The Reporter, Cy-Fair HS, Issue 3, Dec. 16, 2014, Vol. 68

the

Former CFISD security director Ben Bradley (left), son of namesake for Hancock Elementary, Shelly Hancock (front right) and namesake of Goodson Middle School, Charlie Goodson (back right) unveil the 75th anniversary plaque.

reporter Cy-Fair High School

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 Volume 68, Issue 3

District 75th

IN HONOR OF THE DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY, CFISD HELD AN UNVEILING OF A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE IN FRONT OF CY-FAIR ON DEC. 9 {pg. 5}

‘When I was 17’

TEACHERS SHARE FUNNY, EMBARRASSING AND HEART-WARMING MOMENTS OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS {pg. 8 & 9}

Photo by Will Davis.

Twitter: @cf_reporter

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Instagram: @cf_reporter

02

letters from Harper Neitzey From awkward bows to mature adult: It’s moving too fast Growing up is strange. I’m getting old way too fast. Just the other day when someone asked me my age I said 14. My mind cannot process the fact that I am no longer that awkward, bow wearing, middle school girl. I am now a somewhat mature adult.

It’s weird to think about the fact that 10 years from now I’ll be almost 30, most of us will be almost engaged or married.

And 20 years from now some of us will have kids. Kids, who are old enough to walk, talk and even go to school.

When it’s decades day at our kids’ school, they will go dressed like us wearing big T-shirts and leggings, thinking that they look as ridiculous as we think shoulder pads look on us.

Our kids won’t know what CDs or DVDs are. We’ll explain to them what blockbuster is and say it was like Netflix before computers and then they will ask what Netflix is, because by then there will be some new way to watch beloved old movies and TV shows, and our hearts will break a little.

They will make fun of the fact that we thought iPhones were cool and we’ll have to defend ourselves saying that at the time they were. Then we will get all nostalgic about when the front camera was first added and when Apple added the ability to name a group message. And our kids will give us the look we give our parents when they are being awkward and embarrassing.

Life is going by way too fast. These next 20 years better slow down because I’m not ready to be an embarrassing mom yet.

Turning 18 is a good excuse to stop making so many lists and start living “Hi, my name is Natalie and I am a compulsive list-maker.”

I make wish lists, homework lists, errands lists, personal goals lists and bucket lists of things to do before I graduate.

Sure, it’s great to be organized, and it really does come in handy with school work.

But life isn’t organized. You can’t compartmentalize your day into neat little rows. Life is messy. It throws curve balls when least expected. Things come up. Things become irrelevant. Priorities change in a split second.

My lists have led me to think that everything has to fit perfectly. So when life throws me one of those curve balls, I’ve realized that I don’t usually react the best. I am not the type of person you want sitting next to your child when the airplane is crashing and the oxygen masks drop down.

Going into the real world I can’t have this kind of attitude. My parents won’t always be there for me. I won’t always be coddled by the safe environment of Cy-Fair. Once I hit 18 in exactly 13 days I’ll be an adult, completely responsible for all aspects of my life, whether they go along with my plans or not.

Luckily for me, I have some very honest people in my life, and one of them in particular pointed this revelation out to me very recently.

It kind of hurt to hear, but it was completely justified and correct. I’m working on changing my outlook: making less lists, being more spontaneous and realizing that plans change unexpectedly. If you’re anything like me, I encourage you to put down the multi-colored highlighters and live a little.

of the issue

Tuesday

Sophomores Hannah Wiedner, Sophie Hebert, Molly O’Donnell, and Kate Thomas pose at Christmas sweater Young Life.

Thursday

Senior Caroline Willingham shows her love for Harry Potter and her dislike for the upcoming finals.

Will Davis

Eleven and two was my record at the end of the regular season in ESPN’s Fantasy Football.

Eight of the best and brightest in the class of 2015 came together to form a league in which I would come to dominate week by week.

Before this NFL season, I had never been a fan. I couldn’t tell anyone the difference between Jamaal Charles and Andrew Luck. Aside from the occasional college game and our own team, the widespread fascination with professional football escaped me. But I was interested and curious to find a way to integrate myself within this culture. When an opportunity to do just that and compete against my best friends arose, I jumped at it.

Fantasy football is an NFL based virtual roster. You pick your team just like you would in a P.E, dodge ball game and each player gains points individually in the games they play each week against other teams. Obviously an injured player will need to be replaced and a quarterback facing the best defense in the league will need to be substituted with a backup.

There are many kinds of statistics that fantasy football players can use to project who will score a lot of points and determine who to play. For some reason I got (Andrew) lucky with my initial draft choices and would continue to start the right guys every week. My friends didn’t stand a chance.

As the league has progressed, I have watched the games my players were in and become a fan of multiple teams, even cheering for opposing franchises at the same time. I also enjoy how much fun it is listening to the smack and chatter of my friends, knowing any bitter feelings will not last for more than a day.

Regular 1st-5th 7:25-12:44 6th period final 12:44-2:30

2nd period final 7:25- 9:14 3, 4, & 5 periods 9:14-12:44 3rd period final 12:44-2:30 4th period final 7:25- 9:25

Friday

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Fantasy Football: First step draft, second step demolition

1st period final 7:25- 9:14 Wednesday 3, 4, & 5 periods 9:14-12:44 7th period final 12:44-2:30

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Natalie Berry

Finals Schedule

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Makenzie Sumrall, 9 “Finals are very stressful, yet [they] get us working and then it’s the holidays.”

Morgan Mickey, 10 “I feel like [finals] are too close together. They should put a class or two between.”

“Ukraine found freedom just as we did over two centuries ago. We know the benefits and values of freedom, so it’s our responsibility to guide Ukraine towards them.”

- Daaniyal Munir, 12

Q: WHAT’S GOING ON? A:

4 questions you were DE CE afraid to ask about MB ER

ne ws 20

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SCHOOL

bit

Library now has E-Books

UKRAINE

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Steppe {Ryan Graphics Editor

Sanchez { John Assistant Sports Editor

After ousting its former president and setting up an interim government, violence in the country has escalated, culminating in the annexation of Crimea by Russia. This occurred shortly after the southern region seceded from Ukraine via a controversial referendum that was denounced and declared illegal by Western leaders.

Q: WHAT FUTURE PROBLEMS COULD ARISE? A:

The unrest poses a threat to European energy security, as Europe is largely dependent on Russian energy and could face shortages should Moscow decide to cut off natural gas and oil pipelines to Europe.

source: Business Insider, The Guardian and BBC

news

Q: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? A:

03

Russia and the European Union are competing for greater influence in the region, as the former wishes to regain power over the exSoviet Bloc while the latter wishes to attain greater economic cooperation in the form of possible free trade agreements.

Q: HOW DOES IT SPREAD? A:

Thus far, the US has offered non-lethal military aid to Ukraine and placed sanctions on Russian officials. In the view of the United States government, Russia’s actions in the region have undermined Ukraine’s peace, sovereignty, and democratic processes.

SCHOOL

Science now a competitive sport SCIENCE OLYMPIAD CLUB PREPARES FOR 20 DIFFERENT SCIENCE-RELATED EVENTS

Artwork by Esmeralda Harvey.

12.16.14

“I think it is important for the international community to stand behind the people of Ukraine and preserve the sovereignty of their state.”

- Nelson Dragsbaek, 12

Harvey { Esmeralda Opinion Reporter

In Science Olympiad, students explore their creativity and open their minds to different aspects of science. There’s always something that can feed a person’s interest and when they find that category they exert themselves to learn more about that certain subject or topic. Students never know what kinds of things interest them until they have taken the time and effort to to build structural models such as airplanes and mobile machines. find their true calling.

Once finding a category, notes are studied for a year’s worth Another event would be the test taking course where students do of information. Like diagrams, questions and discussion. A experiments and test out there theory’s and score matters. conclusion as to where you need to exert their selves in is found after reading and studying multiple subjects and courses.

There is up to 20 different events and competitions you can The club meets every Thursday in sign up for based on interest. During events participants are usually paired up or in groups of four, except in the test taking Room 1011 at 2:30. The sponsor of this categories. club is Mr. Oltremari and he is accepting Working together is helpful for them when being qualified in comments, questions or concerns. building events. Students use skills revolving around mathematics

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Spotlight on Orchestra

The library is joining the rest of the school in moving toward modern technology.

Since the beginning of the school year the library has gotten about 200 eBooks and audio books that are available for students to use.

The majority of the eBooks available are high interest fiction.

The purpose of these books is to add an additional and more modern dimension to the library.

“It is a change for the best.” Librarian Patrick Reilly said. “It is a new avenue for the library.”

This is not just a Cy-Fair thing, other schools in the district are joining in the movement.

These books are available to you for two weeks after checkout.

Orchestra recently played at the District 75th celebration.

They also performed their winter concert on Thursday, December 11. They played Christmas classics such as “March of the Nutcracker” and “Silent Night.”

Play it out. Chamber Orchestra performing at the 75th anniversary reception.

Photo by Melissa Reinsch.

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12.16.14

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75 years of CFISD

Cy-Fair, Jersey Village, Cypress Creek, Langham Creek, Cypress Falls, Cypress Springs, Cypress Ridge, Cypress Woods, Cypress Ranch, Cypress Lakes and Windfern High School

12.16.14

CFISD celebrates ‘Diamond’ anniversary

news

05

Berry { Natalie Editor-in-Chief

Photos by Melissa Reinsch.

ART CLUB CREATES MOSAIC FOR DISTRICT’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY Lane { Gillian Life Reporter

that the namesakes are the “shining jewels of the district.”

The event included a tour of historical school items showcased in the library, many pulled from Cy-

FUN FACTS

1.There used to be a jukebox in the cafeteria.

2. A teacher died in the no-longer-existing 800s hallway.

3. Coach Tidmore was on the football team that originated the battle-cry “BFND.”

Fair’s own “Texas room.”

“There’s so much history I think people don’t recognize in our district,” event coordinator Kristina Perez said. “[Cy-Fair] in a sense is like the mothership of the district, where

it all began... The [commemorative] plaque tells the story of the merger between Cypress and Fairbanks [school districts].”

Cypress education truly started more than 75 years ago, back in 1884, when the Big Cypress School House, a one-room school for all grades, was built. It wasn’t until Dec. 9, 1939 that the district came into being, with a successful vote on consolidation from both Cypress Rural High School District No. 5 and Fairbanks Independent School District.

Cypress-Fairbanks High School became the first official Cypress secondary school in 1941 after the passage of a $200,000 bond.

While reflecting on the humble beginnings of the district and its 75-year history, Dr. Henry also acknowledged what’s to come.

“We not only got to be a part of that history, but a part of something much better--the future,” Dr. Henry said.

Photo by Will Davis.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has come a long way in 75 years. Yet, with over 113,000 students and a position as the 3rd largest school district in Texas, Superintendent Mark Henry still believes CFISD is the “smallest big district you’ll ever find.”

To recognize the anniversary, the district held an unveiling of a commemorative plaque in front of Cy-Fair at 5 p.m. on Dec. 9, the actual anniversary date. The ceremony was brief, with performances by the CyFair band and Jersey Village JROTC and the invocation by Cypress Springs senior Russell Reed. Trustee Bob Covey and Dr. Henry spoke on the legacy of the district. The Arnold and Cy-Fair Orchestras also performed after the ceremony.

Also honored at the unveiling were district namesakes. Each namesake received an engraved crystal diamond-shaped keepsake, inspired by CFISD’s diamond anniversary and Dr. Henry’s belief

The AP Art classes rose to the call when they found out sculpture artwork was needed for the district’s 75th anniversary.

After the classes came up with 15 designs, students Rukaiya Jamali and Jacy Phariss approved the roaring bobcat design.

Advanced Sculpture students and

art teacher Mrs. Hartman worked for three days straight, working until six or seven in the evening every day.

“This process was a learning experience,” Mrs. Hartman said. “It was very exciting yet stressful but everyone’s hard work paid off. I’m so proud of my students and their achievements.”

Tracing Cy-Fair’s History 1941-2014

06 sports

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Home-court advantage Mattinson { Will Business Manager

Leaping. Senior Nate Nahirny scores two points against Morton Ranch. Photo by Will Mattinson

6

Seconds of

FAME Steppe {Ryan Graphics Editor

Chad Suleimanji graduated in 1998 from Cy-Fair and attended McMurry University where he was preparing for life in the business world rather than on the court. He still played and was even able to help McMurry reach the 2001 Sweet 16 NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament.

Suleimanji graduated with a degree in business administration. This degree specialized in something very different from the triangle offense.

Going from working behind a desk for business to coaching full time does not happen often. Athletic secretary Dianne Moore was not surprised to see him back on the court.

“He truly loves the sport and has always cared about it,” Moore said.

Moore has known Suleimanji ever since he attended Arnold Middle School. Moore said that even then the future coach had a great character that is still present today.

As an alumnus, Coach Suleimanji understands the legacy of the school. The rich sports tradition already features a national champion men’s basketball team from 1971 and twice state champs for women’s basketball within 10 years.

“He definitely wants to be the one to bring a winning tradition back to the school,” senior and starting center Bryson Lockley said.

The team finished fifth out of 10 teams in the district and sixth the season before that.

A new coach needs to get to know his team well. The team kicked off the season with seven games in 13 days which gave the team the ability to find trust in one another from the freshman Tayjon Martin all the way to next year Division one player Bryson Lockley.

To reach their goal, changes have been made on and off the court.

“The weight room is being used a lot more than before,” Lockley said.

Improvement has also been made in other aspects as well since the new coach has joined.

“The coach has helped me become stronger mentally” senior point guard Nate Nahirny said.

Even though Suleimanji is not helping through actual play, his team appreciates his presence on the sideline “Coach shows a lot of passion on the sideline and gets himself heard,” said senior Logan Schempf, starting shooting guard.

16 YEARS AFTER GRADUATING, FORMER BASKET BALL STUDENT RETURNS AS HEAD COACH

Victory. Coach Suleimanji watches the team win against Alief Taylor. Photo by Will Mattinson.

pABLO ANDRE sALINAS, 12 Q

What do you like about wrestling?

A

I like the discipline it involves; I think it really requires you to be committed to the sport.

Q

What are your goals for this year?

A

I’d like to continue to improve and get better.

Q A

Favorite wrestling moment?

Probably the first tournament of the 2014-2015 school year. Competing in the first tournament of the year is always pretty exciting and something to look forward to.

Q

What’s the largest animal you could wrestle?

A

A blue whale. It wouldn’t make weight.

Photo by Ryan Steppe

12.16.14

H

e was the only player from Cypress to make it this far.

Playing rugby for less than a year, Cody Cloud stood at the end of the final tryout for state.

“Each player I took with me had slowly been knocked out of the line up till eventually it was me,” said Cloud, who joined the Cy-Fair rugby club when it began in 2014.

But it all started as a “new challenge”, something he fell in love with and caught on to fast.

“I’ve never been a big fan of football, (In rugby) there’s less rules.” Cloud said. His position is inside center, or the “running back” of rugby.

“My job is basically to be a tank, I get the ball and I run hard until I hit the ground, and if no defenders are touching I can get back up and keep running,” Cloud said.

But the recommendation to try out for the state rugby team came as a surprise.

“After the game against St. Pius their coach came up to me, and told me I should try out. He told me he believed in me,” Cloud said.

He wasn’t sure about trying out for state or what it consisted of. So he turned to his coach from the rugby club, Kenneth Hepburn.

“When Cody came to me asking about the State Representative team I was excited. I knew, from seeing how he had progressed over the season that he had the talent to be selected,” Hepburn said.

In the heat of June of 2014, Cloud and his family traveled from Houston to Huntsville, where the final line up was called. Cloud managed to make it through four rigorous tryouts, each becoming progressively harder than the last.

“I couldn’t imagine anything harder than that, but the last one felt like I was training to be a navy seal,” Cloud said.

The tryouts consisted of drills and technique, fitness and live play. But standing at the call of the final lineup, Cloud could feel the anxiety of finding out who was going to make the team.

“I was incredibly nervous,” Cloud said. “My

sports

07

From new challenge to passion

name was the last name to be called so the suspense was insanely real.”

Cardio Julia Ryza training Sports Editor in the mornings, and weight training in the evenings six days a week, even having an eight hour practice every one to two weeks is what Cloud dedicated himself to so he could push himself farther to make the state team.

But his Coach from CyFair was late to find out how, and if he made the team.

“I hadn’t heard anything for a while after he went to the tryouts so I asked him. He modestly said. ‘I was going to tell you but I forgot.,’ which is, if you know him, not surprising,” Hepburn said.

After the four tryouts, two practices were held in Austin and Houston, then the team boarded buses and traveled to a tournament in Colorado.

“I plan to play through college, but as of going ‘Pro,’ I don’t think that’s what I want. I’m still trying to figure that out,” Cloud said. But the impact it has on my life is major. It’s like therapy for me. If I have a bad day it can quickly be turned into a good day by stepping on the pitch and playing rugby.”

His Cy-fair rugby coach is testament to the hard work, skill and talent that Cloud possesses.

“Cloud is one of the hardest runners I have seen in a long time,” said Hepburn.

{

SOPHOMORE FINDS HIDDEN TALENT IN ONE OF AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING TEAM SPORTS

Close call. Cloud (left) dodges a tackle at a state match against Utah. Photo courtesy Lorenzo Romero.

Making history

COLOR GUARD MAKES STATE FOR A BACK-TO-BACK RECORD Enojado { Emme Opinion Editor

Flags Up. Senior Captain Carla Vazquez, junior Allie Stalter, and Sophomore Jaelyn Aaron perform at one of the football games. Photo courtesy of Sabrina Sommer.

In the 2014 season, color guard and marching band made school history.

Not only was it the first time they made it to state in two back-to-back seasons, but this year was also the highest they have performed at state, finishing at 14th place.

“The experience was so surreal. The excitement everyone had when we heard the announcement that all our hard work was taking us all the way to state was electric,” color guard coach Luke Christisen said.

For seniors and co-captains Carla Vazquez and Candace Dodson, performing in color guard has been a part of their lives for the past four years.

“Color guard has showed me to never give up and push myself to do the best. As a color guard captain, it is a great experience to show

the other girls that have trouble with the routine and to help them not be afraid,” Dodson said.

Although Vazquez has favorable memories of performing at state her sophomore and senior year, they haven’t all been ideal.

“My freshman year during marching season I was preforming and at a certain part in the show I had to slam my flag pole down. Well, I certainly did! Right down on the head of the band kid next to me!” Vazquez said.

As of now, the team of 19 is preparing for winter guard, the indoor competitive season for color guard. In winter guard, the color guard performs a show to prerecorded music on a designed floor. They will perform at several high schools throughout the season, leading up to the Texas Color uard Circuit state champions in the spring.

When I was 17

‘

Photo by Cody Brown.

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TEACHERS SHARE FUNNY, EMBARRASSING AND Neitzey {Harper Co-Editor-in-Chief

ABIGAIL SMITH

REBECCA COLWELL

‘04

“My first day of school freshman year in high school was one to remember for the sheer hilarity of what happened. I, the youngest in my family, am a Time Nazi.

I cannot be late to anything.

If I am not 15 minutes early, I’m late. So, of course, my first

period and second period class were nowhere near each other. They were what felt like miles apart. Naturally, as I began speed walking – and then promptly running – I had failed to notice the cardinal rule of backpack usage: zip up the backpack. With each jolt of my small little freshmen feet slapping the ground in my panicked rush to class, my backpack slowly ripped open by force, until it eventually exploded open, spilling every pen, pencil, and notebook I had in my possession. Mortified and even more panicked, I

KEVIN SATTERFIELD

‘07

began collecting my things.

Riding in as my savior and knight in shining armor was a sophomore I had met the previous week in band camp.

According to his definition of helping, the act of kindness constituted a declaration of love and commitment of which I was unaware. He asked me out (again after only knowing my name for a week) further putting me on the spot and in a state of anxiety a poor little freshman ought not to experience. Fun fact: I did make it to class on time, but not by any ordinary means.”

Photo by Cody Brown.

Photo by Esmeralda Harvey.

‘89

Photo by Cody Brown.

“My favorite weird (and probably inappropriate) high school memory is that everybody smoked. I graduated from Clear Creek High School in 1989 and until 1987, my high school had an outdoor smoking section known as “The Cage” that students visited between classes and before and after school to smoke a cigarette.

The teachers’ lounges were no different. If you walked down a hall and a teacher was coming in or going out, a cloud of smoke would follow them.

Teachers and students going to and from the parking lots in the morning were always smoking and there were disgusting butts everywhere. When they finally banned it, the school became much cleaner, but teachers were pretty cranky for the first few weeks of school. (P.S. I never went in The Cage!)”

“I was the Student Council president at Langham Creek High School. As one of my official duties, I had to stand up and give a welcome speech to the 1,000 new freshman walking into Langham Creek for the first time. As I was trying to project my voice, I start saying, “Hello, my name is…” when my voice LOUDLY cracks. I immediately turn red, but the freshmen are too afraid to laugh. I put on my brave face and finished my speech pretending like nothing happened. To make things even better, in my sixth period Communication Applications class, everyone had to go around and share something memorable about their first day of school. Several of the freshmen retold the story of a senior’s voice cracking in their first day meeting in class as their memorable event, letting all of my friends know of the embarrassment I faced earlier that day. To this day, my friends still bring it up…”

Photo by Esmeralda Harvey.

HEART-WARMING MOMENTS OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS

SUSAN

‘94

DESCRIBE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL “Difficult.” “Amazing.” “Awkward.” “Involved.” “Life-changing.” “Enlightening” “Rock-i - C. Crawford - S. Th - L. Pena - C. Pekkanen - T. Stockton - M. Capdau - S. Kirby EXPERIENCE IN ONE WORD

in-depth

KRISTI COLEMAN “My one claim to fame in high school was that I managed to push my high school swim coach in the water as he taught a class. The team had been trying all year to get him in the water after a winning effort-it was, after all, a tradition-but at 6’3 and 225 pounds, he would not be budged. One day after practice, as I walked to my second period class, he was teaching an intermediate swim class, standing waaaay to close to the edge to resist. One big push, he lost his balance and I ran like crazy from Arnold to Cy-Fair, where I hid out in the library most of the day. I worked with him for most of my career, as he became a principal at Labay and Cy-Fair.

He still vows revenge when I least expect it.”

N BALKE

4

“I lived out in the country and at my high school the juniors threw prom for the seniors. On the night of prom ,my friends and I went for 10 minutes and then drove out to River Oaks to see the Rocky Horror Picture show in our prom dresses.”

in-roll.” “Carefree.” “Traumatic.” homas - S. Campbell - C. Braun

delayed almost 4 hours. By the time the game had started, halftime was at midnight and my dad was walking not only me, but two other dance officers across the field since both of their parents went to sleep for the night. What turned out to be an eager-toget-to-game turned out to be a game that we were all eager to leave from to finally get some sleep. Oh, and we did win 2814, so it did make the sleep deprivation worth it…kind of!”

09

CY-FAIR ALUMNI ANNE GILL CLASS OF 1997

‘77 Photo by Cody Brown.

KATHERINE HOOVER MATT BUCHANAN CLASS OF 2004

‘93 “I had trouble (was lazy) with chemistry during the 4th six weeks and found out I was going to fail that report card with a 67. I bought my teacher flowers, baked her a cake and presented them to her the next morning, but still failed. I was totally bummed... and embarrassed, so I worked incredibly hard and ended up with the highest grades in class on my report card the next two six weeks. You did the right thing, Ms. French. You’re still one of my favorite teachers and I never failed a class again.”

“Powerful.”

- M. Stevens

“NEON.” - A. Smith

EVAN KEY CLASS OF 2010

JED RAGSDALE

Photo by Cody Brown.

‘07

“When I was a senior in high school at Cy-Fair—(Bobcat Fight NEVER Dies…clearly) our Brigade senior game night was the last district game against Cy-Ridge and before playoffs. I was looking forward to this last game because my dad was finally able to walk across the field (after watching from the sidelines for three years) and give me flowers.

I’m pretty sure he was more excited than I was. However, due to the severe rain, thunder and lightning, the game was

“Adventurous.” “Vexing.”

- J. Munro - J. Headlee

BARBARA KOONCE CLASS OF 1969

10 life

12.16.14

Stars among us Kazmi { Wafa News Editor

@skiballs Morgan Skiba @skiballs Photos courtesy of Galaxy Band When she meets new people, many times they already know her.

"It's really strange,” senior Morgan Skiba said, "Sometimes when I'm at parties people I've never met will shout, 'Oh hey! You're Skiballs! I follow you on Instagram!"

After moving within the district many times, Morgan uses her Instagram to keep in touch with old friends. Her account now has 4,000 plus followers.

Teacher releases first album as lead vocalist in Galaxy band

Pierce { Maddie Assistant Life Editor

He comes into work everyday wearing slacks and a blazer, a respectable outfit for an engineering teacher. To an outsider he is a teacher, but Clyde Johnson would surprise you.

Teaching may be his career, but Harley Chaplin his hobby is music. His band, known YouNow: Chupikins as “Galaxy” has won the award for Instagram: harley_chupin Best Caribbean Band in Houston for Freshman Harley Chaplin started vlogging on YouNow, and online live blogging website, when he was in middle school. His account has accumulated 2014.

“I love being creative and music 6,000 followers since then. Chaplin also has an Instagram account, which has gives me another platform to do just 70,000 followers. that, ” said Johnson, vocalist and bass "I made the account to offer other people advice," Chaplin said. "It also helped player, who originally come get my mind off things". founded Galaxy Band with guitarist Jeff Lewis in 2011.

For 15 years Lewis and Johnson performed with other musicians around the country. While playing with Ron Hudson [drummer] and Steven Brainerd [keyboardist] the four decided to form what would later be decided on as the Galaxy Band.

“We met at a Jamaican diner and selected ‘Galaxy’ as the name for the Jake Lavan band and the rest is history,” Johnson @OffRoadUSA said.

Junior Jake Lavan shares his love for trucks through his Instagram. His The group now consists of seven account, @OffRoadUSA has more than 26,000 followers. Through the professional musicians. The band has account, Lavan earns $1,500-2,000 a month-which is more than minimum its own authentic Caribbean style wage. and can play a variety of musical The account also has its own online store. genres ranging from their more often "It's amazing to see just how much you can do with social media these days," Reggae, Soca and Latin beats to less Lavan said. "I don't think most people recognize how much money they can frequent Rock, Jazz, Pop, Country make just by sharing what they're passionate about online". and R&B numbers. Johnson’s time in Jamaica in the 90’s provided an Photos by Wafa Kazmi inside look into real Jamaican music.

@harley_chupin

{

@OffRoadUSA

“Jamaica’s contribution to world music is very unique and outstanding,” Johnson said. “While living there, I was able to absorb some of it which helps me to bring authenticity to especially the Reggae genre of music that I play.”

Johnson is expecting the release of his band’s first album this December. In addition to the upcoming album, the band has three songs available on iTunes.

“I share big dreams for the band with the rest of the members,” Johnson said. “We are finding our niche in the music world.”

“I love being creative and music gives me another platform to do just that.”

Galaxy Band received an award in 2013 for the best live Caribbean band and entertainment group in Texas by the Caribbean Achievements Award Organization of Houston. The band has played at special functions including Houston International Festival, Pearland International Festival and Caribbean Heritage as well as the occasional wedding and gala.

Music has been a part of Johnson’s life for as long as he can remember. In Guyana, South America he started two bands and when he moved to the Bahamas, he

started one here too.

“I grew up as a musician and played for church, family and friends from a tender age,” Johnson said.

Johnson knows the importance of balancing hobby with profession and finds it easy to do so with the band’s schedule. Every first Friday of the month is Caribbean night at a lounge in Richmond, leaving plenty of time for Johnson to keep up with grades.

Senior Steven Quiroz couldn’t be more fascinated with his teacher’s after school hobby. He constantly asks to go see Galaxy Band perform.

“I think it’s rad. He’s an engineering teacher and he slaps the bass,” Quiroz said.

“It’s like the School of Rock.”

Michael Griffin, welding teacher, has seen firsthand what the band can do together.

“I thought it was great,”Griffin said. “They were very organized and collected.

They were well tuned and had good voices. I was kind of surprised how well they sounded too. They really got the crowd into it.”

Galaxy Band has been more than Johnson could have ever hoped for.

The band has an impressive list of accomplishments, including playing alongside “The Voice” 2013 winner Tessanne Chin. The next step for the band is to host their first New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31.

“I believe that music has transcendental powers and it gives me the greatest joy to play an instrument with friends,” Johnson said.

{

12.16.14

life

A graceful path

11

Davis { William Managing Editor

SENIOR EMMA BIONDILLO SHARES HER DEDICATION TO WORLD OF BALLET At age 3, Emma Biondillo took her first leap in the ballet world. Since then, no hobby she tried, including karate and gymnastics has been able to compare to ballet.

Biondillo found ballet the way only a few people find their passion. It started with a deep breath and ended with applause.

“I have never been very talkative, so ballet allows me to communicate in a way I usually don’t,” Biondillo said.

For 20 hours a week, 46 weeks a year, Biondillo hones her dancing and rehearses for the next performance. Although the stage is where Biondillo’s work culminates, offstage is where dancing affects her. While it is known for discipline and focus, Biondillo has learned lessons with more outward effects.

“Dancing has taught me more about working with others and respect my peers and teachers,” Biondillo said.

At level 7, the highest possible, Biondillo has been the lead role in The Nutcracker and Les Sylphides performed by The Ballet Center of Houston for the past two years.

Of all the advances that Biondillo has made over her ballet career, she has attained the most success this year, reaching a big milestone in

any ballet career. Along with fellow dancers, she traveled to the University of Oklahoma to try out for their renowned dancing school.

Only 25 of about 300 dancers were accepted at the tryout but Biondillo was not one of them.

“I felt confident because I knew that I had trained enough for this and was ready to show the directors what I was capable of. Once the tryout began I remained calm and focused and was content with myself once it was over, although, the slim acceptance chances made me nervous.” Biondillon said.

She then tried out at Texas Christian University and was accepted there, however, she will return to Oklahoma to try out again in the spring.

“Ballet takes determination and time. It can be mentally and physically draining so you have to love it to do it,” Biondillo said. “We make what might be painful or uncomfortable look elegant and graceful.”

While ballet has been her past and very well may be her future at a college, this senior will continue what makes her happy.

“The feeling associated with being on stage with my friends inspires me to keep dancing,” Biondillo said.

Take a bow.

Biondillo performs in a dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker.

Right: Biondillo on left. Bottom: Biondillo center.

Photos by Will Davis

Cy-Fair’s craziest cuddlers

STUDENTS’ UNIQUE PETS INCLUDE AN ALLIGATOR, A SUGAR GLIDER AND A MACAW

Lane { Gillian Life Reporter

Turtle Turtles and tortoises come in all shapes and sizes each species with their own specific markings. These slow moving creatures are fed turtle food pellets that you can get at any pet store. “I do not recommend turtles as pets because they do not do anything” freshman Andy Heineman said.

Sugar Glider They bark. Sugar gliders might seem like the perfect cute and fuzzy pet, but they can be loud and annoying. They are smelly because they are constantly going to the bathroom everywhere- including on you.

According to Fails, they do not make the best pets, but they are fun to play catch with.

Koi You can also keep koi in that pond with the ducks. They too will eat dog food and they are beautiful to look at. No need to worry about the koi’s safety, they can grow to be at least a foot long, so nothing is going to want to bother them.

Ball Python/Sand Boa Davis’s family also owns 25 snakes which they are raising to be bred and sold. Snakes are easy to care for and interesting to hold. They hold on to you with their smooth bodies and slither all around. The snakes are fed mice and can grow up to be 3- 5 feet long.

Hedge Hog Everyone loves the idea of having a cute little chubby ball of quills as a pet.

However, Hedge Hogs are not recommended as pets. Hedge hogs can be a smelly pet to take care of; an owner would have to stay right on top of cage cleaning duty. Hedge Hogs are typically shy but some can be mean or spiteful and are constantly shedding quills everywhere. And you thought stepping on a Lego was bad.

Alligator Typically, Alligators are known for eating zebras in the Amazon rather than their ability to make a good pet. But that doesn’t stop sophomore Allison Davis. Allison keeps a baby foot-long alligator inside a tank at her house. She feeds it mice and will hold it the same way you would with any reptile. “Alligators are unique pets, but they are kind of boring because they don’t do anything,” said Davis.

Ducks Ducks are very nice lawn ornaments as long as you don’t mind some feathers and poop here and there. If you have a small pond or other water source near your house, ducks are very easy to keep as pets. They will eat dog food and mostly take care of themselves. But if there is a big dog nearby, you might need to keep them fenced in.

Macaw Macaws are somewhat large birds with an even bigger voice. Macaws can be loud and mean towards strangers. Make sure your friends don’t stick their fingers into the cage because they might not have those fingers for much longer. Macaws can be fed standard bird seed and will happily perch on their owners shoulder. “My bird, Quepo, loves to eat pizza crusts and he has no idea how to fly” senior Chad Strom said.

Rat Many people are very squeamish around rodents, especially rats. Rats are notorious for carrying diseases and nibbling on all of your food. However, according to senior Greg Fails, rats can make a perfect pet. Fails highly recommends them as a little friend. They aren’t very smelly if you keep their cage clean, and you can feed them almost anything. “They are the cutest animals ever and they’re adorable when they are really fat” said Fails.

Snake. Navi the Ball Python bathes in the light.

Macaw. Quepo relaxes on his branch.

Rat. Fail poses with his rat, Wilhelm.

Photos by Gillian Lane, Greg Fails, and Chad Strom

12 culture

12.16.14

12 things to do for 12 days of Christmas

Amdal { Karmen Life Editor

1

Host a holiday movie marathon

Dying to hang out with your friends, but feeling a little lazy or maybe you’re just bored?

Either way, this will definitely cure your holidaybreak boredom. Ask everyone to come in their pajamas, equipped with much needed munchies along with their favorite movie and you’ll be set.

Try: White Christmas, Elf, Holiday Inn, Home Alone or It’s a Wonderful Life.

2 Read

Add some magic to your break with a whimsical adventure or a jaw-dropping mystery.

When you’re curled up in the corner with some blankets, some hot chocolate, and a good book, time tends to fly by. Try: The Mysterious Benedict Society, Book of A Thousand Days or Stardust.

3

Play a game

Play with your family, invite some friends over,or even just play by yourself. From board games to card games to video games, there is a huge variety of games you could play. Consider even doing a puzzle. Any way you choose to go, it’ll keep your mind engaged and your fingers active. Try: Apples to Apples, Catan or Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros.

4

Go on a drive

At some point, you may find yourself wanting to get away from all the Christmas chaos and calm down. Simply getting in your car, plugging in some tunes and driving on can be particularly relaxing. Enjoy the available scenery and drive on. Try: driving through neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights or just choose a street keep on going (don’t get lost though). Some music suggestions: Coldplay’s Ghost Stories album, the Killers’ Sam’s Town album or Muse’ the Resistance album.

5

Ice skate

Missing the icy weather? Never even seen icy weather? Go enjoy it anyway at an ice rink.

Admittedly, it will be less snowy than an actual snowstorm, but at least you can relish the cold while also getting in some exercise and dance.

Try: the Galleria, Aerodrome Ice Skating or the Ice at Discovery Green.

6

Go to the museum

We all want adventure, and the place you can find it is at the museum. Go downtown and you’ll find the Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts totally enchanting. They’ve got exhibits that will blow your mind, and the fact that they’re aimed towards all ages is a huge bonus. Try: the Samurai exhibit at the HMNS, the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the HMNS or the Korean art and culture exhibit the MFAH.

7

Exercise

Winter break is probably one of most lazy time of the year. Counteract that couch-potato sentiment with a good workout. Feel awesome and also feel productive by fitting in some exercise. Try: Running, jump-roping, hulahooping, biking, rock-climbing, geocaching or dancing.

8

Go hiking

1 foods to eat for the Holidays { Audrey Gray Culture Reporter

Start off your meal with delicious, mouthwatering cranberry nut bread that gets everybody ready for a holiday dinner. For the main course honey glazed ham is one of my favorites because of the crunchy, sweet crust and the juicy inside. A great side to the ham is the turkey stuffing and sweet potato casserole.

The turkey stuffing is easy to make and almost impossible to mess up. Sweet potato casserole

will satisfy lovers of sweet potatoes and pecans and is perfect for any holiday dinner. Dessert time is always my favorite and a cherry pie has never disappointed. A homemade cherry filled pie is a fun and easy dessert to make with your family. A perfect way to finish off the night is sitting around a fire with a warm cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows after a great holiday meal.

Honey glazed ham - Turkey stuffing - Sweet potato casserole - Cranberry nut bread Ginger bread - Peppermint bark - Toffee Sugar cookies - Cherry pie - Hot chocolate

Sometimes, exercise or a plain walk just isn’t good enough. Get out and get active by going with your friends or family on a hike, whether it be in the local area or a small drive away.

Try: Keith-Weiss Park, Memorial Park or Sam Houston National Forest.

9

Spend time with your family

Whether you treasure your family or trash them, you’ll (most likely) be spending the majority of your holiday break with them. So, go ahead, have some fun. Do a crazy weird video with them, or even just sit around and talk.

Don’t be afraid to have an amazing time with them. Try: a dance party, a fashion walk, a crazy weird video or just talking.

10

Bake something

Feeling like doing something but not wanting to exert too much effort? Cook! Look up some fun recipes on line, get the ingredients, and start baking. Check out the Holiday Foods section of this page for some creative ideas. Try: fudge, creme brulee, croquembouche, toffee, cheesecake or peppermint bark.

11

Do some projects

We all have that one project that we all really wanted to do but never had the motivation or time. Well, now’s your chance to finally carry out those plans. Whether it be scrap booking, sewing, writing a letter, painting, or even making a sculpture, it’ll be entertaining while you’re doing it and worthwhile afterward. Try: Painting, making a sign or sculpting.

12

See a play/show

Instead of going to the movie theater, try attending a play. There are always a ton of options on which to go to, especially during winter time.

Don’t be afraid to ask around or look up which plays have the best recommendations and ratings. Try new things out and savor the culture found in each. Try: The Nutcracker Houston, Disney on Ice: Frozen or Newsies.

All photos taken by Audrey Gray.

Holiday traditions Amdal { Karmen Life Editor

“On Christmas Eve, we always act out the Manger scene. Then after that we open up our Christmas presents from each other- we always buy presents for each other from the dollar store and those are the ones we open on Christmas Eve to show love from us to our family.” - Madeline Beus, 12.

“I go to this thing called Tuba Christmas. It’s like this musical thing for tubas and euphoniums and the band and you go there and you meet up with a big group of people and my family goes down to Dallas and we play Christmas carols for people. “ - Calvin Morrison, 12.

“I’m part of a family of five. On Christmas morning, before we open presents, each one of us does something special to commemorate the day. My father will read the passage of Jesus’ birth from the bible, while my mother will share an insightful message from a well-known Christian author. My two sisters will find a Christmas poem or story to share. I usually play a well-known Christmas tune on my violin. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve began to appreciate this tradition more and more. “ - Cassiana Robertson, 10.

Top 10 holiday songs

Gray { Audrey Culture Reporter

White Christmas- Bing Crosby Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland Santa Claus is coming to town- Bruce Springsteen Little Drummer Boy- Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet O Holy Night- Celine Dion Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer- Gene Autry Grandma got run over by a Reindeer- Elmo & Patsy Silver Bells- Michael Buble

12.16.14

culture

13

Artwork by Gillian Lane.

TV SHOW REVIEW

4

shows to binge-watch this break ATTACK ON TITAN

2 GREY’S ANATOMY

Genre: Thriller, Action, Adventure, Gore, Dystopian.

Humanity has sealed itself behind three walls to protect themselves from the titans, giants who eat humans. Now the titans have come back and humanity must defend itself in a battle of survival of the fittest.

The show centers around Eren Jaegar, a boy who witnessed the colossal titan attack humanity once again and went through a traumatic experience, he decides to fight back. Why is it so addicting? The show keeps you on your toes and you never know what will happen or who will live to fight

another day. It might just be your best friend who shows up dead next and you won’t even know how. Plus, since humanity’s main goal is to survive, they learn to appreciate how good it feels to be alive and it really goes to show that no one is safe. Every single character has gone through something that anyone can relate to. From the loss of a loved one or a traumatic event to having once lived a peaceful life only to find that it’s not what it seems and fighting for what they believe in, even if the world’s against you.

Genre: Drama, Romance The thrill of not knowing whether the patient is going to survive that’s perfectly intertwined with relationship issues and drama between surgeons in a hospital creates the addicting TV show that has been on air for years. Grey’s Anatomy captures a large audience with its intriguing medical cases and love affairs that always seem to end up in the on-call room. This show can be watched and re-watched with no shame, and the cast makes up a great selection of eye candy that no

one can resist. It’s perfect to binge watch on Netflix because it has every season that has been aired making up over 200 episodes. As you get to know the characters you feel as if you personally know them. A show based on surgeons and their medical cases allows one to feel as if they could one day do this profession. Although this may be an unrealistic dream for many of us, the show is full of cliff hangers and plot twists that make it impossible to stop watching.

Genre: Drama, Suspense, Mystery, Romance An insight into our own government and the workings that seem to make everything go smoothly interests many in the TV drama, Scandal. Filled with shocking love affairs and a perspective on our government that many don’t get to see make this show easy to binge watch as well. Kerri Washington serves as a “fixer” to scandals that are caused by politicians or those on the political scene, but has a connection to the white house (including an affair with the president) that ties in

even more drama. Although the show may become unrealistic at times, it’s hard to notice as you are constantly intrigued by the plot line filled with unpredictable twists and turns that all involve the U.S. government. Politics may seem like a boring subject, but Scandal makes it easy to absorb how the government works while also providing mystery, violence, and romance. Netflix has all four seasons adding up to about 60 shows allowing for an intense binge watch that will have you clicking on “next episode” continuously.

Genre: Action/Adventure, drama Based off of DC Comics’ Green Arrow The show follows Oliver Queen, a rich playboy who finds himself stranded after the boat that his father, Sarah Lance, Oliver and a few others after their boat crashes. Oliver, his dad and one other man are the only survivors. After Oliver’s dad dies, he tells his son to right his wrongs. After being stranded on an island for five years his goal is to take down the people that wronged his city, and he becomes a vigilante in a green hood.

Why is it so addicting? Oliver survives something that should have killed him and he’s carrying out his late father’s wishes. It shows how Oliver

is coping with constantly lying to his family and to the world, they see his actions as a crime, not as what Oliver considers to be justice. Everyone can relate to different characters on different levels. If you find yourself relating to Oliver, maybe you’ve dealt with the loss of a family member or gone through something that turned your world upside down. Maybe you’d do whatever it takes to protect the ones you love at whatever the cost without putting others at risk. Or maybe you relate to Laurel, Oliver’s ex-girlfriend, a lawyer. She fights for what she believes in and lost her sister in the same accident that left Oliver stranded on an island for five years.

3 SCANDAL

4 ARROW

‘This isn’t Twilight, people.’

Artwork by Esmeralda Harvey.

HERE’S SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR NETFLIX SHOWS TO WASTE YOUR TWO-WEEK BREAK ON (SINCE WE KNOW YOU WON’T GET OUT OF BED MUCH ANYWAY)

1

Faria Ashlynn Peters { Lizzie News Reporter { Culture Editor

Jones { Kaylin Copy Editor

‘The Hunger Games: MockingjayPart 1’ is more like a whole whopping two hours and three minutes of Team Gale vs. Team Peeta.

This isn’t Twilight, people. I repeat.

This is not Twilight.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m an avid fan of the book series by Suzanne Collins and the movie trilogy (what can I say? I’m a sucker for a strong female lead), but there was a stark contrast between The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and the first half of the final installment. Of course there was, as always promised with this series, a ton of senseless killings, but rather than trying to figure out who would make it out of the arena alive, it was about something larger, grander, such as taking down the Capital.

Unfortunately, that aspect of the film was lost.

Katniss Everdeen has survived yet another Games, but rather than returning to Victor’s Village in hopes of pursuing whatever a normal life is in Panem, she finds that District 12 has been blown to smithereens. It’s then revealed that District 13, where the survivors from 12 take refuge, has been around all along. It’s there that an uprising begins and ignites a fire throughout all of Panem, with the exception of the Capitol, of course.

Trust me, I love a good, just revolution, but rather than talking about the beautiful acts of selflessness that took place for a greater cause, I found myself arguing with a friend on whether or not Katniss should

STUDENT REVIEWS MOCKINGJAY PART ONE MOVIE be with Peeta or Gale. Instead of praising Katniss for overcoming the horror that is her life and rising up to become a symbol of hope-the Mockingjay, I was more focused on the mess of romances. The things that matter most were easily overshadowed by things that weren’t nearly as significant.

The love triangle between our leading lady, her best friend and her so called lover has run its course throughout the entire franchise, but it wasn’t until this particular film that it really came into focus.

Why? Because there was nothing distracting me from it. I wasn’t crying for Rue like in The Hunger Games. I wasn’t distraught whenever Katniss found out she was going back into

the Games like in Catching Fire. Here and there, there’d be brief moments of romantic competition in the first two films, but it definitely boiled over in this particular one.

Unnecessary things that might have served a purpose in the book were a waste of time in the movie, causing it to be longer than it really should have been. Scenes like Gale and Katniss finally hunting again felt more like fillers rather than contributions to the telling of the story. I’ve seen way too many books that have been transformed into scripts, and I know all too well that screenwriters have no problem eliminating certain aspects of an author’s original work so it’s more suitable for the big screen.

On the other hand, I

wholeheartedly applaud the cast.

Jennifer Lawrence, who portrays Katniss, all but ripped my heart out when she sat along the river and sang The Hanging Tree, or in moments when the character’s emotions finally got the best of her, especially whenever the line ‘I lost them both’ was delivered. Peeta’s (Josh Hutcherson) reunion with Katniss was equally as powerful as it was terrifying. And don’t even get me started on Finnick Ordair’s (Sam Claflin) return to his true love, Annie.

It was the minor things about the film that I appreciated the most.

In the end, Mockingjay- Part 1 had the makings of a mind blowing, compelling, outstanding narrative, but it was just simply nothing more than okay.

14 opinion

12.16.14

Infinite boundaries

Parker {Valerie Assistant Opinion Editor I plan to go skydiving within the next few months, and although the threat of not making it safely to the bottom is quite nailbiting, I won’t let it stop me.

Skydiving may be a favorite on people’s bucket list, and they’ll talk and plan about one day flying freely through the air, but let’s be honest: hardly anyone ever gets around to it. Maybe it’s insecurity or just their fear of heights, but a problem I’ve noticed lately we are becoming less open-minded. Is there an invisible seal closing in on our brains, one that’s slowly putting a stop to free thinking?

If so, I’m a bit concerned.

We are human. We’re simply born to die.

It’s a fact of life that we can’t escape, and we live to make our lives meaningful. So we shouldn’t we close the door to sprouting new ideas and experiencing new moments that hold the possibility to change our lives. We’re here for some sort of purpose, depending on our beliefs, but I’m sure we can all agree we’re meant to live life to our full capacities. I use skydiving as an example because so many out there are opposed to the idea of jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet. Completely

understandable.

But think of it this way, let’s say it changed your life for the better. All it would take is a good few minutes up in the air with the wind sweeping against your face and adrenaline racing through your body to change your outlook on life. In my eyes that seems very appealing.

The great thing is, it doesn’t have to be skydiving. It can be anything that you normally would second guess. My advice is do it. We have one life to live and staying within my boundaries just isn’t something that sounds good to me. I want to exceed the limits of my mind and push myself to be as open as possible. In the future, I’d rather look back on those memories with a knowing smile then regret not accomplishing something important because of a mere insecurity.

Next time a new situation arises, which trust me it will, instead of handling it how you normally do, try tackling it another way. Why not? This doesn’t mean go wild and throw away all morals and limitations. There’s a difference between living freely and acting on impulse.

But approach it with a determination you didn’t

DAREDEVIL ENCOURAGES MOVING OUTSIDE ONE’S COMFORT ZONE

know you possessed and the results might come as a surprise.

My point is life will throw some pretty heavy rocks at your face and there’s no avoiding it. You can’t hide, but you can take full advantage of it while it’s here. Spread your wings and fly, you can do it. Push past the fears and see where you land. A very silly fear of

mine is cockroaches, but I know one day I’ll be able to conquer the urge to scream every time I see one.

Live your life how you wish. All I’m giving is a bit of advice. It’s up to you what you decide to do. That is the life that calls me. What about you?

Artwork by Emme Enojado.

Books that discuss ‘real’ Banned books In Texas topics should not be banned { Julia Ryza Sports Editor

{

Amalia Trevino Assistant News Editor

I hadn’t really been concerned with censorship in schools until the topic was brought up by a fellow peer in newspaper.

But now that I’ve read some articles concerning the issue, such as what books were banned and why, I find myself torn.

As an avid reader, which I’ve been as long as I can remember, I’ve never had books withheld from me. I lugged the Harry Potter books around and finished the series in about two months during second grade. I read The Glass Castle, a novel assigned to us juniors, in sixth grade. My parents trusted me to make the right choices regarding what I read, and although I can’t say I always made the right ones, I can honestly say that I knew when something went beyond me and was always mature enough to put the book down.

I can see both sides of this issue, because while I know I don’t want my kids stumbling upon

questionable things in their school libraries, I can’t imagine having books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which I fell in love with but has been banned all around America, put out of reach.

It’s understandable that parents may not want their kids exposed to “sexual” content, but when it comes to other topics that have been banned in some schools, such as homosexuality, war and poverty issues, I feel as though the leash should be loosened a bit. The Perks, which was banned for homosexuality, drugs/alcohol, and for being “sexually explicit”is about high school, things that we have come across but not necessarily dabbled in. It’s real life.

Withholding such things, I think, encourages discrimination and ignorance. These things are relevant, and very real, and it’s important that kids know what’s in the real world, which they’ll be tossed into after just a few short years.

I get why parents may want to shelter their kids and therefore protest their access to certain books, but I think if they’re, and the school who are supposedly preparing generation Y for “the real world” shouldn’t try and hide pieces of it.

Do you have something you want to speak out about? Send a letter to the editor to the Reporter staff. Bring it to Room 2005 and we will print it in our next issue or email it to Lillian.Harris@cfisd.net

The Taste of the Night by R. L. Stine Bad Kitty Christmas

by Nick Bruel Ttfn by Lauren Myracle L8r, g8r by Lauren ..

Myracle arvey lda H a r e y Esm Enter 3 Witches: A Story ork b w t r A of Macbeth by Caroline B. Cooney A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane The Salem Witch Trial: A Reference by David K. Goss The Reformed Vampire Support by Catherine Jinks Cliques byJen Jones Drama byRaina Telgemeier

31% 0 Books at Cy-fair are banned

Of books were banned out of the total of books challenged in 2014 in Texas.

15

12.15.14

Editor in Chief Natalie Berry Co-Editor in Chief Harper Neitzey Managing Editor Will Davis

STAFF

The Reporter

opinion STAFF EDITORIAL

Losing time

&Losing sleep

Culture Editor Ashlynn Peters News Editor Wafa Kazmi Copy Editor Kaylin Jones Life Editor Karman Amdal Sports EditorJulia Ryza Graphics Editor Ryan Steppe Opinion Editor Emme Enojado Business Manager Will Mattinson Assistant Section Editors Amalia Trevino, John Sanchez, Maddie Pierce, Valerie Parker Reporters , Artists Cody Brown, Lizzie Faria, Gillian Lane, Audrey Grey, Esmeralda Harvey Adviser Lillian Harris Our Policy The Reporter is a Cy-Fair High School student publication.

Its purpose is to inform and entertain the student body and faculty, and also to serve as a lab for students enrolled in advanced journalism classes.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the entire Reporter staff, the Cy-Fair High School faculty and staff, the Cy-Fair Independent School District or the school board. The Reporter maintains the right to refuse any goods or services that it deems inappropriate for teenagers. The Reporter is a Quill and Scroll, TAJE, NSPA, and JEA member. Cy-Fair is located at 22602 Hempstead Highway Cypress, TX 77429.

The journalism office can be reached at (281) 897-4658 or Lillian.Harris@cfisd.net.

Artwork by: Emme Enojado

After awaking to the aggravating racket cleverly named the alarm clock, you squint through your eyelids and drowsily search for the time. Realizing that you have less than 20 minutes to squish in getting dressed, brushing teeth, and maybe some breakfast, you leap off the comfort of your bed.

Seven hours of wishing you could be anywhere but in a classroom later, you come home greeted by a lump of, that’s right, homework.

This scenario doesn’t even include extracurricular activities.

Many students in sports or band demand hours of before and/or after school practices. Getting home at the break of night is especially unappealing for these students. Although falling asleep postmidnight is now considered normal to us, it truly isn’t healthy.

A study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims that nearly 70 percent of teens aren’t getting the recommended sleep time of 8.5-9.5 hours, and a National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America poll reported that 25 percent of teens fall asleep during class.

Now, let’s do our favorite subject: math. CFISD high school campuses start promptly at 7:25. Assuming that you must wake up at 6 a.m., this means that we need to be asleep by 9:30 in order for

our brains to operate to their full potential.

This expectation is honestly highly unrealistic, specifically when plugging in the perpetual loads of homework.

It’s understandable that educators want to prepare us for “the real world”, but it shouldn’t be to the point where we get less than four hours of sleep per day. We shouldn’t be constantly physically and mentally drained and struggling to focus on a simple problem simply because we try to complete our homework and make a desirable grade. What’s most upsetting is that regardless of how much time we spend studying, if we sacrifice sleep time to study more than normal, we’ll have greater difficulties understanding the material and more prone to concentrate in class.

The only logical solution (that is, without teachers reducing the overwhelming amount of homework) is to set back the time that school starts. Despite the fact that we would be released at a later time, starting school at, say, 8:15, will allow our brains to be more alert and ready to learn.

But since starting school at a later time would conflict with the middle school’s bus routes and such a drastic change is frightening, this probably won’t happen anytime soon.

In the meantime, let’s try to manage our time better. Let’s try to defeat the inevitable procrastination. Let’s try to be those “perfect” students and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get the magic 8.5 hours of sleep.

ALMOST 70 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED. WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

16 photo essay

e all ride sch l

orses t

12.16.14

Brown { Cody Reporter

Loud and Proud. Junior Taylor Kuykendahl rides to school in his 1986 Chevrolet C10.

“It’s a pretty truck and people like how it looks,” Kuykendahl said. Because the truck is an older model, Kuykendahl has cleaned up the interior and fixed the top part of the engine. Photo by Cody Brown.

Stickers make it faster, so does an intake valve. Junior Braden Mondshine revs up his 1993 Nissan 300zx Twin-Turbo. “The easiest upgrades are intake and exhaust, then a tune-up, and depending on your car you can go from there,” Mondshine said.

Mondshine upgraded the components in December and will finish upgrades by adding 400 horsepower to the wheels.

Photo by Cody Brown.

America’s super car. Junior Lexi Garland drives a 2000 Corvette C5. “The reason I wanted one is because everyone in my family has owned one and [Corvettes have] always been my favorite car,” Garland said. Garland has only upgraded the exhaust system and does not plan on adding any more upgrades soon. Photo by Cody Brown.