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Texas school shooting prompts state to require implementation of new safety policies in districts
Graphics by Briceida Bellon
When Texas students returned to school last month, many of them solemnly walked past reinforced front office desks, nodded to the school resource officer and watched as the teacher closed the locked classroom doors behind them— all evidence of a state-wide emphasis on improved school security following the shooting in May at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Per mandates from the Texas Education Agency issued in July, CSHS is among the Texas public schools that have adopted new measures alongside pre-existing procedures.
“Safety has always been and always will be at the forefront of our responsibility as leaders here at College Station High School. This has been of the utmost impor
Elisabeth Stewart and Dean Crick Editor-in-Chief and Editor
College Station High School 4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845 Vol. 11 No. 1 Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 C theCATAMOUNT Senior attends Boys thisBoysNation,Statesummer 7 Teachersengageincreativehobbies 10 Summer travels deepen knowledge,culturalsetnewoutlook 15 Follow us on social media: @cshscatamountnewspaper @cshscatamountnewspaper INDEX HealthSportsPeopleOpinionsNews& Etc.EntertainmentRec 14-1511-127-104-62-31316
tance, ever since we opened the building back in 2012,” Principal Justin Grimes said. “The events in Uvalde in May were extremely unfortunate and our hearts go out to those families in that community, but because of those events, it has continued to raise awareness and bring about enhanced measures that the state has implemented acrossTheTexas.”measures come straight from the TEA’s “Re quired School Safety Action Steps,” released on June 30, and further mandates that CSISD received at a dis trict-wide meeting in July. Under these mandates, new features at CSHS include closing locked doors during instruction time, submitting documentation of weekly door checks and increased surveillance by administrators during transition periods.
Maintain distance between you and the threat and create barriers, turn off the lights and remain quiet by silencing your phone and hiding out of sight.
“At CSHS, we have taken it a step fur ther and are now requiring our parking lot monitors to check all of our exterior doors on a period-by-period basis,” Grimes said. “So every time we have a transition peri od, at the end of that transition period, our
“Overall,classrooms.thestaff is very support ive of the new safety measures,” English and U.S. History teacher and Safety Team Member Johnathan Brady said. “No one is going to argue that there’s a need. I just think it’s [about] getting used to them. I have to get used to keeping my door shut because I always kept my door open last year, and now I have to be very intention al.”
“If that fails, we teach ‘Defend,’” Foltermann said. “That means, instead of not being able to do anything about [the situation], do your best to defend.”
Locked and Monitored Doors
“A lot of kids may be scared to talk to law enforcement,” Foltermann said. “Be ing here every day, I get to know a lot of the kids on a personal level. It makes it easier for them to approach me when there is something they may be nervous speak ing about that may be a safety concern. I do my best to let them know that I’m not ‘big, scary, law enforcement, cop guy,’ and that way they feel comfortable talking to me.”
Take note of your surroundings, form an exit plan, move away from the source of the threat and put maximum distance between yourself and the threat.
As part of his license to work as a school resource officer, Folterman com pleted active shooter response training, which includes active shooter drills and knowledge of Standard Response Protocol
“[Before], because of sports or band, doors have been left propped open to let people come in,” Assistant Principal and Safety Coordinator Joshua Rhine said. “Now [the doors are] closed after the bell rings. [This is] inexpensive, and honestly the most important line of defense.”
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The Texas Legislature House Inves tigative Committee found that teachers at Robb Elementary “commonly left doors unlocked” or propped with miscellaneous items, and the school had failed to address reports of a broken lock on one of the vic timized
AVOID being in theproblem
While parking lot attendants check entrances, what Grimes calls the “Team of Ten” monitors other high-traffic areas during all transition periods, lunches and W.I.N
• The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 2022News2
Source: Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
parking lot monitors are responsible for their assigned exterior doors, and they go check and make sure they are locked and functioning properly.”
The “Team of Ten” operates on a ro tating schedule; Ahmed estimated that she spends 13 to 15 hours a week on duty.
“This radio is connected to every law enforcement agency in the entire commu nity and with one push of one button, we can have every agency in our community headed this way,” Grimes said. “That is CSPD, Brazos County Sheriff, TAMU, the fire departments, the medics, Bryan PD [and] the SchoolConstable.”Resource Officer Deputy Scott Foltermann plays “a huge part of our safe ty team” on campus, Grimes said.
“The most important thing we can do as teachers, staff and students is develop a bond and grow strong relationships. That prevents everything,” Rhine said. “Just showing people they have value and that you care about them, that’s how we stop this stuff.”
DEFEND yourself
“He is out and about physically check ing restrooms, hallways, exterior doors or classrooms,” Grimes said. “He is always on the move, and if he’s not, he has about four screens in his office all connected to the live camera
Increased Surveillance
Surveillance, communication, monitoring improve school safety
To secure doors on the perimeter, TEA now requires campuses to submit weekly documentation of exterior door sweeps. A faculty member must verify that every entrance is secured or record any “access point concerns,” such as faulty locks or a “human factor” that obstructs the door from closing, then write down steps to “remedy” the issue.
“There have been studies done over previous events that found that it would be better if you had the ability to flee and leave the scene and not be contained and be part of the scene,” Foltermann said. “It’s better to just leave, so that’s ‘Avoid.’ If you’re not able to leave and the threat is outside your room, you’d move into ‘Deny.’”
“Youtime.have always seen our ‘Team of Five’–myself plus the four APs–in the hallways during transition periods. I have since bumped that up to the ‘Team of Ten,’” he said. “So now you are seeing the four counselors and [Testing Coordinator Randi Costenbader] in the hallways during transitions.”Counselor Maryam Ahmed said she hopes the increased administrative pres ence “makes [students] feel safe and com fortable.”“[Students] have made comments to me,” she said, “like, ‘Hey, you’re always around, why are you always watching us?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m not watching you, I’m watching your back. I got you.’”
That includes the “Locks, Lights, Out Of Sight” stage, he said.
such as the “Avoid, Deny, Defend” model.
If unable to avoid or deny the threat, “be aggressive and committed to your actions” to defend yourself in any way possible.
Folterman said that having a line of communication with studenst helps him “be proactive about protecting the school.”
avoid-deny-defend model
If students have immediate safety concerns, students can talk to any school administrator or find Deputy Foltermann in his office in the commons.
Ahmed mentioned that if difficulties arise in the counseling office, she can radio other “Team of Ten” members to cover her transition duties. Grimes said that admin istrators are connected through a two-way radio, and that CSHS has two access points to a “community-wide safety radio.”
Foltermannfeed.”joined the CSHS safety team in the spring of 2022, after spending nearly a decade in Baghdad with the Ma rine Corp before returning home to attend the police academy.
DENY access to yourlocation
Graphics by Briceida Bellon
“I like being on my feet,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of life experience that I be lieve I can use to encourage and help kids better their lives.”
Constant Communication
“It’s important to have those du ties for the safety, but that decreases the amount of time we are [in the counseling office], and that is a struggle,” she said. “We do need to be on duty, but we also need to be present. Those are things that we’re working on balancing and trying to work through some of the challenges that come with that.”
With various opportunities for academic improve ment and connectivity, W.I.N coordinators hope students utilize the time efficiently like Vause.
W.I.N. Wednesday provides individual time for teachers, students
All students, including students required to under House Bill 4545, will benefit from the hour built-in, ac cording to Gibson.
The strategic planning behind W.I.N offers the op portunity for success, but students “must take initiative” to benefit from the hour given, according to Gibson. With tutoring offered by the National Honor Society, students can also receive support from peers and grow academi cally.“We talked about the fact that one teacher can’t nec essarily always be the person to help the masses. So, if we could bring in some people to help share the burden of trying to make sure that everyone can be successful.
I howi’mW.I.Nfoundhelpfulit’sawasteoftimeindifferentdoyou feel abouT W.i.n. wednesday? 589 students SURVEYED47.2%27.9%24.9%
“Right now we have to set the culture right. We have to make sure that students understand that [W.I.N] is not just for you to do things you’re not supposed to be do ing. That’s why we’re taking baby steps,” Gibson said. “Eventually, we’re hoping to get our culture right, where students will have the freedom and the ability to go and work on what they need to work on, even if that means going to visit a teacher or the library. That is the ultimate goal [for W.I.N], freedom and opportunity.”
“I hope that on all spectrums, the House Bill 4545 kids that are needing extra support get to use that time, the built-in hour once a week for them to improve on their skills in the areas that they struggle in,” math de partment head Jennifer Rinn said.
Near the end of the 2021-2022 school year, CSISD’s board pushed out the panorama survey to students, fam ilies and teachers, along with a campus survey only com pleted by staff. By analyzing statistical and observational data collected throughout the school year, school leaders created a campus improvement plan that addressed one major concern both students and staff shared: the need for more time to complete school-related tasks.
Another intentional decision behind W.I.N’s struc ture is the intermingled grade levels within W.I.N class rooms.“We want our school to be a true community,” Gib son said. “If we open [W.I.N classes] up to where people can meet new people, we think it’ll truly help build com munity amongst the entire school. You never know that person in W.I.N could end up being somebody that can make you feel connected to the school.”
However, at the moment, some students like junior Clara Amstalden find these restrictions unhelpful.
“Time is the most expensive commodity that the school can give to teachers and students that costs no money,” principal Justin Grimes said. “So, how can we maximize and make the most efficient use of the time we already own and benefit teachers and students?”
In the summer, campus administration discussed the need for teachers and students to have time available to complete work during the school day, and the concept of “W.I.N Wednesday” was created with W.I.N standing for “What I Need” to represent teachers and students taking care of tasks they need to complete each week during the 53-minute period on Wednesdays.
Briceida Bellon and Amari Rutherford Managing Editor and Editor
▲ Sophomore Camille Johnson works during W.I.N. Wednesday on Aug. 31. The work period is 53 minutes once a week. PHOTO BY BRICEIDA BELLON
“We’ve got students that are involved in so many activities before and after school and they’re taking all advanced classes or even AP classes. They just don’t feel like they have enough time to get everything done,” Gibson said. “Our leadership team sat down and asked, ‘How can we give students and teachers more time?’ That’s what birthed WIN Wednesday.”
• Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 The Catamount 3News
er said. “But it’s not just going to be those students who need to pass their EOC who need help. It’s going to be any student.”Onegroup assisted by tutoring during W.I.N will be students required under House Bill 4545 to complete 30 hours of supplemental learning per failed EOC. They will gain access to a new software program, Study Island, to improve EOC-tested skills in math, English, social stud ies andLastscience.year,students completed their 30 hours after school or before school with a tutor, but with the ad ditional time from W.I.N, students can work diligently during school and ultimately perform well on end-ofyear exams, Costenbader said.
“I find WIN Wednesdays helpful, especially for schoolwork and getting it done efficiently,” junior Marie Vause said. “During [W.I.N], you are in a quiet classroom, probably full of people you do not know, and it is much easier to get homework or studying done compared to advocate, where it is half the time and you are surround ed by your friends.”
NHS Sponsor and Testing Coordinator Randi Costenbad
“I don’t agree with [W.I.N policies],” Amstalden said. “I don’t feel like [they’re] beneficial [because] I could have gone to classes and done test corrections or asked my teachers for extra help because I can’t come in the morning.”Community responses from staff and students like Amstalden and Vause will determine the longevity of W.I.N.“We’re going to survey students and staff through out the year. That way, we can get some feedback from everyone and make [the best] decision moving for ward,” Gibson said.
To utilize students’ time efficiently, W.I.N organiz ers sacrificed a portion of class time, reducing class to 40 instead of 50 minutes. In addition, to give teachers time, they rotate and supervise students every other week.
College Station High School, 4002 Victoria Ave., College Station, Texas, 77845. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District.
must be signed and
-Susan Xu, sophomore
After about three weeks to a month I noticed that same vine that only had three leaves, now had two new leaves and a decent root system sprout ing out. Shocked, I took a snippet of one of the new leaves from that same plant and placed it in its own container with water. Every day after I got home that new plant was the first thing on my mind. I would carefully inspect it looking for any signs of new growth. There’s something moving about seeing something germinate, flower or even go to seed that results in a rewarding feeling when you see your plants grow and start sprouting! It’s like the moment I found some sense that the plant had grown, a spark went off and I was hooked! House plants or any plants in general are a great way to bring a touch of nature into any space. With them being useful for many things from aesthetic pur poses or to cleaning the air, they really are the best contender to add a sense of coziness to any home. •
Though CSHS students were not welcomed with $4 million dollars worth of security upgrades, they journeyed across hall ways under increased surveillance and sat in classrooms with locked doors, hearts heavy.
Emily Borham, Lauren Byerly, Cheyenne Clark, Dean Crick, Claire Guo, Rhyan Kalke, Emily Ko, Sonya Lin, Amari Rutherford, Sadie Rigby, Joi Speck
According to a Texas House of Representatives Investi gative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting, the staff often left classroom doors unlocked, and according to fourth grade teacher Arnulfo Reyes, who lost 11 students in the at tack, “teachers and students… widely knew that the door to his classroom frequently did not lock.” The attacker “most likely… found the door to Room 111 unlocked or unsecured,” as there was “no evidence” of a forced entry. While the school could not prevent the 18-year-old attacker from purchasing a firearm, the attacker should not have casually, comfortably entered Rooms 111 and 112 where 19 children were killed. The choice to lock doors and ensure that all locks functioned could have potentially saved a life, which is why CSHS students must abide by the new safety protocols.
Tending house plants brings breath of fresh air
The newspaper is produced by the Advanced
“The policies come from a good place, but [they] only put a band-aid over a deep wound. They should emphasize mental health [and make] changes that put students’ needs first.”
Indoor plants have been trendy for a while, with them being easy enough to take care of and their countless benefits, whether it makes the air clean er or just livens the place up. It’s easy to see why people may want a couple of them around the house. Recently, I’ve found myself fascinated by plants from watching plant growth time lapse and houseplant care YouTube channels to finding myself in the garden center of any store browsing all the different plants and soils that they sell to taking plant and agriculture class es. I went from owning one to having eight scat tered around my bedroom.
Elisabeth Stewart
Uvalde shooting prompts increased safety precautions in Texas schools
Newspaper
The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 20224 Opinions
-Shashan Fernando, senior
On May 24, 2022, Uvalde parents unknowingly left their children in front of an unsecured school building, liable to the threat of an active shooter, and Texas schools have grappled with this tragedy at Robb Elementary. When Uvalde students returned for the new school year, they relocated to campuses with five hundred new security cameras, metal detectors and 32 state troopers monitoring a grief-stricken student body.
This fascination started with my grandmother who clutters her home full of plants. I was visiting her for the weekend when she asked if I would like to take a cutting from her Pothos plant, which is a vining plant that grows in either water or soil, usu ally a good choice for beginners. I had no clue what to do with it, so I put it in a small mason jar, topped
Briceida Bellon
the editors are welcomed
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The newspaper is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) and a winner of their Bronze Star award in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as well as their Silver Star Award in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services. Monica James, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. Molley Perry, Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Submissions to but should not exceed 300 words. The reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of all staff.
it with water, and just stuck it in the window sill in my bedroom that got the most direct and consistent light throughout the day, abandoning it there and only returning to it when the water got a little low.
The Catamount Newspaper
“It creates a lot of inconvenience for students and teachers, so [they] can claim that they ‘did something.’”
THE CAT’S EYE VIEW staff editorial Journalism: Production at
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Do you agree with the new school safety policies?
NOYES View of the Pride:
2022-2023 Newspaper Staff
-Grace Clark, sophomore
editor
class
Wave to your counselors on your way to first period and remind your teachers to lock their doors. Closing our doors is an inconvenience we have to grapple with while we enact real change to address gun safety and mental health. Encour age your peers to value their safety. From behind every closed door, we must take our safety seriously, so those who are able to initiate change will, too. •
-Ty Cameron, senior
“It’s really not that much of a hassle to keep the doors closed at all times. If the students are safer, then I don’t see an issue.”
“It’s best based on current events [but] they might need to extend passing periods, if they [don’t] want us to go to the restroom [in] class.”
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Page AssistantFacultyCartoonistEditorsAdviserAdviser
Fortune-telling experience provides insight on life obstacles
Kali Marsh
If I were still a naive, twelve-year-old child, I would end by writing that I can overcome any obstacle that my pathway has for me, but I can’t, because I know it’s not only impractical and false, but also ingenuine to myself. Even if I didn’t exactly have things the easy way, I was able to get through because growing up, I was taught by my beloved mother that there’s nothing I can’t get through or achieve without a little effort. I’ve learned to embrace the imperfections ahead of me because if anything, effort, acceptance, and awareness of both the big and little things equals a good fortune of success •
572 people polled Sweet 24.0% savory 35.1% spicy 40.9% Graphics by Emily
The CatamountFriday, Sept. 16, 2022 5Opinions
“His name is Rhett, and he’s a diabetic alert dog. We [got him when] he was six months old, and my siblings weren’t even allowed to pet him so that he wouldn’t bond with someone else. I’m glad to have him because my dad’s in the military and we’ve moved around a lot. [Rhett] has helped me make friends, because when I’m the new kid, people come up to me and ask about him, and then we get on to talking about other topics and we become friends.”
HUMANS of CSHS Borham
Hard times at cshs by William crick
With tension building inside me, I sat silently as I lis tened to her explain what I had picked. She told me that a period of time would come when I would struggle heavily, and for a long time. Unexpectedly, two years later around the end of September, my mom was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, and as I spent my after school days home alone, my burdens only piled up, packed with stress and a heavy feeling that never did leave my insides. However, though I hadn’t known it at that time, my fortune wasn’t entirely true. I did struggle for a while like she had told me, but what the card didn’t reveal was that I would also find bits of happiness, even in the smallest and most unpredictable ways. Whether it was becoming a hugely dedicated ARMY (if you know, you know) and getting tickets to my first concert, going on a late night bike ride with my favorite Spotify playlist under a full moon, petting random cats on the sidewalk, sitting on the grass and watching the sunset fade into night, or forming a habit of buying mini succulents every time I went to H-E-B, I’ve encountered countless small moments of joy.
Freshman
As a huge “Harry Potter” fan who was undergoing her Pottermania faze, I was excited to see that the room por trayed something similar to Professor Trelawney’s Divi nation class, but without any crystal balls or magical tea leaves in small teacups. The space was fairly small, deco rated with dimly lit lights and a table in the corner, draped with a black tablecloth. The fortune teller woman, to my amusement, wore what resembled the clothes of Professor Trelawney with loose, dark colored clothing. As she waved us over, we took our seats on the mini stools, padded with soft, silk cushions. Reviewing the wide variety of options, we settled on a tarot card reading and soon enough, my turnByarrived.thattime, my anticipation had built, watching my parents and older brother all get good fortunes. As I ex citedly watched the lady shuffle the cards and expertly lay them across the table, I felt a wave of eagerness rush past me, hopeful. Swiftly scanning the cards neatly laid out, I decided on the most appealing one, but as the fortune teller picked the card up, I saw a quick expression of pity flash by on her face.
Do You prefer sweet, savory or spicy foods? QUESTION??? THEOF issue
In the summer of sixth grade, when I was twelve years old and at the end of my pre-teen years, I took a vacation with my family to the roots of my genes in South Korea. We had visited Hong dae, a popular neighborhood and tourist attraction spot found in Seoul, when on the way back to our residence, we saw a small fortune-telling booth and decided to have our fortunes told.
Emily Ko
If there’s anything I’ve gathered travelsmysummerfromthisyear,it’stowhatincredibleextentthe
In Art I, students learn the seven ele ments of art: color, form, line, shape, space, texture and val These elements don’t only lie on paper, but are present all around us– exam ples being the lines of a tree’s bark, the shape of a tile, and even the eteria.cafinspacenonexistenttheArtisn’t
“My dream va cation is a trip to Bora Bora. I love all things tropical and beachy, so I would love to stay in one of the hous es on the water for vacation.”
encompasses so much more than what we are made to think.
What is your Vacation?Dream
Paula Bernal, junior
in our state and made them the center of our party platforms. We campaigned, wrote bills, prepared affirmative and negative debates, shared our opinions, compromised and made decisions for the government we built. In our 51st Texas Girls State, we made all of the choices.
Days before, I had arrived at Texas Girls State feel ing politically hopeless. Still reeling from the events in Uvalde, I was simply not in the mood to contribute to a fictional 51st state when I was frustrated with the policy in our real state, but I found hope in the young leaders around me. All of us, on all ends of the political spectrum, were hopeless, and we sought to turn our hopelessness into change. We took the issues we saw
We took our best guess. Huddled outside of our legislative sessions, we promised to register to vote and stay engaged in our communities. In the post-Roe era, the only certainty I have is in the future leaders of Texas–the citizens of Girls State–who, like me, never want to be choiceless again. •
“A mean, old teacher.”
Joi Speck
earth’s surface consists of art. Sparking this realization was a visit to an old child hood beach of mine, from what shore line I’d scour for seashells as a kid. This time around, however, I wasn’t met with shells but rather their fragments tossed among the tides like confetti. Though not whole nor intact, they still dazzled in a diverse array of colors, shapes and sizespieces of art at their finest.
Waves of uncertainty follow after overturning of Roe v. Wade
Spotlight shines on underappreciated beauty of art
Art has had an important hand in history, too. Before humans could write to communicate, they used pictures to
“An E-boy. I’ll wearrings,chains,astripedshirtwithalong-sleevedblackshirtunderneath.” juniorDuffield,Arden
convey messages, something that’s still in practice today. In countries where much of the population is illiterate, many speak through their artistic ex pressions (nonverbal protests have also involved art in some form). Meanwhile, countries with Internet now have access to a computer program, DALL·E. that is able to generate art in various styles de pending on the user’s request. Though a groundbreaking invention, it makes the future ever-trickier for working artists’ commissions. Still, there is something to be said about seeing real art– in the case of manmade stuff –at a museum versus online. I suspect the feeling is similar to really, truly examining a seashell for the first time in one’s life. Whereas a pix elated image on the web can only show case so much detail, being in its presence better highlights its beauties and flaws, cracks and crevices. Art, no matter the form, is as irreplaceable as our entire planet. After all, we can’t spell “Earth” without it!
Meghan Miles, Voices
Alayna Wolfe, senior
So I ended my week at Texas Girls State feeling uncertain as I watched the sobbing women around me. How could I reconcile the Girls State teachings about my “power” in the political process with the powerlessness I felt when I read that headline? “Today we mourn, to morrow we fight,” but how, exactly?
“Today we mourn, tomorrow we fight.” The camp counselor handed me a wad of tissues and a flimsy paper cup, half-full of water. I watched the red and blue of our Texas Girls State political parties blur as we crossed party lines to comfort each other, still reeling from the recent headline: Roe v. Wade overturned.
In Texas, where the Heartbeat Bill was already in effect, my shock about the Supreme Court ruling stemmed from the sense of powerlessness I felt regarding political, not person al, decisions. All week, we had learned about the pow er of women in government, but suddenly, there we were, without a choice. We could legislate to our heart’s content in our own Girls State, but once we left, our decisions would dissolve, and we would return to our status as citizens without a choice on the ballot or our bodies.
trapped in a frame and has no limits- it can be as abstract as the hairball a cat coughs up, to as detailed as the architecture of la cathédrale No tre-Dame de Paris.
“I want to go on a cruise to Alaska or snow.”mountainscoldsomewherewithand
For our final legislative session at Girls State on Friday, June 24, “Madame Speaker” had spe cial-ordered to the agenda a bill concern ing abortion access. I sat in the front row as “Representative Stewart from College Sta tion,” reading over my prepared debate.
Then the panic of the young women around me jolted me out of our fictional girls’ state and back into reality. I was not Rep resentative Stewart. I was just one of many women flung into post-Roe America.
What are you looking forward to after the “A children.”costumeSasquatchtoscare
“Tigger, because my group of friends decided I was high-key too energetic.”
Dylan sophomoreBrod,
Elisabeth Stewart
“I’ve wantedalwaystogo to Costa Rica. I like the idea of seeing oceans on two sides, and they have chocolate and coffee, two of my things.”favorite
Bre seniorWallen,
Jonah Speck, junior
“My dream va cation location is England, because my mom bought a tiny plot of land there for me for Christmas, so I’m technically a ‘lady.”
Mrs. teacherAstronomyRothrock,
Sam W,
Madelyn Weeks, junior
The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 20226 Opinions
Art by Claire Guo
“I think that the explorefunmakeScotland,Edinburgh,historyandarchitectureunderlyingofwoulditasuperplacetoandsee.”
Art by Claire Guo
•
To many, the sole definition of art is, quite literally, put in a “box.” Art is of ten considered to be a perfect piece (say, on canvas or paper), made, sold and hung to please the eye. While indeed art is a product of great effort and can be created for beauty, it is by no means perfect and
“The scariest thing I can think of: a adult.”responsible
Tina LibrarianSanAngelo,
“A tiger because it’s fierce and free in the wild. It describes who I am.”
Senior Cole Sloan represents Texas at Boys Nation
Sloan was chosen out of almost 1,000 young men at this summer’s Texas Boys State. He said he was chosen because of how he handled his position as State Party Chairman.
SenatorJosephSenatorPresidentClintonoftheUnitedStates(1993-2001)MikeLeeforUtah(2011-present)LiebermanforConnecticut(1989-2013)AneeshChopraFirstU.S.ChiefTechnologyOfficer(2009-2012)FobJamesSenatorforAlabama(1979-1983)(1995-1999)SamNunnSenatorforGeorgia(1972-1997)Lt.Col.CarlWalzNASAAstronaut(1990-2002)
At Boy’s Nation, the experience was much smaller in popula tion but larger in magnitude. The candidates all entered as mock senators and got the chance to go on private tours of different government buildings like the White House and Senate office buildings. Sloan had the opportunity to meet Texas Senator Ted Cruz.“He talked about what he’s doing, how glad he was to see us and glad to see that young people were interested in govern
Sadie Rigby Editor
Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 The Catamount 7People
Data from the American Legion
Sloan said that regardless of how we see them on TV or them as politicians, he respects politicians because “‘the majority of
Former Attendees of Boys Nation Bill
This summer, 98 young men were selected for Boys Nation in Washington D.C., an annual civic training program organized by the American Legion, and senior Cole Sloan represented the state of Texas as one of two state delegates.
“State Party Chairman is a very hard position,” Sloan said. “In the entire week, you’re giving speeches and trying to facili tate multi-hour long meetings. You’re getting booed and you’re
Sloan said the valuable experience of Boys Nation taught him many lessons. “No matter how successful you are, there’s always going to be someone more successful,” he said. “When ever you’re debating a topic, there’s always going to be someone who knows more than you and there’s always going to be something that you don’t know. So, at that point, you have to be okay losing. And, personally, I’ve always hated to lose, but at some point, you have to be okay with
Photo of Cole Sloan by Sadie Rigby
However, despite all the issues, Sloan said when he was in formed about being in the running for going to Boy’s Nation, he was excited. “I knew it was an opportunity I had to seize at almost all costs, besides my values of course, and even if it was some thing that was really spur of the moment, it was something that I was really interested in when the chance came,” he said.
Sloan also learned “the importance of just being able to make friends everywhere,” he said. “At the high levels of government, everyone has the same goal. No matter if they’re con servative, or liberal, they have that they want the same thing, and
“I feel like that puts a lot less pressure for your posts to quote on quote ‘perform well,’” Wang said. “It’s a lot easier to post whatever you want even though you know it’s not gonna get many likes.”
Through the careful editing and photo-selection process, Instagram lets people express themselves through photos.
While Instagram is a great place to have fun expressing yourself, oftentimes people can get into the headspace of only caring about how many likes a post can get. To combat this, Instagram recently made a new feature to hide the amount of likes on posts.
Teens cultivate aesthetic Instagram pages to showcase creative personalities
“I edit the colors because sometimes the camera doesn’t pick up the saturation,” he said. “That’s usually all I do. I don’t use facetune. I just make sure the lighting doesn’t look awful or if there is a big shadow on my face, I will try to edit it.”
From snapping the photo to pressing the post button, each person has a different process for each picture. For senior Cedric González, inspired by an art museum he visited junior year, the process focuses on the colors.
“If I receive positive feedback from individual people or interactions, that makes me more motivated than a big number,” Saari said.
“I feel like your Instagram can tell a lot about yourself, just by what you value,” Wang said. “Since you post what you value, it’s either your sports, your friends, or your family. It kinda tells about your personality as well.”
At the same time, Wang said, the editing process does change how one presents his or her personality.
“It’s not a deception, but it’s a reflection of a very small part of you,” she said.Atthe end of the day, González said, “social media is something to have fun with and not take too seriously.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GONZÁLEZ
Since Instagram’s release in 2010, it’s rare to find a teenager whose cellphone’s storage isn’t partially consumed by the app. Within these users are passionate people putting in special effort polishing their feed in order to best present themselves to the online world.
Emily Borham and Claire Guo Editors
Creating your Aesthetic Sanni
Cedric@_cedric.glz_GonzálezFollow Marcella@marcelladeerDeerFollow Janelle@janeiieWangFollow
Picture Perfect
“I comment on everybody’s post because I love seeing what other people are doing,” González said. “I want to comment and show that I really do appreciate it.”
Senior Cedric González poses in front of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. “It was so amaz ing to see what my culture could create, so I decided to take a picture in front of this wonderful mural painted on someone’s house,” he said. “I wanted to capture the mural and my outfit that I had worn.”
@sanni_theartistSaariFollow
“Do you want it to all be the same color palette? Have a re curring subject? Identifying your goal is the hardest step because there are so many options. Per sonally, I love colors! try to edit all my pictures with a yellow tint to make them seem happier. It is hard to always have certain colors in your pictures so editing the col ors helps match your goal.”
Deer said that her Instagram portrays “her true self.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DEER
And once posted, there are more ways of showering a post with love than just “likes.”
Junior Janelle Wang documented her day trip to Austin, including a concert with the band Michelle and a stop in a candy store in the South Congress dis trict. PHOTO PROVIDED BY WANG
“Whether you’re sharing content of a specif ic hobby or passion in your daily life, or even something really niche, I think it’s important to portray a small facet of who you are. As long as it’s genuine and spreads positivity, it will make more of an impact on people than you may think.”
Our sources’ top tips to perfect your Instagram feed
Others, like senior Marcella Deer, coordinate overall color themes for their“Iaccounts.personally like to make my Instagram as vibrant as possible because some of the photos that I take don’t have any color in them,” Deer said. “I like to enhance the colors in my photos, but I wouldn’t say I Photoshop. Messing around with Adobe Lightroom’s Color Mix tab is how I have found the most success creating more emphasis on certain hues.”
Instagram vs the “True You”
Senior Sanni Saari, who uses Instagram to document her passions for art and piano, believes that “to truly express yourself, you shouldn’t make content just to make content,” but that “you just do what you naturally do, and then you just post it.”
Audience Participation
▲Senior Marcella Deer and a photographer friend explored the “beauties” of College Station and stopped for a photoshoot.
“There are people who are afraid of posting just because they are afraid of what other people might comment or say,” González said. “I think it’s important to realize people are always saying negative things about you no matter what you post, and people are going to hype you up no matter what. It’s important to realize that the opinions you choose to take in are the ones that matter, so have fun.”•
“I’m only picking photos that I look good in, that have my best angles,” Wang said. “But in reality, I don’t always look like that. I don’t always have my make-up on. I don’t always have my head tilted at a 45 degree angle. I still think that [your Instagram] reflects off of you, but I wouldn’t say it’s the ‘true you,’ necessarily.”
For junior Janelle Wang, the editing process comes into play when choosing which photos make the cut.
Saari also agrees that her real self and the image she presents on Ins tagram aren’t identical.
“I like to post meaning ful events or pictures that I love, or things that mean a lot to me. I used to have a tennis post up, con certs from my favorite artists, from when I volunteered at [Vacation Bible School], special events like homecoming and sometimes, you just want to show yourself off. Min imal editing is best.”
Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 The Catamount 9People
“I feel sometimes that this is too much to put out there, but it’s my Instagram and I can do what I want,” she said. “It’s really truly me.”
“I’ll take the photos that I do like, and I put them into Lightroom and kind of mess with the filters a little bit to try to fit my feed the way I want it to,” Wang said. “I’ll take 200 photos and only pick two.”
“To get that ‘dream’ Insta gram means getting it to feel like you, and to have your personality shine through. I love my Instagram because feel like you can get an idea of who I am as a person through my post aesthetic. That is the dream Instagram, being able to scroll and see everyone’s personal ity shine through their account.”
“It’s a connection between my grandmother, my self and a hobby- a form of art,” Vizquerra said. “Some people draw, some people sculpt, some people play an instrument...and I crochet.”
“On my 10th birthday I got the Dungeons & Dragons rulebook as a present,” Tate said. “When I first started playing it, it was long enough ago that it was brand new. I had already read ‘The Hobbit’ by that time, so the idea of a heroic fantasy with wizards and elves and whatnot just appealed to me. Since then, I’ve been playing Dun geons & Dragons for 42 years.”
Our hobbies are a significant part of who we are, revealing much about our character.
While Green plays shows, Math teacher Matthew Bowen attends concerts. From underground artists and bands to those in the mainstream, Bowen has seen them all. However, out of every show he’s experienced, 21 Pi lots has been the best.
As one would need a creative mind to become fully immersed in the complex, storytelling-centered game play of Dungeons & Dragons, so would one need it to pen a novel. Social Studies teacher Chad Lehrmann, self-publishing author of 12 books and current writer of his 13th, has had to delve into the realm of creativity many times to conjure up his stories.
▲Spanish teacher Michelle Vizquerra crochets pouches for son’s upcoming wed ding. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VIZQUERRA
“[Crocheting]them.
▲Guns and Roses Axl Rose, lead singer, and Slash, guitarist, perform at a concert math teacher Matthew Bowen attended. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BOWEN
Beyond the Desks
Lauren Byerly and Joi Speck Editors
The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 202210 People
Like Bowen who’d discovered his passion earlier on in life, History teacher Nicholas Tate, too, discov ered his love for the renowned board game “Dungeons & Dragons” in his younger years.
When you imagine your favorite teacher on a week end, you probably would not picture them attending concerts, hosting life coaching sessions or crocheting with upcycled plastics. In all actuality, however, teach ers have their fair share of quirky hobbies outside of their academic lives.
“Everyone has [someone] in their life that talks real to them and speaks truth into their lives,” Medlin said. “Watching somebody grow, develop, refine who they are at their core and step up into their gifts is the most rewarding part of life coaching. Empowering somebody, and for them to have enough belief in themselves to ex ecute what it is they need to do, is what I love.”
A hobby is not only a gift for oneself, it is also a gift for many. Keenly aware of the environment and con cerned at the amount of plastics polluting it, Spanish teacher Michelle Vizquerra discovered a way to integrate her hobby of crochet with upcycling to not only brighten others’ days, but to also aid the health of the earth sur rounding
Unique hobbies provide insight into teachers’ lives outside of school
is my gift to people. It brings me joy to share my gift with others,” Vizquera said. “My grandmother was the one who taught me to crochet [at] nine years old. I’d come across a video on YouTube [say ing] that ‘you can make your own yarn out of plastic,’ [and began to do so].”
“The show that 21 Pilots put on was just amazing,” Bowen said. “There’s magic involved where [Tyler Jo seph] will totally disappear and then reappear at the back of the stage or crowd on top of something like a 20 foot pole. [Joseph and Josh Dun] will do backflips on stage with cars and lights and effects, and they’ll come out onto the audience [with a drum set], and while the audience holds it up they’ll perform [atop it].”
“I write [primarily] horror or thriller [books], some of which may be considered young adult fiction,” Leh rmann said. “I’ve also written several education books and books on culture. The book that I’m [currently] writing goes back to [classic monster] characters and brings them to a modern day perspective. Writing’s fun, therapeutic, and it helps me process things. I really en joy it.”One of the many skills hard-earned, professional writing has proven incredibly handy in acquiring ca reers. However, not everyone’s future path is meant to head in that direction, and for many students it can be difficult to find, and navigate. English teacher Joey Medlin is a life coach, who helps people achive goals.
AVP teacher Stephen Green has an especially unique hobby as the electric guitarist of the teacher-run band “Astrochimps.” Currently consisting of three members (Green, Jay Robinson and Jason Pratt), the rock band has had some interesting experiences persuing their musi cal endeavors.“There’s a Christmas parade in downtown Bryan every year,” Green said. “Mr. Pratt, the drummer and vocalist of the band [who] teaches at Consol had the idea that we should be a float in the Christmas parade. So, his wife drove the pickup truck [as] he hooked up this flatbed trailer to the back [making it to where] the band was on the trailer as a float in the Christmas Parade. We played hard rock Christmas songs as we went through the parade, [which was] probably one of my favorite things that we did.”
PHOTO BY SON YA LIN
▲Social Studies teach er Chad Lehrmann holds two of his books, “The Sawyer Shep ard Chronicles: Rites of Passage” and “Kill town.”
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“Commitmentcan. [is most important] be cause you and your team can’t be great un less everyone is 100% committed and will do whatever it takes for one another,” Mar tindale said. •
Martindale not only makes amazing plays but also keeps the ball in play.
Martindale also hypes up the team as well as help all of the teammates as much as she
The varsity volleyball team is under the new direction of Coach Ashley Davis and they are currently first in district with an overall record 18-12.
Cheyenne Clark Editor captain provides encouragement, team spirit Digging for the point
“During practice and games she is al ways giving max effort. I admire her so much,” Kimes said. “Whenever we are in intense games we can count on Ava to make amazing plays and keep the ball in play.”
▲Senior Ava Martindale digs the ball in the loss against Fulshear on Aug. 9. The team record is 19-13. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTINDALE
“[A challenge I’ve had to face is] hav ing to rebuild with a whole new team af
first started playing through a church league and fell in love with the game,” Mar tindaleMartindalesaid. wants to commit to play d1 at the University of Texas in El Palso.
“Ava has always been a leader in the weightroom and on the court,” junior Av ery Psencik said. “She’s a great player and knows so much about the game. Her pres ence is always felt on the court, and she knows when to push us to do better and when to calm us down when we get worked up especially during games.”
Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 The Catamount 11Sports
Alongback.” with her high court IQ, she also sees the court the best on the team.
Martindale said she finds it important to find a specific thing to focus on and get better at every practice as well as keeping in mind what she wants to accomplish.
“I feel like I’ve become a better lead er by learning from girls that were older than me in the program and now applying it during the senior season,” Martindale said. Although there has also been challenges that Martindale has had to face.
Volleyball
“I especially love her in games when she could just be focusing on herself and how she plays,” Psencik said. “She’s a nat ural leader so even in between plays she’ll be reminding me of the little things to keep me disciplined and focused.”
Team captain and senior Ava Martin dale, Libero, has played volleyball for 10 years.“I
“Ava is such a hard worker. She hus tles for every ball, and the ball never hits the floor with her going for it,” junior Camryn Kimes said. “I know from personal experi ence I feel so much better playing with Ava because I can trust that we have each oth er’s
Martindale has stepped into her leader ship position as well as playing defensively.
ter graduating nine people my senior year,” Martindale said. “We have focused really hard on what we can do for each other to help them be their best.”
2022 Volleyball PLAYER STATS Riley AvaCamrynEmilySaragAddisonBlairCarsonJaedenMarcellaAveryNewtonPsencikDeerMcMillinThiebaudThiebaudJenningsPatranellaHuchingsonKimesMartindale 11305471121241011932131298787761072878668768642 2.62.616.622.727.832.933.726.636.130.034.4 403918122169340368377534710375 -.025-.026.044-.091.041.244.198.151.176.152.224 Sets played Total kills Kill % attemptsAttack Hit %
“Our pillars are fundamental and founda tional to our whole athletic department,” Pryor said. “Those are things we want to instill in the players and have them exemplify. The standard in our football and athletic department is very high and we want to continue that in all of our sports.”
“We definitely hold ourselves accountable,” senior Zach Proffitt, varsity safety, said. “We
21 vs Georgetown Oct. 28 vs Consol Nov. 4 at Hendrickson
The upcoming season may be the best season yet, Pryor said.
30 at East View
“I definitely look up to those who I think are going to go far in football because I think there are a lot of people on the team who have what it takes to go to the next level,” Proffitt said. “I definitely look up to them. They’re set in stone on something they’re really passionate about and I hope that I can find something that I’ll be pas sionate about like that in the future.”
Oct.
Varsity football team starts upcoming season strong
Students and parents dressed in purple, cheers that go through the entire crowd, and dozens of committed players are all part of the Cougars’ Friday Night Lights. It’s a culture where students and parents alike look forward to high school football games. As a new season starts at College Station High School, new coaches and new players are working together to bring the best one Stoneyyet.Pryor, who was previously offensive coordinator and a math teacher at CSHS, has now been promoted to head coach and the campus athletic
Oct.14
2022 football schedule
Rhyan Kalke Editor
“I think the season is going to go really well,” Maiden said. “I think it’s going to be a big learning curve for some of the younger guys. Our whole offense is new. A lot of us did not play last year, but I think we’ll be just fine. We’re very tal ented and we can go a long way with what we have.”In the end, the students’ support means ev erything to the Cougars.
One of the most important aspects of a team is the relationships the players have with each other, which is another thing the Cougars value. The sense of community among the players en courages them to play harder and better.
Sept.
Oct.
have expectations for each other and we build each other up. Whenever someone falls down, isn’t having a good day, we’ll build them up and make sure they don’t waste a day and that they’re not caught up in something that isn’t very im portant.”These pillars are what make the Cougars, and the players on the team look up to each other be cause they live by them.
▲Senior running back Anthony Trevino runs the football at the Temple game on Sept. 9. The Cougars won 45-35. PHOTO BY ELISABETH STEWART
“[The team dynamic] hasn’t changed as much as people think,” junior Arrington Maid en, varsity quarterback, said. “It’s still the same. It’s still the Cougar Way. Losing Coach Huff was hard, but Coach Pryor is a really good man and a really good leader. He does a great job. I feel like coaches are starting to step up and be leaders, and that’s something I’m really proud of.”
23 vs. Leander
“Whencoordinator.weopened the school, I came over from Consol and Steve Huff was the head coach then,” Pryor said. “In January or February he got a job opportunity in Decatur and took four other coaches with him. I oversee the athletic depart ment, so helping coaches, solving problems, any thing that goes on athletically with a coach, with a team, with a player, or with a parent would end up here.”Despite the extensive changes the varsity team has experienced, the players and coaches still have the same values and goals as it did be fore, Pryor said.
▲ Football players and forewereSept.thegarcelebratecheerleaderstheCou-winbysingingAlmaMateron9.Seniorshonoredbethegame.
PHOTO BY ELISABETH STEWART
“I like it because it’s got so much spirit around it,” Proffitt said. “It builds so much char acter and [builds] relationships with people. It’s just a really awesome thing to be involved with: the people, the coaches, and just the atmosphere on Friday nights.”
The relationships on the team are part of what motivates the players to put forth their best effort.“It’s a loving environment,” Maiden said. “I feel like we all love each other and we all play for each other. I think that’s what motivates us the most. That brotherhood, that’s the reason why we win football Footballgames.”isn’tonly a sport, but the atmo sphere surrounding the games is what makes it part of Texas and high school culture.
Art by Rhyan Kalke
• The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 202212 Sports
Sept.
The Cougars play and live by the four pillars of the Cougar Way: character, commitment, sac rifice and effort.
“We love the students’ support,” Pryor said. “It’s so much fun to have the students there when they’re boisterous and chanting. I think it’s a great time for the students, so I would en courage everybody, especially people who haven’t been to our games, to come out and just enjoy that. If they think football’s not really my deal, it’s so much more than that. I encourage all of the student body to come out.”
7 vs Cedar Park
at Glenn (Homecoming)
Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 The Catamount Health and Rec
When you sift the significant from the insignificant in your life, you realize your health should be a priority -Tina SanAngelo
“Start off simple and easy, don’t rush it with heavy weights or really hard exercises. Instead, start off small and realize that the more you do it, the easier it is to move up
Senior Logan Auckland, who works out at her coach’s personal gym, has been working out since the eighth grade and visits the gym two to three times a week during the school year. Along with the health benefits of working out, Auckland has also discovered in creases in mood performance.
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Gym enthusiasts discover value, fulfillment in fitness
“Once you go to the gym for a while, you feel like you’re not real ly growing from it, so it’s always a challenge for me to realize how far I’ve really come,” Breedlove said. “Everything looks a lot better in my opinion when I follow my own goals and not what someone tells me to do, and I can know if I need more rest or if I can go farther.”
on weights or the easier it is to do more difficult things,” Breedlove said.Combined with not only gain ing a healthier lifestyle, but also satisfaction in progress and a sense of achievement, personal fitness has also introduced an opportunity for many to form friendships.
Similarly to SanAngelo, se nior Irma Pitblado has found sig nificance in her personal fitness. Pitblado has been working out at Gold’s Gym since 2021.
Forsaid.Mach, who has been a member at Planet Fitness since the start of COVID-19, working out was an advantageous way to feeling productive.
“I feel like during the summer sometimes it gets really boring and it brings you into a lull, but going to the gym just kept me going and helped me keep track of my day,” PitbladoPitbladosaid.has also found com fort in different aspects of going to the gym, including constantly see ing familiar people at Gold’s.
For many, working out is a hobby that has become a part of countless students’ and teachers’ daily lives, keeping them on track to not only experience the health benefits of physical fitness, but also the fulfilling sense of achieve ment at the end of the day.
“It’s really nice to see every one just working out, and I think it’s really cool,” Pitblado said. “It’s like another community outside of school, when you get in the habit of going at the same time and you see the same people every week.”
“To me, working out was real ly beneficial, not just because I’m a lot stronger now, but also because it really helps me feel more ful filled at the end of the day,” Mach said. “It gets everyone to want to be better, and I think the reason is because everyone has a vision for what they want to look like or what they want to be able to do, and the summer was a great time to do that when there was more free time.”
their success. Senior Kalan Breed love, who works out at Gold’s Gym, has been working out since last January after having played soccer.
“It has been a pleasure to make new friends,” librarian Tina SanAngelo said. “I have been go ing to Pure Barre classes for almost three months consistently, and I enjoy the camaraderie among us as we struggle together.”SanAngelo. who joined the Pure Barre gym in June 2022, has found not only new friendships, but also a significant impact on her lifestyle.“Working out has a huge impact on me personally,” SanAngelo said. “When you sift the significant from the in significant in your life, you realize that your health should be a priority.”
Emily Ko Editor
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Planet Fitness, a gym that pro vided a free student membership over the summer, has been a part of attracting numerous teens into exercise as a part of their daily lives to experience these benefits.“Ithink [the free student membership] was a great idea because it got more people in terested in working out, and once the summer is over, they’ll be more motivated to keep in shape,” senior Durham Mach
Gyms in college station Gold’s Gym 200 Brentwood Dr E Planet Fitness 2501 Texas Ave S Tru Fit Athletic Clubs 3526 Longmire Dr Pure Barre 915 William D. Fitch Pkwy Suite 100 Anytime Fitness 951 William D. Fitch Pkwy
To beginners at personal fit ness, Breedlove recommends starting small and working your way up, instead of maximizing dif ficulty all at one time.
▲ Senior Irma Pitblado uses the shoulder press machine for her workout on Sept. 7 at Gold’s Gym. PHOTO BY EMILY KO
“I feel like I have more ener gy throughout the day after a work out, so I’m very energized during the day, and I just feel better in general,” Auckland said. “I also like knowing that in the end, it’s making me stronger so I know I’m benefiting my health and me per sonally.”Aside from benefits alone, many students have also found that despite the challenges, push ing through with motivation and dedication are what have led to
Graphics by Emily Ko librarian
Overall, I definitely recommend Bub bies’ food, customer service, welcoming energy and as a place you can just relax in.•
Graphics by Joi Speck
PHOTO BY BYERLY
Sweets with the Sunrise
On Aug. 30 I had the opportunity to go to Bubbies Kolache Kitchen and Bakery on 1151 William D. Fitch Pkwy Suite. They make all of their pastries fresh daily and have a large selection.
Lauren Byerly Editor
1541 Pastries & coffee
PHOTO BY BELLON
On a nice Tuesday morning, my dad and I headed over to 1541, a bakery and coffeeshop by Walmart. Walking in, I noticed there were light blue walls and circular tables that seat four. The bakery had a calm atmosphere, and to my surprise was not crowded at 7:30 a.m.
Though I would definitely go again, I would not go on a school morning since 1541 opens at 7:30, and school starts at 8:25. I had a decent amount of stress over the morning traffic on the way to school. Because 1541 is only open until 6 p.m., I would prefer to go in the evening or on a weekend with friends.
The interior was a mix of rustic and modern off white painted walls, unique art pieces hung on the wall, wooden chairs, small white granite tables, light brown wooden floors and a large amount of nat ural Mylighting.favorite decorations were the lad der, cutting boards, bowls and churners that were on top of a long shelf on the far wall. The white and black checkerboard floor on the other side of the checkout area added a splash of color to the bakery.
Local bakeries brighten mornings with tasty breakfast treats
La gabriella Coffeeshop & Pastries
laches, scones and coffee cakes. I settled for three desserts due to the affordable price range ($1.50 to $3.50): the Apple Cinnamon Empana da, Raspberry Kolache and a classic cinnamon roll.
Cheyenne Clark Editor
A pastry case displayed some of the of fered pastries such as pineapple turnovers, ham and cheese turnovers, a Morning Glory muffin and poblano turnovers. I ordered a ham and cheese turnover for $3.50. The puff pastry was flaky, and the ham and cheese inside were warm. My dad ordered a small coffee costing $1.80, with the total coming out to $5.18.
In many ways, La Gabriella pays homage to Guatemalan culture; but moreover, La Ga briella is a love letter to Fernando. Open from Monday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., swing by La Gabriella Coffeeshop and Pastries for a delicious treat and cultural paradise.
At 10 a.m. on a Saturday, La Gabriella was packed and filled with friendly chatter. The color of the decor ranged from vibrant, warm colors to cool-toned merchandise displayed in “Fernando’s Corner,” a space dedicated to a lovingLahusband.Gabriella is owned by local couple Fer nando and Gabriella. Fernando, originally from Guatemala, yearned for a sense of familiarity and urged Gabriella to share her cultural pas tries. Fernando’s influence is not limited to the foods and drinks-- it is prominent through out the interior as well, with Guatemalan bags sown with love hanging along the vibrant yel
The employees are very customer friendly. Though they have mask cover ings, you still can see the smiles they were wearing as they were talking to you, which eased my nerves with never being there.
Briceida ManagingBellonEditor
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Bubbie’s bakery
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Driving along Texas Avenue, there’s a good chance you’ll pass by the Eternal Winds sculp ture. You may miss La Gabriella Coffeeshop and Pastries, nestled behind said sculpture on Wal ton Drive. Last weekend, my friend and I made it our mission to stop and determine whether La Gabriella serves top-tier pastries.
La Gabriella’s menu spreads among mul tiple black chalkboards, mainly detailing the wide variety of drinks offered. I recognized tra ditional richer coffee and latté flavors like car amel, chocolate and vanilla along with unique fruitful blends such as the Blueberry Pancake and Blackberry Mocha. La Gabriella also serves refreshing fruit smoothies and desserts such as tea biscuits, Mayan bread, empanadas, ko
The morning I went to the bakery I did not know what to expect, but as I opened the doors I was instantly greeted with a calm and welcoming aura.
The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 202214 Entertainment
▲ 1541 Pastries & Coffee offers warm breakfast foods and drinks such as flavorful coffees and puff pastries like this crispy, flaky ham and cheese turnover. They are lo cated at 1808 Brothers Boulevard Street.
Not long after, the barista handed me a brown paper bag containing the heated pas tries. With the help of my friend, we devoured all three pastries in mere minutes. The em panada’s exterior was a perfect orange gold and had a perfect amount of apple cinnamon stuffing- not too much, not too little. The raspberry kolache, with sugar sprinkled on top, satisfied my craving for something fruity. And finally, the “Best Cinnamon Roll in the World” lived up to its given name tag.
▲ La Gabriella Coffeeshop & Pastries sells pastries including the Apple Cinnamon Em panada, Raspberry Ko lache and a cinnamon roll.
I am a very picky eater, but bakeries are the few places I am open to eating just about anything that looks good. Two menu items that popped out were their glazed donut ($2.50) and cinnamon twist ($1.50). I have always been a critic when it comes to donuts, but the one I got at Bubbies did not let me down. It was soft as I bit into it and dissolved within a few chews. I was the most excited for the cinnamon twist because I have never tried one, but it was just as good as the glazed donut. It has just the right amount of cinnamon, which I enjoyed because foods with cinnamon can get overpowering. The twist did not unrav el and it dissolved in my mouth quickly as well.
low walls and shelves of Mario kart games, vintage video game fun.
“I had a wonderful summer,” Ewing said. “I just know this is a trip I will remember forever.”•
“[Sri Lanka] taught me a lot about the world around me in a way that I hadn’t experienced before,” Fernando said. “Learning about what a country looks like when its government isn’t do ing what it’s supposed to do put a mission in my mind. Rampant exploitation is a big thing in the international community and it has affected sev eral countries like Sri Lanka disproportionately. I want to make sure [our] country doesn’t get ex ploited [like Fernando’sthat].”favorite memory is one that he shares with his grandma.
“As an individual I had the opportunity to just be someone in Sri Lanka and what that is is to sit under palm trees with brightly colored ma caws around you, sipping Sri Lankan milk tea with my grandmother next to me,” Fernando said. She knew I couldn’t understand [what she was saying] but she would talk to me anyway. She was trying to tell me that it was going to be ok without her. She’s old, she’s dying and she knows that.”Also having traveled to the southern ends of the earth is Junior Anika Nepal, who, upon be coming accustomed to Malaysia, enjoyed her trip immensely, she said.
shock and hit much harder when I experienced it in person. My favorite part about [my trip] was seeing Malaysia’s twin towers, [and] though I missed my friends a lot, I was not ready to come back.”Over the summer, culinary and agriculture students were offered the chance to attend a group trip to Italy. This trip was an opportunity provided by EF tours. Senior Gracie Ward, seized the chance to go, she said.
“We visited at least eight different cities in Italy [with] 54 people total,” Ewing said. “I wanted to travel and thought it would be a great opportunity to have one-on-one time with [my daughter] Courtney. We were served Italian din ner every night [and] enjoyed gelato every day. The churches, too, were all works of art.”
Overseas vacations broaden perspectives, influence career paths
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GRACIE WARD
◄Shashan Fernando, his brother (left) and grandmother (right) taking a picture to remember their first night in Sri Lanka on June 1st. They caught up after on all the years they spent apart. PHOTO PRO VIDED BY FERNANDOSHASHAN
“I thought it would be a really good oppor tunity to get out and learn about all these things I was unfamiliar with. I had the money at the time so I thought why not,” Ward said. “A lot of it was educational, but it was still fun. [We] learned about different aspects like food production, cooking and culture.”
English teacher Lara Ewing, enraptured by both Italy’s artistic and culinary feats, tagged along to experience the country’s unique charm firsthand and further bond with her daughter.
The CatamountFriday, Sept. 16, 2022 15Entertainment
This past summer of 2022 has created many great memories for Cougar staff and students. Although the school year has already begun, the impact of travels can last a lifetime.
▲English teacher Lara Ewing and her daughter in the beautiful town of Cinque Terre during their tour of Italy. PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAURA EWING
◄Senior Gracie Ward, Junior Angelina Chi sum (left) and CSHS graduate Faith Leimer (right) huddling in for a group picure. While touring the town of Milan in Northern Italy on June 15th.
Summer is a time to have fun, relax and to just simply immerse ourselves in the comfort ing warmth of the sun and let all our worries of the future wash away. For some, however, this summer has not only been pleasurable, but also eye-opening.SeniorShashan
While others learned more about the coun try in itself, CSHS Computer Technician Ross Satterfield gained new perspectives concerning the wonders of international travel and his many awe-inducing encounters with famed monu ments.“It was really nice to be able to see a lot of the landmarks and things I have grown up seeing [on TV] like the colosseum, Vatican City, Florence and Milan, he said. Here in America we have a lot of things that are based around instant gratifica tion, [while] in Italy it’s a slower life. This was a really great experience for me to see what it’s like to travel outside of the United States and kind of see how the travel aspect works.”
“My dad had a work trip in Malaysia, so I just went with him [there] this summer,” Nepal said. “I was aware that the environment and cul ture would be different, but it was [still] a culture
Sonya Lin Editor
Fernando traveled to many different places this summer, but his trip to Sri Lanka is one that he holds closely to his heart, he said, because he cherishes many people who live there. Sri Lanka is a country that is currently go ing through some harsh and bitter times due to violent protests. Watching this revolution unfold before his eyes has ignited a flame of determina tion in Fernando to change the world and fix its imperfect systems, he said.
Create a four-year plan of the courses you want to Taketake. an interest assessment to explore possible college majors and careers that are related to your interests. Get involved in extracurriculars like sports teams, clubs and volunteering.
Research the six branches of the US military to find the best fit for you: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force.
Be on track to graduate from College Station High School. Meet with your counselor to make sure you fulfill the requirements. Be at least 17 years of age. Be a US citizen or have a permanent resident card, currently reside in the US and speak, read and write English fluently.
Complied by Elisabeth Stewart and Sonya Lin
- Blinn College
- Texas State Technical College
The Catamount Friday, Sept. 16, 202216 Etc.
Create an account through ApplyTexas or the Common MakeApplication.acalendar of application deadlines for each of your Decideschools.which schools you want to apply to for early decision, early action or regular decision. Complete the Senior Survey that College and Career Adviser Bethany Coile sent out in the Class of 2023 Schoology group.
COLLEGE TRADE MILITARYSCHOOL
Make an appointment with your school couselor to talk about your goals for college. Create a BigFuture.com account to create a college list based on your academic, financial and social needs. Register to take the SAT or ACT exam through your College Board account.
Contact a recruitment officer and prepare a list of questions to ask With the recruitment officer, schedule a time to take the Armed Ser vices Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which has 10 sub sections, either online or on pen-and-paper. Prepare for the ASVAB with practice questions at www.officialasvab.
Source:
- Test dates: Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 28 While completing your online application through the school’s por tal, ask your school counselor to send your high school transcript. Complete FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.
Create a résumé to submit with your application. Start visiting college campuses to determine which schools are the best fit for you.
Sources: USA.gov,
In the spring of junior year, ask a teacher who can speak to your academic and personal abilities to con sider writing you a recommendation letter. The summer before senior year, start your first draft of your college application essay.
College Board
Using the form on the school’s website, request more information from the school and contact an academic adviser. Sign up to take the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment through CSHS.
Graphics by Briceida Bellon FORMULA FOR YOUR FUTURE
Freshman and Sophomore Year Junior SeniorYearYear
HowRequirementstoenlistafter
high
Source: Blinn College
Finish and revise your personal essays. Complete the FAFSA once it opens on Oct. 1. Ask your counselor to send your high school transcript at least two weeks before colleges need them. Submit your college applications before the deadline (Early decision in November, regular decision in Janu ary).
school graduation:
How to prepare for your next steps after high school
Today’s Military
Browse program and school options:
- Universal Technical Institute
Discusscom. and schedule the Military Entrance Physical Examination with your recruitment officer. At this point, you will meet with a service enlistment counselor to determine the best career based on your preference, scores and abil Takeities. the Oath of Enlistment!