The Pony Express Center Hill High School, 13250 Kirk Road, Olive Branch MS 38654
September 2019 Volume 3, Issue 1
Another ‘A’ Ranking
CHHS ranked fifth in state, second in district By Paige Brick and Nadia Sumlar Co-editors
F
or the seventh year in a row, Center Hill High School has received an “A” ranking by the Mississippi Department of Education. It is the fifth best high school in the state and also the second-highest ranking high school in DeSoto County behind Hernando. “This is definitely a team effort,” Principal Doug Payne said. “Every teacher, staff member and student in this school has put the work in, and it is nice to know that hard work has paid off and is being recognized.” After weeks of speculation, accountability ratings were approved by the state board of
education Sept. 19. Among other things, the high school rankings are based on graduation rates and state test scores in Algebra I, Biology I, English II and U.S. History from the 20182019 school year. CHHS has been a topDoug Payne rated school since 2009-2010, which predates Mississippi’s current A-F rating system. Ahead of the official announcement, Superintendent Cory Uselton said on Twitter that DeSoto County Schools would be
an A-ranked school district. “Only 9 districts in MS have achieved this honor the last 4 years in a row,” Uselton tweeted. “Congratulations to our students, teachers, administrators, staff & parents! It is a team effort!” Despite the top ranking, Payne said there is still work to be done. “Of course, we do not want to become complacent,” he said. “We know that we have to continue to do better each day to continue to raise the bar. However, yeah, to be ranked fifth out of 142 schools in the state and to be ranked second only to Hernando in the district feels good and needs to be celebrated.” Staff Writer Matthew Collins contributed to this report.
Photo by Matthew Collins Center Hill High School has been rated an “A” school multiple times by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Evans crowned Queen during Homecoming win A
By Billie Boyd Staff Writer
first-time Homecoming maid walked away with the crown. “It’s such a privilege and it could have been any one of the five senior maids, so I was just honored that the school chose me,” senior Kennedi Evans said. Evans was crowned Homecoming Queen Sept. 13 during halftime of the game against Douglass High School. The Mustangs went on to defeat the Red Devils 34-6. “I was extremely shocked,” Evans said. “It was my first year ever being on Homecoming Court, so I didn’t think I was going to win at all. When they announced queen it didn’t fully register with me that I won until they said my middle name. I guess I had just prepared myself that I wasn’t going to win and it really
threw me off guard.” No expectations meant no pressure for Evans, but that wasn’t the case for quarterback Preston Newson. “It feels a lot of pressure knowing that people are looking up to you and have really high expectations of you,” said Newson, a junior who scored one of the game’s touchdowns. “It feels good to win though, and to know you have succeeded and helped everyone on the team.” Zoie Peppers, one of three sophomore maids, said being on the court “made me feel like a princess.” “It felt good to know that people wanted me to represent their class,” she said. “I was glad we won, because it made the night that much more special.”
Photo by Katie Whitaker Kennedi Evans, far left, reacts to being named Homecoming Queen during halftime of the Sept. 13 game against Douglass High School. “I guess I had just prepared myself that I wasn’t going to win and it really threw me off guard,” she said. Junior maid Billie Boyd is pictured at right.
Veteran educator joins Center Hill family as third assistant principal
C
By Matthew Collins Staff Writer
enter Hill High School now has three assistant principals with the addition of Sharon Reed. She joins Brenda Case and Zack Sims. “I love it here,” Reed said. “I love how everybody is about making sure the priorities are straight, that we have those high
expectations, that we’re consistent. I like the family atmosphere, and I like the students.” A native of Northeast Sharon Reed Arkansas, Reed has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a
middle school emphasis from Arkansas State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Delta State University. “I’m actually a middle school person and I had been in elementary school for the past few years, and I was excited to get back with some older kids,” said Reed, who previously was an AP at Olive Branch
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Elementary and Horn Lake Intermediate. “This is my 11th year as an assistant principal.” Reed added that the school has welcomed her, and the feeling is mutual. “Every staff member and [the]students have treated me nice while being here so far,” she said. “I really appreciate the higher bodies welcoming me in as part of the Center Hill
family.” The school’s multiple consecutive “A” rankings are also appealing to her. “I think that’s great,” Reed said. “I’m so excited for our school and how we’re excelling in everything that we’re doing. It’s academics, it’s sports, it’s everything, so I think that this is one of the best schools I’ve ever been at.”
BE IN THE KNOW AT THE HILL
Monday, Sept. 23 - First day of Fall Tuesday, Sept. 24 - ASVAB (rescheduled from Sept. 19) Tuesday, Sept. 24 - Volleyball vs. Tupelo
Thursday, Sept. 26 - School pictures Thursday, Sept. 26 - Fall Choral Concert @ LaBelle Haven Baptist Church Thursday, Sept. 26 - Volleyball @ Lewisburg Friday, Sept. 27 - Football vs. Lake Cormorant Saturday, Sept. 28 - XC North Mississippi Challenge Saturday, Sept. 28 - Ole Miss Choral Festival
Saturday, Sept. 28 - OB Marching Contest Monday, Sept. 30 - NHS Induction Ceremony
Thursday, Oct. 17 - Report Cards
Friday, Oct. 18 - Football vs. New Hope Saturday, Oct. 19 - XC DeSoto County Championships
Tuesday, Oct 1 - ACT Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Volleyball @ Lake Cormorant
Friday, Oct. 25 - Football @ Saltillo Saturday, Oct. 26 - ACT
Thursday, Oct. 3 - Volleyball @ Lafayette
Saturday, Oct. 26 - Boys Basketball Jamboree @ ICC
Friday, Oct. 4 - Football @ Columbus Saturday, Oct. 5 - Volleyball Tournament @ CHHS Saturday, Oct. 5 - Lewisburg Marching Contest Wednesday, Oct. 9 - End of 1st 9 weeks Friday, Oct. 11 - CHHS College Fair
Photo by Katie Whitaker The Marching Band, shown here in the Homecoming Parade, competed in the Arlington High School marching band competition Sept. 21. In class AAA, the Mustangs won first place Overall, Field Commander, Color Guard and Percussion. In the Gold Division, the band won first place Overall and Field Commander.
Friday, Oct. 11 - Football @ Lafayette
Monday, Oct. 14 - Columbus Day
Saturday, Oct. 12 - XC Pontotoc Invitational
Wednesday, Oct. 16 - PSAT
Saturday, Oct. 26 - University of Memphis Marching Contest Saturday, Oct. 26 - XC Region 1-5A Meet Tuesday, Oct. 29 - BETA Club Induction Thursday, Oct. 31 - Soccer Olive Branch Classic @ CHHS
Ask the Mustangs: Chick-fil-A or Popeyes? “I haven’t tried the Popeyes chicken sandwich, but I have tried Chick-fil-A. I like the way it melts in your mouth, how soft the chicken is, how the pickle tastes like chicken, how buttery the bread is. It’s so nice. And then you put the Polynesian sauce on it, you know how it’s dripping off.” Le’Darius Brookins Junior
By Le’ Undria Austin Staff Writer Feathers were flying in August during the Chicken Sandwich War, when Chick-fil-A and Popeyes each bragged about having the best chicken sandwich. In a Twitter survey conducted by The Pony Express, Chick-fil-A received 81 percent of the vote compared to Popeyes’ 19 percent. Fifty-two Twitter users responded. In a similar poll on Instragram, 29 voters said they liked Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich better, while just four people preferred Popeyes. Here’s how other Mustangs weighed in on which fast food restaurant won the Chicken Sandwich War: “I like Chickfil-A better, because you know when you mix it with them sauces girl, I’m telling you it’s fire. And you know Popeyes is good too, but I just haven’t tried their chicken sandwich.” Qualinda Moore Junior “The Chickfil-A sandwich just tastes better, like Chick-fil-A is better in general. Popeyes is so irrelevant. I have tried Popeyes. It’s lame. It’s not all that good.” Angelia Andrews Sophomore
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“Neither, because I don’t like Chick-fil-A and I don’t like Popeyes.”
“I haven’t tried Popeyes’ sandwich. I like the flavor of the Chick-fil-A sandwich. It’s not too dry or anything.” Eric Ngo Freshman “I thought that the Popeyes chicken sandwich was better because I felt it was juicier and that it had a better flavor.” Veronica Corral Senior
Illustration by Matthew Collins
“I’ve never tried the Popeyes chicken sandwich, but I have tried the Chick-fil-A sandwich. I really don’t know the difference.”
Charay Kounhavong Freshman
“I’ve had the Popeyes sandwich, but not the Chickfil-A sandwich. The Popeyes sandwich was crispy and like really good, and it was really tender and juicy. I would try Chickfil-A. It sounds pretty good.” Cameron Snyder Sophomore
“Chick-fil-A, because you don’t have to wait as long and it’s just better. Popeyes just puts chicken between bread. It’s like, you can do that at the house.”
Katyierney Bagley Senior
Makiya Lowman Sophomore
Jonathan S. Masters Attorney
Holcomb Dunbar 400 Enterprise Dr. Oxford, MS 38655
“Chick-fil-A, because it’s better and it tastes better.”
Jeffrey Strauser Freshman
662-234-8775
jmasters@holcombdunbar.com
Amazon fires slowly killing planet
The Pony Express
Everyone knows that trees give us oxygen to breathe. There are many comments today saying if we get rid of our trees, we get rid of our lungs. Well, the world’s lungs are currently on fire. Did you know the Amazon rainforest, which produces 20 percent of the world’s oxygen, is currently burning away? We bet you didn’t know about it until a few weeks ago, when the national media finally reported about the fires that had been burning across Brazil’s Amazon rainforest for several weeks. Why did it take so long for us to hear about it? There are loggers and cattle ranchers who are cutting down the trees of the tropical rainforest to make room for crops and cattle. To get rid of the trees that were
The Pony Express student newspaper is a club that is supplemented by members of the Foundations of Journalism class at Center Hill High School.
cut down, they burned them. Research has shown that this slash and burn method has been used to clear land for thousands of years, but according to earthsky.org, dry conditions have caused the fires to burn out of control. The raging fires do not seem likely to die any time soon. The other surprising fact is that there is not just one fire. Multiple fires have started along the edges and river basins of the Amazon. According to sciencealert.com, “Since August 15, more than 9,500 new forest fires have started across Brazil, primarily in the Amazon basin.” The fires are also in areas that have previously been deforested. The extent of the fires has gotten so bad that Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s
President, banned the use of fire as a method of deforestation and, according to the New York Times, declared a state of emergency and “took the rare step ... of mobilizing the armed forces to help contain blazes of a scale not seen in nearly a decade.” With how fast these fires are starting and spreading, they don’t seem to be stopping any time soon. The Brazilian government is finally trying to contain the situation, and there have also been many environmental organizations taking donations to help the cause and try to tame the flames. As of now though, the rainforest – and our planet – continues to be destroyed every day. What are you going to do about it? The Pony Express Staff Editorial
Illustration by Lacey Buckley
Co-Editors Paige Brick and Nadia Sumlar Features Editor Kaitlin Moore Business Manager Nada Herzallah Contributing Staff for Issue 1 Le’ Undria Austin, Billie Boyd, Paige Brick, Lacey Buckley, Matthew Collins, Laine Crabb, Landis Henderson, Nada Herzallah, Ana Le, Sarah Claire Miller, Shelby Parsons, Trinity Waldrip, Katie Whitaker Advisers Ginny Shikle and Michelle Jones The mission of The Pony Express is to provide quality, thought-provoking student produced publications focused on the events and issues that affect the Center Hill High School community. As student writers, we try to reflect the thoughts of our most important readers – the students of Center Hill. Because of this, we attempt to approach many issues, some more controversial than others. The newspaper staff hopes to inform, to educate, to entertain and to question for the betterment of Center Hill, its students and faculty. Editorial Policy The editorial section of The Pony Express, including editorial cartoons, serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials reflect the consensus of The Pony Express staff. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the student body, faculty, administration or school district. Letters to the Editor Policy Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Pony Express will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature, and class or position relative to the letter. Typed or legible, hand-written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Pony Express will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter. Submit questions, comments or letters to the editor to ponyexpresschhs@gmail.com or 13250 Kirk Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Advertising Policy The Pony Express will not accept any advertising that deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teenagers to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Pony Express reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of The Pony Express staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. To advertise, contact Ginny Shikle at ginny.shikle@dcsms.org. Member Organizations The Pony Express is a member of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. Our publication was named Most Improved High School Newspaper by MSPA for 2017-2018, and in 2018-2019 The Pony Express was a finalist for Mississippi’s High School Newspaper of the Year.
Don’t leave Earth’s problems for tomorrow The little exposure the media has given to the Amazon Rainforest fires has me very disappointed. This planet is the only one we have, and we need to take care of it. Some of the reasons people used for burning it down were unethical, and those that were ethical have gone too far. This forest is an important part
of the Earth’s ecosystem as a whole and the issue should have been brought to the public’s attention sooner than three months after the
By Paige Brick Co-editor
flames had continuously raged. We as a people need to stand up and take action to save our planet. We are damaging the ozone and leaving future generations with no trees. Don’t put your problems that can be fixed today on your children so that they will be left with the consequences tomorrow.
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Homecoming
Photo by Shelby Parsons For TV and Movie Dressup Day, inclusion teacher Heather Wilder dressed as Melanie Daniels, a character from the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Birds.” Wilder said she bought the suit at an estate sale, and she and her mother sewed on birds purchased from Dollar Tree.
For more Homecoming photos, visit chhsponyexpress.com.
Kyle Heath, sophomore, jams on the Concert Choir’s rock ‘n’ roll themed Homecoming flo
Photo by Katie Whitaker From left, freshman maids Shainah Walker and Rebekah Wallace ride in the Homecoming Parade.
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Photo by Katie Whitaker Sophomore Caden Tackett ponders a Homecoming win at the pep rally. Tackett rode on the soccer float.
Photo by Nad Juniors Paige Hill, left, and Akeila Burgess dressed up for Pajama Day Homecoming Week.
g at The Hill
Photo by Billie Boyd From left, juniors Michelle Rea, Jillian Wiggins, Landon Bello and Dallas Bryant dressed up for TV and Movie Day.
Photo by Katie Whitaker
oat.
da Herzallah y during
Photo by Trinity Waldrip Members of FCCLA work on designs for their Homecoming float. The float’s theme was “Roast the Red Devils” of Douglass High School.
Photo by Landis Henderson From left, girls basketball coach Emily Owens, math teacher Jackie Wooten, science teacher Kerry Matthews, Assistant Principal Sharon Reed and English teacher Amy Hunsucker went old school for Throwback Thursday.
Photo by Le’Undria Austin From left, freshmen Kalina Snyder and Hannah Jo Fortner dressed up as tourists for Vacation Day during Homecoming Week.
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Students broaden horizons with world travels
Photo courtesy of Paris Johnson
Photo courtesy of Carson Ewing
From left, Paris Johnson, Carson Ewing and Ashia Eubanks each traveled out of the country over the summer. Johnson, pictured in Cozumel, went on a cruise
By Sarah Claire Miller Staff Writer From cruises to mission trips, travel experiences this past summer showed students the world is much bigger than Olive Branch. “I thought that I wasn’t going to like going to different parts of the world, but once I got there it was a whole new vibe of people,” sophomore Paris Johnson said. “They were different, but it wasn’t in a weird way. It was straight. I really enjoyed myself.” At the end of her freshman year in May, Johnson spent a week in Panama with one of her cousins. A month later, she went on a sevenday Carnival cruise to Honduras, Cozumel and Belize.
“My mom’s family always plans a big trip to go on, and this year they all chose to go on a cruise because they felt that it would be a good experience to see different parts of the world and to meet new people,” she said, adding that previous family trips have been to Disney World and Gatlinburg. Carson Ewing, a junior, spent two weeks in July in Bagaces, Costa Rica on a mission trip with Central Church of Collierville. It was his first time out of the United States and his first time on a plane. “Our church worked with a Christian youth group called Tribu de Juda in hosting a VBS for little kids at their church and a retreat to Río de Naranjo for the older
Photo courtesy of Ashia Eubanks
to Honduras, Belize and Cozumel with her family. Ewing spent two weeks on a mission trip in Costa Rica, and Eubanks visited Jordan with a friend.
kids,” Ewing said. “We each stayed in separate host homes hosted by Costa Rican families where we stayed while we weren’t at church. I stayed with a family who lived on a farm who had a 16-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy.” Ewing was one of a dozen teenagers on the mission trip, which his church has participated in before. “My sister had gone in previous years and I had close friends at my church who went and strongly recommended it,” Ewing said. “I also wanted an opportunity to be a server.” For junior Ashia Eubanks, traveling was a way to learn about herself and others.
“This summer I went to Jordan with one of my very best friends, Sanabell Ghanem,” Eubanks said. Eubanks traveled with Ghanem and her family to Chicago and then took a 12-hour flight to Jordan. “I met her wonderful family there, saw different cultures, and saw how Jordanian way of life is very different than the USA,” Eubanks said. “The country is absurdly beautiful, with various huge praying churches – castles, in my opinion – and I was just in awe of the landscapes.” Getting to know another culture was a learning experience for Eubanks. “Traveling is on a lot of people’s bucket list,” she said. “Traveling allowed me to learn more about
myself and learn more about the various cultures around me. You see beautiful interactions amongst people that make you think different. You experience different customs, that are quite frankly weird, but oddly inviting.” An example of an odd custom was eating goat brain, which Eubanks said was surprisingly good. She added that all in all, travel can be a mental, physical and spiritual experience. “I believe that is what traveling is all about,” she said. “If that’s not enough to convince you to travel, just think, the photos will look good enough to post on your Instagram, maybe even your Snapchat story.”
Exlporer’s Club visits Europe By Shelby Parsons Staff Writer Scotland, England and France. This past summer, 23 students from Center Hill High School traveled on a 10-day trip to these masses of culture and history. On planes, trains and buses, they proceeded through Edinburgh, Oxford, York, London and Paris. Along the way, students and chaperones were able to see and visit a plethora of landmarks across Europe, including Edinburgh Castle, Warwick Castle and the York Minster. Megan Patterson and Nevin Thomason, both seniors, recounted walking along the Shambles in York and climbing the Eiffel Tower. “We were only half-way up [the Eiffel Tower] and we died going up the rest of the steps,” Thomason said. Patterson recalled her experience at Warwick Castle. “I stood for 10 minutes just looking at the stained glass there until Nevin made me leave,” she said.
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Michelle Jones, one of the trip’s chaperones, said the group saw the critically acclaimed musical “Wicked” on West End and visited William Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and hometown, Stratford-Upon-Avon. “We saw where Shakespeare was born and saw where his wife’s family had lived, which is great being an English teacher and getting to see that,” Jones said. The Explorer’s Club was able to make memories and experience new things while learning about Europe’s history and being exposed to its cultures. Patterson and Reese Shumway, a junior, re-enacted a wedding ceremony at Gretna Green, an infamous spot for people to elope. “Reese’s and my birthday had just happened,” Patterson said. “The group didn’t have time to do anything for it, so they said, ‘go get married!’ It was so funny.” Tanika Kounhavong also reminisced about the trip. “I think it was in Paris, but there was a guy who was singing to a crowd,” Kounhavong said. “He saw that we were singing along so he
Photo courtesy of Michelle Jones While in England, members of the Explorer’s Club visited William Shakespeare’s birthplace. Pictured here are, from left, Ashley Jenkins, David DuVall, Megan Patterson and Tanika Kounhavong.
invited us to go up and sing with him. I loved absolutely everything about Europe. The trip was really fun. I just graduated, so this was my last memory
with Center Hill.” Jones encourages students to travel and broaden their horizons. “I am a firm believer that everyone
should leave the United States at least once,” she said. “It’s so great for you as a student to have that opportunity.”
‘The Little Mermaid’ casting causes controversy for Disney “The Little Mermaid” is a classic Disney film that many know and love. From Ariel’s beautiful singing voice to Scuttle’s dinglehopper, fans enjoy the nostalgic By Nadia Sumlar feeling they Co-editor get from watching this movie. Disney announced earlier this year that it is producing a live-action version of “The Little Mermaid,” and the cast list still has many people taking sides. The biggest topic of debate is over the actress cast as Ariel. Halle Bailey, a 19-year-old black woman, was chosen for the leading role in the adaptation of this timeless classic. The announcement spurred
Twitter hashtags and TMZ and ENT conversations about Bailey playing Ariel. The original depiction of Ariel in the 1989 film was a young white girl with red hair. Many people consider this as an opening of doors to black people in the Disney market. Unfortunatey, Bailey did not receive all joyful comments. There are those who have made racist and discriminatory comments toward Bailey and Disney. One of the many hashtags on Twitter read “Make Little Mermaid White Again.” There were also many memes and edits of the animated Ariel as an African American that depicted Bailey in a negative light. White parents tweeted that their children seeing this movie would “ruin their childhood.” Here is my view on it. To me, Ariel is a fish and fish are not considered black or white.
And if I remember correctly, when “The Princess and the Frog” came out, everyone was so happy to see a black Disney princess. Why is Bailey’s casting as Ariel receiving backlash? Is it because of today’s politics? Is it now a trend to just hate every good thing a black person does? All I know is “The Little Mermaid” is about the message it contains, not about the people or what they look like. If a black woman telling your child that they have to one day grow up and not stick to being a child for the rest of their life is “ruining their childhood,” then there is nothing else to say. I am excited to see this movie and for the rest of the cast to be announced. While we are on the topic of “The Little Mermaid,” please petition for Harry Styles to be Prince Eric. Please.
Photo by Nadia Sumlar The original depiction of Ariel in the 1989 film “The Little Mermaid” was a young white girl with red hair. Disney sparked controversy when it recently chose Halle Bailey, a 19-year-old black woman, for the leading role in a new adaptation of this timeless classic.
Review: Is this music really the best on YouTube? Posted to YouTube Sept. 12, Halsey came out with a new music video titled “Graveyard (Time-lapse),” which has earned 5.5 million views. The music is very calming and relaxing. I’m not really a fan of Halsey, but this song is actually really good and I wouldn’t mind listening to it again. The video is satisfying as well. It is a “time-lapse” of an
artist painting Halsey’s cover of her new album. Overall, the lyrics fit the tempo and rhythm of the song By Kaitlin Moore and I would Features Editor recommend it to anyone who likes to listen to
music to help lure them to sleep. The second most popular music video is Camila Cabello’s “Liar,” which has earned 22 million views since it was uploaded on Sept. 11. The opening of the video is actually really cringey. The fiance is trying to impress his significant other with a ruby necklace, only to have a waiter spill a drink on him followed by
Cabello choking on some food and the fiance being painfully oblivious. Turns out it was only a dream. I found the beginning of the actual song to be really annoying since the vocals didn’t seem natural at all, and the video of her running through the mansion made me want to stop the video and move on to something else altogether.
Although, the chorus was great. Uploaded on Sept. 12, Ariana Grande released a new music video titled “Don’t Call Me Angel (Charlie’s Angels),” which has earned over one million views since its release. Grande collaborated with Miley Cirus and Lana Del Rey in this song, and so far, it’s really good.
Review: Live action ‘Aladdin’ remake Cameron Mica Boyce: The boy who will live on By Kaitlin Moore Features Editor
I remembered him in “Jessie,” I remembered him in “That Green Gentleman,” and I remembered when he passed away. I was in California when the news broke, and I remember feeling conflicted. Everyone was. While most By Ana Le of us only Staff Writer saw Cameron Boyce on television, we also saw him grow up. He grew up with us. The devastation was apparent. Countless posts flooded my timeline; he had died in his sleep from a seizure. Boyce had a medical condition called Perthes disease, an ongoing condition that causes blood loss to the hip. No one had seen it coming. “The night he passed away, we
were out to dinner with him just hours before,” said Victor Roberts, Boyce’s father, in an ABC News interview. “It was a completely normal, beautiful family night out to dinner. There was no indication that anything was wrong. I mean there was no way to know in hours my son would be dead. Like, it was just staggeringly crazy and horrible. And we were texting that night.” He was only 20 years old. Since the tragedy, Boyce’s family has launched a foundation in his honor titled the Cameron Boyce Foundation, serving to provide creative outlets for young people all across the globe. It’s fitting, considering how Boyce serves as a reminder to all of us to live without regret and to pursue our passion projects with vigor and enthusiasm. He lives on as an inspiration to our generation and to whoever may follow. Legends never die.
Most of us are familiar with the original 1992 film “Aladdin,” one of many classic animated Disney films. On May 24, Disney released the live action remake starring Naomi Scott as Jasmine, Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Will Smith as Genie and Marwan Kenzari as Jafar. The remake has earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 57 percent, which isn’t bad. Many people criticized the casting of Smith as Genie well before the release of the movie, due to the passing of Robin Williams and his famous role as Genie in the animated version of the film. They were claiming how Smith was a “horrible” casting for such a timeless character. However, Smith stepped up to the challenge and kept the
original essence of Williams’ Genie while also incorporating his own twist to the iconic character. I really enjoyed seeing his portrayal of the character because it definitely made the movie more entertaining.
To vote in our poll of the best Disney live action remake, go to chhsponyexpress.com. The movie also added its own spin to the original songs while adding some of its own. The most notable changes were the dance choreography and the added song “Speechless,” sung by Princess Jasmine. Both were absolutely stunning, and I would watch the movie on repeat just for those two purposes alone. Toward the beginning, the film focuses on Aladdin’s life as a streetrat, performing jawdropping stunts to get away from
the guards, ultimately leading him to help a distressed, undercover Jasmine and having her perform a romantic “trust fall” to escape the guards before safely returning her to her castle. Not before stealing her bracelet to return at a later date, unfortunately. The remake was a lot better than what I expected it to be. I was expecting it to be disappointing like “Dumbo,” which completely changed its roots. In fact, the movie kept true to the original storyline while also adding onto what happened to Genie after he was freed from his lamp. Overall, it was a really sweet story. The choreography was flawless and the singing was great. I would recommend to go out and watch it if you haven’t already. Just make sure to watch the animated one first.
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Five swimmers qualify for North Half By Laine Crabb Staff Writer Based on their times in the first meet of the season, all Center Hill High School swimmers are qualified for North Half. The competition was Aug. 21 at the Tunica Aquatic Center. “It feels great to make North Half with my teammates,” said senior Taylor Williams, who won the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.60. He also won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:00.25. Also in Tunica, sophomore Abigail Hoffman won the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:06.23. She finished second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:45.18. Senior Spencer Shannon won the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.16. He also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 57.84.
Freshman Joey Dunning qualified for North Half in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke, and junior Micah Logan qualified in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. With the swimmers’ appearance at North Half set, swim coach Josh Barnett said his team can focus on their next goal. “It’s a weight lifted off our shoulders,” he said. “We can work on getting quicker times for state now.” North Half will be Oct. 19 in Cleveland, and the state championship will be Oct. 26 in Tupelo. To prepare, the team practices Monday-Thursday at the YMCA. “We swim anywhere from 2,500 yards to about 3,500 yards,” Barnett said. “It’s a lot, but we want to prepare them conditioning wise so that they can go long distance,
and a short race is nothing.” Shannon said he wants to keep beating his time. “My main goal this year is to place in state,” he said. “Making North Half this early feels amazing, but I want to make more races for North Half. For my 50m freestyle I swim a 24, but my goal is to go for a 19 or a 20, which means swimming two laps in 20 seconds.” In 2018, Williams won the state championship in the 200 IM, setting a state record with a time of 1:53.06. He also won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 57.24. “My goals are to win but also beat both of my state records,” Williams said. “A team goal would be for almost everyone to make state so we can have a boys relay.” Wiliams missed the first week of school this year competing at the Junior Nationals in Palo Alto,
Photo by Katie Whitaker Taylor Williams greets the crowd during the swim team’s introduction at the first pep rally of the year Aug. 23.
California. “He posted his three best times at the Speedo National Championship at Stanford University,” Barnett said. “He swam in the 100 breaststroke, 200 IM and the 100 free.” The coach added that his team is in good hands with Shannon and
Williams. “Taylor’s a great role model in the pool and outside of the pool,” Barnett said. “Spencer’s challenging himself. He’s there every practice. He’s a great example. I expect both of them to step into a leadership role for us.”
Volleyball players ‘all in’ to push for winning season By Katie Whitaker Staff Writer The volleyball team got off to a good start this year. “We opened the season on the road, so winning the first home game really boosted the girls’ confidence,” coach Robbie Veazey said. During the offseason, “We played in summer leagues all summer,” Veazey said. “We did about seven to eight games twice a week. We got to see our weaknesses and determine their lineup for the season.” “All summer, we’ve worked hours in the gym to better ourselves,” middle hitter Zakhia “Z” Taylor said. Taylor, who played in the 20182019 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Volleyball game in July, is among the seniors Veazey is relying on this year. “We have a very strong senior class this year,” she said. “Z and Anna (Jernigan) are very strong players. Z really sets the tone of the front row for us. Anna and Z have been leading us senior wise.” All of her players are “all in,” Veazey said, meaning they are focusing more on the team than
themselves in their attempt to accomplish a common goal of “making playoffs and winning the state title. They are reaching high and I don’t think much else is on their minds.” Taylor said she’s been chasing a state title since her freshman year. “Not only is the goal achievable, we have rival schools rooting for us to make it to state,” she said. “Making a playoff run and winning state would be the perfect ending to my senior year.” Junior Brinley Steed, a setter for the team, said they have worked hard in every aspect this year. “We work together and help each other with everything,” she said. “Coach Veazey has pushed us until we couldn’t be pushed anymore. I am very excited to see what the rest of the season brings and hopefully we will bring home a state title.” In the meantime, Veazey said there’s nothing quite like watching volleyball. Her players showcased their talents Sept. 3 during an inschool volleyball game against Olive Branch High School. “If you haven’t seen the game you’re missing out on a good experience,” she said. The Mustangs are now 3-0 in district play.
Photo by Katie Whitaker Senior Lauryn Bulloch pushes the ball while her teammates cover during an Aug. 20 match against Southaven. The Mustangs won the home non-conference match 3-0.
Volleyball 101 • The score goes to 25, but you have to win by two points. • We play the best three out of five, so if we win three sets, we win the game. • Each team has six players on the court at all times. • We have rotations.
• The setter is the “quarterback” of the team. • The net has many different parts and is hard to set up. • We have only six minutes to warm up. • Not all players that make the team play.
• Setting is the No. 1 thing in volleyball. • There are three different serves (underhand, overhand, and jump). • You have to be focused. • It takes a team. SOURCE: Brinley Steed
Nose guard ‘Big T’ recovering from season-ending injury By Laine Crabb Staff Writer
Torrean Taylor is recovering after surgery for a broken leg he suffered during the first half of the Sept. 6 football game against Southwind. “There was an outside run, and the other team cut back inside and everyone turned to go get the ball,” teammate Terran Hill said. “One of our linebackers dove to hit the running backs and accidentally hit Torrean’s leg instead. So his leg went in while his body went the other way.” Taylor, known as “Big T,” left 8 The Pony Express
the stadium by ambulance. “I was happy to let them see me get carted off the field with a smile on my face,” said Taylor, who broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg. He had surgery to insert a rod and plates in the leg Sept. 7 at Methodist Germantown Hospital. He is now at home recovering. “I’m feeling great,” he said. “I was in shock, but I’m good now. I don’t plan for this to hold me back, so I moved forward after surgery.” Although he plans to play in college, the injury puts Taylor, a senior, out for the remainder of
the season. “Any time you have an injury it is tough,” head football coach Alan Peacock said. “When it is a season-ending injury like this, and to a senior especially, it is even tougher for all involved.” A 6-foot-6-inch nose guard who wears No. 45 and always holds his teammates accountable, “He was an anchor on the D-line and a force on the field,” defensive line coach Joshua Burch said. “Losing Torrean not only hurts physically but mentally. He was a leader on and off the field, especially on our side of the ball. Torrean will be sorely missed on the field.”
Peacock said Taylor would return to school soon. “He should be back at school next week sometime,” Peacock said. “He will be on a walker for a while and may have to do some PT.” In the meantime, Taylor said his teammates have been supportive. “I can’t ask for a better band of brothers,” he said, adding that his message to them is to keep working and keep grinding. As for Taylor, “I’m just gonna ball until I can’t.” Co-editor Nadia Sumlar contributed to this story.
Photo by Sarah Claire Miller Torrean Taylor’s senior banner hangs at Mustang Stadium. Known as “Big T,” Taylor suffered a broken leg in the Sept. 6 game against Southwind. Following surgery, he returned to school Sept. 16.