The Reporter, Cy-Fair HS, Issue 6, May 3, 2016, Vol. 69

the

REPORTER Volume 69

Cy-Fair High School

Issue 6

May 3, 2016

THERE’S NO PLATE LIKE HOME Bobcat baseball leads district Pg. 6

WELCOME TO HOUSTON Explore all the activities Houston has to offer Pg. 14

ATTEMPT TO END CHILD OBESITY FAILS Why National School Lunch Programs have failed miserably Pg. 19

A flood to remember

For more in-depth coverage and photo credits, see ‘Bobcat Fight Never Drowns,” pages 10-11

@cyfairpress

22602 Hempstead Hwy Cypress, TX 77429

www.cyfairreporter.com

02

INTRO

To Our Readers

In a span of less than two days, Houston and surrounding areas were hit with a year’s worth of rain: 15-17 inches to be exact.

While CFISD students enjoyed a week off from school, many sadly lost their homes, belongings - and some even lost their lives.

Cy-Fair received some of the worst water damage, along with 56 other district schools affected by the massive storm.

Despite the overwhelming flooding, devastation and loss, we saw Texans at their best. Citizens who owned boats went into flooded roads to rescue those who were trapped, and hundreds have volunteered their time at churches and organizations to help with the clean up. Shelters were overflowing with donations.

Whatever challenges our school, our community, our state and our country may face, we have shown how Texans take care of one another.

Emme Enojado Co-Editor in Chief Julia Ryza Co-Editor in Chief

Future Business Leaders of America offers insight into world of business BLAKE NALL reporter

Computer programming teacher Marti Peddicord sponsors the Future Business Leaders of America club, also known as FBLA, a club that teaches students about the reality of business and competition in the real world.

Started two years ago, the club has been taking its 60 member students to state and national level competitions.

According to Peddicord, FBLA improves students’ networking skills and grants valuable experience for the business world. FBLA was a club in the past, but it wasn’t until Peddicord took it up with some of her students that it really took off again.

“I think it was here a long time ago, but it hasn’t really been at Cy-Fair. So, I took the initiative, I had a couple of kids who wanted to do it,” Peddicord said.

Any FBLA member can enter the district and state competitions, but only the winners of the state competitions may compete at

the national level.

“We had a district competition and everyone was invited to the state competition in Houston.

The winners were Koustubh, Michael and Gunnar,” Peddicord said. “Three boys were invited to go to nationals which is in the summer time.”

Sophomores Gunnar Gregurek, Koustubh Nyshadham and junior Michael Peroutek placed in the state competition earlier this year, and as a result they are allowed to compete at the national level. Gregurek placed in Intro to IT, and Nyshadham and Peroutek placed in Web Design.

“It’s been a really good learning experience,” Peddicord said. “Even if you’re a doctor, you go out on your own and you still need to know how to do business.

Anybody who’s interested in any kind of business and wants to learn about the world, competitions and networking should join the club.”

5. 3. 16

NEWS

Interview. Junior John Mobida is interviewed by Ms. Peddicord for a leadership position in FBLA..

Photo by Blake Nall.

Represent. The YLPA team receives f irst place trophy for the Step Show Extravaganza.

Photo courtesy Tashanda Franklin

SYLPAt eANDp YMPA p i nPLACE ’ oFIRST n up AND SECOND AT COMPETITION LILY ADAM reporter

The Step Team brought home the gold on Feb. 4 by placing first in the Step Show Extravaganza at Lone Star College, and once again, with the YMPA boys Step Team placing second in the district competition on April 9.

“When it’s competition season, we just practice a lot.

We’ll extend our practices.

Usually they end around four but sometimes we’ll practice until six,” four year Step team veteran, senior Chara Tatum said. “Our team has 12 girls and eight boys. We all get to help choreograph the performances and pitch Infographic by Alex White

in a little bit, but the captain, Lasonta Jackson, has the final say.”

Step team promotes positive attitudes and actions of young people according to Tatum.

“Never stop trying. What I mean by that, is always try your very best. You never know where it could go. The way step is set up, we have formations. If you try your hardest, you can get a spot in the front of the formation. If that’s what you really want, never stop trying for that.

Always push yourself,” Tatum said.

Jackson and Tatum agreed that pep rallies are the best memory from being on the team.

“We have about six step routines, one performance and one dance prepared for competition,” said Jackson.

“To prepare for competition, as the step master, I have to plan the whole show out, and check it over with our sponsor, Mrs. Franklin. Then I start teaching step by step, break it down and make sure everyone knows the routine.

And then just start piecing the show together in order.”

5. 3. 16

NEWS

Turkeys, swine and goats, oh my!

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FFA MEMBERS PLACE IN CFISD LIVESTOCK SHOW LAURYN WALKER reporter

Future Farmers of America won 45 awards in the 22nd Annual CFISD Livestock Show and Sale on Feb. 4-6.

“District wide, there were over 1000 entries, Cy-Fair having over 150 entries,” FFA Advisor Roni Sadler said.

FFA students were excited for this show because it allowed them to showcase and be rewarded for their hard work.

“This is basically where we get to show them off and present them against other schools and it’s kind of like a competition,” said FFA reporter junior Ciara Hall.

At the show, awards were given, such as grand champion, for a variety of animals as well as agriculture mechanics projects. FFA members were awarded for their turkeys, swines, goats and even agriculture mechanics projects.

There were more than 45 students who received recognition for their

animals and agriculture mechanics projects. The judges chose the ones with the best qualities.

Senior Bobby Baker was one of FFA’s winners at the Livestock show.

Baker had his swine for four months in which he fed and trained it.

Baker’s efforts were rewarded at the Livestock Show.

“I walked it around and mine was chosen. I got first place in my class, a blue ribbon, for my pig,” Baker said.

“It was competitive and exciting. It was a lot of hard work.”

Baker also received eighth place for his steer.

FFA president senior Brent Gwinn, won Grand Champion Agricultural Mechanics project for his 24’ Equipment Hauler.

“The gratification I received for putting in hard work the past four years was all worth it,” Gwinn said.

“FFA has taught me that you must work hard to achieve a goal if you want to see results.”

Rounding Up Awards: Cy-Fair FFA participates in the 22nd Annual Livestock Show from Feb. 4-6: (from left): Charles Behrend, Simon Wheeler, Advisor Heather Striplin, Advisor Roni Sadler, Advisor Jason Reue, Advisor Tabetha McKinney, McKenzie Peet, Andrea Bolander; Kneeling: Bobby Baker and Dalton Kowis. Photo provided by Roni Sadler

Creativity’s the new cool

ART STUDENTS ADVANCE TO STATE IN VASE COMPETITION BRI GONZALEZ life editor

Art students Sabrina Sommer, Gillian Lane and Megan Fang advanced to the State level of the Visual Arts Scholastic Event on Apr. 22-23 at James Madison High School in San Antonio.

Having advanced from both the Regional Event and the Area Event held in January, these girls have had a long, anxious wait. According to the official VASE website, students from schools in the 20 educational regions of Texas are invited to participate in their Regional Event. The students are interviewed and their artworks are juried by certified, professional TAEA jurors. A Rating IV is the mark of a superior, exemplary, work of art. This qualifies the student to be entered into the VASE Area Event. After the jury process is complete, the artworks that qualify to participate are then processed for the State Event.

Senior Gillian Lane said that though the wait was long and nerve-wracking, the sense of accomplishment she gained from advancing was worth it.

“What I get from it is knowing that my art must be good,” Lane said.

“It’s one thing to have your friends telling you ‘oh that’s pretty cool’, but it’s amazing to have actual judges

think your work is good enough to go to state.”

Lane’s piece was a brass and copper necklace made to look like a dragon. Lane said that she had a lot of fun making the piece, and her love of dragons fueled her inspiration and motivation.

“I love art, I really love dragons,”

that what I’ve made has had such a positive response, since when I look at my work I only really think of things that could’ve made it better,” Sommer said.

Sommer’s piece was a digitally edited, black and white photo of a girl with various different facial expressions, each one overlapped

Fair Art Department to call home.

“Art class is the place that I really try to forget about everything else and just focus on art,” Sommer said.

“It’s sort of a safe place where I can go and ignore all the stressful things that come with being a junior in high school.”

Senior Megan Fang said although

Soaring To The Top: Senior Gillian Lane created a jewelery piece made of brass in the shape of a dragon.

Two-Faced: Junior Sabrina Sommer took and edited a photo to show a girl’s multiple emotions all at once.

Color Crazy: Senior Meghan Fang uses paint and newspaper to make a statement.

Lane said. “It worked out pretty well.”

As for junior Sabrina Sommer, she is also quite pleased by the judge’s approval of her piece, especially since she looks at her own work with a harsh, critiquing eye.

“I sometimes feel pretty shocked

onto the other.

“The concept of it was supposed to show how people have and hide different sides of themselves,” Sommer said.

Sommer said that above all, she is grateful to have a place like the Cy

she is proud of herself, she’s not her own biggest fan when it comes to art.

“I’m proud of my accomplishments, but I generally don’t like my work,” said Fang. “I think it’s a struggle that all artists go through that never really goes away.”

Photo by Bri Baiza

Photo by Bri Baiza

Photo by Meghan Fang

It was her struggle as an artist and artists everywhere that inspired her mixed media piece, called “Crazy Artist: Media Construct?”, using paint and newspaper on cardboard.

Playing on the word “construct”, she constructed a deranged artist from newspaper with stereotypical “crazy” artist labels.

“It was inspired by interpretations of modern art and by notoriously ‘crazy’ artists such as Salvador Dali,” Fang said, “I created a piece that raises the question of whether artists are truly crazier than the general populace or if their craziness is mainly created by the media. The newspaper labels integrated into the artist’s body shows that the media is an inescapable part of an artist’s life, whether it makes them seem crazier or not.”

As for how art has affected her life, Fang said that she sometimes hates it as much as she loves it.

“I hate how I hardcore prioritize it over everything else and have plenty of nearly sleepless nights because of it,” said Fang. “But art gives me those warm feelings that usually only bread and aggressively fluffy cats give me.”

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5. 3. 16

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5. 3. 16

NEWS

Welding

rior e t In

A look into

Projects

ELECTIVES

Sophomore Mason Lalone welds a piece of metal.

Photo by Bri Gonzalez

made by interior design students.

STUDENTS SHARE, DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS THROUGH ELECTIVE COURSES BRI GONZALEZ life editor

WELDING TEACHES LIFE SKILLS Welding teacher Michael Griffin said the class allows students to learn valuable skills that they can use later in life.

“Welding is a skill you can use right out of school, and make a decent salary,” Griffin said. “It’s also valuable for a

student who may be interested in being an entrepreneur, or you can even pick up a welding job to pay your way through college.

You never have to worry about making money with a job like welding.”

A

rt History A P Art History teacher Jerilyn Muster, stands next to a poster of Mona Lisa.

Photo by Bri Gonzalez.

ART CLASS BROADENS HORIZONS Junior Priya Nair loves Art History because it combines her love of art with her love of learning.

“Art history is amazing because, as someone who loves art, it’s really cool to learn about where the paintings come from and how they’re made,” Nair said, “Learning about the different artists and eras of art makes visiting museums a thousand times better because now I actually know the history behind what I see.”

According to Jerilyn Muster, the teacher of this elective course, taking the

class broadens horizons and helps students gain a deeper perspective of art not only in the past, but all around them.

“Studying art history allows students to look at our visual past and gives us a broader view of the world and greater appreciation of different cultures and their history,” Muster said, “ Art history gives you skills in visual literacy, value of other cultures, suspending judgment, and appreciating aesthetic pleasure by looking at amazing sculptures, paintings and architecture.”

Design

05

Photo by Bri Gonzalez.

DESIGN CLASS OFFERS HOUSE BUILDING TIPS Jamie Marik-Hall, an interior design instructor, said Inter Design prepares students for real life experiences if they choose a career in the fields related to interior design.

“It helps them understand the process of building and designing livable spaces,” Marik-Hall said. “Most everyone will have to live somewhere someday. They might as

Projects made by interior design students.

Photo by Bri Gonzalez.

well make it inhabitable.”

According to junior Rachel Manalili, the class provides her with a sense of security in knowing that she’ll be ready when the time comes to get her own home.

“I’ll be more prepared when I get my own place,” Manalili said. “I’ve definitely learned how to decorate a great room.”

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5. 3. 16

SPORTS

There’s no plate like home BASEBALL LEADS DISTRICT EDWARD CATEN reporter

They played their biggest rival Cypress Ranch for their fifth and sixth district game of the season, losing 4-0, but coming back the next game to win 8-7.

Last season, Cypress Ranch won their second state title, leaving the Bobcats in the third round of the playoffs in district 17-6A, who went on to lose against Langham Creek, ending their chance to make it to state.

But that was last year, with different players and different competition. With the Bobcats ranked first in the district and third in the state, they plan to not let that go.

Yet the same rivalry remains, and the win for the Bobcats this season to make the score even means something big.

Senior infielder and catcher Beau Orlando agrees that Ranch is a big competitor for the baseball team and it means a lot to him beating Ranch this year.

“After what happened last year, they had so much hype and we felt a little more revenge. I mean they went on to win state last year but we beat them twice,” Orlando said.

As of April 26 with two more games to go, the Bobcats stand at 12 - 2.

“We constantly remind ourselves on the things we’ve done to get us here at

this point and not to forget that because in the game of baseball it can change really quickly. You could be at the top one month and the next be at the bottom,” Head Coach Paul Orlando said.

Orlando’s most memorable game is when they came back and defeated Cypress Ranch and Cypress Lakes.

“We swept Cypress Ranch last year,” Orlando said. “But they went on to win the state championship. I would trade those two wins in the regular season for that playoff win.

Yes, they were blessed and fortunate to win state, but that was last year. We split with them this year. It was a great feeling to defeat them at home, and I know the guys have bigger goals and we hope that they are blessed enough to make it into the playoffs and have a great run.”

Beau committed to Navarro Junior College on Jan. 27 to play baseball. He has been playing baseball 15 years and he is in his 3rd year on varsity.

Senior pitcher Kyle Allen has been playing for 14 years and is exploring his options to play college ball.

“We’re definitely one whole, there’s no ‘me’ in a our program,” Kyle said.

“Everyone is playing for each other and it’s pretty much just like a family. We all care for each other.”

Sophomore outfielder and catcher Peyton Lewis hasn’t

thought about what college he is possibly going to play for, but he hopes to play after high school. Lewis has been playing for 12 years and is in his first year on varsity.

“I play the best I can in any way to help my teammates succeed with any support they need. We’re a really good team and I believe we can go far if we believe,” Lewis said.

The team is facing different challenges when it comes to defending the plate and batting on the field. They are trying to find the skills that resolve these certain obstacles.

“The main challenge that both the offense and defense face is execution,” Orlando said. “In order to execute offensively we talk about having quality at bats and hitting in a certain situation in a game for the team. For the defense side of it, it obviously starts with the pitcher on the mound throwing strikes, but once that ball is put into play, the defense reacting and make a clean play behind the pitcher.”

Senior and pitcher Clay Allen is playing his last season of baseball from 13 years on playing ball to study Maritime administration at Texas A&M University Galveston. The main challenge for the offense and defense is commitment.

“Coming out to play every day, I’d say is the biggest challenge,” Clay said. “We have the talent, we just got to keep working as hard as we can.”

Three up three down Senior Blake Critendon prepares to f ield the ball during their Cypress Ranch game on March 29. Photo by Madison Murray.

Few times I’ve been around that track GET TO KNOW THE BOBCAT RUNNING STARS Photos by Alex White

ALEX WHITE public relations

Elizabeth Owolabi: freshman

Kylie McMahon: junior

Q: What do you do?

A: Shot put Q: Pump Up Songs?

A: “Baby” by Justin Bieber

Q: What do you do?

A: 100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, 4x4 relay Q: Pump Up Songs?

A: “Confident” by Demi Lovato

Kassidy Gore: sophomore

Harrison Wilhelm: junior

Q: What do you do?

A: 100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles Q: Pump Up Songs?

A: Fall out boy and twenty one pilots

Q: What do you do?

A: Pole vault, 4x1 Relay Q: Pump Up Songs?

A: Seven Nation Army

5. 3. 16

SPORTS

Swimmin’ through college SENIORS GRANTED SCHOLARSHIP HONORING MAEVE GIARDINA

Going for the goal Senior Angela Kelley throws the ball to one of her teammates during a match Photo by Diego Martinez EMME ENOJADO co editor-in-chief

It looked like just another water polo tournament.

Blue sky, sunlight glistening off the surface of the water, the booming voices of coaches, the whistle of the referee, and cheers from the parents watching from the stands.

But one thing was different, out of the ordinary.

Half of the players were wearing a rainbow of neon colored tutus- the other, crazy patterned knee-high socks.

It was the first annual Maeve the Brave tournament, hosted by the Maeve the Brave Scholarship Fund, a three day long gathering of water polo in remembrance of Maeve Giardina, a 14 year old swimmer and water polo player for Cy-Creek High School who passed away last year after a tragic golf cart accident. Giardina loved wearing tutus and crazy socks, and the players did the same in honor of her. Eight players from the tournament, all seniors, received a scholarship with an amount that is yet to be determined.

Out of the eight, two were co-captains for our own girls’ water polo team, Angela Kelley and Jacy Phariss.

“I was pleasantly surprised to be a winner of

the scholarship and felt very grateful towards Maeve’s parents for choosing me as one of the recipients,” Kelley said.

Kelley and Phariss are both varsity swimmers and have been in the pool since a young age, but were equally new to the sport when they first started. Kelley took a splash at water polo her freshman year when she “first found out it existed”, and Phariss her sophomore year.

Quickly falling in love with water polo, both moved up to play club with Viper Pigeons Water Polo, competing year round and playing in the Junior Olympics in California in the summers after their sophomore and junior years.

The two co-captains have worked intensely with the rest of the team, placing them 5th in the region.

“They both would encourage the team and pick them up after a loss, and push us through to win games we thought we could not win,” head coach Hannah Dore said.

Between 6 a.m. practices and three-day long tournaments an hour drive away, Kelley and Phariss have learned the essentialness of teamwork and created friendships tighter than their

water polo suits all through playing a game they love.

“Getting to lead the girls in and out of the pool is amazing,” Phariss said. “It’s probably the best feeling teaching everyone a sport that I fell in love with and watching them get better and better with every game.”

Sophomore and varsity goalie Dalton Courtney is especially thankful for all of Angela and Jacy’s encouragement. “They were so helpful when anyone needed it in practice,” Courtney said.

“We wouldn’t be the team we are without them.”

Unfortunately, Phariss will not be continuing the sport in college as Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the school she will be attending, does not have a team. Kelley, who will be entering Texas A&M College Station, plans to play on their intramural team.

“Playing water polo has taught me a lot about teamwork and has beensomething that I have really enjoyed participating in over the past four years,” Kelley said. “I love the sport and all of the people I have become friends with through it. I could not imagine how my life would be if I had never started playing.”

Follow us on Twitter @cyfairpress for Bobcat sports updates.

07

Infograph by Claire Mynatt

Prepare for the win Senior Jacy Phariss holds the ball to watch for her teammates during one of their matches.

Photo by Diego Martinez

08 LIFE

5. 3. 16

Balancing act

JUNIOR COMPETES IN GYMNASTICS COMPETITIONS JULIA RYZA co editor-in-chief

She approaches the fourinch wide balance beam, with loud, chaotic cheering humming in the background from the four other events happening in the gym at once.

The judges call her to the beam, and she waits for the salute to begin her routine.

Naturally her nerves begin to take over.

But for the next minute and a half, muscle memory propels her forward with graceful turns and leaps comprising the act of the balance beam.

The intense focus and control required during a balance beam performance is what made junior Jensen Lacagnina’s favorite event of the four gymnastic competitions.

“Every event you do your own routine,” Lacagnina said.

“I did all four- bars, beam, floor but my favorite was beam. I just like how you just focus on really having control but making it look as graceful as possible.”

Fourteen years of Lacagnina’s life consisted of year round training and

eventually competing at a competition level.

“I really liked the two gyms I was at. They want you to have fun but do your best. They want that family environment. That’s the gymnastics route I took,” Lacagnina said.

For three and half hours, five to six times a week Lacagnina practiced at the gym.

“However much you put in, whatever you do is what you’ll get out of it,” Lacagnina said.

Despite the intense rigor and training of gymnastics, one of the hardest challenges Lacagnina faced was moving from her first gym at Houston North Gymnastics to Mazeika Gymnastics.

“In 2010 when my first gym closed down, going to the new gym was the hardest thing, ever. They were like family.” Lacagnina said.

Lacagnina would go on to compete in more than 50 competitions in her career, and in her last one in 2015 she even placed.

“My last competition ever I won 3rd on beam, which

Living a legacy

Poise, placement, perfection. Junior Jensen Lacagnina performs a backf lip on a balance beam during a gymnastics competition. Photo courtesy of Jensen Lacagnina. was really awesome for me because the past couple of competitions I hadn’t had anybody to compete against,” Lacagnina said. “I got 3rd out of the state and there was like 25 girls I was against, so that was really awesome.”

Lacagnina’s coach of seven years Sarah Wysocki saw how Lacagnina stood out as a gymnast.

“She always set goals to achieve and was constantly focused. She came into the gym everyday ready to work,” Wysocki said. “In over 10 years of coaching, she was the most respectful gymnast I have ever worked with.”

But spring of 2015 would be the last time Lacagnina would compete.

“For about two years I had a lot of back pain, but I just

kind of thought like ‘Oh it’s gymnastics,’” Lacagnina said.

“Almost everybody has back pain because of how much we go backwards. And then in about May or April of 2015 it was getting severely worse.”

That summer Lacagnina finally saw a doctor.

“After an MRI and X-Rays they found out that I had two cracks at the bottom of my spine and two ligament tears also, cause my spine had kind of slipped forward a little bit,” Lacagnina said. “It’s permanent also, so I couldn’t do really anything to make it better.”

Lacagnina was confused, part of her didn’t want to give up yet, but she started to think about the possible frustrations about not being at the level she wanted to be.

“The doctor said I could keep competing but I probably wouldn’t be able to be at the level, and I would only be able to do the back tumbling once a week,” Lacagnina said.

Lacagnina decided that going in twice a week and doing basic gymnastics was better than dropping the sport completely.

“I just wanted to go in and do whatever I can,” Lacagnina said.

For her mother Kim Lacagnina, her decision proved to be an equally difficult matter.

“My heart broke for her,” Kim said. “I was sad that my child had an injury, especially one that was going to keep her from being able to participate competitively in a sport she loved.”

But Jensen still finds herself coming to the gym twice a week, doing small workouts and practices on the beam and tumbling.

Despite the disappointment that comes with leaving competition level sport, Jensen learned how important gymnastics had been in her life, and watching her fellow gymnasts gives her hope for her future.

“Stepping out of being in the competition and the stress, it actually helped me love gymnastics even more, because I love watching the other girls get their skills, and I love doing gymnastics without the stress,” Jensen said.

“I’ve been able to look back at gymnastics and really see all that it’s taught me.”

SENIOR EARNS ACCEPTANCE TO WEST POINT ACADEMY

HANNAH WOODRUM reporter

We salute you. Senior Cira Wolf is one of two Cy-Fair 2016 graduates who was accepted into West Point Military Academy.

James Richie will also be attending. Photo by Hannah Woodrum

Following in her sister’s footsteps, senior Cira Wolf got accepted into West Point Military Academy in January 2016.

“I mainly applied because my sister graduated from there in 2014, and my uncle went there. So it’s kind of like a family thing and it just felt right to apply there,” Wolf said.

Getting accepted into West Point was a major relief for her but is also caused nerves to erupt.

“It was a really good feeling. It’s a relief to know that I’m going but at the same time I’m scared on how I’m going to do there” Wolf said.

Getting into West Point isn’t easy to get into either.

“It’s fairly hard to get into.

You have to have a good

SAT score, then you have to physical fitness test and you have to get a nomination from a congressman,” Wolf said.

She applied to three other colleges, but West Point was her first choice.

“I only applied to three schools West Point, Yale and Harvard,” Wolf said.

She finished her application before Thanksgiving and got her nomination in December.

“I finished my application a little bit before Thanksgiving then got my nomination in December. In January I found out from West Point I got accepted,” Wolf said.

This hasn’t made a huge impact on her life, but it has helped her set out her career for years to come.

“Yes, I guess it has changed my life like it has helped me

setup my career for the next nine years which is a pretty big thing” Wolf said.

Military has been something she has been looking into for the future.

“It’s probably going to end up being a career for me,” Wolf said.

West Point has its own meaning to her.

“It’s something that really builds your character and leadership because you get to work as a team together but it also tests you and pushes you to break out your shell,” Wolf said.

Her family is her biggest inspiration into achieving this goal.

“Definitely my family. My older sister helped me with my application and my family has been there supporting me throughout the whole thing,”

Wolf said.

The hardest part for her was the physical part. The physical part of getting into West Point consist of pushups, sit-ups, and a two mile timed run.

“The physical part was probably the hardest part for me but it motivated myself to work out” Wolf said.

Much of what she did in high school has helped her get where she is today.

“I took ROTC for three years and I did a whole bunch of leadership positions. I also joined the tennis team sophomore year and I’ve been on varsity for the past two years. And also different clubs the Environmental Club, NHS, Student Council and stuff like that to get service hours,” Wolf said.

5. 3. 16

LIFE

!

E Z E FRE

THIS IS THE PUN POLICE

Jumping in the halls Juniors Shea Hunter and Bailey Allison getting up to shenanigans. Photo by Hannah Willingham

STUDENTS SHARE PUNS VIA REMIND 101 HANNAH WILLINGHAM business manager

You may have received a text from a friend or seen the handwritten shout out to “text @pun police to 81010 for daily puns” on Mrs. Hayton’s white board. Hopefully this inspired you to join the 490 other people in signing up for the daily Remind 101, brought to you by the Pun Police: junior Shea Hunter and sophomore Bailey Allison.

They met during soccer season last year because Allison was a trainer and Hunter was a player.

Allison continually cracked jokes that Hunter overheard and enjoyed.

The girls discovered early on that they can easily toss a conversation back and forth with each other, and that they connected through jokes.

“We have the same sense of humor,” Allison said. “We both just find little stupid things funny. For example, one time someone got hurt and I go ‘Ay, at least your eyebrows look good. Also, I would order pizza to the field and Shea was like, ‘Omg, you’re so weird, I love you.’”

They initially sent puns to each other weekly, or even daily. That is, until they decided to share their laughter with a wider audience.

“I was just bored one night and thought it would be a fun way to daily make others laugh,” Hunter

said. “I remembered that I heard of others sending Bible verses or picture of puppies through Remind 101, so I decided to check it out.”

Because Hunter knew that Allison liked puns, two weeks after she started the Remind (on Nov. 30), she asked Allison to help her out.

“She’s the funniest person I know,” Hunter said. “She always finds some way to make someone laugh in any situation and I like that. One time before a football game, I stayed after school with Bailey and we just sat in the hallway telling funny stories and puns as they came to our heads. We texted a lot and each reply was a pun in itself.”

Hunter created the name, “Pun Police” when she corrected someone’s pun on Instagram, and they said, ‘What are you? The Pun Police?’

The girls take turns scheduling about six puns a week. Who is in charge of those puns is randomized.

Hunter chose to use Remind 101 because it is user friendly and it reaches a wide audience.

“I never dreamed it would get this big,” Hunter said. “At first it started out as a joke, but before I knew it, 100 people were signed up and that’s when I knew I couldn’t just forget about it.”

To get started on a pun, Bailey starts rhyming words and then fills

in the blanks. She either makes up a joke or uses Google for ideas. The jokes posted are about half original.

Animal and food jokes are the easiest for Bailey to make up.

“I really like puns because they are simple, but still really funny.”

Allison said. “Sometimes you have to think about it before you find it funny.”

Hunter gets notified when someone joins the group, and when they check or star a message. People can chat or even send in their own puns through the comment section in Remind 101.

Hunter got the word out through Twitter, mass texting at lunch and by word of mouth.

“Puns are the best type of jokes and I just wanted to share them with the world in an easily accessible way,” Hunter said.

They do not plan the encouraging messages in parenthesis at the end of each pun, but it’s included as a force of habit.

“I just like making people laugh and puns are a good way to do that because there’s always one that they haven’t heard before and that one could end up making their day” Hunter said.

*Class Code: @punpolice

Infographic by Hannah Helgren.

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CENTER

FRONT PAGE: Clockwise from top: Photo by Jon Shapley/©Houston Chronicle. Used with permission Photo by Carol Luecke Photo courtesy of Paul Orlando Photo by Robert Jordan (2) Photo by Butch Stephens

BOBCAT FIGHT 14 ROOMS FLOODED. $4 MILLION IN DAMAGE EMME ENOJADO co editor-in-chief

O

Cy-Fair front parking lot f looded the week of April 18. Photo by Candace Claiborn

Locals work to rescue up to 70 horses along Cypresswood Drive near Humble along Cypress Creek April 18. Photo by Mark Mulligan

After sophomore James Luecke’s home f looded, he called friends Haley Cope, Jason Michels, Cameron Arnold, David Joe and Erin Reilly to help move furniture and wet carpet. Photo by Carol Luecke

n the eve of Sunday, April 17, everything seemed calm. The skies were cloudy and grey, students were finishing up homework that was probably due on that Friday before, and no one even imagined for a second what was to come.

That night, it started to rain. Then more rain. Then harder rain. The rain was relentless. Hail stormed down from the sky and weather alerts blared from phones. When school was announced as canceled Monday morning, students rejoiced. But Houston was hit especially hard this time around and questions of when school would be back in session were raised when families opened their front doors and found their street to be nonexistent, replaced with murky brown water.

The flood of April 18, 2016 emerged as the worst flooding across Harris County since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and left the city with more than 17 inches of rain, 8000 homes damaged, 200,000 students out of school and eight dead. Fifty three schools in CFISD experienced damage, Cy-Fair High School one of the most damaged with the library and 11 rooms flooded after water started flowing in from the senior deck. Two other rooms experienced ceiling damage. And although an entire week out of school, jokingly called “spring break 2.0”, may have been a nice break, some students met the face of death and others lost everything to the rushing flood waters.

IN THE FACE OF DEATH Sophomores Tristan Seyedain and Lucas Overbey were trying to get home April 18 when they were swept away by flood waters in Longwood.

Seyedain said they were walking home after hanging out with friends and they needed to cross Longwood Trace to reach their destination.

“Lucas started slipping and my first instinct was to save my friend,” Seyedain said. “I was simultaneously holding onto my bike while holding onto him which backfired on me. We both drifted out into the tree line.”

Freshmen Kami Thurston and Hannah Johnson attempted to save Seyedain and Overbey, but the boys refused. The girls would be in danger of the current taking them if they got in too deep.

They were treading water for 10 minutes, unable to touch the ground beneath them as they held onto trees.

Fear was running through both of the boys’ minds as they wondered how much longer they could hang on to the trees and what type of creatures could be swimming around in the murky water.

Local Samaritans came together to save the teens by throwing a rope out and pulling them to safety one at a time.

“They pulled me out first because I was closer to land,” Overbey said.

“Tristan was farther away and was eventually pulled out a little later. I lost my bike and ended up staying at a friend’s house until I was able to get home. It was very, very scary.”

When they both reached land they shook everyone’s hand who helped them survive as people checked to see if they were unharmed. Neighbors had called 911 and life flight while they had been stuck in the current.

“It was terrifying but it was actually really exciting,” Seyedain said. “I had an adrenaline rush afterwards. I survived. I escaped death. Not many people can say that. It was probably one of the more terrifying experiences of my life.”

FROM HOME TO HOTEL “The house is ruined! Get up! The house is ruined!”

These words from sophomore Nick Vazquez’s stepfather rang through his ears as his home started filling with rushing flood waters.

The time was 6 a.m. on April 18 when Vazquez’s parents woke up in terror and ran to tell him the water outside was rising. Outside their house, the water was 4 feet deep and climbing higher.

Vazquez said the house was one story and his family attempted to move most of their belongings as high as they could and hoped for the flood waters to recede. They didn’t.

“It kept creeping up until around 6 p.m. When our house was completely flooded we had to leave,” Vazquez said. “We packed backpacks and waded through waist high water until we reached dry land.”

In his backpack, Vazquez stuffed as much clothes as he could fit, toiletries and his contact solution.

There was only room for a few

SUZY VAZ opinion e

5. 3. 16

CENTER

11

NEVER DROWNS ES. COMMUNITY REMAINS STRONG.

ZQUEZ editor

MADI CHRISTIAN opinion editor

necessities. The family was forced to leave behind furniture, electronics and personal belonging with the rest of the house.

The family borrowed a friend’s car and they drove to a La Quinta hotel to stay for the night. April 20, Vazquez moved in with close friend Marion Bessinger in order to continue attending school while his parents are still residing in the hotel.

Vazquez and his family just moved into the now ruined house a year ago after they traveled from Washington to Texas. His parents are looking for a house to lease and buy in the meantime.

“Everything in our house has been ruined,” Vazquez said. “There’s nothing left to salvage. We have to completely start over.”

WHERE WE STAND April 18 at 4 p.m. water started rising fast. Thirty minutes later, water streamed into and began to fill sophomore Autumn Wade’s house.

“We started freaking out, not knowing what to do,” Wade said. “We put my brother on an air mattress and floated him to the neighbor’s house. We stayed there until Wednesday.”

Wade was overcome with stress when her one-story house was

I survived, I escaped death.

becoming consumed with more water. Her family attempted to move their belongings to higher ground in order to salvage as much as possible.

On Wednesday the Wade family and other neighbors were rescued by the Coast Guard. The neighborhood, Lakes Cypress Estates was covered underneath with around 10 feet of water.

“It was kind of cool to be rescued, we were on a boat and when we got towards land we moved into this army vehicle,” Wade said.

The family had only moved into their house this past February. Two months later and they are forced to reconstruct by putting in new floors and new walls.They will be staying in a relative’s spare house while their home is being repaired.

“We have to buy all new furniture, new clothes and new technology,” Wade said. “Our family has helped by giving us clothes and food.”

Wade said the condition of her house now is deeply upsetting. Floors are torn apart, walls are coming down and there’s mold all around. A place where Wade said she feels safe and happy has been damaged. The wonder of how her house could be completely fine Monday morning, but then flooded by the afternoon won’t leave her mind.

“It’s upsetting to see the damage,” Wade said. “We have to start over again.”

Wade’s home was only one house damaged out of more than 2,000. The support of her friends and family are blessings in this difficult time.

*** Sophomore Kami Bonnette woke up at 3:30 a.m. that Monday to her mom in a panic, frantically shaking her to get out of bed. When she did, her feet didn’t touch the dry flooring she was used to. Instead, they were submerged in 2 inches of flood water, which spread throughout her whole house.

“The first thing we did was throw towels and blankets down frantically trying to stop the water from continuing to come in,” Bonnette said.

But this only made their issues worse by wasting our blankets and towels, causing them to be rushing to wash the blankets and towels.

Although they did not have to evacuate, the Bonnettes were forced to rip out all the carpet and wood flooring and will have to cut out approximately a foot of drywall from the ground up.

“What’s the most challenging about this is coming home from school and my parents from work and having to work on the house until bedtime,” Bonnette said.

“Then, I still have to stay up to do homework, eat and shower, leaving me exhausted all day.”

Despite the tragedy that struck them, they recognize that others have it worse and are thankful for the family, friends and neighbors who have reached out and helped them through this situation.

“We could never make it through without them,” Bonnette said.

TWEETS Of the issue

WAYS TO HELP: SNHS is collecting clothes, shoes,toys, HEB gift cards and hygiene products. Goods can be dropped off in Sr. Luna’s room (4007).

NHS will be collecting cleaning supplies, garbage bags, detergent, hygiene products, clothes, shoes and toys for those who have been hurt by the recent f looding in our area. Goods can be dropped off in Mrs.Colwell’s or Mrs. Garner’s room.

Houston Northwest Baptist Church: join the disaster relief team hnw.org Samaritans Purse: volunteer teams to help homeowners samaritanspurse.org

Q:

How do you feel about some of the new classroom f loors (concrete)?

“I feel like they add rustic vibes to our school that we lacked before. It’s more...urban.

No longer can we be called Cy-Farm” -Alyssa Andrichik, 11

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5. 3. 16

LIFE

Not worth it

STUDENT HAS LIFE CHANGING DRUG EXPERIENCE

SUZY VAZQUEZ opinion editor

At 8:55 a.m. Dec. 16, 2012 Tonya Bauer was asking people to recommend places where she could get her daughter cremated.

At 1:15 p.m. that same day the hospital staff extubated her daughter and stopped all medication and nourishment.

The only thing left flowing into her daughter’s veins was morphine to help ease what she thought would be her final moments.

The next day, Tonya saw a glimmer of hope. Emily responded to doctors and told her mother that she loved her.

Emily was going to live.

Emily Bauer, a sophomore at the time, was hospitalized just nine days earlier on Dec. 7, 2012 after having a reaction to synthetic marijuana. The drug caused extreme vasculitis in her brain, which stopped the flow of her blood and oxygen. After several strokes, portions of her brain tissue either died or were severely damaged.

Emily started smoking synthetic marijuana a few weeks prior to her hospitalization. She was applying to work at Walgreens and knew they were going to drug test her. Since synthetic drugs don’t appear on a drug

test, she knew she would pass.

“I had been smoking synthetic marijuana with my boyfriend at the time at my house and I started to like have a psychotic breakdown and everything. I was running into walls. I peed in a laundry basket. It was just bad,” Emily said.

Emily’s mother said Emily’s boyfriend called to tell her about her daughter.

Although they were smoking from the same bag, his body did not react to the drugs and his phone call saved Emily’s life.

The following nine days included a combination of sedation, an induced coma, multiple MRIs and an emergency brain procedure.

The chances of her survival were slim.

On Dec. 14, 2012, Emily’s family met with a neurology team to discuss the damage caused to Emily’s brain.

“We were told she would never know us or herself,” Tonya said. “We were told that she would never gain any use of her legs or arms again. We were told that she would never be able to eat or use the bathroom on her own again. We were told she would never again be aware of her

surroundings. We were asked to think of what Emily would want. What quality of life would Emily want?”

The Bauer family decided to stop life support, but within a week the doctors were proven wrong when Emily began to show signs of survival.

“I was amazed and I couldn’t believe that the doctors were so wrong.

Afterwards they told me ‘The brain is an amazing thing, you never know what is going to happen,” Tonya said. “It became my mission to help her recover as far as she can and we still work on that every day 40 months later.”

Since her hospitalization, Emily has returned to Cy-Fair.

She attends school for half a day but has assistants who take her notes for her, read to her and help her with her courses. Emily said everything has changed because she can’t read, write or walk anymore.

Despite her disabilities, she focuses on the positive and set goals for the future.

“I’m in physical therapy right now. It’s very strenuous,” Emily said. “My goal right now is to be able to walk across the stage at graduation and to dance at my prom this

After the fact. Emily Bauer is now in a wheel chair after the incidence that changed her life. Photo

coutesy of Tonya Bauer

year. I’m really afraid of falling at graduation though. It’s probably my biggest fear.”

Emily’s mother and father started a charity called S.A.F.E., Synthetic Awareness for Emily. They focus on educating others of the dangers of synthetic

marijuana. They speak publicly at high schools and middle schools in Texas. They have also spoken in front of the Texas Senate Committee.

What Emily’s mother wants other people to know is that there is no high that is worth living like this. Emily

would do anything to go back in time to change her choice.

“The most important thing that I’ve learned is that we shouldn’t take things for granted and that nobody is invincible,” Emily said. “This could have happened to anyone.”

5. 3. 16

Peace, love & Tex Mex CODY BROWN life editor

Soto’s Cantina 10609 Grant Road Houston TX 77070

Cost per person: $12-15 Soto’s Cantina has the appearance of, well, a Mexican Cantina. The walls, covered in photographs of famous Mexican musicians and figureheads, open up to comfortable leather chairs and large wooden tables illuminated by the numerous windows throughout the establishment and the overhead lights.

In addition to a dogfriendly patio, where coworkers chat over a meal, Soto’s also features a larger dining room and a banquet

room in the back where a formal living room would exist if the building still functioned as a house. The kitchens, formerly bedrooms, have that delicious, savory aroma of Mexican food constantly wafting from their double doors, making customers hungry from outside the restaurant.

I usually order chicken fajitas because, why not?

Fajitas are a safe bet at almost any Mexican restaurant so this time I took a step outside of my comfort zone and sampled Soto’s take on another Tex-Mex classic: chicken quesadillas and queso.

My meal cost $15 ($10 for the quesadillas and $4 for the queso, not including tax), and the waitress offered me water

CULTURE

SENIOR REVIEWS LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD RESTAURANTS hungry people.

Eating nearly all of it by myself put me in a food coma, but Soto’s queso, complete with the amazing quesadillas, made the entire ordeal of lying in bed

with an overly-full stomach worth it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 sombreros

When I visited Gringo’s after school, the host kindly directed me over to the bar to place a to-go order. As I placed my order for chicken enchiladas with Gringo’s Amazon sauce, the bartender duly took my order and took the time to ask and make sure my order was correct. He made sure I had ordered the correct type of beans and the correct type of tortillas for the enchiladas, and he even asked me if I needed silverware for the meal. Another waiter brought me chips and salsa while I waited for the order, which took around eight minutes to fill and come out

to me.

Fast, friendly service is something Gringo’s prides itself on, and I can say that their efforts did not go unnoticed.

The enchiladas were the first food item I sampled, and I was immediately impressed with the savory, creamy, cheesy chicken and tortillas I stuffed in my mouth. The Amazon sauce reminded me of Chuy’s Chika Chika Boom Boom Enchiladas, almost to the point where I’m convinced Gringo’s stole the idea verbatim. I scarfed them down almost as fast as I had stuck the first bite into my mouth, and I ate all three. If it isn’t already immediately obvious, I’m a huge fan of this Tex-Mex classic that Gringo’s has taken a modern spin on

for the better (and tastier).

The beans worked as a flavorful spoonful of relief between the filling bites of enchilada. The chunk of Mexican sausage, onion, celery, cilantro and other spices were very flavorful and addicting, but the soup poorly lacked salt. After I added the packet of salt included in my silverware, the beans developed a wholesome, bold flavor that I would expect out of any Mexican restaurant worth its name as one of the best.

In addition, the rice was refreshing, with a bit of spice and crunch from celery to round out the flavor, but again, it lacked salt. Ironically, the chips had far too much salt to constitute much of a

corn flavor, but still had that delicious crunch I love.

The salsa and creamyjalapeño sauce acted like a yin-and-yang on the palate.

Where the salsa was spicy and tangy, the creamy-jalapeño sauce sought to tone that kick back with a refreshing, thick helping on the chip that I found rather addicting. Plus, it was also fun to alternate the flavors in an almost guerrilla-style onslaught of chips entering my mouth, and I found myself finishing the entire bag of chips and salsa in a record amount of time, considering I’m not the biggest fan of either types of dip.

Rating: 4 out of 5 sombreros

tasted store-bought: doughy, thick- and ultimately, I tasted the tortilla more than I did anything inside of it.

The additional toppings for the fajitas- grilled onions, pico de gallo and guacamole- did almost nothing to enhance the flavor because the tortilla served as a barrier for any substantial tastes to develop.

I’m a huge fan of grilled onions on my fajitas because they add acidity on top of the spice of the meat, but again the tortillas masked their presence. I would have enjoyed the pico de gallo more, had it actually consisted of entirely pico de gallo; it

had way too much lettuce in it, almost to the point where I could say I was scooping salad into my fajitas, and the guacamole tasted plain, with no lime or any spice to liven it up. Disappointing, since many of my mother’s friends recommend the fajitas.

The queso was by far the most appetizing food I ate from El Jimador, but calling it “appetizing” is a stretch.

It had a nice, smoky quality to its flavor, but that was the only discernable flavor amidst the melted cheese. Every additional pepper, onion and jalapeño sank to the bottom of the styrofoam container,

meaning that my last bites of the queso were especially chunky and spicy when the entire vat should have been flavorful and substantial down to the last bite, the way I like it. The cheese didn’t taste like traditional Mexican queso; it tasted more like an attempt was made to masquerade its status as illegitimate Mexican “blended cheeses.” If I can’t

enjoy my queso, I can’t enjoy my food. It’s as simple as that.

Rating: 2 out of five sombreros.

and chips while I waited. I took it home and began shoveling the food down while it was still hot.

The quesadillas are amazing, period. Before I even put them in my mouth, I noticed how heavy each was as I laid them out on my plate, and I could see grilled chicken, chilis and melted queso fresco practically falling out of the tortillas.

They smelled divine, almost as if they were as fresh as they had been since they left the kitchen.

Once I took my first bite, the quesadilla triangle practically exploded with flavors of savory cheese, spicy chilis, and moist, wellseasoned grilled chicken.

Sufficed to say, each bite of

food was as flavorful as the helping before it, and each quesadilla was filling and satisfying. I could only eat three out of four before I was full. Even though Soto’s has its quesadillas listed as an appetizer, the dish almost completely satisfies as its own complete entree- and at a much better price than many of the other, equally delicious options.

Soto’s queso may be one of the best bowls of queso in the entire Tex-Mex hub in Houston. It has a very fresh taste thanks to the pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and spicy jalapeños that constitute its gooey, cheesy, delicious texture.

In addition, a small order of queso can feed three

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen

27030 Northwest Freeway Cypress, Texas 77433 Cost Per Person: $10-13

Photos by Cody Brown

El Jimador Mexican Restaurant 12640 Telge Rd. Suite E. Cypress, TX 77429 Cost per Person: $15-18 Many of my mother’s friends obsess over this small restaurant. It’s supposedly a great place to stop and grab a bite with a co-worker during the lunch rush. I decided to stop in one day after UIL rehearsal and test those sentiments for myself.

When I placed my order, the manager had to step in to assist the cashier with the transaction, even though I told her that I speak Spanish, in Spanish. My order, which

consisted of chicken fajitas and queso, came out, duly packaged, within eight minutes, and I took it home to enjoy before I began my homework.

Sadly, the service was the only redeeming quality about El Jimador.

The meal came out to $17.09, which is far too much for one person’s food.

Worse yet, the quality of the food only detracted from my praises for the establishment.

My fajitas, though they were warm, were very lightly seasoned and tasted very bland. The tortillas I received to accompany the meat

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5. 3. 16

CULTURE

Welcome to...

AUDREY GRAY culture editor

Stop 1 Museum District: With 19 museums ranging from art to science to animals, you’re bound to find the perfect museum for the adventure you’re craving.

Houston’s Museum District displays some of the most famous artist in its popular attraction, The Museum of Fine Arts. “I enjoyed building number two the most because the art was more interactive,” junior Katie Clark said. Just around the corner sits the Museum of Natural Science.

If dinosaurs, the history of

Stop 2 Space Center Houston: What makes Houston one of the most unique cities in the country? We hold the corporation that trains astronauts, sends large spaceships into the solar system and put the first man on the moon. Spend a day at NASA’s family friendly space exhibit and take the chance to feel what it’s like to be an astronaut living in space. “The

evolution and rare diamonds and gems are your thing, this is the museum for you. These are only two of the many amazing exhibits Houston has to offer.

For addresses to every museum visit houmuse.com 713-715-1939

Photo by Katie Clark

Stop 4

Bayou City Art Festival: Welcome spring in with one of Houston’s largest outdoor art festivals at Bayou City. April 29 to May 1 more than 300 national artists will be working in 19 different artistic mediums. The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for child.

7026 Old Katy Rd #221, Houston, TX 77024 713-521-0133

Space Center was really cool,” senior Madison Dubiski said.

“My favorite part was where I got to check all my weights on Artwork by Lizzie Faria the different planets.”

1601 NASA Pkwy 281-244-2100

Stop 3 Free Press Summer Fest: Start your summer off with popular bands, giant dance parties and delicious food trucks with Houston’s biggest music festival: Free Press Summer Fest. This year on June 4-5 at Buffalo Bayou’s Eleanor Tinsley Park the festival will be featuring bands like Edward Sharpe

and the Magnetic Zeros, The Chainsmokers and ASAP Ferg. “It was a lot of fun because I had never been to a music festival before,” senior Jordan Choate said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a great time with my friends.”

Eleanor Tinsley Park (888) 512-SHOW

Photo by Audrey Gray

Stop 5

Photo courtesy of Madison Dubiski

Carnival Houston: Carnival Houston is a unique celebration of the Caribbean tradition of bright colors, fun music and food from different countries. This year the festival will be June 9-12,

Photo courtesy of Carnival Houston

and throughout the days there will be costume balls, neon paint parties and extravagant parades. Everyone is welcome to participate in the event, even to the extent of buying a festive Caribbean costume and joining in the parade. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children.

1419 Polk St 832-614-9337

Stop 6

Houston Barbecue Festival: Enjoy a day of Houston’s barbecue with friends and family on May 22 at NRG Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The somewhat new festival features the best barbecue in Houston according to

Photo courtesy of Houston Barbecue

Everfest. “Houston barbecue continues to evolve with traditions of Texas barbecue combining with the international cuisines that our city is known for. This year’s festival will showcase the unique barbecue styles from 24 of the best barbecue joints in the city,” Founder J.C. Reid said. Restaurants include BBQ Godfather, Blake’s BBQ and The Brisket House. General admission is $60, but buy your tickets now for the early bird sale of $50.

NRG Park- Gate 13- Green lot 832 454 6106

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5. 3. 16

CULTURE

New York state of mind

JOURNALISM STUDENTS TAKE IN CITY LIFE SWITCH BRILLO news editor

I wouldn’t have minded walking a mile to Grand Central Station in the middle of the night if my umbrella hadn’t been turning inside out or if my hat was about to fly off into the street or if my hands weren’t numb from the cold. And it was only the first day.

I also wouldn’t have minded walking to Columbus Circle, ready to get in the subway, only to realize I had forgotten my wallet and my Metro Card. Running all the way back to the hotel, up seven flights of stairs (the elevator was broken, how convenient), and back to the subway is not very fun when you have Lauryn Walker holding it against you for the rest of the trip.

During spring break, the small flashing LaGuardia sign that read “Welcome to New York” introduced the journalism staff into the

streets of New York City. Little did we know, as we drove through the Queens-Borough bridge that lead us into Manhattan, the experience that awaited us for the next five days.

Our mornings consisted of roaming the campus of Columbia University, taught by advisers from local schools to editors from The New York Times and Rolling Stone.

Whether it was discovering the secrets of a school-wide sex scandal in the lecture halls of Columbia Law or learning InDesign hacks inside Hamilton hall, I couldn’t help but feel like I was already a college student. It was also taking a dive at Mel’s burger, ordering food like you owned the place or sitting in the middle of Morningside Heights, eating food truck hot dogs with a couple of friends, that made you feel like the day could last forever.

Other days consisted of reminiscing through the 9/11 Memorial, being atop of the Statue of Liberty, walking

the halls of Ellis Island, and eating at Umami burger inside a booth overlooking the Hudson. It went from learning insider details at the top floor of HBO Headquarters (Jon Snow MIGHT come back?) to feeling retro at Tom’s Restaurant, only to realize their toaster caught on fire.

But something about those New York City nights made you feel larger than life. It was almost like those typical movies or shows you see growing up where people escape into the city and go on an adventure.

It went from a blue man jumping to our balcony seats to seeing a Jack Black look alike convincing 5th graders to start a rock band.

It went from clapping along to the Grease soundtrack in Ellen’s Stardust Diner to our Australian waiter serenading us with “A Whole New World.” It went from singing Vincent Nguyen “Happy Birthday” at almost every restaurant we ate at to raiding

lasted only five minutes.

The side stories for Lex Luthor and Lois Lane were never resolved or came to a concise ending. Lois’s adventure had an end, but Lex wasn’t able to have that luxury.

Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, gave a performance that was not only awkward, but rather it was more Eisenberg being himself instead of performing his role as Lex Luthor: an incredibly clever, calculating businessman who gets what he wants when he wants it.

Amy Adams as Lois Lane didn’t do a great job. The writers tried to give Lois a significant role in the movie, but it ended up being a waste of effort. Henry Cavill as Superman was decent, but he wasn’t given the chance to be a good or bad Superman due to getting the short end of the stick. The fact that the movie was so Batman oriented was the reason why Superman/ Clark Kent’s character fell so short. I would have loved to see more Superman and get to know him better.

On the other hand, Ben Affleck was a wonderful choice as Batman/Bruce Wayne. He was everything we wanted in Bruce Wayne:

the businessman who cares about his employees and the lives of others. He‘s scared of Superman, and he doesn’t want the world to be in danger because of him. He kicks butt as Batman in the fight scenes and says great lines. Affleck knows exactly who Bruce Wayne is and nailed the role.

Gal Gadot was a fantastic Wonder Woman who made good use of what screen time she had. Her fight scenes were amazing and exactly what we expected from the Amazonian warrior princess.

The entire movie is very dark considering that the world hates Clark Kent for destroying Metropolis in the Man Of Steel movies.

The scenes where Superman was put on trial for his actions were out of place and didn’t need to be there. All Superman wants is to do the right thing when no one else will. Instead, the Superman we saw was a depressed shell of the hero we all idolize.

Doomsday looks like a cave troll from the Lord Of the Rings. He didn’t need to be there at all. There was no point in killing Superman since he was alive at the end of the movie. I get what move the writers were trying to make,

a 3-story book store called The Strand.

It went from eating the best Chinese food I’ve probably ever had at Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown to walking through Little Italy and buying gelato ice cream in 50-degree weather. It went from eating authentic New York pizza in Times Square at John’s Pizzeria and laughing about our classes with Mrs. Provo to Mrs. Harris banging at our door at 4 a.m. because we all slept in on the morning of our flight out of New York.

It went from waiting in the freezing cold outside the Richard Rogers Theatre to see the cast of Hamilton to making eye contact with Jonathan Groff. It went from Hunter Woods guiding us through the city to being blinded by the flashing lights in Times Square. It went from staying up watching ‘Friends’ in our massive suite room in The Salisbury to crashing on our beds after a long day.

Despite one piece of

Journalism students spend spring break in NYC for the CSPA Spring Convention and awards. Photo by Lillian Harris

missing luggage, Madi Christian getting off the wrong subway stop, the 200 miles we probably walked over a course of five days or discovering that it would snow the day AFTER we left, I could easily say that this had been one of the best weeks of my life. Exposing myself in this new environment opened my eyes into a world that I want to be a part of.

Not only did our newspaper bring back a Silver Crown, but we brought back a piece of the city with us. After

our long journey into this foreign place, I soon learned the magic of New York wasn’t in the bright lights or the tall buildings-- the magic of New York was its ability to bring 16 kids from the middle of nowhere together to create unforgettable memories.

But I will admit, once we landed in the Dallas Love Field Airport, the first thing I did was head straight to Whataburger. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=6QjnvtAIrkU

Batman V. Superman THE DAWN OF DISAPPOINTMENT LIZZIE FARIA online editor

Warning! If you haven’t seen this movie, go see it right now because I’m about to spoil everything and rip this movie apart.

Batman vs. Superman is a better Batman movie than a Superman movie. It’s a two and a half hour hot mess that comes off more as a confusing mash-up of unnecessary side stories and events, rather than an epic fight between two iconic superheroes we were all hoping to see.

This movie flopped for a number of reasons. The plot itself wasn’t clear enough as to why Superman wanted to fight Batman. Yes, he didn’t agree with Bruce Wayne’s ideas of justice, but it’s not enough to make a solid argument for him to be fighting Batman.

Since the movie was so Batman-centric, there wasn’t enough time for Superman to get his views and his side of the argument across.

Plus, there were so many side stories that it became overly complex and they were poorly slapped together and ultimately didn’t need to be there. The whole reason we were there to see this movie was for the fight, which could have been better if it hadn’t

Photo courtesy of DC Comics

which was very gutsy and would’ve been interesting to see if they hadn’t brought him back. There was absolutely no time to fall in love with Superman’s character which resulted in him not being done justice. I wish, as a Batman fan, I had walked out of the theater understanding Superman and appreciating his character.

The Justice League cameos were fine, except for the Aquaman cameo.

It’s a recording of Aquaman coming in contact with an underwater camera and

poking it awkwardly with his trident. The Flash looked great along with Cyborg, who made me feel a little uncomfortable because half his body was laid out on a lab table. The Flash actually showed up twice with one cameo being in a fever dream and the other alongside Cyborg and Aquaman.

This movie made me more excited for the solo movies than it did anything else. It tried to be too many things at once which contributes to its downfall. It tried to cram too many stories together. DC said they didn’t want to be like

Marvel, but that was a huge lie. They tried to be something they’re not, and it showed in the production of the movie.

There was no set up, the pacing was too fast and the characterization wasn’t there.

Overall, this movie flopped due to so many plot holes and poor execution. But maybe DC will redeem themselves with the upcoming Justice League solo movies and Suicide Squad. But until then, I’ll have to listen to Marvel fans rub salt in the very obvious and painful wound.

16

OPINION

CYPRESS: to stay or not to stay MADI CHRISTIAN opinion editor

Construction, traffic, and cows in the middle of the road is just an average day in Cypress, Texas. Hotels are on every corner across from gas stations. Flooding occurs every April and May. Every house looks the same. There has to be more than just this little suburb town.

I am not about to bash on Cypress. I grew up in this town. It will always be my home, but there is a huge world outside of Cypress.

In 10 years I don’t want to walk into a restaurant and have a waiter who used to be the kid who sat next to me in math class. I don’t really want to have that awkward run-in with a high school ex and have to be stuck hearing all about their happy family and successful job, while I am still trying to figure out my life.

Once I get older I don’t want to look out my window and see Highway 290. I would rather see the skyline of New York City or the beaches of California or even Big Ben in England. I’m tired of seeing

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THERE’S MORE TO THIS WORLD

CYPRESS: THE PLACE I BELONG

have missed the opportunity the same scenery every to walk around Columbia day. I want to see different University or missed learning architecture, different kinds how to ski. of plants and trees, different In each place I go to I learn roads and different people. something that I could never Seeing the same things each learn from staying in Cypress. day of my life makes me feel like I’m not living my life to its I need the curiosity of new places to keep me going. The full potential. wonder of what else is out Being a writer requires there in the world. I want to me to have adventures to worry about the next city I am write about. Being stuck in going to, not what to name the this town blocks ideas from new high school being built. flowing to my mind. I ran out I will always come back to of ideas. It’s time to move on Cypress to visit the memories, to a different place and write but I don’t plan on ever about my experience there. staying. The world is calling Pictures of faraway places fill my name. my bulletin board next to my mirror in my room. New York City, Italy, Los Angeles, Paris, and England. They are there to remind me of my goal to get out of Cypress. One day I hope to learn from traveling and be able to write about my adventures.

Through my years at Cy-Fair High School, I’ve been given the opportunity to travel for a couple of school trips.This past year I went to New York and Colorado.

The feeling I receive from just being dropped off at the airport is the feeling of adventure and something new. I come home from those trips a whole new person. If Art by Bri Gonzalez I had stayed in Cypress and not wanted to explore, I would

because it’s part of my identity.

Cypress isn’t exactly a small town. We have a population of 122,000 as of 2010, but it’s more personal compared to the multi-million populations of other cities. I always hear my friends and classmates talking about how as soon as they graduate high school or college they’re going straight to New York, Los Angeles, London, etc. and I’m completely shocked that so many people are willing to just leave their whole life here in Cypress and not look back.

I’ve traveled to England, Norway, Canada and other places all over the world.

Going out and seeing the world we live in is a great life experience, but I want Cypress to be where I will grow old and raise my kids.

I want my future kids to have the happy Cypress childhood my parents gave me. I have great childhood memories of going to swim practice for the Stingrays swim team, skating at the Aerodrome with my best friend, and going to the Mr. D’s snow cone stand with my dad. All these memories are things I could’ve only experienced in Cypress. I want to stay close to my family here and visit them

KAITLYN COATS assistant business manager

I love to travel and see the world, but when picking a place to live I would stay right where I am. My family is here.

My father is buried here. The places I’ve grown up with are here, so why would I uproot everything and lose being close to all of that? I want to stay in Cypress, not just because it’s my hometown, but

whenever I have most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins along with the house I grew up in and the schools I went to. I want to show my kids the place I grew up. I want my kids to have the great education from Hamilton and Cy-Fair like my siblings and I got.

Cypress is safer than a big city, yet we still have access to one of the biggest cities in America. We are just a less-than-a-hour car trip away from Houston. Houston has an amazing cuisine, access to big concerts and festivals, and NASA, which is all in easy access to anyone in Cypress with a car.

I know the people around me in Cypress and in a big city people don’t get to know the people around them. In Cypress I already know the town around me so I don’t have to relearn everything I know about a city. I was born a Cypress resident and I intend to be one for life.

Life never simple when you move every three years LAURYN WALKER reporter Where am I from? That’s a complicated answer.

I was born in Anchorage, Alaska. I was less than a year old when I moved to Gabon. I was two years old when I moved to Venezuela. I was five years old when I moved to Houston, and I was seven years old when I moved to Nigeria.

My family has

a tendency toward bouncing across the globe seemingly at random. By the time I was six, I had already been to 10 different countries, including Scotland, the Cayman Islands and South Africa.

Traveling has its expected advantages. There are places and things some people will never get to see that I have already seen. Airports and planes became my comfort zone. Five hour layovers turn into an easy nap session. I have my answer for those cheesy ice-breakers where you have to say a fun fact about yourself (In my opinion, ‘I’ve been to 14 countries so far,’ is a pretty good fact).

I’ve been told that my life is astounding and great. Some people are envious that they haven’t traveled as much as me. There’s no way around it. I’ve lived a pretty nice life.

Art By Lauryn Walker

However, people seem to always overlook any of the drawbacks from being tossed around the world.

I’m used to having to pick up my life and leave countries on a whim. It sounds great, in theory, but life is never simple.

I don’t have friends that I’ve known since birth. I don’t have nostalgic memories when I go anywhere. When I’m asked where I’m from, I sigh and get ready to unleash how I’m not really ‘from’ anywhere. I haven’t lived in any single place long enough for me to be able to claim.

Living in places where most people don’t comes with the realization of why people don’t live there.

In Gabon, my brother and I had a nanny who took care of us when our parents couldn’t.

We didn’t know much French at that age, but we knew if we chanted ‘piscine’ long enough, we would finally be able to leave our hotel.

Hotels and apartments became the norm for me. In Venezuela, my life once again became a hotel. We never had a house, a place we could truly call our home. We spoke Spanish, though now my American traits have taken over, erasing the foreign language from my mind completely.

My dad told me that we would have a driver when we moved to Nigeria. I thought that was the coolest thing.

I could be like one of those rich kids on television with a chauffeur. He even had a fancy name: Kingsley. However, I came to realize that the driver wasn’t for luxury, he was for necessity. When a Nigerian officer pulled us over one day, I was told to keep quiet and let the driver handle the situation.

Soon, a cop with an AK-47 sat himself down in the passenger seat of our car. My mom yelled at him to get out, and his surprised look as he exited our car. I remember that between

my mom and an armed cop, he was the one who was scared.

In my first school in Nigeria, two armed men shot up the gate and stole one of my friend’s car in the morning. No one got hurt and I was only nine years old, too young to recognize the harmful situation for what it was at that age. They didn’t even cancel school that day.

Eventually I changed schools to the American International School. I joined the swim team.

On my way to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for a swim meet taking place in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, the meet was suddenly canceled. Boko Haram, a terrorist group, had blown up a news stand near the school we were heading to.

Our schools were regularly in and out of session for extended periods of times due to riots in the street. They protested wages, oil prices and political corruption. I remember thinking it was cool

how I could stay at home all day until I realized that I really couldn’t leave our apartment complex. I was confined.

I’m not saying that the places I’ve lived are horrible.

From my overall experiences, they were actually pretty fun.

Already being in Africa meant that going south to Kenya, where I got to get close and personal with a lion and several elephants, was easy. It meant that I got to meet people from all over the world who shared my experiences.

It’s fun to glamorize the life of a moving kid, but everything has its ups and downs. I’m happy with my life and my experiences. I’ve been living in Houston for four years continuously so far, the longest I’ve ever stayed in one place, but I’m a kid who’s used to surprises. I know adventure could be just around the corner.

So, where am I from? I like to consider myself a citizen of the world.

5. 3. 16

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18

OPINION

Alex from Target, and other atrocities

JUNIOR SICK OF 15-SECOND OF FAME SENSATIONS

Art by Lauryn Walker

NICOLE SHAIR news editor

“Damn Daniel, back at it again with the white vans.”

It’s been a few weeks since I’d first heard this quick catchphrase from my friends on multiple occasions but I didn’t know the source or why it had become so popular. Curious, I click on a Youtuber’s React video with the same similar phrase that I had heard from my friend, Lauryn, not too long ago and wait patiently through the familiar opening.

A few minutes into the video, I hear that famous line.

Now, unless you’re a social media recluse like me, you’ve probably heard about the newest meme to grace the Internet’s front page. Whether you hate these boys’ Snapchat compilation or you can not seem to stop replaying this hilarious duo, the Damn Daniel meme is one of the hottest trends on social media, for now, at least.

Because, just like all the other memes which have come and gone down social media’s “Hall of Fame”, it won’t last long and, soon enough, another idiotic meme will follow.

And, as Albert Einstein once said:

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”

Before the Damn Daniel Duo, viral trends included the Cinnamon Challenge, a competition to see who could consume the most cinnamon, and the Condom Challenge, a game in which one person filled a condom of water and dropped it on another person’s head in order to make a “water beard”.

On the not-so-dangerous side, viral memes like The Dress and the duo compilation are also quite stupid for the simple reason that they don’t benefit society in any way, shape or

form other than providing less than 10 seconds of empty entertainment.

Most of these trends did not take long to become viral superstars and it took even less time for them to bite the dust. Why they became popular in the first place is a mystery in itself.

In fact, some of these viral challenges were quite dangerous and a threat to teenagers’ few remaining brain cells.

The Condom Challenge, while it did produce a unique effect and a couple laughs, did almost suffocate a few people who tried it.

When a Today reporter asked James Bryant, associate chief nurse

for emergency services at Cleveland Clinic, what he thought about the Condom Challenge, he replied there are real risks involved with this [the Condom Challenge] prank.

When the condoms broke, it was possible that teens could inhale pieces of latex which include spermicide that could harm or poison teens, according to Bryant.

Though this doesn’t sound like a big deal, choking on latex or suffocating due to something which is used for protection isn’t something that I think is worth the risk.

In regards to the Cinnamon Challenge, the same risk-toentertainment ratio applies.

Pipe down promposals SOPHOMORE QUESTIONS PROM TRADITIONS

‘This prom season, don’t be afarid to go the simple route and ask your date out without all the extraness’

MELODY BERRYHILL reporter

It’s what every girl dreams of since they were little. It’s the gateway to probably the best night of your life. It’s prom. Prom takes efforteverything from finding the perfect get up to booking a party bus. Before all of that though, there typically comes a promposal. They could either go very well or embarrassing in a matter of seconds.

Here’s why the extremity of promposals should be stopped immediately: We’re still in high school. It should not be equivalent to a marriage proposal.

If I’m on my way to 4th period, I don’t want to show up to class with confetti and glitter stuck in my hair

Photo courtesy of Jessica Riley

from a promposal that occurred in the main hall.

Sometimes they can be cute, but other times an observer would have to question if the person getting asked out was almost as uncomfortable as they were.

It seems like these days it’s more of a competition as to who can get the most twitter retweets and go viral from their outrageous promposal than it is to genuinely ask the person. Pages like @besttpromposals showcase excessive promposals, like

5. 3 . 16 According to Robert Glatter, MD and contributor to Forbes online magazine, serious complications of the Cinnamon Challenge include choking, respiratory failure and collapsed lungs as well as the development of “reactive airways” or wheezing in response to the cinnamon powder. As a practicing ER who’s had first-hand experience with teens who’ve done the Cinnamon Challenge, Glatter can attest to how dangerous this viral trend can be.

On the other end of the spectrum, while things such as Damn Daniel, Alex From Target and The Dress might not cause someone immediate danger, the sheer stupidity of how popular these things can get and how much coverage they garner is ridiculous.

Now, I’m all for being nice to others and giving out compliments.

What I find stupid is how these boys’ Snapchats have been blown so out of proportion to the point that the duo have been guests on The Ellen Show, as well as given a lifetime supply of Vans, just for making some stupid five-second video.

Same thing with The Dress or Alex From Target.

I have no issue with the concept of both of these trends .but it’s because of the media frenzy surrounding these hot topics and how passionate people have become over things that make no difference in the world that irritates me.

Sure, it’s fun to laugh and joke about some stupid videos, but once you have national media news outlets covering these flash-in-the-pan stories, it’s gone a little too far.

Photo courtesy of Maddie Littlef ield

this one where a guy asked a girl to prom down on one knee (as if they’re getting married) at DisneyLand.

While some of them can be hilariously funny, like one where this guy did an “The Office” theme.

We don’t take into consideration as to how the other person feels about it. If they wanted to say no, they’ll automatically be pressured to say yes from how many people are staring intently at them.

People also may have high expectations from the countless videos they’ve seen all over social media and quickly be disappointed if their supposed prom date doesn’t ask them to prom while riding an elephant in the main hallway with their name on a big banner.

The simplicity of asking “will you go to prom with me?”- is long gone from the overshadowment of some guy serenading a girl to a cheesy love song in the middle of a cafeteria.

My perfect idea of a promposal would be someone going to my house with a box of chocolates or a banner with something creative written relating to prom.

We are all young and it shouldn’t be that deep. Some people prefer to have an extravagant promposal and there’s nothing wrong with that since it’s a personal preference.

This prom season, don’t be afraid to go the simple route and ask your date out without all the extraness because the only thing that matters is the fun you two will have together.

5. 3. 16

OPINION

STAFF ED

19

Art by Bri Gonzalez

the REPORTER staff

Co-Editor in Chief JULIA RYZA Co-Editor in Chief EMME ENOJADO Managing Editor JOHN SANCHEZ Sports Editor CLAIRE MYNATT Opinion Editors MADI CHRISTIAN SUZY VAZQUEZ Culture Editors AUDREY GRAY EMILY SCHULTE News Editor NICOLE SHAIR SWITCH BRILLO Life Editors CODY BROWN BRI GONZALEZ Business Managers HANNAH HELGREN HANNA WILLINGHAM KAITLYN COATS Public Relations ALEX WHITE Copy Editor LAURYN WALKER Reporters, Artists EDWARD CATEN, HANNAH WOODRUM, BLAKE NALL, MELODY BERRYHILL, LILY ADAM Online Editor LIZZIE FARIA SWITCH BRILLO 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 High School is located at 22602 Hempstead Highway Cypress, TX 77429. Please contact the journalism classroom at (281) 897-4658 to advertise in this publication or email Lillian.Harris@cfisd.net.

ATTEMPT TO END CHILDHOOD OBESITY FAILS In 2013, tragedy struck. Strawberry milk was banished from lunchrooms across the nation. This was a result of the First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to end childhood obesity and promote a healthier lifestyle.

Obama’s latest escapade has taken place within National School Lunch and Breakfast under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, on Jan. 13, 2011 the United States Department of Agriculture released a list of nutrition standards that would have to be met by public schools across the nation for schools to receive a 6 cent reimbursement on the meals they provide.

It is easy to see that the creation of these regulations were done with good intentions to implement education about healthier food choices early on in childhood. Obesity in children is a legitimate issue and should not be ignored. There are changes that make sense, like the realization that pizza can’t be consumed in place of a vegetable serving.

The basic foundation of this plan was to include more whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean protein, and give the USDA authority over school nutritional standards and regulations.

Sadly, most schools ability to meet these regulations have fallen short.

“No school has been certified as meeting the updated nutrition standards that took effect July 1, 2014, including sodium limits, the requirement that 100 percent of grains be whole grain rich, and the mandate to offer a full cup of fruit at breakfast,” according to a statement released the School Nutrition Association, a national, non-profit organization representing 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country.

It seems like the only parts of the meal plan that haven’t been blown out of proportion are the proportions themselves.

Meals and calorie counts are based on a “one size fits all” idea, which is completely inefficient and unhealthy. Under federal regulations for school meals nationwide, kindergarten to fifth grade students may only receive up to 650 calories, sixth to eighth receive 700, and ninth to twelfth receive 850, according to an article on medicalnewstoday. com.

Under these regulations, a 6’3” senior linebacker for the football team should be fed under the same nutrition regulations as a 4’11” petite freshman girl.

You’ve got kids whose only two meals are breakfast and lunch at school and they’re getting a grand total of 1,100 calories. That’s not enough. Most school aged kids need up to 2,200 calories per day and that number rises when entering puberty. We are all different shapes and sizes and we all need different things to stay healthy.

Basing everyone on the same scale defeats the purpose of promoting health.

One of the main changes in the act was adding more vegetable selections and healthier alternatives, but with cuts being made to the en-tree options provided. The veggie sides make up more of the plate than the necessary protein packed en-tree.

There has also been the infamous recent uproar among students over the sudden limit of only one ketchup packet for each meal, which is due to the modifications implemented in March to include condiment calories into the total calories allowed per meal. But this, like every other regulation and change made to the

cafeteria menu, was not a decision made by CFISD faculty.

It is important to remember that just because we may find the rules unfair, our feelings toward the school lunch regulations should not be directed at the cafeteria staff or those who carry out what is dealt to them in the meal department for CFISD. “I’ve just been telling the cashiers to use their best customer service, but we need your help so we can enforce the procedures. As you can see, everyone is working hard and trying our very best to give [the students] the best and to serve [the students] better,” according to CFISD Director of Food Service Darin Crawford.

Our government has proven its inability to execute welfare based programs that are supposed to help those in need. Instead these taxpayer funded programs go to waste, as the National School Lunch Program has a 16.3 percent improper funding rate: meaning 16.3 percent of the funding does not go towards its intended program according to Payment Accuracy.org, an official website of the United States government.

In the end, it is not the government’s job to do “what is good for you” against the will of the people. That is not how a democracy works.

This applies if the programs they do implement fail to work.

It is up to parents and the will of the people to decide what is best for them and their families. We are strong minded individuals capable of making our own decisions and it is up to us to choose the healthy or unhealthy option. We do not need the government to hold our hands and pick out what we are going to eat that day.

20

PHOTO ESSAY

SENIORS COMPETE IN TRADITIONAL FOOTBALL GAME JOHN SANCHEZ managing editor

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Squad goals. Fellow male cheerleaders lift senior Jed Dvoracek and Jacob Macias during the Powder Puff game. Photo by Bri

Baiza

Running with the plug. Senior Angela Harris runs toward the goal to score a touchdown. Photo by Bri Baiza Jumpman, jumpman. Senior Jacob Trlica entertains the crowd by performing a jump split. Photo by Bri Baiza Trick em’ out. Senior Kyler Wyatt runs towards her teammate senior Chara Tatum. Photo by Bri Baiza Running through the f ield. Senior Thao Nguyen chases opponent senior Cydney Rockford. Photo by Bri Baiza

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