ALS Ice Bucket pg. 14
Homecoming Court Centerspread
Cadettes Season pg. 7
Creek Hi-Life celebrates 90 years of publication By Arlen Addison Former Editor-in-Chief This first issue of the 2014-2015 HiLife Newspaper marks a very special occasion for the paper. It is the ninety years of contentious publication of the HiLife Newspaper. For nine decades now, HiLife staff members, know as HiLifers; have been training future leaders and journalists, as well as producing an outstanding paper. The HiLife newspaper has been around to cover most all-major world events of 20th and 21st century. From the Great Depression, to WWII and the Korean War, the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam War and the Moon landing, the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disaster to 9/11, the War in Afghanistan and Iraq and Hurricane Katrina and Ike. For all events members of the HiLife staff has been reporting from not just a student perspective but as global one as well. The HiLife newspaper began back in 1925 at Webster High School by local students. This small building was located in roughly the same place as Webster Intermediate now stands. The school housed grades one through twelve. On the first day of the 1929 school year, 118 students were reported to be enrolled, 82 of them being High School students. Webster High served students of Webster and parts of Seabrook and Kemah. As a 1928, hand-drawn masthead declared “Webster HiLife; the only school paper on the Gulf coast serving 6 towns and 3 counties.” According to letters from previous editors, the first HiLife issues were hand typed by the first year typing class and most
illustrations and mastheads hand-drawn. Different grade levels has their own section in the HiLife, including Third and Fourth grade Babble, Fifth and Sixth grade Shocks, Fish Flops, Soph News, and the Senior Report. The students of the 1920’s were no strangers to the tough academic struggles of school. Ground breaking
learn and an English and Algebra Exam.” As times changed, so to did the HiLife. As Webster High grew larger, the paper took on a more modern and sophisticated look. Column layout, pictures, and type layout began to emerge. However, the 1930’s HiLife still featured a gossip and joke section, known respectively as
the Spy Life and Gay news in a paper (circa Photo taken by Elena Rodriguez Life. The gossip section 1929) included “The fourth grade are busy making maps of the featured such coverage as “Martha Nell countries of Northeastern Europe. We are Stewert has her heart set on Billie B. afraid, however, some of the countries because she thinks he is cute...Mildred wouldn’t recognize themselves.” While Iccet can’t seem to make up her mind. Now in the Soph News it was complained “We it’s B.R. Gorsett. Not bad HUH??...What’s Sophs will never have a chance to win this we hear about Ellen N. and Jasper the ‘Best Attendance’ banner if teachers Coker? Is it true Ellen?” as well as such don’t let up on our lessons. Only last jokes as “Mrs. Connor to Victor: How dare week we had 40 lines of Shakespeare to you, I’ll teach you to kiss my daughter!
Victor: Too late, I have already learned.” During the early 1940’s the HiLife shifted focused on the topic on everyone’s mind, WWII. A 1941 holiday editorial read, “Within twenty four hours the greatest change that has ever been witnessed came over the people of America. For the first time we began to appreciate this land of democracy. Yes, we began to think of a lot of things that we’d been overlooking”. As the world entered WWII the school began contests to see who could buy the most bonds and stamps to support the war, with the HiLife frequently printing who was in the lead. The paper also listed the names of all senior boys who enlisted in the armed services and every afternoon the school would gather around the flagpole outside to say the pledge of allegiance and sing patriotic songs. Following WWII and the 1940’s, the HiLife experienced its next major change, the opening of Clear Creek in 1956. Webster High students moved to Creek following the open and the HiLife followed. Creek had a relatively small student body at the time of its opening, having only having only 62 graduates its first year in 1957. During this time there was a small weekly issue, normally a single sheet front and back. As well as a larger issue printed every month that contained large news stories, poems and short stories from students, as well as the occasional crossword puzzle. In the decades to come Johnson Space Center would bring large numbers of people to the Clear Area. As Creek’s enrollment greatly increased, HiLife stories shifted
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Latitude to Learn launches redeployment at Creek By Lisa Nhan Managing Editor Creek saw the first tablet redeployment and distribution for the year on September 2 for the Latitude to Learn initiative. This year improvements and changes have been made to expand the one on one initiative goal to increase the student’s learning experience. As the only grades that had the tablets before were the current sophomore and junior class, this year’s freshmen and seniors students were able to have their first experience with the Dell Latitude 10 Tablets. In fact, their experience differed from the rest as they received newer editions of the tablet. The most distinguishing fact between the two editions is the thinner case on the more recent edition. However, students who had tablet troubles whom owned a tablet this year received a new edition. “I actually really like the new tablet in comparison to my other one from last year. It’s thinner, so it doesn’t take as
much room in my backpack. I have also found that the touchscreen responded better,” Emily Coburn, junior, said. The sophomores and juniors were given back their previous tablet from last year, unless they had chosen to keep it over the summer. For all grades, they received training in their advisory. Much of the training was done using Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media is highly recommended by the district as a tool for technology learning, because it gives information on how to effectively use Social Media in a productive and safe way. The redeployment and distribution was again aided by the district technology staff. Even the Head of Technology, Mr. Kevin Schwartz, could be seen in the cafeteria passing out tablets to students.The whole staff was offering their help to Creek’s students. For those who were experiencing Tablet trouble or had any questions after the deployment, could find help at the Creek Connections booth in the library. However, many students have adjusted
the tablets to suit their individual needs. “I’ve found that I’ve been able to incorporate the tablet to even my extracurricular activities for clubs. It makes it more convenient to communication with other members of the club,” Sarah Creveling, senior, said. This year marks an exciting change for the tablet deployment, as all of fifth, eighth and 12th graders will receive their tablets for the first time this fall. However, the elementary students will not be allowed to take their tablets home. They will have to remain at school. Next year the rest of the intermediate grades and all of forth will receive their tablets. This will mark the end of the three-year rollout plan. In the past, the only intermediate school that had access to these tablets was Victory Lakes’ eighth graders as they acted as a test group. This is also true for Clear Lake City fourth and fifth graders. Earlier this summer, Parent Orientation Nights were held across the district at every intermediate and high school for
parents to learn more about the initiative of the Latitude to Learn Program. Creek’s took place on August 28 for any parent interested. It covered the basic goals of the program, such as personalizing technology to incorporate into existing curriculum, and common parent concerns, like Internet safety. For those interested and were unable to make the meeting, information is always available on the Latitude to Learn section of the district website. Also available on the website is Student Training videos. These videos cover everything from touch controls to how to play music in the car with the tablet. There is also a student email reconnection, which was a common issue among juniors this year in receiving their tablets back from the summer. With all of the new changes and reestablishment of Latitude to Learn, CCISD students are in no lack of resources to learn about their tablets. The goal of one on one initiative learning is being further with each tablet distributed.