FebruarY2010

Smart Phones Pg. 10

Girls Soccer Pg. 22

Harlem Ambassador Game Pg. 19

January/February 2010- Volume 84, Issue 5 Clear Creek High School

2305 E. Main, League City, TX 77573

Creek alumni family gets a home makeover Shannon O’Neil A local family was fortunate to receive a full home makeover from ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The Beach family has been in need of the home makeover after Hurricane Ike destroyed their Kemah home.

A flooded home caused the family of fifteen to move out to the backyard into tents.

The Beach family is home to both biological and adopted children. Some of the adopted children have special needs. Some of the older children graduated from Creek.

After almost a year after living in anything but their house, from tents to FEMA trailers, the Beach family received the gift of a lifetime.

In Extreme Makeover Home Edition style, the Beach family vacationed in Disney World w h i l e volunteers tore down the remains of the destroyed house.

The stars of the show, the designers and host Ty Pennington, were another main attraction that

brought bystanders to view the home building process and the reveal.

Many Creek students decided to volunteer in the extreme makeover prosses.

Kyle Leonard (12 grade) volunteered to work on the Beach home. Leonard said he enjoyed watching the whole process unfold.

“It was interesting to leave one night and come back the next day to see the house half built,” Leonard said.

Even though Leonard did not personally know the Beach family, it did not stop him from putting his all into the home.

His favorite part of the experience was knowing that he indeed make a difference and had a part in creating something for a family who needed it.

Another senior, Shannon Baty, volunteered at the Extreme Makeover home.

Baty used to live on the same street as the Beach family.

She helped pass out food and water for the workers. Baty also worked on the kids’ play-

house. Baty said she had some doubts at first and wondered if the house would even be finished in time, but in the end she enjoyed doing something for the family.

“I felt like they really deserve this so it was good to know I was a part of that,” Baty said.

The new home is over 6400 square feet and has eight bedrooms. Acording to Mikala Beach, daughter of the Beach family, she is enjoying her family’s new dining room and kitchen along with her bedroom.

The details the family can share about the experience are very limited until ABC airs their episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

According to Mikala, the exper i ence

was so large that people still are passing by to get a glimpse of the gigantic house.

“People drive by from dawn until dusk. They take pictures and bring friends back to see it. We had to have the Kemah police put up signs that say ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘Do not stop on the road by order of the Kemah police,’” Mikala said.

“My favorite part of the experience was getting to meet all of the producers and working with our group in Florida.

Our trip to Disney was one of the best trips our family has ever had, not to mention w e had the most amazing tour guides anyone could ask for,” Mikala said.

Though some of the many secrets of the new home have been revealed, most of the community will have to wait for the show to see the whole process in its entirety.

Photos by Shannon O’Neil, Tabitha Dirrim, and Allie Hinga.

SBAC makes final recommendations to Board Allie Hinga

For the past four months, the SBAC has been working to develop its proposal for a new set of boundary lines to be implemented when Clear Falls and Bayside Intermediate open this fall. The CCISD Board of Trustees approved the SBAC’s recommendations at its regular meeting on January 25 with some modifications in the implementation of the proposed changes.

The SBAC was established in October 2009 and was tasked with populating CCISD’s newest campuses, Bayside Intermediate and Clear Falls High School, and balancing the student population at the other existing high schools. Currently, Clear Lake’s enrollment is over 3,000, and the school’s main campus building will take on more students in 2012 when the Ninth Grade Center is converted into an intermediate school.

“The main thing was to alleviate Lake,” CCISD Associate Superintendent of Operations Ron McPherson said.

The SBAC utilized a program provided

by Templeton Demographics, which col-

lected students’ PEIMS data and allowed members of the committee to look at the number of students in each grade level in a particular subdivision. These numbers were used in conjunction with other studies to help project future growth throughout the district. The SBAC used these numbers to develop its boundary recommendations, which it released in early December. These new boundaries were slated to affect this fall’s incoming freshmen and sophomores.

Following the SBAC’s initial proposal, the district hosted four public hearing meetings at each high school to allow for community input. Meetings included a brief presentation by members of the SBAC, then time for comments from members of the community. Parents, students, and school employees all took turns speaking at these meetings addressing issues ranging from the difficulty of moving sophomores

to new schools, to busing concerns, to involvement in varsity sports.

“Our SBAC listened intently and discussed at length the community input immediately after each hearing,” SBAC member Tracey Farmer said.

One matter discussed at multiple meetings pertained to the students in the Parr Elementary zone, who would be moved from Springs to Creek this fall. A number of community members raised concerns because these students had been asked to move from Creek three years ago.

“We put a lot of work into getting this school [Springs] up and running,” Bonnie Pritchett, a community member who spoke at several meetings, said.

Pritchett has two sons who attend Springs this year. One is a senior and the other is a freshman. She said that when considering school boundary changes, each campus should be looked at as a unique entity.

“You can’t just use a

broad brush solution,” she said.

The SBAC held one additional public meeting on January 6 to address any final concerns. It announced that it had not made any modifications to its original recommendations, but that it would allow the Board to determine a course of action for the Parr Elementary zone students.

“While we were sure that moving the Springs kids back to Creek was the solution to alleviate future overcrowding at Springs and under population at Creek, we had a hard time with the fact that we were reversing a recent SBAC decision,” Farmer said about the rezoning process.

Following the final public hearing, the SBAC put forward its recommendations at a Board workshop in early January, and then made its final presentation to the Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on January 25. The Board

Photos by Kaitlyn Boryk, Image courtesy of ccisd.net

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Opinion

e n o e b d l u If you co o h w , w o h s V T a n o r e t c a char ? y h w d n a e would it b Freshmen

Seniors

“Scooby-Doo. I would solve mysteries with little to no effort and get all the Scooby-Snacks I wanted. That’s the life.

-Kristen Bateman

“Raven on That’s So Raven because I [used] to look like her when she was little.”

-Domanyque Cain “Minnie Mouse because I’ve watched her since I was little.”

-Xochitl Perez “Maggie from Maggie and the Ferocious Beast because I love the beast. Also she gets to travel.”

-Caitlin Stout “House on House because I could tell everyone off and they’d still want me to fix all their [problems.]”

-Nick Gilpin “Timmy Turner because it would be cool to have fairy godparents.”

-Hailey Lowrey

“Christina from Grey’s Anatomy because she is so strong willed and successful. She cares about her friends even if she doesn’t seem like it.”

-Catherine Uong “Dr. House. Walking around with a cane and limp and solving medical mysteries sounds fun. That guy is a crazy genius.”

-Henry Sorto “I would be Simon Cowell because he gets to tell awful singers to go home. ‘If only there were more of him.’”

-Rebecca Chaumet “I would be Cinderella because I want to be a princess.”

-Shannon Baty “Candice from Phineas and Ferb because her brothers would make life interesting.”

-Liz Barba

Sophomores

“Debra because she’s the boss on Everybody Loves Raymond.”

-Lindsay Satterfield

“Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl because she’s pretty, rich, and gets whatever she wants.”

-Anneleen Verhoeven

“The girl on Mythbusters, because she gets to blow up things.”

-Shauna Dunlap

“I would be Sandy Cheeks off of Spongebob because she’s really smart.”

-Chelsea Goffney “I would be Bindy from Bindy the Jungle Girl because she gets to see different animals every day.”

-Brandi Rhodes “Perry the Platypus because he’s a platypus and a secret agent.”

-Taryn Leeney “I would want to be Tweety because she’s so cute and she can fly.”

-Lucy Calhoun

Juniors

“Chuck Bartowski- he lives an

incredible life filled with action and has the fate of the world in his hands.” -Courtney Gallegly “Carly from iCarly because she has her own web show.”

-Penelope Delossantos “I would be Sue Sylveter (from Glee) [because] everyone would be afraid of me and I could boss them around.” -Hayley Mitchell “I would be Rogue from X-Men Evolution because she’s my favorite character.”

-Marie Stephensen “I would be Echo from Dollhouse because she’s strong willed.”

-Erika Combs “Bugs bunny, [because] he’s smarter than everyone trying to kill him.”

-Tabitha Kitchen “I would want to be Lauren Conrad because she’s drama-free compared to her friends.”

-Victoria Finger “I would be Miley Stewart from Hannah Montana because she has the best of both worlds.”

-Ann Diab

“I would be Dr. G from Discovery Health, because she has a cool job as a medical examiner.”

-Victoria Ruiz

Clear Creek High School 2009-2010 HiLife Staff Principal: Scott Bockart Advisor:

Wynette Jameson Executive Editor: Jan O’Neil Editor-in-Chief: Allie Hinga Managing Editor: Chelsea Huebner News Editor: Jordan Little Assistant News Editor: Amber Arnold Around Creek Editors: Christine Sulkis

Tracey Griffith Features Editor: Shannon O’Neil Creek Speaks Editor: Jacob Mancini Teen Interest Editor: Kaitlyn Blake Sports Editor: Christen Valcoviak Centerspread Editors: Will Sheffield

Ellen Gaudet Advertising Manager: Jordan Little Photo Editors: Kaitlyn Boryk Assistant Photo Editor: Katlin Foote Online Editor: Mary Veedell Photographers: Shauna Fererro-Donahue

Emily Dismukes

Tabitha Dirrim

Develin Polly Reporters: Jacob Arredondo Reanna Bain Kaitlyn Casey Madison Doeckel Kathy Chiang Ashley Farmer Derek Gay Katherine Gughiocello Meghan Mistry Lyndsey Gordon Dakota Sinks Email us at: Creekhilife@yahoo.com Visit us at: http://www.clearcreekhighschool.ihigh.com For ad rates call: (281) 284-1889 Fax: (281) 284-1705

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Editorial Allie’s Abstractions

“Go to school without putting the dead in deadline”

Allie Hinga As I type this paragraph, I am taking a break from working on no less than six scholarship applications. Actually, there might be more, but I have lost track of everything in the immense piles of clutter lying around my computer.

At this point, some of you might be thinking that this means I am an immensely dedicated college-bound student giving her absolute best effort to make college affordable. That isn’t exactly true. Sure, I have filled out my share of applications. I think that my most current submissions will bring my total to somewhere around 15-20 or more. However, I have friends who will be filling out that many submissions this month alone. One of my friends has a giant three-ring binder filled with applications organized by date with sticky notes telling her what she needs to send in with each form, and another friend sits down for a couple of hours each day to work on scholarships. I have a giant mess of a binder that I paid my sister to organize, but then proceeded to scatter its contents across my game room floor. I generally work on applications about once a week or so.

I haven’t done horribly, though. Honestly, all things considered, I am doing a fairly decent job at trying to make col-

lege more affordable. The problem is that I know that I could be doing so much more. I could be taking the initiative to start scholarships before the last minute, and I could be getting more done with less stress. However, I suppose one good thing about being where I am is that I have a fairly good idea of what I have done right and what I have done wrong, so I can better pass this information on to those who still have time to learn what it takes to make affording college that much easier.

Juniors, as soon as you finish reading this (and I mean this paragraph, not this editorial) go to your computer and start registering on scholarship search engines, like fastweb. com and zinch.com. Also, get on Naviance and click through the scholarship list. There are some awards that are only available to students who apply as juniors. Many high school students will not start even thinking about college until their senior year, and so automatically disqualify themselves from this money because they are not even looking for it. Fewer applicants mean that those who do apply have a greater chance of winning; juniors who start applying now can potentially receive more awards.

In a larger context, this brings me to my next point: start applying for scholarships early. I didn’t get serious about trying to get college money until after about a month or two into my senior year, and I totally regret it. By the time I started working on applications, I had already missed deadlines for a number of scholarships and had a number of deadlines to make in a very small amount of time.

Since I started out applying for scholarships at the last minute, it has been incredibly hard to stop. For every deadline that I just manage to make, it always seems like

five or so more are coming up just a few days later. And a number of these scholarships require more work than I have time to do in only a few days. I have sent in applications that require multiple letters of recommendation, many of which can take two to three weeks to get, more financial information than my parents ever cared to tell anyone besides their tax agency, and one too many essays about a challenge that I have overcome. One of the toughest submissions that I completed required me to research the UN Millennium Development Goals and write a research paper describing how the US can create an international system to foster development in poor nations. Sound confusing?

Try learning all of this in four days, then putting it all into 1,500 words or less.

One of the most important things I have learned, although I struggle to put it into practice, is that starting applications a week before the deadline is a bad idea.

Start looking at any scholarship you plan on applying for at least a month in advance, and realize that you will have to make multiple deadlines at the same time. Come up with some system of organization so you can keep track of what you need and when you will need it. Otherwise, you will end up with something akin to the mountain of paperwork lying around my house from which I have a habit of pulling a page at random and realizing that it is for something that needs to be postmarked in three days.

Another way to make the scholarship application process easier is to start collecting information now. Many forms will ask for some of the same information, such as your extra-curricular activities, your leadership roles, your volunteer service, your work experience, and any

awards you have received in high school.

A number of my earlier applications were not as complete as they could have been because I had never kept track of my volunteer service. I could not remember everything I had done since ninth grade.

In fact, am sure there are still probably things I have done that I could use on applications if I could only remember them.

This advice isn’t just for up and coming seniors, either. Any freshman or sophomore can start getting all of their records in order now, so that when the time to apply does come, they have that much more information to set them apart from every other student looking for scholarships. Some forms will require that you send in samples of your work or copies of awards you have received, so, basically, don’t ever throw anything away. If you have all of your information together before you even start an application, you can save an enormous amount of time by not having to hunt down your certificate of achievement for scoring well on the National Latin Exam in tenth grade.

I say all of this because I know that a number of the people reading this will soon, whether in six months or a few short years, start thinking about what to do after high school. Attending college is not cheap; even a number of good public, in-state schools can cost at least $15,000 a year after tuition, housing, books, and other expenses. Many schools will cost at least $20,000 a year. Looking at these numbers, it is easy to get discouraged and feel that going to a good school is out of reach. But I have learned that while it is difficult, with proper planning, dedication, and hard work, going to your firstchoice college is completely possible.

Guest Editorial: Ashley Farmer “Live like you were living, not like you were dying”

Ashley Farmer “Live like you were dying.” What does this really mean? So often we hear this phrase in songs, movies and literature, but why? Do helpful advisors throw out this phrase in the hopes that it will encourage us to take chances? Work harder?

These supportive people are the friends and family members who will encourage us to do everything we want before we no longer have the chance. I appreciate these people, but where are the friends who remind us to plan ahead, look toward the future, and line up our goals and aspirations?

Where are the friends that tell us to live as if we were going to be around forever?

Too often, the phrase “live like you were dying” creates the idea that if we

are not chancing everything, putting our futures on the line, we are taking life for granted and because of this, the media, writers of literature, and the people in our communities have come to the conclusion that they need to take it upon themselves to push this principle into our lives and allow it to influence the decisions we make.

I believe, however, that a lack of risktaking is not the problem of this generation.

In fact, it is just the opposite. Every day we are encouraged to be bold and adventurous and make the most of each moment. Every day we face the challenge of making firm decisions about high school, college, jobs, and our futures. We are pressured to make the right decisions, but if we choose the “safe” route that will lead to a life of stability, the people around us assume that we are afraid and stuck in some sort of shell, and the general populace will look on us with pity.

Predictability seems to have become a fatal disease that we must find a cure for in the eyes of society, when really, it is just the intermediate to achieving our dreams. Taking chances is associated with taking advantage of life, but to really take advantage of everything life has to offer, we have to plan for the future and set aside goals that motivate us every day. We

need purpose, so we can taste success and know what its like to accomplish even the smallest things. To reach as high as possible, we first have to have a place to stand.

If you typed “taking risks” into Google, the first five websites that come up are all about how to overcome inhibitions, live in the moment, and make today last. We don’t hear much about tomorrow, and most of us who do ignore it. I want to take chances.

I want to live life to the fullest. I want to be proud of what I have done and know that I grasped every opportunity I was presented, but I also want to be confident in the fact that I know where I’m going. I want to know how it feels someday to be secure in my job, my relationships, and my family. I don’t want to have to worry about my next paycheck or wonder why I didn’t make those grades in high school that would ultimately lead to a steady career. I want myself and everyone in my life to know what it feels to like to be safe.

Of course, taking chances is a big part of success. Think about the phrase “you have to spend money to make money.”

If we want to have an opportunity, we have to invest our efforts and resources without a guarantee that the outcome is worth it. This is also true with relation-

ships and jobs, but this should not be the foundation for life. There is a time to take chances, for instance when we are in need of change and new beginnings, and there is a time to plan ahead. Both of these aspects should be part of our life strategy.

I once had a teacher tell me that in order to write a story, you have to shrink a lifetime and explode a moment. I think, however, that particular teacher forgot that life is a story, but in this story, every moment, every movement, is part of the rising action of the plot. We cannot focus on the fun, interesting aspects of life and ignore some of the most important parts, simply because we feel that is what will make life complete.

Too often that leads to failure and stress, and that kind of life is not going to make for a very interesting story because we can’t really shrink our lifetime and we can’t make moments last any longer than they are.

One day we are going to look back, flipping through the pages of our lives, and realize that the random spurts of impulsive decisions weren’t enough to make our lives what we wanted them to be. We are going to wish someone had told us to “live like you were living” instead of “live like you were dying”.

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N ews The year 2010 brings in a set of new laws Amber Arnold Since January 1,2010 there were 40,697 new legislatures passed by the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

In Texas, anyone under 16 and half years old has been banned from using any tanning device, and anyone under 18 years old needs permission from their parents to use the devices.

“I think students should be able to choose if they want to go tanning or not,” senior Rachael Johnson said.

The state passed the new law to protect teens that are unaware of the dangers of tanning, such as skin cancer and eye damage. This legislation became law in September 2009, but was not enforced until January 1, 2010.

“I don’t like the new rule about tanning beds because I am 17 years old and I don’t want to have my parents permission to go tanning,” senior Hail Lozano said.

Another new piece of legislation states that cigarettes have to be fire safe and slow burning. They must be made of self-

extinguishing materials that Students moving into Texas college help the cigarette snuff out on campuses now need to have a valid its own when it is not being doctor’s note showing that they have been smoked. This law was passed vaccinated against bacterial meningitis in 2007, but retailers were at least 10 days before moving given time to dispose of the into campus cigarettes they had in stock. housing.

Retailers that “I think sell nonh a v i n g fire safe to get the cigarettes vaccine is can be reasonable fined up because I to $100 would want a pack. to know According that where to the Texas I am going Department to college of Insurance everyone is Inspections not going to this will be get me sick,” monitored by senior Kendra fire marshals to ensure that Alessn said. retailers do not stock O t h e r up on old cigarettes, New laws restrict tanning bed laws stae that and that all cigarettes usage for minors. owners of rental sold are fire-safe. Photo courtsey of MCTCampus property must

install fire alarms for the hearing impaired if the tenant requests it. Renters who have a landlord disconnect their utilities unlawfully can obtain an order from a justice of the peace restoring the utilities. A landlord who disobeys is subject to being jailed without bail until the utilities are restored. A renter who files a false complaint is subject to paying the landlord one month’s rent or $500. Anyone who has been abused and needs to leave the area for protection will be able to break a lease without penalty.

The State Department of Health Services will begin enforcing a requirement that pregnant women be tested for HIV, and hepatitis B unless a woman objects.

The test is to be conducted on the first visit in the third trimester, and upon admission for delivery. Health care providers are also now required to report all primary and secondary syphilis diagnoses by telephone within one working day of the diagnoses.

With 2010 finally here, everyone will have to be aware to these new requirements.

to looks and status has contributed to the rise in mental health issues.

Researches at five universities analyzed the responses of 77,576 high school or college students who, from 1938 through 2007, took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test. The test was designed to help identify personal, social, and behavioral problems in psychiatric patients, and helps provide relevant information to aid in problem identification, diagnosis, and treatment planning for the patient.

The results will be published in a future issue of the Clinical Psychology Review.

The study found that an average of five times as many students in 2007 were diagnosed in one or more

mental health categories,think those who were similarly diagnosed in 1938.

According to Twenge the most current numbers may even be low considering all the students taking antidepressants and other psychotropic medications, which help alleviate symptoms studied in the survey.

The study also shows increases in psychopathic behavior, which is defined as having trouble with authority and feeling as though the rules don’t apply to them.

The percentage of young people who scored high in that category increased from 5 percent in 1938 to 24 percent in 2007.

Experts also say that overprotective parents have left their children with few real world skills. Many students can’t do

their own budget or confront professors on their own. Students feel pressure to succeed and to be fast paced with the world’s latest technology. Divorce rates for their parents have gone up, which may lead to less stability.

Twenge thinks more research is needed to pinpoint a cause of this trend and understand what some of the reasons behind it might be.

According to Twenge students with mental health issues need to get help as soon as possible. The three warning signs of these problems include students being troubled, experiencing big changes, or causing problems frequently.

the floor mat issue include the 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix, and the 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe.

recently recalled comprised 57% of the company’s American total for last year.

In a news release found on its website, Toyota provided drivers with possible actions they may take if their car’s accelerator pedal becomes stuck while driving. Toyota stated that the driver should use his or her best knowledge in stopping the car. One recommended plan of action is that the driver should shift to neutral and slowly press on the brakes to come to a complete stop on the side of the road.

A driver who needs to stop immediately should press both feet firmly on the brakes.

He or she should not pump the brakes.

Other options include pressing the Engine On/Off button or turning the key to the ACC position. The driver should

not drive the car again and he or she should call his or her local dealership.

For complete information on how to stop a car with a braking issue, visit Toyota’s FAQ on its website under news releases.

Those Toyota owners who have concerns about their vehicles and who want to express those concerns can reach customer service representatives by calling 1-800-331-4331, or can find more about how to e-mail a representative at the company’s website. On the Toyota website, there are also links to sources for more information about the latest issues with the company’s cars. Right now, Toyota is working to solve the problem.

Youth have increased mental health issues Amber Arnold A new study has found that five

times as many high school and college students are dealing with anxiety and other mental health issues as youth of the same age who were studied in the Great Depression era. The study was lead by Jean Twenge, a San Diego State University psychology professor.

The study shows that more students struggle with the stresses of school and life.

“I think that students are more stressed now than in the past because we have to deal with the pressure of fitting in and making good grades,” sophomore Sarah Flores said.

Mental health professionals think that a popular culture shift from wealth

Toyota issues recall for a number of vehicles Jordan Little

So far, Toyota has made two recalls of cars that have been found to have faulty gas pedals. According to CNN, the grand total of cars that recalled is at least 5.3 million.

In November of 2009, 4.2 million Toyota cars were recalled due to a gas pedal and floor mat issue. The company discovered that the gas pedal could become stuck on the edge of the floor mat, causing the car to speed up uncontrollably.

Last week, Toyota made another recall of 2.3 million cars in which the gas pedals T h e could become stuck on their own.

P o n t i a c More cars with this problem have Photo by Tabitha Dirrim Vibe was been found in Europe,however included in there has been no published total. the recall because its makeup is similar Most of the vehicles recalled last week to the design of Toyota’s Matrix. are of the same type as those that were The cars that Toyota had recently recalled late last year. The original cars that recalled due to the stuck pedal issue were recalled for the floor mat issue include include the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2005-2010 the 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, Avalon, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 2004-2009 Prius, 2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2008-2010 Sequoia, some Tundra, and the 2007-2010 Lexus ES350, 2007-2010 Camrys, and the Corolla, 2006-2010 IS250, and 2006-2010 IS350. Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. The Times Cars that were recently recalled for reported that these 8 cars that have been

News

Climbers prepare to scale Mt Kilimanjaro Ashley Farmer Elizabeth Gore, the executive director of the United Nations Foundation Global Partnerships and the Nothing but Nets campaign, began training one year ago in her home in Washington for a trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro that began on January 7, 2010. Joining her on this adventure were many celebrities, including Jessica Beil, Isabel Lucas, and Lupe Fiasco. They were accompanied by a group of humanitarians and specialists whose purpose was to educate the hikers on the global clean water crisis as they climbed 19,340 feet to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in an effort to bring attention to the issue and the numerous people affected by it.

The idea for the Summit on the Summit was initially proposed by the Grammy-nominated vocal artist from Virginia Beach popularly known as Kenna.

His idea was spawned from a memory of a conversation he had with his father about the clean water crisis in his homeland of Ethiopia. According to the official website for Summit on the Summit, Kenna is not only driven by a desire to give back to the community in which he was raised, but a desire to involve people around the world in taking on this challenge and recognizing the responsibility people have to solve this crisis.

According to the website,www. summitonthesummit.com, water related diseases are the leading cause of death, taking the lives of 3.575 million people a year and are responsible for 80 percent of all sickness in the world. Unsafe water and lack of sanitation is now the single largest cause of illness worldwide.The crisis can largely effect the schooling and quality of the lives of children in many underdeveloped countries and can often lead to their death.

More than one billion people lack access to

safe drinking water, and every 16 seconds someone dies due to water-borne illnesses.

Elizabeth Gore became involved in this project when she was asked by the United Nations Foundation to represent them in this effort. Gore was born in Friendswood, Texas, where she was raised on a small Ranch. Named by People magazine as one of the Top 100 Extraordinary Women, Mrs. Gore has been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts, including a refugee appeal for malaria and a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She served as the Director of Development and Corporate Relationships for the Points of Light Foundation and served in the United States Peace Corps in Bolivia where she improved the lives of the Chaca.

According to Nick Cenegy of the Galveston County Daily News, Gore plans to use her experience with the United Nations Foundation and her previous work

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in the Peace Corps to help convey the importance of ready sources of clean water.

The adventurers faced seven days of extreme temperatures ranging from zero to 80 degrees and although the temperatures were mild compared to past averages, the climbers that faced this challenge hoped it would leave enough of an impression on the minds of their followers to make a difference in the dire situations of those in underdeveloped countries.

The trek and the organizations have raised enough money to purchase 5,978,851 liters of water for the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.

“I don’t live a life without water, but I am trying to make a real effort to change my mindset about this precious resource and its conservation, and bring awareness to the world on a subject that is killing so many men, women and children,” Kenna said on the Summit on the Summit website.

Get the facts about movie theater popcorn Jordan Little

Movie theater popcorn is a popular treat that may soon become a snack of the past. As Americans become m o r e health

cook their popcorn in oil like coconut oil, which is composed mainly of saturated fat.

In an article by the New York Times, Marion Nestle,

popcorn contains only 720 calories, when CSPI’s recorded number was much higher.

Regal made a statement to the LA Times that movie theater popcorn was not made for consumers to eat daily. Regal also provided the statistic that the average American attends six movies a year.

In 1994, a similar popcorn report was released, claims the LA Times. The National Association of Theatre Owners stated that air-popped popcorn was made

available at some theaters after the release of the report, however, eventually moviegoers wanted the movie theater style popcorn back.

“I think they should provide healthier options,” Jacob Cardinal, a senior at Creek said.

It is unclear whether movie theaters will add more healthy options to the snack bar. As for now, moviegoers can still purchase the movie theater popcorn.

unanimously voted to approve the boundaries as suggested, and then began to discuss the implementation of individual issues. In a 4-3 decision, the Board voted to let current freshmen in the Parr zone remain at Springs and implement the move to Creek for current eighth grade students.

The Board also decided that the recommendation that students in the Whitcomb Elementary zone be moved from Brook to Lake would be implemented beginning in the 2011-2012 school year and that all intra-district transfer requests would be considered according to current Board policy.

While the Board passed modifications in the implementation of CCISD’s new district boundaries, there had been disagreement about whether some adjustments needed to be made. Board member Robert Davee voted against allowing the Parr zone freshmen to remain at Springs.

One of his concerns had to do with making sure that class sizes balanced out each year.

“I would have felt better if we’d gone ahead and balanced the numbers out,” he said.

However, Davee also said that in the long term, the district’s school populations would balance out well.

There has been some concern about the impact of allowing current Parr zone fresh-

men to remain at Springs will have on Creek.

Creek’s enrollment is expected to drop next year from the current 2,400 to 2,200. However, Creek head principal Scott Bockart said that he doesn’t believe that this will have a direct impact on the school next year, and that having smaller class sizes in the sophomore class could help some students.

“We’re not really clear on what the impact will be at this point,” he said.

He said the changes slated to happen next year could lead to some changes in staffing, as some teaching units could be moved to other campuses.

Though Springs will be keeping approximately 150 sophomore students next year, Springs Principal Gail Love said that the overall attendance of the school would remain the same since some incoming freshmen will be diverted to Creek, which she believes will balance out the number of students at both schools.

“I think our sizes are going to be similar,” she said.

Love said that she believed that, in the end, Springs would not be negatively affected by this change.

“I respect and support the decision made by the Board, and I will enforce [it],” she said.

Continued from page 1

a professor of nutrition at New York University states that the main problem is the quantity of popcorn consumed at the theater.

Dr Nestle stated that a large tub conscious, of popcorn people are is threemonitoring fourth of a calories, person’s day of calories. salt, and fat According to the New York consumed Times, AMC’s small during a trip Photo by Kaitlyn Boryk popcorn is the healthiest to the movies. because it contains The Center for the Science in the Public six cups of popcorn and 370 calories.

Interest (CSPI) conducted a study of popcorn Cinemark has taken one step to making from the three most popular movie chains, movie theater popcorn healthier. The Regal Cinemas, AMC, and Cinemark. The theater now pops all popcorn with nonresults were shocking. At Regal Cinemas, hydrogenated canola oil in place of coconut a large tub of popcorn contains 20 cups oil. The tub at Cinemark contains 17 cups of of popcorn, almost 10 times the healthy popcorn, 910 calories, 4 grams of saturated serving size, as well as 980 milligrams fat and 1,500 milligrams of sodium of sodium and 60 grams of saturated Customers always have the option to fat. Additional butter is 130 calories. ask their local theater if they would be A medium size popcorn at Regal has willing to cook a portion of popcorn without the same nutritional contents as a large. salt. According to the NY Times, two of the The small is about 5 times the serving theaters stated that they would be willing to size and contains 550 milligrams of make popcorn without salt for customers. sodium and 24 grams of saturated fat.

According to the Los Angeles Times, The results of the study shouldn’t scare the study also found that in some cases that popcorn fans. Air- popped popcorn is low the theater companies’ published caloric in calories and free of saturated fat, making counts were lower than the numbers found it a healthy snack. But movie theaters by CSPI. Regal claimed that their medium

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Remembering Madison Doeckel Some of the things that happened in 2009 can never happen again and will never be forgotten. The nation elected its first black president, dealt with a disease that was spreading globally, and experienced the tragic deaths of celebrities .

On January 15, a US Airbus A320 that was headed for Charlotte, N.C lost both its engines when it ran into a flock of birds while taking off. The pilot of flight 1549, Chelsea B. “Sully” Sulenberger III landed the plane in the Hudson River. All of the 155 passengers, including a newborn baby on board survived and floated to safety while the plane sunk in the river. With no other way to explain the phenomenon, the event was nicknamed “miracle on the Hudson”.

On January 21 Barrack Obama was inaugurated as the first African American president in United States history. He was elected as President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January

News the top events of 2009

20, 2009.

Before he was President, Obama served as the junior United

States Senator from Illinois.

Bernard Madoff plead guilty on March 12 for fraud. Some say he committed the biggest fraud in Wall Street history, after defrauding thousands of investors of billions of dollars.

He confessed to being the operator of the scheme he started in the early 1990s. In the end Bernard Madoff was sentenced to one hundred and fifty years in jail.

H1N1, also known as Swine Flu, was declared a global pandemic on June 11. H1N1 is a respiratory disease that is caused by Type A influenza viruses.

Swine Flu caused a lot of panic in the United States. Schools all around the US shut down because of the fast spreading of the Flu. People all around the world wore masks to protect

themselves from catching the disease.

Many people got the vaccine for the H1N1 virus as soon as it came out.

On June 25, Michael Jackson died of a heart attack. He was born on August 28, 1958 and died at the age of fifty. Jackson and his brothers were part of the Jackson Five when he was a young boy. Jackson was the father to three children, Prince Michael Jackson, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince Michael II Jackson.

On October 15, Richard Heene and Mayumi Heene, parents of a six-year-old boy, claimed that their son had floated away in a homemade hot air balloon.

When the balloon finally landed, the boy was not found. It turned out that the whole event that grabbed worldwide attention was a hoax. The father of the boy was sentenced to 90 days in jail and is expected to pay a fine of $42,000.

The United States experienced many changes and milestones in 2009 Barrack Obama was became the first African American US President in January.

Photo courtesy of MCTCampus.

President appropriates new funding to NASA Amber Arnold President Barack Obama has put a stop to sending astronauts to the moon, but he is sending NASA in new directions with a check for roughly $6 billion more than they already had, according to officials familiar with the plans.

NASA will get an additional $5.9 billion over five years. Some of the money will be used to extend the life of the International Space Station to 2020. It will also be used to entice companies to build private spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the space station after the space shuttle retires.

The money in the President’s budget is not enough to follow through with NASA’s Constellation Moon Landing plan initiated by President George W. Bush. If the plan were to be put into action NASA would need $9.1 billion.

Proponents of the moon mission and thousands of workers in space centers in Florida, Alabama and Texas are upset.

Congressional officials in those states have denounced such ideas and some of them sit on key committees where they could fight

O b a m a ’s p l a n s .

A r e c e n t report by N A S A’ s Aerospace S a f e t y Advisory P a n e l warned NASA not to pursue unproven technology a n d abandon the Ares 1 rocket the first rocket in the Bush moon program which is based on the Apollo design.

The Bush moon plan was spaceflight industry to provide 1,700 announced after the 2003 Columbia jobs in Florida and more elsewhere. accident killing seven astronauts.

NASA has spent $3.5 billion on Ares In January 2004, Bush proposed 1 and $3.7 billion on Orion and nearly the return to the moon. It would $2 billion on other moon mission work. have involved the Ares 1 In the mid 1990s, NASA went through a rocket, carrying astronauts similar stutter step that meant abandoning in a capsule called Orion. plans that cost billions, which involved Another Ares spacecraft President Ronald Reagan’s Freedom would carry heavier cargo. space station. That ran into trouble after The Obama costing $11 billion without building any administration wants hardware. President Bill Clinton had that to push for commercial space station redesigned and restated. rockets as the next thing Astronauts have raised questions about in spaceflight. Published the safety of switching to a privately run reports have put the cost space travel system that NASA would use of that commercial effort to carry astronauts. Companies pursuing at $6 billion, which is how such business include Space Exploration much the administration Technology Corp., which is already wants to add to NASA’s building a new rocket called Falcon budget over the next and a capsule, called Dragon. PayPal five years. He wants founder Elon Musk runs the company. to start a commercial The Obama administration’s bugdet would put manned space travel in the hands of private investors.

Photo by Meghan Mistry

Some celebrate Dr. King; others question Jordan Little

On January 18th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, some Americans participated in new opportunities as well as traditions.

While some people volunteered to help in their community, others attended a memorial ceremony. Some students enjoyed a day off from school. Some people did nothing out of the ordinary at all.

In 1983, Ronald Reagan signed a law that made January 18, three days after King’s birthday, a national holiday. It wasn’t until 1986 that the day was accepted as a holiday. Some states did not recognize the day as a national holiday until 2000. At first there was opposition to honoring the day in King’s name. After the conflict was brought to Congress, six million Americans signed a petition to honor the day in the name of America’s well-known civil rights leader.

Dr. King led a movement for civil rights and racial equality. In his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream”, King inspired others to believe that freedom for all mankind, regardless of race, is a dream that can and should be accomplished. On April 4th, 1968, Dr. King was assassinated on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee.

However, King remains to be a global figure for inspiration of those who are seeking equality or who are advocates of change.

“I think that it’s a really cool thing that he decided to be a leader and stand up for millions of people during a time when the people who had power were against him,” Catherine Uong, a senior at Creek, said.

MLK Day is also known as the Day of Service, on which many people volunteer to help improve their own

communities. King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, advocated the idea because it inspires people to reach out to others in their community and unites the nation and world in a way that Dr. King would have approved, through service and equality.

Although January 18 is widely accepted as a day in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, there are some who are opposed to recognizing the day in his name. Some people may think that a website like martinlutherking.org would be a reputable website that would provide truthful facts about the revolutionary leader. However, according to the Houston Chronicle, the website is produced by Stormfront, a white supremacist, neo-Nazi group and the facts about Dr. King have been fabricated.

The website,martinlutherking.org includes a link to a pamphlet entitled

“Why Martin Luther King Jr. Day Should Be Repealed” that claims that King had “another side” and includes false claims such as that he took advantage of the poor, and used force to gain acceptance of civil rights. These claims are false.

It is a proven fact that Dr. King sought for equality of all peoples and used nonviolence and civil disobedience, two concepts that he learned from the teachings of Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau.

Regardless of sketchy or false information, some Americans choose to celebrate Martin Luther King Day in remembrance of Dr. King and how he inspired our country and its people to unify regardless of race, how he fought for equality of all persons, inspired people to challenge custom, and to become more tolerant of one another.

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Creek Speaks

Synergy at Creek is changing Rwandan lives

Meghan Mistry

Rwanda, a country in Central Africa the size of Maryland, has a long history of genocide.This genocide culminated between the Hutus and Tutsis began in 1994, killing over 1 million Tutsis in just a few months.

In the aftermath of the genocide, many parts of the country were left devastated.

With the vast opportunities available in the formerly troubled country, many Americans are beginning to contribute to the restoring of its economic prosperity.

Project Rwanda, a worldwide organization, strives to provide the country with the help it needs to recover from its troublesome past.

Rwanda grows many coffee beans on a very rugged terrain. The people of Rwanda use wooden bikes to cart around the beans, but with the help of the Project, many metal cargo bikes are being delivered to the country.

In a mix of biology and geography, Ms. Bidelspach and Mr. Galleher, two ninth-grade Creek teachers, have come together to create a special chapter of Project Rwanda within the school. While Bidelspach goes over viruses and Galleher goes over African culture, they are synergizing together and focusing on aiding Rwanda.

Bidelspach and Galleher have combined their classes, love for bikes, and service projects to help raise funds to buy several bikes for the Rwandans.

“It’s such a great cause. The

project will be entirely in the students name, and I mean, the feeling you get when you help!” Bidelspach said.

To support the program, t-shirts are being created. The front design of the t-shirt shows a person riding one of the cargo bikes that is being

Rwandans will be provided with the money needed to buy them. A bike for one person can end up benefiting an entire community.

“The bikes provide hope,” Bidelspach said. “Don’t think that the $15 people pay for the shirts are lining vender’s pockets—it is changing lives.”

The cargo bike alone provides each Rwandan a chance to start over and a chance to sell their coffee beans in the U.S. The bikes are metal and can carry a load of 300 pounds. Coffee beans, other people, or just about anything can be transported with the cargo bikes. These bikes allow for better, more efficient transportation and are a giant step up from the homemade wooden bikes that the Rwandans now use.

To spread popularity, the service project has its own Facebook page called Clear Creek Rwanda Project.

The front and back of the Project Rwanda t-shirts that will be sold at Creek.

Creek students are encouraged to The back of the shirts will include sponsors’ names as well. join this page on Facebook in support Image courtesy of Ms. Bidelspach of Project Rwanda. Galleher and delivered to Rwandans with an airbrushed the project. Each sponsor will receive Bidelspach monitor the page to ensure that Rwandan flag in the background. The its name printed on the back of t-shirt. all content stays focused on the project. backs of the t-shirts depict the Creek Sponsors can donate any amount.

As remnants of the previous turmoil that Rwandan Project in a math equation: The sponsors who donate the most Rwanda experienced still remains, Creek is one old wooden bike, plus the universal will receive their names printed working hard and fast to help raise money helping hands equal a new cargo bike. largest on the back of the shirts. for the cargo bikes. The faster that the The t-shirts are critical to the The cargo bikes will not be provided to money is raised, the faster the cargo bikes development and movement of this project the Rwandans for free. The inhabitants do are bought and the country can rebuild itself. because they are the main source of not usually accept charities, so instead, the

A recap of 2009 Reanna Bain

The turn of the decade will bring change, and 2009 set up the changes to come.

On a national level, 2009 brought a new president, Barack H. Obama, who will bring the end of the Iraq War. He will focus on healthcare r e f o r m , education, and renewable energy. Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic supreme court justice, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin resigned, a plane safely landed in the Hudson river, the Steelers won the super bowl, texting while driving was banned, Somali Pirates hijacked an American ship, there was a shooting a Fort Hood, there was an outbreak of Swine Flu, the LA Lakers won the NBA Championship title, and the death of many famous faces including Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, Brittany Murphy, and Farrah Fawcett.

On a local level, Clear Creek High School had its own set of 2009 events.

A recap of the top 10 achievements and disasters of this year affecting the entire school include the following: the removal of the 9th grade center from Clear Creek High School, the change from block schedule to 7 periods a day, the outbreak of Swine flu, WKTZ took over the daily announcements, graduation requirements changed for

underclassmen, a computer virus swept over the CCISD website, Mr. Wims passed away, students came together in an effort to help

donations. The t-shirts will be sold for $15, with $10 dollars of each sale going directly to buying more cargo bikes for the Rwandans.

All proceeds will go towards buying of the cargo bikes, with each bike costing $250.

Bidelspach and Galleher are searching for sponsors to donate toward

from Creek to the U.S.

Mrs. Herrera, Obama’s inauguration video was shown in school, and Creek beat Baytown Lee at the homecoming game, a feat that

hadn’t been accomplished in a few years.

The change in Creek’s campus, schedule, and requirements was a mix of different reactions from many students.

Freshmen rejoice as they don’t have to haul back from 9th grade center to main campus and aren’t forced to change their daily class schedule. Generally speaking, some students enjoy the shorter class periods that come with 7 periods a day, while others wish they had the extra time of block scheduling.

“I don’t like how I lost a class. I wanted to take choir and theater but I didn’t have room in my schedule for both, so I couldn’t take choir,” freshman Erin Hinga said.

Underclassmen also have a new 6.0 GPA scale and must work in a 4-by-4 plan, forcing them to take four core classes freshmen through senior year.

One change that hardly went unnoticed was Creek’s news station, WKTZ, creating daily news broadcasts.

“It’s great t o have

classes producing news with teachers involved and the students learning about TV production,” Media Technology teacher, Mrs. Othon, said.

The WKTZ newscast, along with the HiLife, was able to reach students in school wide efforts including the multitude of fundraisers for the Herrera and Wims families.

Broadcasted throughout schools across the United States was Obama’s State of the Union Adress. The speech was controversial and many parents threatened to.

A feat deserving Creek’s praise was the football homecoming victory. Fans were thrilled for their boys who won that night and who made it to district during the season.

Many agreed 2009 was definitely a year like no other, and the turn of the decade will only bring more change.

Photos by MCT Campus and Katlin Foote

C reek Speaks 9 Creek organizations face dwindling numbers and organization leaders face the great challenge of rebuilding up their teams and There has been much talk around groups after they lose many of their members.

Clear Creek High School concerning the According to Coach Zepeda, the new boundaries and how they will challenges facing football and basketball affect the programs in the school. will not necessarily be the numbers they Many students from are losing, but the individual players they Creek will be attending are losing.

He claims the program is losing Clear Falls High School, some great players that could contribute which will be opening heavily to the success of the team. in the Education Village On the other hand, other f o r the 2010-2011 coaches are more worried about school the actual numbers of the kids y e a r . they are losing and whether or W h i l e not the incoming freshman this will be from the next year will a reprieve for be enough to make up some schools in the for the big hit they will district who have recently face.

Coach Bidelspach, faced some overcrowding a track coach, worries issues, not all of the effects will about how the dropping be positive. Because of the numbers in Creek will affect exception made for Clear Springs, the spread of talent around the district. in a vote passing 4-3 letting all “It hurts.

It hurts every sport.

We are students who are attending Springs having to share athletes.

I will be glad when remain there whether or not they there is no more land left and we get settled,” are zoned for Creek, Creek stands said Coach Cash, the head softball coach. to lose 246 incoming sophomores Other organizations, such as debate it the students were part of Creek’s and theater will be losing large numbers of teams and organizations. In students as well. Mrs. Forbes, the theater addition, Creek will lose a number director feels that the biggest impacts Coach Thompson in shock about the upcoming loss of Creek students will be felt next year. According to her, Photo taken by Katiln Foote many of her students live in the areas that have been zoned for Falls. The debate which has become a huge part of my life, of incoming freshman Creek will lose. team will have to deal with a majority of but I think everyone is going to be okay,” Despite a great deal of negative their members graduating this year and says Victoria Ferro, a freshman at Creek feedback from many community members, a lack of freshman to recruit next year. who is now zoned to attend Clear Falls. parents, and students closely related “It’s extremely unfair, but you have The organizations at Creek will be the to Creek, there is also some optimistic to work with what you’ve got,” Coach most effected by the boundary changes and energy floating around the campus.

Simonds, the volleyball coach said. the dropping numbers of students.

While “We’ve started hearing about the Creek will not be dropped into 4A territory changes everyday. Our friends talk about it all the time and so do our parents and by the changes, many coaches, directors,

Ashley Farmer

teachers. Some of the people are mad, but a lot of others don’t care, and some kids are even excited about starting out a whole new school. I don’t want to leave my friends, and I especially don’t want to leave debate,

Engineering for Haiti

need of assistance. The highest priority From Monday, January 25 to Friday, is to save lives and to get the supplies to January 29, the Clear Creek Engineering the injured Haitians. So far the Clinton club collected dontations for Haiti after an Bush Haiti fund has received $160,000 earthquake hit the country’s coast, killing in contributions towards the cause.

There are three ways to contribute and injuring a devastating number of to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund: through people. The earthquake hit just outside of Internet, by cell phone, or by mail. The Haitiís capital, Port-au-Prince. Members of fund also has a Facebook page and a blog the engineering club collected contributions page for people to express their thoughts from students and donated the money to the about the condition in Haiti, to help spread Clinton Bush Haiti Fund which provides the word of how people can donate, and essential supplies to the displaced Haitians. encourage people to be involved, The The earthquake hit on January 12 Engineering Club at Creek wanted before 5 pm and by January 23, to become involved in a project the death toll was up to 150,000 that was more on a global people. The earthquake had scale, rather than the local a magnitude of 7.0 and was projects they have done in the worst in the region in the past.

When they first more than 200 years. “You started to collect money, could feel the earthquake many of the needs of the up to 200 miles away,” CNN Haitians were not met, so the reported. Haiti is the western Clear Creek Engineering Club hemisphere’s poorest The Engineering Club’s emblem took the initiative to nation. It is low on Photo taken by Katlin Foote help. In light of the the supplies needed economic situation, only one dollar was to survive, such as food, water, shelter, asked from each student.

Fortunately, many and medicine. According to the official students offered much more than that.

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund website, the “We figure everyone can afford at organization is attempting to raise enough least one dollar,” Mrs. Nikki Warden, money to cover the expenses of these supplies. The fund says that the needs the director of the Engineering club said.

They collected the money during A, are great but simple so if they can receive B, and C lunches, passing each table and enough donations they can quickly make asking for donations. The Engineering a difference in the lives of the Haitians.

Club also collected money during advisory President Obama requested that on January 22. After collecting and tallying President Bill Clinton and President all the money a total of $605.12, was George W. Bush raise funds for fast, highdonated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. impact relief and long-term recovery “We are proud to be part of such efforts to help those who are most in an important cause,” Mrs. Nikki said.

Katherine Gughiocello

This sentiment is echoed by Mrs. Forbes, who says “We will just focus on the [students] who are still here and hope the numbers balance out,” and Coach Zepeda, who says “The situation is not horribly devastating. We are not taking such a devastating blow that we are going from first to last place.

We can make due with what we have.”

BP Texas City: Proud to support Clear Creek's students and teachers.

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F eatures Haiti receives needed aid from many sources Shannon O’Neil

Devastation has hit an all time high in the country of Haiti. The new year started off with a disaster on January 12, when an earthquake rated a 7 on the Richter Scale hit the country.

On January 20 another earthquake hit the country. This earthquake was the after shock from the first one, rating a 5.9 on the Richter Scale.

According to Earthquake H a z a r d s Program, the Richter Scale rates earthquakes representing their magnitude. However, the number is not related to the amount of damage caused by the earthquake. Earthquake Hazards Program says that earthquakes of an 8 or

higher are considered major earthquakes.

CNN states that the Haitian government has reported almost 72,000 people have

The American Armed Forces have arrived.

According to CNN, the United States sent 11,000 troops to aid in rebuilding the country.

died. However, there could be more.

Though there are so many missing people, hope is still alive in Haiti. Reports of survivors being rescued days after the earthquake are a symbol of hope for Haiti.

One of the first issues addressed was the housing of all the displaced people.

Tents were needed to provide some sort of shelter. Not only were tents needed, but also the necessities like clean water

and food, according to New York Times.

According to the New York Times, Haiti a country that is part of the Hispaniola island, has a population around 8.7 million people. The country is only about the size of the state of Maryland.

Many different organizations have taken action to help aid the devastated people and property in Haiti. Clear Creek High School is among those who have decided to lend a helping hand.

The Engineering Club asked students in advisory to donate a dollar for Haiti.

A total of $605 was donated from Creek’s staff and students.

Cassidy Hurwitz, junior at Clear Lake High School, decided to organize a walk to benefit the Red Cross’s relief funds. Anyone could attend this walk on January 25 at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, located on Clear Creek High School’s campus.

Hope for Haiti continues as more and more organizations become determined to raise money for the needs of those devastated.

Haitians have been in need of many necessities since the earthquake Photo by MCT Campus

The smartest choice for a new smart phone Madison Doeckel This generation is often known for its frequent use of technology. According to intomobile.com over trillion text messages were sent in 2009. Phones are a necessity to most people and many people take advantage of the convenience of smartphones.

There are many types of smartphones. One of the more commonly known phones is the Blackberry. The latest phone from Blackberry is the Blackberry Bold. According to Blackberry.com the Bold features fast performance by taking advantage of the speeds available on the HSDPA network, a long lasting battery, and is specifically designed to deliver a brilliant display of color and clarity.

Blackberry.com stated that the Blackberry Bold has Mobile Streaming which means it is possible to watch online videos or listen to streamed music broadcasts. It also includes a multimedia program, which allows the phone to sync iTunes or windows media player music files from a

computer. This phone is high tech and can perform many tasks but it isn’t the only

also possesses different capabilities. This phone is not only a smartphone, but also an iPod. According to Apple, the iPhone has the most advanced web browser on a mobile device. Not only is it possible to surf the web but it is also possible to be o n

The IPhone and the Blackberry are two popular smart phones.

Photo by Shauna Fererro-Donahue smartphone option.

The iPhone from Apple is another well-known smartphone.

The latest iPhone is the 3GS, which comes in a 16GB or 32GB models. The 16GB costs $199 and the 32GB is $299 with a plan as opposed to the Blackberry Bold that costs $199.99 with an at&t plan.

Although the iPhone is more expensive it

the phone while being on the internet. T h e phone utilizes its “Apps” feature, which allows users to access Myspace, facebook, cooking apps, keeping current apps, outdoor apps, and music apps. This phone also has a 3-mega-pixel camera while the Blackberry Bold only has a 2-mega-pixel camera.

Although the Blackberry Bold is cheaper than the iPhone it is not the cheapest smartphone. The Palm Pixi is only $99.99 with a two-year plan from Sprint. The Palm Pixi features a touch screen and also has a full keyboard. Like the Blackberry Bold and the iPhone, the Palm Pixi can get on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and more.

The Palm Pixi has a 8GB memory and the battery life will last up to 5.2 hours of talking time and 350 hours of standby time. There is a 2 mega pixel camera and a LED flash. The only color available is black, like the iPhone, but the Blackberry has color options.

There have been at least thirty new smartphones introduced in 2009 and the number of smartphone users is increasing. The Blackberry Bold, the iPhone, and the Palm Pixi are just three types of smartphones. These three phones are capable of performing many functions that other phones cannot.

Most smartphones have the same qualities but each are different. Different ones are better for different people.

Features

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App store reaches three billion downloads Jacob Mancini On Tuesday, January 5, Apple announced that is App Store has reached three billion App downloads from iPhone and iPod touch users.

This downloads checkpoint for Apple’s App Store is a testament to its potential. Since May of 2008 when the App Store first opened, Apps for the iPhone and iPod touch have grown exponentially in number and downloads.

On September 28, 2009, the App Store reached two billion downloads.

“Three billion applications downloaded in less than 18 months—this is like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, in a press release. “The revolutionary App Store offers iPhone and iPod touch users an experience unlike anything else available on other mobile devices, and we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.”

Jobs said this just a couple of

hours before Google revealed its own new smart phone, the Nexus One, on.

At present, there are 127,632 applications available for the iPhone and iPod touch, according to 148Apps.biz. iPhones and iPod touch devices are now available in 77 countries around the world with 20 categories of Apps, including games, entertainment, utilities, social networking, music, productivity, lifestyle, reference, travel, sports, navigation, healthcare & fitness, news, p h o t o g r a p h y, f i n a n c e , b u s i n e s s , education, weather, books, and medical.

Although most App Store downloads are associated with the iPhone, the number of app downloads from iPod touch users has been growing recently.

In December 2 0 0 9 , App Store downloads on the iPod touch exceeded the iPhone’s for the first time by 172% according to a study by mobile analysis firm Flurry Analytics.

Apple’s App Store has grown so rapidly Erin Hinga was ecstatic to view the popular App Store.

Photo by Shannon O’Neil

because developers are avidly creating apps. The creation of an app for Apple’s App Store begins with downloading the SDK kit from apple.com. Once the SDK is explored, Objective-C and Cocoa Touch need to be learned to

write the codes for apps. Then, what was once an idea, along with a payment of $99 to join A p p l e ’ s developer program, can be transformed into an app available for sale or free download. Apple takes 30 percent of an app’s income.

Out of the 100,000 plus apps in Apple’s App Store, the largest category is games. Action, adventure, arcade, board, card, casino, dice, educational, family, kids, music, puzzle, racing, role playing, simulation, sports, strategy, trivia, and word games are the options to satisfy anybody’s taste for a game on their iPhone or iPod touch. In November 2008, Apple marketing executive Greg Joswiak called the iPhone and iPod touch “the future of game play” according to Wired.

The iPhone and iPod touch are springing up in the budding realm of mobile gaming.

In Walnut, San Gabriel Valley, Walnut Elementary School is equipping their second, third, and fourth grade students with 100 iPod touch devices in the classrooms. Although workbooks have not vanished, after a lesson on subtraction students can launch the Basic Math app on the iPod touches and time how quickly they can solve a group of 20 problems.

The idea is to infuse essential arithmetic with technology to make the learning more like recess; the App Store is loaded with educational apps designed to do exactly that.

“The students are really excited to use them,” said Beatrice Azanza, a third grade teacher at Walnut Elementary, according to Sgvtribune. “You can just see their brains working. They are very motivated.”

While Apple’s App Store continues to grow, novel opportunities arise for people to create and enjoy a diverse array of apps daily. Apple’s motto, “There’s an app for that” is a rallying cry for both consumers and innovators to experience everything the App Store has to offer.

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BFFL

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C ollege Simple steps to fighting senioritis Chelsea Huebner

Every year when semester finals are over, class rankings are frozen, and many students have already been accepted to college, senioritis sets in on the soon to be graduating class. Senioritis is defined as “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades” by the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

While it may seem that a sudden overbearing case of laziness would affect only those students who are struggling, that is certainly not the case. Time magazine has reported that senioritis affects the most high achieving students and average students, as well as those who are struggling.

“It hits hard,” senior, Christina Schramm said.

High achieving students seem to get into the mindset that they h a v e

worked hard for almost four years. They remedial classes their freshman year is on have the next step of their life planned, the rise. According to CollegeBoard it’s so they deserve some down time. Another up to about half of all incoming freshmen. thing, according to Time, that may aide While the EAP program is recommended, in the onset of senioritis is that by the many schools do not have it available end of senior year students feel that they and students must go elsewhere for the have out grown high school and they plan test. Not every student will have an to just coast into and through college. opportunity to participate in an internship Many schools as well as business but there are a few simple things that professionals are trying to help students students can do to battle senioritis. fight this contagious case of laziness. A few First, continue to keep a challenging ways that they are doing this is by offering course load, maybe take an AP class or internships for students to participate in. two. Not only will this help with senioritis, Students are encouraged to participate but also it gives students a chance to earn in an Early Assessment Program in which some college credit before actually being students take a test their junior year of high there and paying dearly for it. Next, school to gauge college readiness This students should stay active in clubs, sports, does provides many students with a dose volunteering, and other activities that of reality. Students who do not perform as they have been involved in. A job is also well as they would think feel the a good idea. Staying active will help keep need to take science, math, students focused and also make them feel and English classes their a need and a want to go to school. A job senior year as opposed will give students the opportunity to make to “taking the year money as well as gain work experience. off.”

Colleges The benefits of fighting off senioritis encourage this are widespread and profound. Colleges because the are allowed to revoke acceptance after number of seeing the student’s final transcript. If s t u d e n t s a student is not attending their school h a v i n g of choice, it will be hard to get into to take another univeristy this late in the game.

Alexis Crokker exhibiting signs of senioritis.

Shauna Fererro-Donahue

A college student offers advice Zac Sweers

Did you know there’s a difference between studying and reviewing? If you did, good job. If you didn’t, remember it. College is different, and what you did in high school becomes irrelevant. You might have different workloads depending on your major, but all of them rely on the same set of skills to study the material and apply it, not just remember it. You very well may only have 3 grades in a class: 2 mid-terms and a final. The final might count for anywhere between 30%-100%

of your grade (seriously). Your margin of error’s has been reduced dramatically, and you have to have your act together and keep it together. Enjoy your time in high school for what it’s worth, being able to talk to your teachers face to face on a daily basis is invaluable, and they DO want you to succeed. In college, you may have classes upwards of 400 students, so as you can imagine, the professor’s not exactly going to call roll. You’re independent, but you have to be responsible and get your work done. Reviewing is just glancing

at notes, studying is redoing problems and re-reading the book (maybe even retaking the notes). It’s a chore, but you’ll be rewarded. That’s still not to say you should read the whole book before class starts, but you get the idea. On to the fun stuff: college is awesome. You’ll meet more people than you can remember, and you’ll have access to open doors that come with adulthood. College is, and should be, the best years of your life. Just don’t forget why you’re here. Get out there!

Students who want to stay closer to home and earn an associates degree, finish high school credits, or take a few classes before transferring to a university, can attend community college. Tuition is less than at a university, but the quality of the professors can be the same. Those who want to transfer to a university later must be sure credits can be transferred.

Those who know they want to earn a bachelors degree must choose between a public or private university and whether or not to stay in state. In most cases, public schools are cheaper than private and are much bigger. The higher tuition of a private school pays for the smaller class sizes, greater amount of attention received, and the school’s ability to give out financial aid.

In-state schools tend to be less expensive and closer to home; but students who want to get away, may choose to go out of state and seek benefits of those institutions. However, where a student ends up may solely depend on financial aspects.

Joining the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps gives students the opportunity to serve their country and get an education.Members may earn an ROTC scholarship up to $10,000 a year.

Some graduates choose to take the gap year after high school. This is when students take a year off of school to explore a passion, volunteer,

travel, or work. Not being involved academics for a year will not prepare a student for challenging college courses, but structured gap-year programs can be worthwhile. One program can be found at mapthegapinternational.com Everyone is different but those who wish to pursue a career advantage by seeking higher education after high school will reap the benefits.

“It is a lot of work, but it’s selfsatisfying. All the hard work and effort put into a degree is something no one can take away from you,” College Center advisor Ms. Herd said.

Exploring post-secondary options Reanna Bain

Some students find the decision of what to do after high school, is overwhelming.

There are many options to choose from: attending a public or private university, community college, technical or trade school, joining the training corps, having a gap year, or starting work.

Many wonder whether college is worth the expense. According to www.

EduGuide.org, college graduates can earn up to $1 million more in a lifetime than a high school graduate. Employers are looking for someone who is well qualified and experienced in his or her field. A bachelor’s degree provides this experience, especially when paired up with internships and part time jobs along the way. Students who are involved in their university and internship opportunities put their name in the career pool. Meeting people interested in the student’s career choice could potentially set him or her up for success. In addition, many colleges have career centers where companies seek out newly graduated students to employ.

If cost is an issue, scholarships and grants are always an option. Students looking to pursue a specific field such as cosmetology, culinary, automotive, or medical assisting, may choose a technical school. Only an associates degree can be earned, but students will get the training needed to reach the work field quickly.

Things to learn before leaving for College - How to do a load of laundry - How to cook something other than Ramen - How to change a tire -Self Discipline - Organizational & study skills - How to do basic home repairs, such as change a light bulb - How to clean up after ones self - How to manage credit - How to use an alarm clock Sydney Foreman and Delpri Beard Photo by Mary Veedel

16Teen

I nterest Sherlock Holmes explodes on movie screens Emily Dismukes When the first Sherlock Holmes trailer came out months ago, devoted fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant mystery series were up in arms. Some were disgusted at the thought of their beloved stories being rebooted; others were excited to see a modern mind’s take on the characters. Now that the movie is out, fans are still divided on whether or not it was a good adaptation.

It isn’t based on a single book, but most resembles The Hound of the Baskervilles, with its slightly scary and supernatural plot.

Set in striking Victorian London, the film opens with Holmes, played

by Robert Downey Jr. arriving on the scene as Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) performs haunting magic on a frightened young woman. Holmes and his ever-present partner, Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) quickly take action and, after

a short but action-filled sequence, allow for the local police to arrest and execute the villain.Strong, too, does great as the intimidating and evil Blackwood.

The real story starts when Blackwood escapes from the grave. Holmes, enticed, takes the case immediately. Watson, on the verge of marriage, reluctantly takes on the case to have one last adventure with Holmes before he moves out with his fiancée.

Along the way, the pair must contend with black magic, the bumbling officers of Scotland Yard, a few scary henchmen, and, perhaps worst of all, a former lover of Holmes’s: Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams).

Downey does a wonderfully weird job of playing the offbeat detective while Law holds his own as the pair exchange quips and even a punch or two that can only be described as affectionate.

The chemistry between these two

is perhaps the biggest draw of the movie.

The writers take mostly serious characters and give them a refreshing, humorous spin. McAdams plays a believable crime queen, but unfortunately her character’s storyline and interaction with Holmes lacks chemistry and feels hastily tacked on. Many critics agree that Irene was added simply to give Holmes some kind of love interest to distract from the questionable relationship between him and Watson.

The plot is nothing if not action-filled.

Many parts are exhausting. Sometimes this is a good thing; the viewer can almost feel the adrenaline in Holmes’s veins as he and Watson attempt to save Irene from a gruesome end at the hands of Blackwood.

Sometimes, however, scenes are exhausting simply because one is tired of watching a fight in slow motion and then quickly for the third or fourth time. In a movie that sometimes lacks in actual storyline, the action carries the viewer along.

Another great thing about Sherlock Holmes is the set and costumes. The London of the film is beautiful, though dirty, and the period clothing, particularly McAdams’s, is gorgeous. There’s always something to look at in this film, though it moves quickly and doesn’t focus on one place or event very long at all.

Sherlock Holmes has a good, if open ended conclusion, probably leaving the opportunity for a sequel. Though the actual mystery of the film is intriguing, the best reason to see this is to see a movie full of action and humor.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Sparks’ books have been made into movies Meghan Mistry The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, The Last Song, Dear John, Nights in Rodanthe, and The Lucky One all share one vital concept in common, their author.

Nicholas Sparks touches the heart of every reader with his unique plotlines, which turns each book into an instant classic.

Sparks debuted his career with his bestseller, The Notebook. His book tells the tale of a girl and boy who fall in love during a summer vacation. Unlike most cliché love stories, the book is unpredictable, showing the reality of love and life.

Shortly after The Notebook was published, Warner Brothers bought the rights to the novel. After eventually producing it as a movie, starring Rachel McAdams as an exceptional Allie Hamilton, The Notebook became Sparks first published novel (written solely by himself) to be made into a movie. Having only been his first published novel and immediately been produced as a movie, Sparks’ forte for creative writing was illuminated.

A Walk to Remember is another one of Sparks’s well-known novels. The novel, also a movie, demonstrates a task that many girls wish they could accomplish. The main character transforms her boyfriend, turning him from a rebellious bad boy to a perfect gentleman. Sparks’ ability to transform most teenage dreams into masterpieces is exceptional. The tearjerker pulls on emotions, as the reader, or audience, realizes

what pure love is.

S p a r k s continued his writing career with several more smash hits, including Nights in Rodanthe.

This novel, like the many of his other works, was made into a film. Nights in Rodanthe depicts a w o m a n battling a chaotic life.

She turns to a beach inn for relaxation, and in a weekend s e n d s herself through a life changing, rocking romance. Nicholas Sparks’ novel Dear John starring Adding to was recently made into a movie. heartthrob Channing his extensive Photo by Tabitha Dirrim Tatum and Mamma Mia reputation, star Amanda Seyfried.

Sparks wrote and published Dear John. Within the novel, Sparks follows the The novel has been released as a movie transformation of a loner army boy into

a loving, family man, all in the arms of an all American girl. But the novel doesn’t follow the conventional plotline; once again the story rocks and rolls and twists and turns with an ending that leaves every reader bawling for more.

And while Sparks is an immensely talented writer, his expertise does not cease there. He carries over his knack for writing into the screenplay. He wrote and planned The Last Song, which is scheduled to premiere in theaters in April. Sparks shows off his talent for collaboration in this film, working with Miley Cyrus to create a plot line that is entirely unique. Sparks and Cyrus continue the theme of love stories while adding on the experiences of coming of age.

Like a true writer, Sparks can’t put his pen down. After writing the screenplay, he adapted the script into a painfully beautiful novel. The Last Song, his newest release, upholds Sparks’ tradition for stories to sob over.

Nicholas Sparks has extensive credibility, consistent originality, and pure, endless talent. He exposes his capabilities in a broad list of amazing love stories. Sparks’ audience continues to crave more books, as his entire collection of love stories are irresistible. The novels leave readers addicted, asking, and begging for more to the story. And after the last page is turned, tears continue to stream.

Teen I nterest17 Apple releases the iPad

Rodeo Schedule 2010 March 2, 2010 - Alan Jackson March 3, 2010 - Dierks Bentley March 4, 2010 - Kenny Chesney March 5, 2010 - Mary J. Blige March 6, 2010 - Jason Aldean March 7, 2010 - Jonas Brothers & Demi Lovato

March 8, 2010 - Tim McGraw March 9, 2010 - Darius Rucker March 10, 2010 - Rascal Flatts March 11, 2010 - Brad Paisley March 12, 2010 - Toby Keith March 13, 2010 - Blake Shelton March 14, 2010 - El Trono De Mexico Pesado March 15, 2010 - Lady Antebellum March 16, 2010 - Keith Urban March 17, 2010 - Gary Allan March 18, 2010 - Black Eyed Peas March 19, 2010 - Eli Young Band March 20, 2010 - Brooks & Dunn March 21, 2010 - Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Information courtesy of houstonrodeoonline.com

Emily Dismukes

prices b e g i n

For years, rumors at $499 have flourished online for the about new products to 16GB, be released by Apple.

WiFiRecently, the most common o n l y rumor involved the release version. of a tablet computer. Rumors peaked when Apple announced Apple announced the official 3G capabilities release of the iPad. will cost that they would be holding an $130 more. event titled “Come See Our Latest Creation” on January 27, 2010. Prices also rise by $100 for each amount of storage.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the stage and additional iPad owners will be able to confirmed that the company would indeed be producing a device called the iPad. purchase and run apps from the App Store

The iPad, Jobs told the audience, on their new devices. Apple has also would be a mid-level device between released a new SDK (software development a computer and a smart phone. It will kit) specifically for development of iPad be available in six different versions; apps. In addition to the apps originally customers are able to choose between a made for the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple 16, 32, or 64-gigabyte device, and all three introduced an all-new version of their storage levels will come in WiFi-only or 3G popular iWork software (the Apple version options. Those who choose one of the 3G of Microsoft Office) just for the iPad. Another new feature of the iPad versions will be able to connect to AT&T’s 3G cellular network with the purchase of is an app called iBooks. This app turns a minimum $15, no-contract service plan. the iPad into an eReader that has already been compared to the Amazon Kindle Photo Courtesy of MCT Campus

and the Barnes and Noble Nook. Books will be available from the accompanying iBookstore, which will work in a similar way to the iTunes and App Stores. Prices are expected to be close to those of books in the Kindle and Nook stores.

However, many critics have already said that eReaders with e-Ink displays, which are closer to real books, are better for the reader’s eyes than the iPad’s LED screen.

Many things about the iPad will be familiar to current iPhone and iPod Touch users. The new device runs on the iPhone operating system, so the user interface is almost exactly the same.

WiFi-only iPads will be available to the public in March, with 3G-capable iPads following the next month. Until then, the only people reviewing the device are technology bloggers and journalists, who are currently divided on whether or not the iPad is “worth it” to the common user. They are, however, in agreement on one thing: the iPad release was definitely a daring move by Apple. Many think that the iPad could shape the future of both tablet computers and netbooks.

Pavelka is the new ABC Bachelor Shannon O’Neil

ABC premiered the new season of The Bachelor on January 4 staring pilot turned heartthrob Jake Pavelka. This is the fourteenth season of The Bachelor and Pavelka was chosen after being rejected by the last “bachelorette” Jillian Harris.

Pavelka is known for his honesty and his efforts to be the all around “good guy.” During Pavelka’s time on The Bachelorette,” he made sure that Harris knew the truth of one of her bachelors.

His act of honesty and tenacity made him eligible to become the new “bachelor.”

The 32 year old Texas pilot has the opportunity to choose his wife out of the 25 girls selected to be on the show. The Bachelor provides unique opportunities

for Pavelka to take different girls on incredible once in a lifetime dates.

However, the downfall to this seemingly perfect senario is that not only is Pavelka looking for his future wife and fighting to find her, the girls are fighting to be that future wife. Jealousy often comes with any season of the bachelor or bachelorette. There may be 25 girls or guys but there is only one bachelor or bachelorette.

Pavelka should not have a problem finding his true love due to his kind, caring, and charming personality.

Pavelka is ready to settle down and get married.

Jake Pavelka is this season’s Bachelor.

This season of the bachelor will definitely bring its own drama but in the end Pavelka will indeed find his dream girl.

Photo courtesy of ABC

This is War will rock headphones Derek Gay

The band, 30 Seconds to Mars, is a modern rock band that has set the bar very high for new music trying to break into the rock/alternative world. Formed in 1998, 30 Seconds to Mars became a powerful trio in 2000 and was able to produce their first studio album. The band’s sophomore album was able to bring the band stardom in 2005 with such hits as “It’s a Beautiful Lie.” Now 30 Seconds to Mars has reemerged in the music world with another chart topping album, This is War. The third album by this trio starts off with “Escape,” a high intensity, mostly instrumental build-up to the rest of the record. This intro perfectly sets the mood for the powerful track, “Night of the Hunter.”

Night of the Hunter starts with ingeniously timed pounding staying with the beat of a computer generated echoing sound. This song continues to intrigue the listener’s ears with a catchy chorus.

The first hit on this record, Kings and Queens, begins with a soft piano followed by frontman, Jared Leto’s voice leading the band into the verse. This track is one of the softer, yet more powerful songs on this album.

Track four is the title track of the album, “This is War.” The song starts with what sounds like an excited crowd, and though this is not a live recording,

it sets a great mood for the rest of the song. The song states, “It’s a Brave New World” which some believe is a reference to Aloud Huxley’s novel, A Brave New World. This song has a sound that could be a heavy influence by the early Taking Back Sunday. A few of the songs on this album have very heavy, familiar influence to the post-punk bands of the 1990s.

“Hurricane” is a slower balladlike song. Hurricane is a very well planned rhythmically song.

“Closer to the Edge” starts with a slow, catchy drum beat that leads into a chorus that is very similar to the style of Chris Daughtry. This song features many break-downs and build-ups to

engage the listener throughout the track.

“Search and Destroy” is a song that will most likely become the band’s next hit. It has the sound that most radio stations and song producers like to hear. Though most avid music gurus wouldn’t get excited about this, it is still one of the tracks that defines the album.

The album concludes with l490, an instrumental track that is rather disappointing to the listener as a closing piece. As any great author or movie producer would leave the reader or the viewer wanting more, this track does not have the same affect on the listener. Despite the flaws of this piece, the rest of the album still stands above it.

18 Around

Creek

Creek Senior musical Dames at Sea is a hit Kaitlyn Blake The senior musical is an annual tradition at Creek. Every year, students audition to be cast in the musical. This year’s musical was Dames at Sea, written

by George Haimsohn, Robin Miller, and Jim Wise and directed by Peter D. Kinser.

“I loved meeting new people, becoming friends, and reuniting with old friends,” Katy Yates, a chorus girl in the musical, said.

Dames at Sea opened on Wednesday, January 27 and closed on January 30. The musical starred Molly Rivers, Katy Parrott, Caleb Trout, Rachel Rodriguez, Daniel Jenkins, Scott Wahl, and Sean Jackson.

“I think that they casted Dames at Sea perfectly and each actor seemed at ease while playing their part,” L e s l i e Collins, a junior at Creek, said.

T h e

opening on Broadway that same night.

When Ruby meets the man of her dreams, Dick, everything seems to be falling into place. Until Dick, a sailor and a songwriter, meets the famous Mona Kent and is told that he could be a big-time Broadway composer. Dick sees that this could launch his career, and fawns over Miss Mona Kent. When Ruby sees Mona kiss Dick, she is heartbroken and in despair until Dick explains that it was all a misunderstanding.

Dick’s best friend and fellow sailor, Lucky, comes to the theater to visit Dick, and recognizes Joan as an old fling. Joan tells Lucky that until he proposes to her, they will not be together, but the chemistry between t h e characters

musical is about a young girl from Utah named Ruby who wants to be a star on Broadway.

As soon as Ruby gets to the theater, she makes friends with one of the lead chorus girls, Joan, while rehearsing for a show that was

Club sets high goals Kaitlin Casey

The boys bowling team is currently in third place, and the girls’ team is tied

The Bowling club meets for third place with Pearland. Both teams every Monday, at AMF Alpha Bowls. still have three more games to bowl.

Students practice for upcoming events or In addition to team competition the competitions. members “I try to a l s o set up the work in practices to individual be like the games. competitions This year so that the t e a m students don’t member get nervous,” J a k e Mr. David Brueckner Barkhausen, scored the club a 300, sponsor said. which is To be the highest in the club s c o r e there is a possible in mandatory a game of fee. Students bowling. have to pay $15 to try out Trevor Bullock, a member Brueckner has a bowling for the team. If the student of the bowling club, at average of 198, and is makes it, then he or she has practice. currently ranked in 6 to pay $85 for the whole Photo by Tabitha Dirrim place. Michael Chiu season. The money covers has a bowling average shoes and a bowling ball rental. Most of 195, and is ranked in 7th place. students who try out make the team.

On the girls’ team, Kristen Kitchens Mr. Barkhausen said he tries to make the has a bowling average of 157 and is practices and competitions fun, but at the same ranked in 5th place. Victoria Ruiz has a time he wants to encourage the team to win. bowling average of 129 and is ranked 11th.

The team plays other clubs in the district The top eight individuals compete twice, one time at the Creek home bowling in regional competitions. The final ally, AMF Alpha Bowls. The other game is rankings for students are not set. played at the other schools’ bowling ally.

“I was on a bowling team before I was on the school team,” Kristen Kitchens said.

continues to appear throughout the show.

When the theater where their show is supposed to open gets torn down on opening night, Dick and Lucky offer the idea that the show open on their old battleship which is commanded by Mona Kent’s old boyfriend. But when Mona Kent gets seasick during the first rehearsal on the ship and can’t perform, the newcomer Ruby has to take her spot in the show.

At the end of the musical, Dick, Lucky, and the Captain propose to their girlfriends Ruby, Joan, and Mona and then proceed to engage in a heartfelt kiss.

This year’s musical had no full orchestra,

so a number of the audience members found that the singing was much easier to hear.

The composers of the musical only scored the songs to have a piano and percussion accompanists.

There were also microphones placed on the stage to ensure that the singers could be heard by the audience.

“I loved the friends I made and the fun memories that I’ll never forget.

Plus the jazz hands, I can’t forget those!” senior cast member Daniel Jenkins said.

Members of the senior musical cast Photos by Kaitlyn Boryk

Brown wins first place

Reanna Bain results. They awarded the students by

Culture Shapers is a Houston area naming the lower places up to the first place

art competition encouraging student artists winner. When they finally called Brown’s by providing winners with cash prizes. name for first place, she was surprised.

“We had to give a speech. They told Senior Anda Brown decided to enter in two divisions, sculpture and mix media. On us to prepare a speech but I didn’t think December 2, 2009 Brown heard the final I would win. I was nervous so I just result of her entries: she won first place for thanked friends and family,” Brown said.

Those at the competition in support both pieces, accumulating a total of $10,000.

The artwork Brown entered into the for Brown were equally impressed and competition is truly unique. Her sculpture, proud of Brown’s accomplishment.

“I was very surprised. Chances to win entitled “Core Being,” is a wooden puppet inside a box made out of an antique chair. both first places were really small,” Shae It represents one’s insides reflecting Perkins, a senior and friend supporting Brown at the competition, said. out. Although puppets are generally Before the competition, Brown portrayed in a negative way because promised to donate 10% of her their strings demonstrate a forced winnings to Ten Thousand attachment, the puppet Brown Homes, a program that builds created is shown in a positive houses in Africa. Brown was manner by demonstrating an inspired to help the cause outer force giving a human being because a family friend was necessary tasks to carry out. The going to Africa soon to assist in mix media entry entitled “Life’s building two homes. Because Quest” is a map of thoughts of her promise, $1,000 inspired by Brown’s future of her winnings went decisions. For Brown, to the program. deciding where to go for college based on The remaining location, programs, amount of her and money as well money will be as what to do after used for college. school is a huge Brown will decision, and the be attending canvas of confusion the University Creek Student Anda Brown wins demonstrates of Texas Austin first place for her artwork. these challenges. or the Maryland Photo by Shauna Ferrero-Donahue

B r o w n Institute College also entered Culture of Art depending Shapers as a sophomore and junior. The first on which school will provide the best art year she received second place and junior program and scholarship money. Brown year she received two third place winnings. is working on other creations to receive In total throughout all three years, she has scholarship money and has recently won $15,500. For her senior year, she received the honor of the “Gold Key” award thought she had a good chance at winning in the Scholastic Portfolio competition. something for her effort, but she had no Brown hasn’t decided on her career idea she’d win first place for both entries. path yet, because she believes an artist’s “ I didn’t think [Life’s Quest] would profession has to be flexible. However, do well. The idea meant a lot but I didn’t she said she would gladly work on set like the final product,” Brown said. designs or as a film animator until her At the award ceremony, the judges name becomes well known for her work. called all contestants on stage to hear the

Around Creek 19

Harlem Ambassadors play for donations Allie Hinga

The Harlem Ambassadors basketball team stormed Carlisle Field House on Sunday, January 17 when they faced off against Creek teachers and coaches playing on behalf of the Clear Creek Habitat for Humanity Club. The event aimed to raise money to bring the club one step closer to its goal of helping pay to build a home for a needy family.

The Habitat f o r Humanity Club is working in conjunction with Bay Area H a b i t a t to raise $65,000 toward

t h e construction of a new home as part of the larger o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s new “Youth United” program.

This event was one of a number of efforts toward making this goal a reality for these Creek students. The club itself did much of the organizational work to ensure the event would be successful.

“It was good to see the kids working together to do something for the community,” club sponsor John Lewallen said.

On the night of the game, the six Harlem Ambassadors, led by co-founder Lade (pronounced “Lady”) Majic, faced off against a team of Creek employees who had volunteered to play four quarters of basketball against the visiting team.

Some of these players included Coach Michael Vitek, Coach Mike McCormick, Mr.Tuggle, Coach Naima Johnson, and former Creek coach Buddy Carlisle.

Coach Williams served as the referee.

“The coaches had a great time playing against the Harlem Ambassadors,” Lewallen said.

The Creek team started off the first quarter by scoring the first two baskets of the game and taking a three-point shot with two

minutes left in the quarter. The Ambassadors, however, stayed close behind throughout the eight minute period, bringing the first quarter score to 11-10 with the Creek team winning.

During the second quarter, however, the Harlem team began to take the lead, bringing the score to 15-17 within the next three minutes of game time. Scores and slam dunks followed the Ambassadors throughout the rest of the period, bringing the score to 17-28 with Creek falling behind by the time the third quarter started.

The third and fourth quarters continued along this same vein with the Creek team doing its best to showcase its skills while the Harlem Ambassadors maintained the lead. The game ended with a score of 42-59 in favor of the Ambassadors.

The Harlem team not only entertained crowds with a basketball game, but also with both planned and improvisational comedy and prizes for audience members. The visiting team interrupted the game multiple t i m e s to interact with the audience, whether by giving pointers to the opposing team, dancing on the court, or breaking into a wrestling match. The Ambassadors also let many of the children in the audience participate in competitions between quarters for the chance to win a signed photograph of the team. There

was also a raffle for a signed basketball held at the end of the second quarter.

“I know that everybody had a good time,” Habitat Club president Meagan Bridges said.

According to Lewallen, about 500 people attended the Harlem Ambassadors game, and the event raised about $3,000 for the Habitat for Humanity Club.

He said the club will continue to raise funds to offset the cost of building the house, which is the group’s next goal.

“The idea now is to do any fundraising… to contribute to this Youth United home, which we are going to start building in March,” he said.

Lewallen said that the Habitat for Humanity Club plans to bring the Ambassadors back to Creek next year for another game.

The Harlem Ambassadors played against Creek teachers and coaches.

Photos by Kaitlyn Boryk

20

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S ports Tennis set for spring

21

Athlete of the Month

Reanna Bain

The Clear Creek tennis team is looking to “racquet” wins for the upcoming spring season. Currently, players are competing for their individual best.

On the February 12th “The Battle of the Bay” tournament in Corpus, players Haley Albro and Sammy Siegal will play A-girls doubles, and Peyton Hardman and Bianca Quintanilla will play B-girls doubles. Chase Farmer and Casey Armstrong will play A-boys doubles, and Drew Rogas and Hunter Carrithers will play the B-boys doubles.

Players participating in singles include Rachel Jones for A-girls singles, Suzanne Standly for B-girls singles, and Natasha Morgan for B-girls singles. The boys include Brendan Fang for A-boys singles and Ryan Beherl for B-boys singles. Juan Barboza and Amber Darr will play in A-mixed doubles and Adrian Zaleznik and Lauren Flottorp will play in the B-mixed doubles.

The start of the spring season brings new beginnings to each player. The fall season is a team effort and Creek pulled out second in district, losing to Lake. Creek made it to the quarterfinal round in regionals as well, beating La Porte High School in the first round but losing to Seven Lakes. Individuals now hope to do better than their previous rankings as they start from scratch in the spring season. This time, the wins will come from individuals rather than a team effort.

Although players must work harder to accomplish their goals, many of them still raise the bar high by seeking to accumulate wins.

“I’d want [my partner Sammy and I] to win all of our tournaments and make it to state,” sophomore Albro said.

In order to get to that level, a clever saying assists in the team’s determination.

Seen across anything in Creek Tennis are the words “Love the Battle.” The slogan is meant to give players inspiration regardless of their opponent’s skills or record. There are moments when an opponent is credited as being better than the individual, which is when the saying’s inspiration comes into play.

“There are moments when I beat people that I’m not supposed to beat, or I will be down in points but come back to win,” senior Barboza said.

With this way of action, the tennis members will be prepared to take on their opponents and accomplish the goals they made. “[The spring] season is always fun. We hope in the end we bring home lots of district titles and the girls and boys team trophies,” Head Girls Tennis Coach Chaysen Cornwell said.

The first tournament of the spring season was cancelled due to weather, but if the weather holds out for the February 12 “Battle of the Bay Tournament,” Creek players will begin competing to earn their winning record.

Photo by Dakota Sinks

Patrick Virgin

Kaylin Dugie

Christen Valcoviak

Christen Valcoviak

This month’s male athlete of the month is junior Patrick Virgin. He is a two-year letterman on the Creek varsity golf team and is currently ranked number four in the lineup.

Patrick started playing golf when he was 14 years old. He practices approximately five times a week, including in-school practice and on his own. He tries to get out on the golf course as much as possible; however there are other responsibilities he must fulfill.

Patrick has high academic standards and goals. He is currently in the top 10% of his class and is ranked #30 overall. He has taken advanced classes all throughout his high school career and is currently in AP English, and two PreAP classes. He also works at Chili’s.

He also makes time to put effort into his golf career in order to improve his skills.

His goal for this year is to win District and go to Regionals, so he is working to prepare himself and be an asset to the team to make his goal become a reality.

“Golf is a sport where to excel [an athlete] has to practice individually unlike team sports where it’s focused on strictly team practice,” Virgin said.

Patrick plans to attend the University of Texas for six years in order to fulfill his career goal of being a family nurse practitioner. He is primarily looking for an academic scholarship, however he thinks it would be nice to play golf in college.

Photo by Shauna Fererro- Donahue

This month’s female athlete of the month is senior Kaylin Dugie. She is a four-year letterman on the Clear Creek girls’basketball team and plays the position of point guard.

Kaylin started playing basketball at the age of four years old. She is very dedicated to the sport and puts in as much extra work outside of school as she can. She also holds a job at Pizza Hut. Kaylin has received many awards throughout her life and has earned five awards throughout her high school career.

When she was a freshman she received the “Honorable Mention Award” for basketball and she also received 3 place in the Rockets three points contest. Her sophomore year she received the “2 team all District Award”. Her junior year she received “1 team all District Award”, and “ the “Galveston All County Player Award”.

Although Kaylin has already accomplished these things, she still has goals she wants to achieve for this year.

“My individual goal is to be MVP for the District. My team goal is to finish District undefeated and go to State,” Dugie said.

Kaylin is already committed to the University of Incarnate Word and has received a full ride basketball scholarship there.

Kaylin has put a lot of hard work and commitment into her basketball career and she is very thankful for all she has recieved.

Photo by Tabitha Dirrim

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S ports Wrestlers ready to fight their way to the top Jacob Arredondo

The Wildcat wrestling team is preparing for another district title shot.

After a season with its ups and downs, the district meet allows the Wildcats to focus on winning their third district championship for the boys and its fourth district championship in a row with the girls.

Creek recently hosted the “Clear Creek Classic” on January 16.

The

t o u r n a m e n t featured sixteen teams from fourteen schools, including local Clear Brook, Friendswood, and Clear Creek. Varsity and junior varsity got its chance to show how well they have developed in to wrestlers against other varsity teams as the white team.

After hours of wrestling in the double-

elimination tournament, several wrestlers from Creek were in a position to take first, second, or third place finish with a win or lost in their finals match.

The Clear Creek

tournament” district-24 team duals. The Wildcats were strong against some of the major competition that Creek will face in the district tournament. With three dual wins and two losses, the Wildcats came out with a third place finish.

The Wildcats also participated in the Cy-Fair ISD

Classic wasn’t the only wrestling action.

The team traveled to Plano for a tournament that featured teams

from the Dallas and Fort Worth area.

After a shaky showing on a dual against Flower Mound, the Wildcats were ready when the tournament came around. Many Creek boys won their matches and tournament, one most received medals, with the boys of the largest Texas high school taking first place in the whole tournament. tournaments.

There were 65 teams on ten mats The winning continued to the “Woodshed

in the largest high school facility in the state.

The boys are now preparing for the upcoming district tournament.

The girls’ wrestling team is also on a hot streak, taking first place in the Clear Creek Classic with many girls winning multiple medals.

The girls had another big showing in the “Woodshed” District-24 tournament as well. Many of the Creek girls won and were named champions including Tarah Brewer, Chelsea McMillion, Kasandra Rivera, and Hayley Mitchell. Along with the win at the Woodshed duals, Mitchell also placed third at the Cy-Fair ISD tournament.

The girls’ wrestling team is looking for another repeat of last year in the district tournament by winnning another district title.

The boys are led by the senior Kevin Persinger (29-10) who won second last year in district and placed sixth at regionals.

“We have been preparing all year by getting are minds tough and our bodies strong.”

Persinger said.

“As usual, we are going through the hardest week of the season. We are going to dominate at district and travel with fifteen boys to regionals,” Persinger said.

Photos by Katlin Foote

Creek soccer is working to take it to the goal Dakota Sinks Clear Creek soccer has started and both girls’ and boys’ varsity teams have entered tournaments.

The varsity boys’ team has been working to prepare for the 2010 season. They have spent the off-season involved in rigorous training and conditioning by running during the class period on Tuesdays and Thursdays and scrimmaging, doing drills, and conditioning to improve their weaknesses.

Their goal for the season is to advance to playoffs.

Practices are Mondays through Fridays from 2:30 to 5:00.

During scrimmages, the team beat Santa Fe 6-0 and tied Pasadena Memorial 0-0. The b o y s received fourth place i n the Round Rock tournament in Austin, second place in the Friendswood tournament, and second place in the Pasadena tournament.

Currently, the Creek team’s record is 1-2 with losses to Clear Brook 3-0 and Galveston Ball High 3-1 and a win against

Dickinson 3-2. Their overall record is 6-4-2.

“We had a rocky start, but we’re still a force to be reckoned with,” senior varsity soccer team member Henry Sorto said.

The 518-cup match was held on February 5th and Creek won against

Springs.

Next week, the team will play Clear Lake on h o m e t u r f .

Some of the key

players on the team include Steven McRaith, who is one of the playmakers of the team, Mathew Rohloff, Andre Wade, Angel Mora, the t e a m ’s t o p goal scorer, a n d Juan Hinojosa, are the team’s other playmaker.

The girls’ varsity soccer team has been working hard to prepare f o r the season by doing drills and conditioning.

Their objective for the season is to

score at least three goals a game.

Their record in district is 1-1-1.

The girls won first place in the Clear Creek Classic tournament and first place in the Dawson tournament.

Their key players are captain Maria Martinez who is also one of the team’s top goal scorers, Kristi Leonard, goalie Emillie Backus, and Edie Meeks. The playmakers on the team are Ally Hill, N a t a s h a Peters, and Maria Martinez. The team’s other top goal scorers are Kourtney Hosman and Kristi Leonard.

“They play as one team; there are no individuals on the field during the game. We are heads and shoulders better than last year,” Coach Bradshaw said.

Photos by Shauna Fererro-Donahue and Tabitha Dirrim

Sports

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The girls’ basketball team goes undefeated Meghan Mistry Creek girls’ basketball once won the district title 14 years in a row. The Varsity team is hoping to renew the tradition.

Having a record of 12-0, the team, currently undefeated after beating every single team on the first round of games, heads into the second circle with a target on their backs.

Following varsity’s impeccable example, junior varsity also hopes to achieve the honors of a district title. JV’s main rival continues to be Clear Lake.

Clear Lake remains undefeated, and Creek’s JV has only lost twice.

Even with losing twice the team could still receive second place.

Creek’s JV lost a hard fought game to Lake. In the last 47 seconds Lake won on free-throws.

“For JV, we rival Lake the most, simply because we lost to them

once, and we haven’t played them twice like we’ve played Springs,” Jasmine Cook, a JV sophmore, said.

Despite most assumptions, Lake has not been varsity’s biggest rival.

Even with the traditional CreekLake competition, Lake’s varsity was no match for Creek.

Emerging as the schools newest rival last year, Springs, only a second year team, is the most challenging team Creek has played.

Creek showed off their skills on January 26, when they played against Springs. Within the first few minutes of the game,

Springs began playing hard. team started

T h e off in the lead, but in the end, Creek won a well fought game.

Two games for each team remain in the season. One against Brook and the long anticipated Lake game.

To ensure that the team does well in District’s, they practice daily.

“Everday I practice as hard as I can,” Erin Farmer, a freshman on varsity, said.

Creek’s basketball team does much more than just play on the court, they also help to give back to the community.

“For our January

service project we’re sending Valentine’s’ Day Cards to the troops over seas. It’s a way for us to let them know we care, ” Jana Williams, the head coach, said.

In addition to sending cards to the troops, the team also made Christmas cards and visited the nursing home. At the home, they delivered the cards and painted nails of the elderly women.

Both Jana Williams and Naima Johnson, the two coaches, have high expectations of all players. The girls must achieve As and Bs on their report and progress report cards and demonstrate leadership qualities in the classroom.

Many of the girls, including Kaylin Dugie and Nyha Carter, two varsity high scorers, are involved in school leadership positions. Nyha is a JROTC member, and Kaylin is DECA member and Pal. The ability to lead in and outside of the gym comes into play when the team is stuck in a tight situation and must play extremely smart.

Photos by Tabitha Dirrim

Creek boys are ready to drive to the hoop Jacob Arredondo

The boys’ basketball players are back on the court and are back in the standings, making a run at a district title.

The boys started off their season on a five game winning streak. Last year Creek ended the season on a 13 game losing streak, winning only one game in district play.

This year, Creek has started off on the right foot midway through this season. A large part of the success is the tremendous team effort of the Wildcats. The Wildcats are not only winning because of the scoring of the junior post, Tre Webber, or the 8 assists per game of the senior guard, Chris Laster. The Wildcats have been winning because of their fundamental playing.

Creek took third in the Alvin Lions Club To u r n a m e n t .

T h e

b o y s finished up their nondistrict schedule by going 15 and 3.

When district came around, the Wildcats were this district’s dark horse for a playoff spot, not just for the district title.

The district season started with an 80 to 68 win over Brazoswood. The boys executed with five players going over double digits and Chris Laster getting a double-double adding with 13 assists.

Creek then played Alvin, holding the Yellowjackets to 44 points,

winning the game 62 to 44; Webb pitched in a double-double by putting up 17 points and 12 rebounds. Creek’s next opponent was their first district test of the season, the Clear Lake Falcons.

Despite a big twenty point game

by Webb, the Falcons won 63 to 71.

The Creek team won a big game over a hungry Clear Brook team. Corey Laday came off the bench and gave the Wildcats a boost by shooting 8 for 9 and scoring 23 points, leading t h e

Wildcats to a 67 to 56 win over Brook.

Creek’s next game was against the reigning district

champions and current leaders in district 24-5A, Galveston Ball. Despite a tied game at half time, the Wildcats couldn’t keep their hot hands and lost the game 62 to 70.

Creek then

went to Dickinson for another hard fought battle and held off the Gators with a score of 65 to 58. Webb scored 19 points and the junior wing, Dustin Hobaugh, scored 13 points and came down with 7 total boards.

Creek’s new cross-town rival, Clear Springs, showed up to determine which team would take second place in district.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead at the half, leading by ten points, and Creek cruised through the second half and beat Springs 62 to 51. Webb scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.

Creeks latest two games have had mixed results for Creek. Creek lost the rematch against Brazoswood, 58 to 65, but came back against Alvin, beating the Yellowjackets 40-34.

With the season winding down to crunch time, the Wildcats are currently holding their second place spot. A win in their next game against Clear Lake may bring Creek closer to a playoff and a district title shot.

Photos by Kaitlyn Boryk

Track is ready to go Derek Gay

Boys’ and girls’ track and field started on January 19. The first practice meet was held on January 28. This was a meet to run through most of the events to practice the order of a track meet.

There will be one more practice meet on February 4. The next week the district-participating meets will start.

This season the junior varsity boys will have a shot to add another year to the 6 year district title. The boys’ varsity team will try to make their district title a 5 year tradition.

Varsity team members include Mike Dillon running the 2400 and the 1200. Alex Lara throws shot put and discus. Chris Niakian and Steven Starr run the 110 and 300 meter hurdles.

“Running the mile under 5 minutes was a great experience, because only a handful of runners can run that fast for 4 laps. It is one of my greatest accomplishments in high school track,” Mike Dillon, senior said.

For runners after-school

practices consist of stretching, plyometric box jumps, and various running drills. “[This season] will be interesting because we have a fresh varsity, but regardless, I have high hopes,” Steven Starr, sophomore, said.

Throwers will practice form and full throws. It does not take a very large athlete to throw. However, weightlifting and good form make a good thrower.

Pole-vaulters will practice pole vauling drills and use the vaulting full pit.

Long-jump, triple-jump, and high-jump will run every day of the week with an extended practice.

Clear Creek has been very successful in the field of hurdles. The hurdler workout consists of running sprints and working specific hurdling drills multiple times a week.

This season the track team will be sponsoring an event for Mrs. Hererra, the Run for Hererra.

This season the district meet will be held at Clear Springs High School, which has seniors on the varsity team for the first time in the school’s history.

24 Photofinish