as total indifference to the horrific abuses being committed in China. The Biden administration issuing a diplomatic boycott is a step in the right direction, but it just isn’t enough, especially considering that what’s going on in China right now is, as British UN ambassador Barbara Woodward stated, “one of the worst human rights crises of our time.”
Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400 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 Co-Editors-in-Chief Chris Lahoti Connor Smith Production Editor Leana Greene
Top, activists in Tibet take to the streets to protest the Beijing Olympics. Photo courtesy of Tibet Action Institute. Above, a protester holding a Tibetan flag stands in solidarity with persecuted Uyghurs in China. Photo courtesy of insidethegames.biz.
HOT TAK ES With Jazzmin Duncan I do not like the idea of Harry Styles joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It just doesn’t feel right. I understand that he may want to try something new and broaden his occupational horizons, and I don’t doubt that he has the potential to be a talented actor; however, seeing his face in a movie would be almost laughable to me. Harry Styles is set to officially join the Marvel family through The Eternals. He made a brief appearance in the post-credit scene of The Eternals, but it is believed that he will have a more substantial part in coming movies. Though I’m happy for him regarding his success, the thought of him playing a superhero is very off-putting. I mean, he is Harry Styles, the singer, not Harold Styles, the actor. Don’t get me wrong, I 200% support him and couldn’t be happier that he is having a good time. Still, I absolutely do not want to see an ex-boy band member go hand-to-
The Knight Times
hand with intergalactic space aliens that’s Harry” or “That is Harry Styles” (this actually sounds a lot cooler rather than “That’s (insert character than I expected it to). I used to here).” be a Directioner, a fan of One His job title as a singer, songwriter, Direction, one of the most famous and musician has become so cemented musical groups in the 21st in my brain that I cannot visualize him in century, and the former a position where he is not THE Harry occupation of Harry Styles. Styles. I’ve supportThough it is a tough pill for me ed him through all to swallow, I hope that Harry can his eras - the One enjoy himself while he acts and Direction era, that the movie doesn’t come out Harry Styles Alas absolute trash. bum era, Fine I plan to continue supportLine era, etc. ing him regardless of what he - and I still chooses to do with his career, can’t see it. but I still cannot stand the If I were to thought of him in a superhero see him on costume, talking with that the screen, triumphant hero voice, and I’d just be doing choreographed fight like, “Oh, Photo courtesy of deadline.com. scenes.
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 ∙ Decemberr 2021
Sports ∙ Page 7
Sports Your Monthly Sports Brief Boys Soccer “The season so far is going well. I have high aspirations for this team and what we can achieve throughout our season. We have strong players and I believe all we have to do is come together as a team, build our chemistry, fix the little details and I believe we will show everyone our true strength.” - Sam Gonzalez ‘22
Kadin Castillo - 4 goals Yael Gonzalez - 2 goals
RECORD:
1-0-2 *As of December 7, 2021
Girls Basketball “I am really proud of how our girls basketball program is doing so far this season! Both varsity and JV have had a tough schedule, but I am confident that we will be ‘ready for SPC.” - Coach Arnold Skyler Witt - Avg. 12.5 points/game Taylor Cross - Avg. 7.6 points/game
RECORD:
6-7
*As of December 6, 2021
Wrestling “I think I speak for everyone when I say that we have a good team this year and are excited to see what we can accomplish.” - Beck Howenstine ‘22 Match against Bay Area Christian: 72-6 win Match against George Ranch: 63-11 win *As of December 7, 2021 The Episcopal Monthly Sports Brief by Sports Editor Cory Kardesch
New girls soccer SPC system calls for more competitive play KATE FREEMAN Staff Writer The girls varsity team kicked off its season with a 12-0 win against Beaumont Kelly, a 2-0 win against St. Pius, tied against Concordia Lutheran 1-1, and a 7-0 win against HCYA. The girls JV team also came out solid with wins over Kinkaid and Houston Christian, 1-0 and 4-0 respectively. The varsity team has a great combination of returning players and a talented group of incoming freshmen, and the team’s goal this season is to bring home the school’s first girls soccer SPC Championship. For the first time, JV soccer teams in SPC will be competing for a championship as well. The way this will work is round robin-style with a point system, and whoever ends the season with the most points is the “winner.” The implementation of this new concept will create a more competitive environment at the JV level among the schools. Both teams had the opportunity to further grow their bond through their retreat in Galveston, Texas. They played fun activities such as spike ball and soccer tennis on the beach. The team is also made up of “families” with a senior head of each. These families competed in relays
Sophie Butler (‘22) dribbles past her opponents during a game against St. Pius. Photo by Lila Henningsen. and got to know each other even better than before. The team also discussed their core values and ate lots of s’mores. These values are set by the team and each player strives to follow them.
These values are encompassed in the phrases: we are one, we are dedicated, we communicate constructively, we set an example, we put the team first, and we show integrity always.
Boys basketball grows in potential as the season progresses 73 loss to Booker T. Washington High School, in which they were able to give an early demonstration of their skills as a team, followed by an exceptional 51-46 The Episcopal boys basketball team came win against Bellaire High School. Only out running this season in a tough 74two games into the season and the boys have already proven that they have what it takes to make it far in SPC. Head Coach Wayne Jones noted that the team has been consistently improving game after game, with the defense doing a much better job at handling stressful late game situations. Coach Jones is proud of what the team has accomplished so far and expressed approval of the team’s performance, exceeding expectations while playing Justin Begg goes up for a dunk against Sterling. against extremely tough non-conference schools. Photo by Lila Henningsen.
The team is made up of mostly younger players, and Coach Jones believes that if the team can continue to trust the process and work on all aspects of the game in practices, it will result in success in upcoming games, not judged through wins or losses but through the effort and work the team commits to the game. The team ultimately plans on continuing to dedicate its time and energy to improving its skills as the season continues and as the SPC tournament approaches.
work Mondays and Wednesdays. The pool practices play a crucial role in training as it helps increase race speed. The team averages around 4000 yards in practice, about two and a half miles, and swim meets last around two to three hours. At each meet, the swimmers are allowed to swim two individual events and two relays, or one individual event and three relays. Senior Sam Randall has committed to Villanova University in Pennsylvania in swimming starting next fall. Sam said, “My swim season is going great so far, and I am excited for the Episcopal swim team to show out for SPC.” “I am also excited to continue swimming at Villanova next year while studying classes I enjoy.” With all of the hard work and potential the swim team has, there is much to look forward to as the season progresses.
Sara Doan (‘24) races to the finish during a meet. Photo by Lila Henningsen.
JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer
Swim team proves dedication through long hours CORY KARDESCH Sports Editor With winter sports underway, the swim team has much to look forward to. The season is off to a great start with the team getting back into race shape and leaving off where the swimmers were last season. Head Coach Shaun Flood noted, “We have a solid group this year. We are returning our boys and girls SPC relays from last year. We have some awesome freshmen that will help us on both teams, and all our key divers from the diving team returned, as well as new divers.” The commitment for swim team is not like any other sport. The swimmers usually practice at Bellaire Recreational Center, which is about five minutes from school, with a typical weekly practice schedule involving pool practice every weekday and weight room
Knight Shift ∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ December 2021
Speaks Out
Resident Jester
“What’s your favorite holiday tradition?”
Cartoon by Lily O’Gorman.
BRADY RAY
CALDWELL GRAHAM
“Going Christmas caroling”
“Going caroling with Brady”
CATE NICODEMUS
SENATOR FLOOD
“Decorating the Christmas tree”
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
“Visiting family on Christmas Eve”
Senior Beau Edwards locks up with his opponent during home wrestling action. Photo by Lauren McGinnis.
CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH
ANTHONY SARAGOSSA “Selling Christmas trees”
ANNIE WARING
“Watching Home Alone”
MR. DUNCAN
“Watching basketball”
TIARA GORDON “Making fudge”
CATE TURLINGTON
“Going to Austin with family”
MS. SUCCI
“Watching the Disney parade”
Candy Cane Sleigh Bells Santa Christmas
Reindeer Frosty Jolly North Pole Rudolph
Elves Noel Stocking Chimney Wreath