2012 March/April HiLife

The Oscars pg. 14

2305 East Main Street League City, TX 77573

KONY 2012 pg. 10

The Future pg. 9

March /April 2012 Volume 88, Issue 4

Kony 2012 campaign gains mass media attention

By Ellen Gaudet Editor-in-Chief

On March 5, 2012, Facebook and other social networking sites were filled with continuous posts of a video called “Kony 2012,” about an international campaign

by Invisible Children, aiming to bring the world’s worst war criminal, Joseph Kony, to trial in an international court.

The campaign sought to reach 500,000 views in the beginning, and amazingly the video has gained hundreds of millions of views in a matter of weeks.

Kony took over leadership of an existing rebel group in Uganda in 1987 and renamed it the Lord’s Resistance Army.

Known as the LRA, the army has a reputation for cruelty and brutality, and also abducting children to be soldiers in his army or sex slaves for his officers. These children are encouraged to rape, mutilate, and murder civilians and their own families.

The LRA has since moved its campaign of violence from Northern Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. The army has abducted more than 30,000 children and displaced at least 2.1 m i l l i o n people in its 26-year history, according to Invisible Children’s new website, Kony2012.com.

The Kony 2012 campaign aims to “make Joseph Kony famous,” not to celebrate his actions, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. Invisible Children wants to make Kony a household name, and raise awareness of his crimes to create a force to stop him.

“We want Kony to be famous so that when he is stopped, he will be a visible, concrete example of international justice. Then other war

criminals will know that their mass atrocities will not go unnoticed or unpunished,” said the Invisible Children website.

The Kony 2012 campaign also asks people to get celebrities, labeled as “Culturemakers” and “Policymakers” involved in the arrest of Kony. Links to Twitter accounts of major politicians, such as Bill Clinton, Mitt Romney, and Condoleezza Rice, and popular media icons, such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Ellen DeGeneres, are listed on the Invisible Children website.

“They represent diverse cultural and political perspectives. But this is one thing they can all agree on,” according to the Kony 2012 booklet. “Lady Gaga and George W. Bush may be unlikely allies, but that is what Kony 2012 is all about.”

On the night of Friday, April 20, a nationwide awareness event called “Cover the Night” will take place, where people will put Kony 2012 posters all over their communities. The goal is to have one million campaign posters, signs, and stickers posted all over the U.S. overnight, so that people will wake up to an overwhelming sight that cannnot be ignored.

This issue of the HiLife Centerspread (pages 10-11) features two of the campaign posters available for student use. We supply the posters. You supply the tape.

“We will make them notice,” reads the Kony 2012 booklet. “We will find common ground. And we won’t quit until LRA atrocities have ended. Permanently.”

The Invisible Children website has posters available to download for free use, and is selling Kony 2012 Action Packs, which contain a bracelet with a unique tracking number, posters, stickers, buttons, and an information booklet. Due to such high demand, the sales of the kit have been put on hold indefinitely. Supporters can also sign a pledge online, which has far surpassed its original goal of 200,000 signatures by May 1.

On November 3, the “world’s largest Bracelets available for purchase at InvisibleChildren.com. Photo courtesy of Invisible Children.

KRT ENTERTAINMENT STORY SLUGGED: OSCAR-REPLACEMENT KRT PHOTO BY MILBERT ORLANDO BROWN/CHICAGO TRIBUNE (KRT141) CHICAGO, IL March 17 -- New Oscar statues wait for more work at the R.S. Owens company Friday.

The company is making new Oscar trophies after the original ones were stolen in Los Angeles on their way to this year’s Academy Awards. (TB) PL KD BL 2000 (Vert) (gsb)

simultaneous dance marathon” is planned to raise money to rehabilitate the children who have escaped the LRA. Supporters can register online and reserve a spot in the celebration.

manders are removed from the battlefield, and the LRA is completely disarmed, reuniting families and rehabilitation will be the first priority,” according to the Kony 2012 booklet.

Photo from the Kony 2012 informational book-

T h e let endorsing “Cover the Night” on April 20.

Invisible Children has already Photo courtesy of Invisible Children.

Kony 2012 constructed a child rehabilitation campaign center in the LRA affected region will through the year, and will expire on in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and December 31, regardless of the actions is currently treating the most traumatized taken to arrest Kony. U.S. military advis- children. ers are currently deployed on a “time-limFor more information about the camited” mission in Central Africa, an action paign, visit Kony2012.com, which features that Invisible Children has been working the 30-minute video and many pathways on for eight years. If Kony is not captured for action, or InvisibleChildren.com to and stopped this year, the window will be learn more about the organization itself. gone.

Creek also has an Invisible Children club, The campaign advocates the arrest and which meets Thursdays after school in trial of Kony in an international court for Mr. Galleher’s room. Those interested can his crimes spanning more than 26 years. check the “Invisible Children Clear Creek” No one is advocating for his death. page on Facebook for information.

“Once Joseph Kony and his top com-

7:30 A.M. May 7 Chemistry

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Spanish Lit. see page 12 for more information!

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Opinion : s r e f i L i H

“My dad d oes, becau se of all the work e thic he dis plays and accom plish been able to ments he has achieve wh il still suppo rting his kid e s. ” Greg Brotz man, Reporter

“George N. Parks inspires me because he has taught me so much about leadership and inspired me to take bigger chances.”

Valerie Hellinghausen, Get Involved Editor or Paolini, auth “Christopher is H n series. of the Erago up a new ed books open d of struggle an world to me self identity.” on, Arlen Addis er rt o Rep

“My dad. He is a very hard worker and never lets anything get to his head.”

Dylan Hill, Reporter

roup r, my small g “Sean Carte s o se he foll w leader, becau ge ra u kind of co God with the e.”

I want to hav ni, ci an Jacob M ief h -C in Editor-

“My cousin, Hollie, because she gave up her childhood to pursue an Olympic Gold medal and never let injuries, disappointments, or life get in the way of her dream.”

Madison Williams, Features Editor

“My mom. I’d like to think she raised a pretty decent teenager. She has done beyond what I could ever imagine to guide me in life.”

Clarissa Melendez, Reporter

“REPTAR (the band). Why? Because a Pacman eating handcuffs eating a pizza is inspiring.

Space is the place, ya’ll.”

Stephanie Johnson, News Editor

“My gran dma insp because s he consta ires me, ntly show how to be s me a better p e rson and others. Sh love herself an e isn’t afraid to be d is happ y and tha no matter nkful what life throws at her.”

Ellen Gau det, Editor-in -Chief

“My mom, becaus e she has had many obstacles in her life, but she never let them break her and stop her from becoming successf ul, and a great mom.”

Christal Scarbrough , Photographer

“Rachel Duncavage inspires me. She works so hard and is always cheerful and willing to help out!”

Hannah Brinsko, Around Creek Editor “My mom. She has been a HUGE contribu ting factor in my life and she drives me to be great.

I one day want to be as gr eat of a person as my m om.”

Dane Chroniste r, Reporter

Who is someone who

“Dan Eldon, be cause he had a great attit ude towards people an d life, and he strived to he lp others.”

Halle Scott, Reporter

“My students. They work so hard to do the right thing in spite of the challenges they may be facing.”

Mrs. O’Neil, Executive Editor a, “My grandp ever n is e because h so is d an negative .” g in lov nce, Kristina Koo er rt o Rep “Audrey Hepburn inspires me because she w as elegant, beautiful, classy, an d talented.

She spoke and acte d with grace and self-confi dence.”

Ashley Farmer, Editor-in-Chief

“My dad inspires me because he’s accomplished a lot and made me realize that I can too.”

Sierra Kemper, Photographer

“Jesus Christ , because with him, an ything is possible.”

Gina Wiley, Reporter

“I know you’re only supposed to pick one person, but the truth is that my whole family inspires me. They inspire me to push through hardships and go after my dreams, and I love them all so much for it.”

Aimee Sierra, Photographer

“Ashley Farmer inspires meshe is so incredibly strong, and is such a hard worker.

She is going to be someone.”

Madison Borowitz, Teen Interest Editor

inspires you?

“Bugs Bunny. He was a laidback and confident guy. Plus he always wins in the end.”

Jacob Arredondo, Sports and Photo Editor

“Dan Eldon an d his mother, Kathy, and sist er, Amy. Thank s to them I truly believe that ‘...the journey is the destinatio n.’

They use creativ e activism to make media th at matters and help those in ne ed.”

Ms. Jameson, Advisor

“My mom , because sh e has raised thre e kids on h e r own without a fa ther, and h as been throu gh a lot.”

Tedy Warr en, Reporter

“My brothers inspire me because of the hard work and dedication that has gotten them where they are today.”

Rachel Duncavage, Reporter

2011 -2012

HiLife Staff

Principal: Scott Bockart

Advisor: Wynette Jameson

Executive Editor: Jan O’Neil

Editors-in-Chief: Ashley Farmer

Ellen Gaudet

Jacob Mancini

Around Creek Editor: Hannah Brinsko

Features Editor: Madison Williams

Get Involved Editor: Valerie Hellinghausen

News Editor: Stephanie Johnson

Photo Editors: Jacob Arredondo

Madison Williams

Sports Editor: Jacob Arredondo

Teen Interest Editor: Madison Borowitz

Advertising Manager: Clarissa Melendez

Staff: Dylan Hill Aimee Sierra Arlen Addison Sierra Kemper Halle Scott Greg Brotzman Kristina Koonce Tedy Warren Dane Chronister Gina Wiley Rachel Duncavage Clarissa Melendez Christal Scarbrough

Published at Mirror Publishers in Texas City Email us at: creekhilife@gmail.com Visit us at: http://clearcreekhighschool.ihigh.com For ad rates call: (281)284-1889 Fax: (281)332-9079

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to access our online website!

Editorial Ashley’s Anthologies

Dane’s Distractions

“If you don’t understand satire, you probably shouldn’t read this editorial. It is my very own humble suggestion.”

-Ashley Farmer

By Ashley Farmer Editor-in-Chief For decades, America has been falling behind the other great nations of this world in terms of wealth, growth, and core education. To most, this is old news. National averages on standardized tests have been falling behind those of China and India. The poverty rates and rapidly aging population are placing undue strain on our social welfare programs. The political rhetoric as of late has focused on what we, the people, can change in our government to solve these problems. We have failed consistently and it has become glaringly obvious that we, the people, are the problem.

The modern question should not be how to modify the government; it should be how to modify ourselves. The answer to the question is through the government.

What is a government if not the entity in charge of controlling our lives and the lives of those around us to make us happier and more successful? I believe it is the responsibility and obligation of the government to solve the problems we face in our communities. When the banking industry failed, who saved them? When the automobile industry failed, who paid their way out? We have failed each other, we have failed ourselves, and our only option is to look to the government to bail us out.

For far too long, our country has been relying on ridiculous economic theories comprised of free markets, supply sides, demand curves, etc. We look to the constitution, written in 1776 and only updated through small amendments mainly focusing on rights, to guide us along the path to success. While I do not fully understand the background or the foreground of these policies and documents, I am politically active enough to realize they will inherently fail if we continue to rely on these notions to form our fiscal policy, develop our infrastructure, and choose our legislators.

We should consider our constitution obsolete, our way of living ineffective, and our individual thoughts and opinions pathetically ignorant.

Therefore, I present to our leaders this humble suggestion with the goal of developing a class of American citizen that is capable of returning our nation to its previous glory and prestige.

The first step of this plan would

target immigration. Anyone wishing to enter or exit this county must take a mandatory IQ test. Only those with high enough IQs (bright line to be determined at a different date) may enter, and only those with a low enough IQs may leave. Through this method, we can isolate various qualities of Americans and the government can begin shaping the population as desired.

For those who are residing within our borders that are not citizens, it is first necessary to document this. As our official, qualified testers travel the country, they will check the status of each individual they come in contact with.

Undocumented immigrants will be tested along with other citizens. Those that pass will be put on a direct path to citizenship, while those that do not will be immediately deported The next step in this plan would be its extension to current citizens. Each legal resident of the United States will be tested. No exceptions. Those who pass the test with the previously determined score will be allowed to continue on as normal. Those who fail will either be given the option of leaving the country or being surgically relieved of the ability to reproduce. By eradicating this less desirable citizenry from the gene pool, they should be fully eliminated in less than four generations (I would predict three but so many of them have already reproduced at tragically young ages).

If we later find that these measures are not successful in solving the problems of our nation, the simple solution is to make the program bigger. This would mean restricting people with low IQs from voting, driving, purchasing controlled substances, obtaining a higher education, public speaking, opening bank accounts, trading in the stock market, taking out loans, running for public office, utilizing public transportation, or getting library cards.

While this plan may not be economically viable for us at this time, we can certainly rely on allies such as China, India, and Japan who hold significant investments in our people and wish to see us prosper. This plan will also stimulate the economy by adding jobs.

The government’s intervention in our everyday lives is clearly long overdue, but luckily, it is not too late to turn this nation around.

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“Beware of the little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”

-Ben Franklin

By Dane Chronister Reporter EXPENSIVE! That is the one word that I would use to describe my senior year. I am sure I speak for all seniors when I say I can barely afford anything.

My wallet is running on empty due to gas and other expenses, including the extra measures that senior year demands, such as graduation, class rings, and letterman jackets.

When I entered school this year, I was not at all prepared for the everyday expenditures I would need to cover throughout the last two semesters of high school. With college right around the corner, there is a huge stronghold on a senior’s billfold, and if he or she is not employed, meeting those needs is nearly impossible.

Being a senior has been everything I have expected and has turned out to be more than I would ever have anticipated. This year has probably been my favorite, with a lightened load of school work, my time as the Mascot, “Willie the Wildcat,” and the honor of being crowned Mr. Clear Creek. However, none of these perks could have made up for the bomb my father dropped on me a few weeks ago.

Recently, my father informed me that in order to enroll Baylor University, the college I have wanted to attend since my freshman year of high school, I must come up with $10,000. This to some people may seem like a rather easy task (if it does, I would like to meet you), but the amount of work and effort that it takes to fill out a single application for just a $1,000 scholarship is very time consuming.

Therefore, I have decided to enroll in a Clear Lake ACT Prep Course in order get a higher grade on my overall ACT, in hopes of raising the amount of scholarship money being offered to me

by Baylor.

Currently, with a compound score of a 23 on my ACT, Baylor University is presenting me with $12,000 divided among 4 years. This is an extremely minuscule amount, seeing that each Baylor Bear is expected to provide close to $52,000 in expenses. Even with the help of the FAFSA and other financial aid avenues, I can expect to be in debt if the scholarship money is not obtained.

I can hardly afford college without

the help of financial aid and scholarships that are given at the universities.

Luckily, Baylor has informed me that if I can acquire an ACT composite score of a 27, they will provide me with close to $50,000 throughout my 4 years of enrollment, thus shooting my amount per semester to about $12,500 from $3,000.

According to one of the Baylor Representatives I spoke with at the college, I was informed that at least 95 percent of the students at Baylor, a private university, are on some sort of financial aid.

This did not surprise me, since some of the students who plan on attending public schools in Texas are trying to obtain academic and athletic scholarships in order to pay for their schooling. Consequently, it should be in every student’s mind that he or she should try to at least retake one if not both of the ACT and SAT in hopes of trying to obtain more scholarship money.

On top of all of the college stress still to come, my high school stress is at its highest point. From graduation invitations and ordering a cap and gown to winter formal dances and beach houses for prom, it is hard to earn enough cash to experience all the perks of senior year. In light of these costs for my prom and my girlfriend’s prom coming up the weekend after mine, the price is practically double the usual expenses.

So, in conclusion, WARNING TO ALL INCOMING SENIORS! Entering your senior year, you will need two very important things for your financial future. First, make sure you have some sort of revenue you are receiving on a regular basis, like a well paying job to help stabilize your expensive school year to come. In addition, make sure you pray, a lot! You are going to need it, trust me.

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News

Scientists drill into perfectly preserved Lake Vostok

By Arlen Addison Reporter

below. Though scientists are eager to study the sample in search of primeval bacteria, After more than two decades of drilling, the sample cannot be transported out of the Russian scientists in Antarctica opened up station until the next Antarctic summer in the ice-buried freshwater lake buried deep December, due to the extreme weather at beneath the frozen ice continent, which was the Vostok Station. The coldest temperature sealed off for more than 20 million years. on Earth was recorded here— minus 128.6 Drilling to the surface of the lake, degrees Fahrenheit or known as Lake Vostok, is a major scientific minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. triumph, since there is nowhere else in If bacteria can be the world so perfectly preserved. The found in the sample, it will lake is a virtual time machine, giving show that life there can be a glimpse to life, while not visible to alive in harsh conditions of the naked eye, that existed millions of high pressure and constant years ago, sealed off from the world cold. Scientists are hopeful above and free of human pollutants. that if life is found in the “There is no other place on Earth seemingly inhospitable that has been in isolation for more than conditions of Vostok, 20 million years,” said Lev Savatyugin, there may be a chance researcher of the Antarctic Research that similar primitive Institute. “It’s meeting the unknown.” primeval bacteria could Vostok is only one of the more than 400 be found on Jupiter’s ice freshwater lakes buried beneath Antarctica, encrusted moon, Europa. but is the largest, being 160 miles long, However, if life is and at its widest, 30 miles wide, similar to found in the bore hole in the Great Lake Ontario in North America. Vostok, it would not be The lake is buried 2.4 miles beneath an accurate representation the ice, warmed by geothermal energy. of life there, since the The Vostok station that opened up hole is only over the the lake was set up by the former Soviet shallowest part of the lake.

Union in the 1950s to measure Earth’s “That’s like going magnetic fields and study ice core samples. out to one of the Great The drilling began in 1970 for ice core Lakes and putting a bucket samples, but it was not until 1994 that over the side of a boat, sampling it, and Russian and British scientists proved the saying ‘This is what’s in the Lake,’” lake was beneath the ice. Because the said John Pirscu, a microbiologist at drill was originally designed to only lift the University of Montana, and up ice core samples, when the lake was a veteran Antarctic researcher. “That’s reached, the sample had to be allowed not a very representative sample.” to freeze before it could be lifted up.

Pirscu has studied microorganisms The Vostok research team raised the in Antarctic ice for decades, frozen 40-liter water sample up the more and corresponded with the Russian team than 2 mile deep bore from the pristine lake through their headquarters in St. Petersburg.

Because the lake is one of the oldest and most pristine places in the world, many scientists fear that drilling into it could possibly contaminate it, and that lubricant and antifreeze used in drilling could have leaked into the lake when it was opened up.

However, Russian scientists insist that no

Map of Antarctica locating Lake Vostok, a subglacial lake that may have been reached by a Russian drilling team. MCT 2012

toxic chemicals entered the water because the lake was under great pressure when the drill reached it, and the pressure released caused water to shoot up the borehole and pushed the chemicals away from the lake.

American and British scientists are hoping to follow the Russian’s Vostok

triumph by drilling into Lake Ellsworth, one of the other ice-buried Antarctic lakes.

Ellsworth drains and refills the water inside more frequently than Vostok, so the water in it is not quite as old as in Vostok. The American-British team is still waiting for a last few crucial pieces of equipment to be flown in, but have to wait until December before the weather is mild enough.

The Ellsworth team claims that they will be able to drill into the Lake in just three days, as unlike the Russians, their equipment is specifically designed for drilling into the Lake. They will use a method of melting glacier ice and then boiling it and using it to melt away the ice rather than drilling into it. They claim that since it is glacier water, it will be environmentally friendly, unlike the Russians’ lubricant and anti-freeze.

Valery Lukin of the Russian Vostok drill team doubts the AmericanBritish drill method.

“Imagine the ancient water of Lake Ellsworth- it is absolutely untouched. Maybe there is life there and a pot of boiling water is poured in,” said Lukin. “Do we want to study micro-biodiversity or microbe soup?”

The Russian team believes the drilling to only be the first step, and plan to explore Lake Vostok with a remote submersible in the future.

NASA’s Mars program receives diminished funding

By Kristina Koonce Reporter

In early November 2011, NASA announced that they were going to recruit new astronauts and send them to Mars.

NASA was looking for people with advanced degrees in engineering, math, biology, or physical science that met the height requirement. Issues with their finding may soon bring their hopes of sending people off to the Red Planet to an end.

NASA was currently up for discussion about receiving a budget cut, which cut the exploration of a highly anticipated mission. On February 13, Red Ink announced that they were forcing NASA to cut exploratory mission to Mars. President Obama’s 2013 budget cut proposal made the mission, that was teamed up with the

European Space Agency, unaffordable.

NASA’s overall budget is expected to remain near $17.8 billion, but planetary exploration would be pushed back to 2013, which puts a huge setback on the mission to go to Mars. NASA was even joining with the European Space Agency to make this Mars mission possible, but scientists said they still would not be able to afford the trip.

The cuts NASA has to make even convinced the head of the science program to quit, even though it was still only a proposal at the time. President Obama wanted funding to be used on preliminary studies about the mission to Enceladus, which is Saturn’s moon. According to experts, the planetary science cuts are most likely due to the cost of the James Webb Space Telescope. The cost to build

this telescope is already over their budget.

The Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA was not quiet about his opinions on the change.

“The Mars program is one of the crown jewels of NASA,” Weiler told Science Magazine. “In what irrational, Homer Simpson world would we single it out for disproportionate cuts?”

The Mars exploration program was not happy about the changes either.

“We’re seeing very targeted pain, targeted at the planetary exploration program, and very frustratingly targeted at the most successful part of the planetary exploration program.”

The researchers for the Mars exploration program said they went to great lengths to outline a realistic

exploration for the trip to Mars. The researchers spent the time to make the budget for this trip as modest as they could.

They even planned a scaled back option if NASA’s budgets tighten up even further.

The planetary cuts will not stop all of NASA’s exploration on Mars. The administrator of NASA, Charles Bolden, said that NASA would be focusing on a “medium-class” robotic, which will avoid the more expensive showcase mission but still allow them to search Mars. The Mars Science Laboratory will still be active and is set to land a car-size rover, which is expected to land on the red planet on August 6, 2012.

News

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7.4 Earthquake assaults Guerrero and Mexico City

By Clarissa Melendez Reporter

On March 20, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake shook the cities of Oaxaca and Guerrero in Mexico. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the epicenter happened 12 miles underground in Guerrero, and it was even felt in Mexico City.

Nine people were injured in Oaxaca and two in Mexico City. Deaths from the earthquake were reported two days after a falling wall killed one, and the

other victim died of a heart attack. In Mexico City there was not much damage except some fallen phone lines and power shortages. Oaxaca and Guerrero were the hardest hit: 800 homes had extreme damage and 60 had completely collapsed.

The March 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan was at magnitude 9. Mexico’s earthquake was not as strong and did not cause many deaths but it did cause a significant amount of damage. Fear was the main problem. The earth shook

for 15 seconds causing many people to run out into the streets in panic.

Michael Winters, reporter for USA Today, said, “There have been several significant earthquakes along the southern coast of Mexico. In 1932, a magnitude 8.4 thrust earthquake struck in the region of Jalisco. On October 9, 1995 a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck in the Colima-Jalisco region, killing at least 49 people and leaving 1,000 homeless. The deadliest nearby earthquake occurred in

the Michoacan region on September 19, 1985. This magnitude 8.0 earthquake killed at least 9,500 people, injured about 30,000, and left 100,000 people homeless.”

There was also a 5.2 aftershock that happened two days after the earthquake on Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey said the aftershocks were centered in the same area as Tuesday’s strong quake.

North Korea precipitates fears of nuclear terrorism

By Arlen Addison Reporter

After great tension between the two countries of North and South Korea, South has said it may shoot down parts of a North Korean rocket planned to be launched soon.

World leaders from the United States, China, Russia, and several other nations met in Seoul, South Korea, to discuss how to protect the world from the threat of nuclear terrorism, but the main topic at the conference was North Korea’s planned launch. North Korea claims that the launch is only of a peaceful Earth watching satellite, but those at the summit agreed it was a test fire for a long-range missile delivery system.

“We are studying measures such as tracking and shooting down [parts] of a North Korean missile in case they stray out if the normal trajectory,” said Yoon Won-shik, vice spokesman for South Korea’s Defense Ministry.

President Obama warned if North Korea were to go through with the launch it may jeopardize Kim Jong Un’s agreement with United States for food aid of 240,000 metric tons of food for the country’s widespread famine in exchange to halt long-range launches and summit

to nuclear to convince them inspections and to cancel the regulations. launch. A Chinese In response governmentto the warning b a c k e d from world disarmament leaders, North expert at the Korea moved summit said that the launch site issue of the North of the main body Korean launch of the rocket should not be northwest, to the main topic at the village of the conference.

Tongchang-ri, Many believe it 35 miles from is an apparent the Chinese attempt to divert border. This new the pressure on launch site will China to persuade allow the rocket North Korea to to fly over the abandon its plans. west coast, “I think North and not over Graphic profiles North Korean missile, Taepodong-2; North Korea Korea did this announces first satellite launch in three years. MCT 2012 any country to overshadow that may our talks about shoot it down. nuclear security. We shouldn’t fall for their President Obama urged China, as trick,” said head of China’s Arms Control North Korea’s largest ally and source of and Disarmament Association, Li Hong. diplomatic and economic support, to use Even though they did not think its influence over the country and attempt the launch should have been the main

topic, China, in a show of concern, summoned North Korea’s Ambassador in early March, warning that there will be threats to peace in Asia after the announcement of the launch and said all sides should exercise “cool and restraint.”

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with South Korean President Lee Myungbak and “shared concerns” of the rocket launch. South Korea “asked China to actively make effort for cancellation of North Korea’s rocket launch plans, and the two sides agreed to continue to closely cooperate,” Lee’s office said in a statement.

Even with pressure to cancel the launch, it remains unseen as to whether or not North Korea will follow through with the launch scheduled for sometime between April 12 and 16, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Nation’s founder, Kim II Sung.

The United Nation Security Council condemned the country’s last long-range missile test in 2009, and North Korea responded by abandoning a six-nation nuclear disarmament talk, and a few weeks later carried out its second nuclear test.

All facts attributed to NPR

Researchers regenerate a flower from the Ice Age

By Kristina Koonce Reporter

Scientists in Moscow, Russia, managed to revive a 31,800 year old Ice Age flower.

The researchers of the flower said that they were able to re-grow the plant in a conventional pot. The plant is currently fertile, producing white flowers and seeds that are capable of being germinated.

Scientists were able to completely regenerate this plant thanks to the fruits’ tissue, which they found in a burrow that was stuck in Siberian permafrost for over 30,000 years.

The Silene Stenophylla is the oldest plant to be brought back to life. Not too long ago, Canadian researchers found seeds that were not nearly as old as the Silene Stenophylla. The revival of this flower is just the beginning—it leads the way of reviving other species from the Ice Age. Russian researchers discovered the fruit in lower Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia after investigating dozen of fossil burrows. The sediments that they found in the burrows that were located 125 feet into the river dates back to at least 30,000 to 32,000 years old.

When the researchers first started on the flower, all of the sediments were firmly stuck together due to the ice, which left no possibilities for water infiltration.

The researchers who revived this plant

told the world about their findings on Tuesday, February 21, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, a United States magazine. The experiment done to revive this plant proves that permafrost can be used as a natural depository for ancient forms of life.

“We consider it essential to continue permafrost studies in search of an ancient genetic pool, that of pre-existing life, which hypothetically has long since vanished from the earth’s surface,” the researchers said.

Svetlana Yashina of the Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences claimed that the revived plant looks extremely similar to the modern version of the plant, which still grows in northeastern Siberia.

“It’s a very viable plant, and it adapts really well,” said Yashina.

Stanislav Gubin claims that this discovery has proved that tissue that has been frozen and that is thousands of years old could possibly bring back more than plants. He hopes that an Ice Age mammal will be revived next.

“If we are lucky, we can find some frozen squirrel tissue, and this path could lead us all the way to mammoth,” Gubin said.

The Russians are not the only ones trying to revive ice age animals, and now because of the finding, Japanese scientists are already looking for mammal remains.

6

Around Creek

Concert season is in full swing for Creek Bands

By Valerie Hellinghausen Get Involved Editor

Football season is over and the Clear Creek Marching bands have not been taking up valuable parking space to practice, nor performing any marching routines since October. However each of the three concert bands have been preparing music for its upcoming contests and out of state trip to Branson, Missouri.

Wind Ensemble, the top performing band ensemble, competing as an “Honor Band”. Honor Band is a statewide competition that alternates between the intermediate and high school level each

year and includes three rounds: region, area, and state. Each competing band submits a recording of several songs it has have prepared that will be judged by a panel of five judges in each round.

“Our main competition is between Clear Lake and other high schools in this district and Katy ISD. If we can get past the regional round, I have no doubt we could make it to state for the first time in several years,” Mr. Meyer explained during an after school rehearsal.

Right now, in order to prepare for this competition, the band members have been practicing in class, in full rehearsals on Thursdays after school, and in sectional

JROTC’s Military Ball

By Stephanie Johnson News Editor

military academy appointments are also announced during the Ball. Military On February 25, 2012, all of CCISD’s academy appointments are acceptances Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, from universities such as the United JROTC, programs convened at the San States Naval Academy, the United States Luis Conference Center in Galveston for Military Academy at West Point, and the this year’s Military Ball. Teenage cadets United States Air Force Academy, where in uniform or beautiful floor-length dresses VonSeggern received her appointment. shook hands with senior officers before The Military Ball is time to have fun taking their place in their assigned chairs. and celebrate the end of the year. In many The Military Ball is an opportunity for cases it is a means of celebrating successful JROTC members inspections, like to practice the one Clear military etiquette Lake received this and courtesy. At year and the one the beginning Clear Creek will of the Ball, the receive next year.

Color Guard Expectations of and the Honor the event can make guard provide a the experience demonstration, stressful for cadets, showing off the but students fantastic array nevertheless seem of uniforms and to have a great skill sets. A Miss time.

JROTC pageant The guest also takes place, speaker at the which involves event was the choosing young President of Saint ladies from Thomas University CCISD’s JROTC and Retired Major to represent each General, Dr. school in the Robert Ivany. He coming year. was announced by Additionally, a Creek’s Batallion guest speaker is Commander invited to share and Brigade his or her insight Executive Officer and advice Vo n S e g g e r n . for all of the He delivered aspiring military a speech on personnel. personal courage, Miss JROTC sophomore Stephanie Chavez with ROTC The six hour emboldening the insturctor Colonel Harris. event is a Military mass of students Dining In, which aspiring to be in the is a formal dinner with all military staff and military. their dates. Everyone involved in a JROTC Miss JROTC for Clear Creek High program from each school in the district is School was Sophomore Stephanie Chavez. invited to attend. In fact, for many schools, 2011’s Miss JROTC, VonSeggern, took including Clear Creek, the Military Ball part in the ceremony by transferring the is the nine weeks test, in which students, honorary crown and sash to Creek’s new or cadets rather, are graded on their representative. proper military etiquette, participation, “The Military Ball itself is a performance, and behavior. wonderful and incredible experience that “Administrators are invited as well, everyone looks forward to each year,” so the program can show what it has said VonSeggern. “It was so exciting to accomplished in a year’s time,” said senior see everything go really well, particularly Annie VonSeggern. “The Military Ball when it is the last one of your high school gives us a chance to prove how important career.” the JROTC program is to the district’s schools and the students involved.”

Students who have received

rehearsals. Mr. Meyer has also invited clinicians like Mr. Stephen Pratt, the Director of Bands at Indiana University, and Mr. Gabe Musella, Director of Bands at Spring High School, to help the Symphonic and Wind ensembles prepare their music for competition.

In order to produce an excellent recording, the band members have to get used to playing the music together and being able to perform their own individual parts at the highest level. As a result, the band members were challenged to prepare their music for their version of a nine weeks test: music “pass offs” on each of the three pieces they will be performing.

“I picked music that other successful bands at Honor Band have played and music that also really fits this group and our abilities,” Meyer added.

While the Wind Ensemble is the only group that competes from Clear Creek High School in the Honor Band contest, each of the three band ensembles will perform at the UIL Contest on April 10 and 11.

Every other year, the bands travel out of state to various contest sites in cities like New York, Chicago, and Orlando.

However, tight budgets have prevented

the band department from going on certain trips. In fact, had the Clear Creek bands decided to go to Chicago this year, the students would be sacrificing their trip for next year due to state policy. While this was not a concern for this year’s seniors, juniors and underclassmen felt it was better to have the chance to go on two trips rather than one.

After hearing nothing but good reviews from other band directors who took their bands on trips to Branson, Mr. Meyer and Mr. Smith as well as a majority of the band members voted to go on their spring trip to Missouri. In Branson, the Clear Creek bands will perform an opening concert before a Branson show, visit Silver Dollar City Theme Park and the Racetracks, and attend other exciting events. The bands depart for Branson on April 12 and will return on April 16.

The Clear Creek Bands invite anyone and everyone to their upcoming Pre-UIL concert that will take place on April 2 here at Creek in the auditorium.

Reading Rumble begins

By Clarissa Melendez Reporter

This year Clear Creek will be participating in the Reading Rumble competition for the first time. Usually only the elementary and middle schools participate in the competition, but this year it is also open to high school students.

Reading Rumble is a contest where students have to answer questions and identify certain quotes from a list of 20 books that they are assigned to read. It will be held on May 19 at Clear Falls, and each school in the district will present a team there. To be on the team, a participant must read at least 5 of the 20 listed books. The list includes the book An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Little Brother

by Cory Doctorow, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, and many more which can be found on the Reading Rumble link in the Library Resource page on the CCISD website.

“Reading Rumble promotes reading, and it’s fun. It also gets students to take a step away from Facebook to read,” said

Mrs. Tina Sanders, the school librarian.

There are two levels, the campus level and the district level. According to the Clear Creek High School website, in the “district competition, teams of six students work together to identify quotes from this year’s list of selected titles.” At the campus level, the participants represent their campus to go to the district competition. Once at the district competition, teams have a chance to win a traveling trophy that they can display at their school until the next year’s competition. There will even be a guest author, Jack Gantos, who won the Newberry Award for child literature, at the competition.

Here at Creek, the Reading Rumble team meets in the library during all three lunches. The Creek Reading Rumble team now has 10 students that show up consistently and expect more to join. Some teachers are even giving their students extra credit to participate. English teachers like Mrs. Melissa Ward and librarian Tina are sponsoring the event.

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, is one of the twenty books on the Reading Rumble list.

Around Creek

7

Students compete in Academic Worldquest contest

By Hannah Brinsko Around Creek Editor

In the midst of baseball, track, and water polo season, a different group of students is preparing for a very kind of competition.

Kevin Chase (11th), Savannah Looper (12th), Justin Lenfest (12th), Chris Larsen (12th), Jake Kornblau (12th), Austin Belknap (11th), Nick Ogle (11th), Keenan Kush (12th), and Michael Sulkis (11th) all competed in the World Affairs Counsel of Houston’s Academic Worldquest competition, on March 8. In this competition, instead of competing in athletic events, the students competed by proving their knowledge of current events.

Creek did very well, placing 1st in round two, 2nd in round three, and 1st in the fourth round. After the final score was tallied, Creek was tied with Bellaire for 1st place, so the two teams entered the sudden death tie-breaker round.

“I’m not going to lie, I was nervous when it went to sudden death playoff. They answered some very tough questions and regardless of coming up short, I’m very proud of their efforts. They represented Clear Creek well,” said Coach Cherry, Academic Decathlon’s sponsor.

Creek placed 2nd to Bellaire High School after incorrectly answering a difficult question about the President of Iran’s last tour of Latin America. Coming

in 3rd was a tie between Carnegie Vanguard and Stratford High School. Lutheran South Academy won for the Best Dressed team,

the teams. The teams were then given 20 seconds to work together to choose the answer. Questions were taken from articles

Creek students show off their medals after competing in the Current Events competition.

with all of their students wearing the traditional clothes of different countries.

The competition consisted of four rounds, each one focusing on a different region of the world. Each question was projected onto a screen overlooking all

in different media sources.

“I listen to NPR talk radio in my car.

It’s a really easy way to stay up to date on current world news,” said Larsen, who has competed in the Academic Worldquest competition the past two years.

Volunteers from Rice University and the World Affairs Counsel hosted the evening. Over 25 schools from around the Houston area sent teams.

Last year was Creek’s first time to compete in over four years, so the team was surprised to find themselves in a sudden death round after tying for first place.

“We threw a team together very last minute, and then at the competition we were able to place 2nd, losing by only two questions to Bellaire High School, who had been preparing all year,” said Kornblau.

This year Creek was ready to compete again, with a better idea of what to expect and the lessons they learned from their team sponsor Coach Cherry. They had high hopes for the upcoming competition.

Finishing 2nd to Bellaire last year was a motivating tool for the two returning seniors Kornblau and Larsen in particular. They used a variety of sources, including Economist magazine and the CIA website.

Next year Coach Cherry hopes to continue Creek’s success at Academic Worldquest, by working with the current freshman class to create a new team for next year since five members of this year’s nine member team are graduating seniors.

8

Features

Frog Design predicts the technology of the future

By Jacob Mancini Editor-in-Chief

Frog, a design company that works with other leading companies across the globe, helps design, engineer, and bring to market meaningful goods and services.

Over 1,600 designers, strategists, and software engineers make up frog’s interdisciplinary team.

They influence many industries that include consumer electronics, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, automotive, media, entertainment, education, finance, retail, and fashion.

Frog recently unveiled a handful of its precious design concepts and capabilities of the future to Fox News. The gadgets of 2025, as frog anticipates, will change our entire culture and how we live everyday.

Although the firm has entered into many diverse fields of business and innovation, frog designs has humble roots that begin in Germany. In 1969 Hartmut Esslinger and partners founded a small design company in the Black Forest of Germany to promote emotional design. The men’s vision was that every act of creation was a small step towards improving the everyday lives of individuals.

The firm was moved to California after it struck a multimillion-dollar deal with Steve Jobs to collaborate in the inventing and designing of the Apple llc, a revolutionary computer and the start of a legacy.

It was during this time that the company took on the name frog, an all-lowercase acronym standing for Federal Republic of Germany, a salute to their international origin.

One shortcoming of the digital era is that the elderly often see ingenious technology as an annyoance rather than inventive. Oblivious to the latest trends of social

media, the means of smart phone and tablet novelties, and oddities like cloud storage largely characterize those older than 65.

But frog believes that a digital urn, an ultramodern recorder of significant moments in life, will bridge the relational gap be-

ly news to playing online video games will be changed when this concept from frog makes its way to the living room.

The Immersive Space will also leverage common learning environments for children. Digital solar systems will spin

The Immersive Space presents digital media as a complete environment. Photo courtesy of frog website.

tween the generations by fusing advanced technology with everyday experiences.

The digital urn is simply a recorder that synchronizes with one’s brain to capture very impacting and emotional events for loved ones to later remember. The urn will be wearable as a necklace so that people can keep a totem of a loved one’s greatest memories with them. It would be able to display life events in a small hologram.

The Immersive Space is the next innovation that frog thinks will be a future commodity. The idea behind the Immersive Space is that one can experience media with unparalleled engrossment. Curved walls will illuminate to become gesturesensitive, 3D screens that will completely surround an Immersive Space user and will be at his or her command. Everything from business conferencing to watching the dai-

around them; mathematic equations will be more tangible than ever; textbooks will be considered ancient when the potential of something like the immersive space is realized.

The notion of what frog calls Smart Play will insure that the toys of 2025 will be anything but boring. Nano technology in fabrics will give dolls like Barbie the capacity to reach out and “touch” colors, patterns, or textures of fabric or actual clothing and result in the doll’s clothing changing molecular arrangement to match the latter fabric. And as toys become more advanced in the years to come, they will have software that will render them adaptable as trends and technology fluctuate.

Frog presented the idea of soft paper as a groundbreaking change to public education around 2025. Soft paper actually is

a soft electric screen that can be rolled up and stuffed into a pocket or satchel and then unrolled and edited like real paper.

Assignments for class will appear on students’ soft paper palettes when the teacher dispatches the work and students will submit their work page by page electronically through this tool.

Soft paper even can communicate wirelessly with itself in that a single document can be enlarged across the surface area of three sheets of the futuristic display.

Soft paper will conserve trees being made into paper and contribute to overall simplicity in educators’ and their pupils’ lives.

Finally, frog discussed what it thinks could be daily practice at the turn of another decade: Digital DNA. The DNA sequence of a person will be modifiable in the future, according to frog’s predictions. The idea is that when standing before a digital mirror one could view himself with altered physical features—green eyes instead of brown, or blonde hair in place of brunette—and then actually enter a DNA resequencing machine that would slightly rearrange components of DNA and give that person his or her desired features. Changes would be permanent, at least until the process is restarted when the user gets bored with a particular look.

The proposals from frog of a future that holds technology that will redefine cultures cannot be validated until those times come and that culture changes. Until then, technology will continue to grow as we discover more everyday.

HOBY molds students into future world leaders

By Hannah Brinsko Around Creek Editor Each year sophomores are able to ap-

ply for the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership (HOBY) seminar. One student from each Houston-area school is invited to attend a two-day conference and to build leadership skills and meet various leaders working in their state.

“I applied for HOBY because I knew that being the ambassador would give me an edge for the college competition,” said Ashley Farmer, senior.

Farmer, like many others applied simply to add another thing to make her college resume shine. However, she learned more than she could have ever imagined from their experience.

“From HOBY, I learned about the importance of confidence, self-respect, and hard work. I know I have the support of the strong network of HOBY alumni from all over the world and the opportunity to draw on their creativity, ingenuity, and passions.

I have something to support and hundreds

of people to believe in,” said Farmer.

After the State Conference, two ambassadors from each state were nominated to attend the HOBY World Leadership Conference. The World Leadership Conference is held for one week in various college campuses around the United States.

The ambassadors come from all over the country and around the world to attend lectures, and seminars, and to work on further improving their leadership skills. They also are able to attend various cultural events during the week like going to a sporting event or concert.

“I went to the HOBY World Leadership Conference, and it was the most incredible experience of my life. It is nearly impossible to put my thoughts and feelings into words and try to pick a favorite part.

If I had to choose, I would say that the relationships I’ve formed with the sensational HOBY ambassadors is the thing I’ll remember most,” said Farmer, who was the first Creek student to attend the World Leadership Conference.

Next year’s HOBY ambassador from Creek will be Janella Clary (11th). She applied for the honor along with about 50 other sophomores.

“They called us all into the counselor’s office, and they announced the finalists.

Then they said that I was going to be the next ambassador. I was so shocked that my essay won. I’m really excited for the

state conference that summer. I don’t know exactly what to expect, but from what I’ve heard it’s going to be a really great time,” said Clary.

9

Features

2012 Tour de Houston participants bike for a cause

By Dane Chronister Reporter

Last year the Tour de Houston, presented by Apache Corporation, was cancelled due to the miserable weather conditions.

On Sunday, March 18,2012. almost 5,000 riders participated in the anuual bike ride known as the Tour de Houston.

The riders began their mind-numbing journey Sunday morning, on March 18, 2012. Recently, due to the relentless drought conditions scattering throughout the state of Texas there has been an immediate need to protect the state’s parks and grassland areas.

Funds raised from this year’s ride are designed to benefit Houston’s reforestation programs through the non-profit partner, Houston Parks Board; dedicated to creating, improving and protecting parklands in the greater Houston region.

Numerous cyclists rode at top speeds near and around 20-plus mph. The true reason these cyclists were gathered together had not vanished, although many of the riders seemed to use this event as a preparation for the MS150 held every year.

The scheduled cyclist route took riders on an expedition through the East End of Houston, Brady’s Landing, Ellington Airport, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in the Clear Lake area, then back to the City

Hall. The cycling routes offered were distances up to 20, 30, and 60 miles. The average distance was 40.71 miles with an ascent of 1233.6 feet.

Mayor Annise Parker and Senator Rodney Ellis rode in the Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation.

“Yes, people in

Corporation, participants will continue to enjoy the city’s premier recreational biking event while replenishing the trees lost to the tragic drought of 2011.”

The Tour de Houston is a fundraising ride, but it also serves as a recommended ride for the BP MS 150 regulars and future participants. It encourages BP MS 150 participants to take part in the many

commitment to plant 3 million trees across the United States,” Roger Plank said, according to the City of Houston 2012 Press Release.

Several of the sponsors of the Tour de Houston ride included: Title Sponsor Apache Corporation, Michelob Ultra, My Fit Foods, Sun & Ski Sports, BPMS150, Watermill Express, Houston Avocado Company, CLIF Bar, NX Media, Houston Parks Board, and Houston Parks & Recreation Department. Funds raised will benefit the city’s reforestation program managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.

Houston do ride bicycles, yes, cars and bicycles can coexist here,” said Mayor Annise Parker, who donned a helmet and bike shorts and rode in the event according to Bay Area Participants cross the finish line at the 2012 Tour de Houston. Photos courtesy of the City of Houston.

Houston News.

“Through a public and private partner- recommended rides offered throughout the ship with Apache Corporation we are able Houston area in order to improve their ridto restore this annual Houston tradition to ing skills. our civic celebration program,” said May “Over the past six years, Apache or Annise Parker, in the City of Houston has donated more than 100,000 trees to Press Release website. “Thanks to Apache Houston’s parks as part of our broader

CCISD challenges purpose of standardized testing

By Valerie Hellinghausen Creek Speaks Editor

On February 27, 2012, the CCISD Board of Trustees called on the Texas Legislature to reevaluate the purpose of standardized testing in Texas. As a result of a new system composed of multiple assessments. The district submitted this resolution to demand a reversal in the growing trend of testing and to redirect resources towards the improvement and modernization of teaching and learning.

STAAR tests are designed to be more challenging than TAKS or other standardized testing predecessors. The questions on these exams are more complex and focus on what the state believes students need to grasp from their courses. Each student, with the exception of those with IEPs or other accommodation plans, is given only 4 hours to complete the test, a huge transition from the un-timed TAKS tests students are accustomed to. For grades 3rd through 8th, students will take grade level tests in various subjects with more questions and writing prompts than the TAKS tests. As for high school students, 10th and 11th graders will still take TAKS this year only while current 9th graders will begin the transition from TAKS to End of Course (EOC) exams, which will be course based rather than grade level based.

However one of the most common and concerning misconceptions about the STAAR tests is that it does not affect a student’s final grade. CCISD released a statement in late February confirming that the STAAR test would not count as 15% of final grades, but for this school year only. Despite this waiver, the STAAR tests

will still count towards students’ cumulative score over 12 years that determines if students’ have met the State graduation requirements for the minimum, recommended, or distinguished plans. While the tests may not directly affect students’ grades for the 2011-2012 school year, by taking these exams lightly, students may lower their accumulated number of points based on their testing performance.

“We agree with Robert Scott, Commissioner of Education in Texas, when he stated that the state accountability system has become a ‘perversion of its original intent’,” CCISD Board of Trustee President Dee Scott said.

In the resolution, CCISD expresses the numerous concerns with the STAAR testing and state’s with the academic expectations requiring students to essentially gamble with their chance at graduating on one test on one day. CCISD also stresses the restraints standardized testing has put on teachers and students to spend class time memorizing and relentlessly preparing for standardized testing instead of focusing on what will prepare students for college and future careers. CCISD feels these restraints and the state’s loss of focus on the individual student do little more than “[steal] the love of learning” from its students and encourage a “superficial level of learning.”

The resolution calls on the Texas Legislature to reexamine what can be done in the classroom to raise academic standards, to effectively evaluate students on their course work, to use more cost-effective methods of testing, and encourage a “love of learning” in Texas students.

“The intent of assessment should be to

diagnose gaps or gains and prescribe intervention or acceleration. However, the State has lost sight of this purpose with new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) system where a student’s score on a single test on a single day may determine whether he will graduate.

I applaud the Board of Trustees for giving voice to the mounting concerns of parents, teachers, and students,” Dr. Greg Smith,

Superintendent of Schools, said.

The full-length resolution along with related press releases and more information regarding STAAR testing can be found online at the CCISD website: www. ccisd.net.

12 Get Involved

New UIL activity fees required for extra curriculars

By Hannah Brinsko Around Creek Editor

The Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees approved a new policy this month that will assess a fee to be paid by all high school and intermediate school students involved in UIL activities. This is another of many policy changes being made after CCISD lost $13 million in state funding this year and is expected to lose another $4 million in the following 2012-2013 school year. This fee is just one of many changes implemented

by CCISD to address budget shortages.

“With deep cuts from the State, CCISD continues to look for ways to manage the budget shortfall,” Board President Dee Scott said. “We do not want to place another burden on our families during this tough economic time, but we are trying to do what’s best for our students

by maintaining these popular programs.” each family will have to pay a $30 fee, and the next three siblings will pay a fee of $20.

High school students participating in UIL activities will now have to pay $50.

“I understand the new fees. The state This amount will remain the same no government is really cutting back on its matter how many activities they are funding. It’s just going to be annoying involved in. If an athlete participates because we already have to pay so in football, track, and plays in the much for Cavaliers on our own, so the additional school orchestra, he or she will still $50 fee just pay only the seems silly,” standard fee. junior Casey For the next three children, the Dervay said. family will only have For the students who to pay $30. If the family qualify for free or reduced lunch, they will only have has any other children to pay half of the standard participating in high school fee to help alleviate extracurricular activities, the financial burden. the fee will then be “If they are going waived. On the other to have the fee, I think hand, in intermediate Photo courtesy of Clear Creek it’s good that they schools, the first child in Independent School District

offer to help kids that come from low income families, because if they have a lot of siblings participating in extra curricular activities it could quickly add up,” sophomore Lucca Timmerman said.

Many clubs currently have booster clubs that help to cover the cost of activities that the school cannot cover, but the new fee will help to further cover the costs associated with these activities, such as buying uniforms and equipment.

Activities that will be affected by this new fee include sports teams, choir, band, orchestra, art, academic decathlon, debate, ROTC, color guard, the dance team, cheerleading, and theatre.

However, any activity that involves a sponsor, travel, or competitions may have to pay the district fee as well.

AP Testing 2012: what to bring and where to be

By Ellen Gaudet Editor-in-Chief

High scores, a 1 being the lowest and a 5 being the highest, make students stand Advanced Placement (AP) testing will out in the college admission process and run from May 7 to can eliminate the 18 this year, and need to take basic 338 Creek students courses in college. are taking a total Most four-year of 660 AP exams colleges in the across 23 different U.S. give enrolling AP subjects. The students credit for school did not classes, advanced partially waive placement or both any of the fees on the basis of this year, and each AP Exam scores. test cost $87, with Having multiple the exception of AP credits upon students receiving entering college free and reduced allows students lunches, who only the time to move had to pay $9 into upper-level for the first three courses, pursue a double major, exams, and $23 for or perhaps each additional test.

Through AP study abroad. testing, students can take The AP Bulletin given to all students Before exam day, taking exams. Extras are available in college-level courses and students can prepare for the Counseling center. exams to earn college credit testing by reviewing Photo by Jacob Mancini. and advanced placement. released free-response and

Spanish Club involved in volunteer efforts

By Madison Williams Features Editor

Spanish Club has been busy this year with their involvement in a variety of volunteer activities with in their community and around the globe. Their biggest project consisted of selling Pulsera bracelets to help children in Nicaragua afford an education.

Recently, Spanish Club also went to a Puerto Rican restaurant where they learned about the many cultures and cuisines of the Latin American community. They were able to work in the restaurant kitchen and learn how to prepare different foods.

“This year we have had some amazing experiences in Spanish club.

The students in the club took initiative in putting community service and learning about others as a priority. From our pulsera project, to salsa dancing lessons, to fiestas with many new foods, we have worked to provide an after school club that promotes many positive aspects of

service learning and cultural diversity,” Ms. Varsos, the Spanish Club sponsor, said.

Spanish Club’s most recent project was a toy drive, where Clear Creek students and faculty were encouraged to donate toys.

“We were asking for toys for burn victims at Schreiner’s Hospital. Any amount that any student could donate was greatly appreciated,” Phillip O’Toole said.

“We focused on children because they lost everything in the fires that destroyed their houses. One or two toys per person could make a huge difference in a child’s life while they are in the hospital.”

The toy drive began after spring break and all students were encouraged to donate.

multiple-choice questions from previous years, available at CollegeBoard.com.

Creek’s counselors also have AP Student Bulletins available, with extra information about getting exam scores and requesting score reporting services. This information is also on the College Board website.

Students should report to their testing rooms by 7:30 A.M. for morning exams and 12:30 P.M. for afternoon exams on the designated days of testing. Late arrivals will not be admitted, and students will not be released early. Those taking two tests on the same day should bring lunches from home, since the break between the morning and afternoon exams is very brief. A list of what to bring on the day of an AP Exam and what to leave at home is available.

If students have already registered for AP Exams and have decided not to take them, they must notify Mrs. Ponce in advance, in order to receive a partial refund in the form of a school check mailed during the summer. Students who purchased exams using a fee waiver are ineligible for refunds.

A schedule of all exams available at Creek is listed on the front page of this issue.

What to Bring: - Sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers - Pens with blue or black ink - A watch - Calculator (for math exams) - School ID or Driver’s License - Social Security number (optional) - SSD Student Accommodation Letter, if applicable What Not to Bring: -Backpacks or bags -Any kind of electronic device (cell phone, camera, MP3 player/iPod) -Books, dictionaries, notes, scratch paper -Mechanical pencils -Highlighters -Correctional fluid -Watches that beep or have an alarm -Computers -Food or drink

Get Involved UT hosts 13th annual “Explore UT”

By Valerie Hellinghausen Get Involved Editor

On March 3, the University of Texas at Austin hosted their 13th annual Explore UT Day for students of all ages, and opened up campus for individual exploration of all that UT at Austin has to offer.

Explore UT, also known as “the Biggest Open House in Texas” by UT administrators, was expected to draw over 50,000 visitors from all over the state, and offered over 400 free events in six different “realms of discovery” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“As a public university, The University of Texas at Austin belongs to the people of Texas. As an institution of higher education, the university has a mission to educate young people and to create future leaders for every realm of society. Come explore our campus.

Enjoy a day of fun. Learn something new,” Douglas Dempster, Dean of the Fine Arts College at UT and chair member for Explore UT 2012, said.

Students and parents began their Explore UT experience by going online to bealonghorn.utexas.edu and registering for the event. After selecting an admission session, students were then given a chance to set up their schedule for March 3 by choosing from Explore UT’s wide range of events in six different categories: Arts Adventures, Cultural Crossroads, Engineering Expeditions, Public Service

Passageway, Science Safari, and Longhorn Trail. Events include anything from tours of dormitories to arts and crafts for younger

Photo by Valerie Hellinghausen

ages to live interactive performances from UT’s theatre and music departments.

Explore UT serves as one of the main ways the university not only recruits prospective students, but also creates connections with families and children

that may last a lifetime. Visitors of all ages from all over the state arrived early on campus and were seen in almost every part of campus whether they were flooding the sidewalks on a walking tour of the campus, experiencing lunch in some of the various dining halls, or enjoying live concerts out on the main mall in front of the Tower.

However, the visitors were not the only apparent figures around campus. Student volunteers led almost all of the events offered and were stationed at information tents all around campus to serve the visitors. While some volunteers gave better tours than others, the amount of volunteer staff available to meet the needs of Explore UT’s guests was more than sufficient.

“The thing about Explore UT and UT in general, is your experience is going to be based on whatever you put into to it. If you come here and work every day, you can find your place and move up the ladder really quickly,” said one Explore UT guide on the Communications Building tour.

Explore UT is a great opportunity for students of all ages to learn more about UT in-person, on an individual level. For those that missed Explore UT this year, seniors next year can check out the Discover UT event exclusively for seniors each fall or wait to attend the next Explore UT in spring 2013.

Rotary Youth Exchange offers an inspiring experience for students

By Madison Borowitz Teen Interest Editor

The International Rotary Youth Exchange program offers once in a lifetime opportunities and introduces students to the different cultures, diverse geographies, and people of the world outside of their own.

Maya Frost, a writer, educational consultant, and teacher, claims in her book, The New Global Student, that Rotary Youth Exchange is the best option for high school students to study abroad.

Her philosophy, “Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education,” is becoming ever popular in the educational world.

In the book, Frost mentions several students, including Lang Van Dommelen, who began his “off-the-grid” education when he was just 16, and spent a full year at a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Also commended by Frost, a former exchange student, Rachel Lewis, continued to travel across the globe.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been 10 years since my journey from small town Idaho to Denmark for a year as an exchange student… I’ve continued my travels as much as life has permitted,” Lewis said. “While in college, I returned to Denmark for a few weeks to re-connect with the friends and family I gained while living there. That trip took me up to Norway where I had the chance to experience a Norwegian Christmas with the family of one of my closest friends.”

Since 1936, students in the exchange program have been living in the homes of

host families in over 80 different countries across the globe. Through the support of over 1.2 million volunteers who work vigilantly towards peace, the network of rotary clubs operate closely with the youth and exchange students. Rotary volunteers, from over 33,000 Rotary Clubs, keep expenses low for students and families, ensuring more travel possibilities for more people.

Students who are a part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program can go on longterm (6-12 months) or short-term (1-8 weeks) project trips in different countries, living with a host family. Students are not able to choose the country where they stay, but they can denote preferences. Learning the language of your host country is highly encouraged and will prove advantageous when communicating with locals.

Exchange students inevitably become cultural ambassadors and are asked about their lives at home. Being knowledgeable in the culture, routines, government,

geography, and history will impress host families and citizens of the exchange nations. Similarly, exploring the culture and history of the host country will prepare a student to share experiences with friends, family, and Rotarians at home. Experiencing these cultural differences and recounting them to others breaks barriers and brings people closer.

Currently, five exchange students from the Galveston Rotary club are beginning their long-term school year tours in countries around the world.

During the summer, seven youth exchange participants were paired with host families in Germany, Italy, and France.

13

UIL Academics Medalists Calculator Apps: Annie Pham 6th Computer Science: Sam Heydorn 2nd Feature Writing: Ashley Farmer 5h Valerie Hellinghausen 6th Informative Speaking: Lauren Ronquille 6th Literary Criticism: Stephanie Ding 2nd Rachel Lietz 6th Mathematics: Kevin Chase 5th News Writing: Valerie Hellinghausen 5th Persuasive Speaking: Cameron Littleton 6th Ready Writing: Valerie Hellinghausen 1st William Henry 2nd Laura Hickman 4th Spelling & Vocabulary: Nikki Lloyd 6th Social Studies Jake Kornblau 2nd Team Results

Literary Criticism 1st Ready Writing 1st Calculator Apps 3rd Spelling & Vocabulary 3rd Computer Science 4th Social Studies 3rd Science 5th Mathematics 5th

14 Teen Interest

21 Jump Street’s high school depiction brings laughs

By Jacob Arredondo Sports Editor

The movie 21 Jump Street is in on the joke of high school, as well as the TV series it was based on. It holds on to the plot that sends immature, underachieving, and young-looking cops into high schools to act as undercover agents.

Jump Street stars an unlikely pair of stars in a buddy-cop movie, as is the first rule of buddy-cop films. The film features the debut of “skinny” Jonah Hill, who is back in a high school flick 5 years after Superbad, and Channing Tatum, who is 30 years old and six years removed of his last “high school” film, Step Up. The film starts out in 2005 where both Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are complete opposites in high school. Schmidt is the loser, nerd; kind of fat (thus the “Not-So-Slim Shady” name), while Jenko is the handsome, cool, State Champion quarterback who rules the school.

Both are denied the chance to attend senior prom, Schmidt because he cannot get a date and Jenko because he cannot pass his classes in time. Seven years later, they are reunited at the Police Academy, and through mutual respect and a training montage, they become best friends and patrol men.

After a bust of a notorious bike gang

goes wrong, because Jenko forgets to read the perp his Miranda Rights, they are sent to 21 Jump Street, the headquarters run by Captain Dickson (Ice Cube). Dickson is

cover as high school students, it is almost immediately blown, and thus hilarity ensues.

The entire film is a romp and is true to life with its caricatures of high school

Jonah Hill, left, and Channing Tatum star in Columbia Pictures’ action comedy “21 Jump Street.”

(Courtesy of Scott Garfield/Columbia Pictures/MCT)

loud and angry and encourages all of the people in the program to exaggerate their stereotypes while undercover. Of course after Schmidt and Jenko are assigned their

life and how much the paradigm has shifted. No longer are the athletes and dancers the king and queens of the school (at least over there), but instead the eco-

Hugo took away “Best Achievement in Art Direction,” “Best Achievement in The 84th annual Academy Awards Cinematography,” “Best Achievement in were presented on Sunday, February 26. Sound Editing,” and “Best Achievement The night was a tribute to old Hollywood. in Sound Mixing.” The movie won “Best The Kodak Theatre was decorated as Achievement in Visual Effects” over Harry an old time cinema, and the fashions Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Real and many of the featured movies of Steel, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. the evening reflected an earlier time.

Other movies that took away The show started with host Billy Oscars include Midnight in Paris, The Crystal’s opening act, where he Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Rango, parodied many of the nominees. The skit The Help, and The Descendants. included guest stars George Clooney “The show was kind of irrelevant and Justin Bieber, who joked that he to me this year. Yeah, it was nice to see was only there to help the awards target all the celebrities dress up and hear the the 18 to 24 year-old demographic. jokes, but I actually had only seen one The two biggest winners from the of the nine movies nominated for best evening were The Artist and Hugo, both of picture,” said sophomore Kate Richter.

Richter ’s thoughts parallel many other young people’s who were disappointed to see fan favorites such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 lose to lesser-known films.

N o t a b l e presenters included Emma Stone, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, and the cast of Bridesmaids. Sandra Bullock presented Meryl Streep and Jean Dujardin with their Oscars at the 84th Annual Academy the “Best International Awards show at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, February 26, 2012. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Film,” joking that she Times/MCT) had to present the award which took home five awards. The Artist in Chinese to accommodate international won “Best Motion Picture,” which was viewers, warning the audience that her the first time since 1928 a silent film has Chinese had a slight German accent. won this award. The film also won the The duo of Will Ferrell and Zack awards for “Best Achievement in Costume Galifianakis presented the award Design,” “Best Achievement in Directing,” for “Best Original Song,” marching “Original Score,” and “Best Actor.” across the theatre in matching

white tuxedos, clashing cymbals.

Chris Rock had the whole crowd roaring with laughter as he cracked jokes about the ease of doing the voiceovers for animated movies and how stereotypes about African Americans are held true even in animated film. Rock is well known for playing a zebra in the Madagascar movies.

“If you’re a white man, you can play an Arabian prince. And if you’re a black man, you can play a donkey or a zebra,” said Rock.

The show did include some slip-ups.

Crystal cracked a tasteless joke about black women after Octavia Spencer won the award for best supporting actress for her role in The Help. About

friendly kids, who understand that there are bigger things than high school. This ends up being ironic in how quickly they go back to acting like little kids.

For Jenko, his second-round of high school ends up being a hell that he never expected. He is no longer a “one-strapper” (the kids now prefer using both straps in their backpacks), cannot fist-fight (especially when it could be considered a hate crime), and finds that complete ignorance towards school is not considered “cool” anymore.

However, for Schmidt it is the complete opposite from his high school years. The geeky, counter culture movement is cool now, and he even acknowledges that he would have been the coolest kid in school if he were born just some time later.

Still, there are some stereotpes that both cannot identify. On their first day of school, they see the nerds, the jocks, the geeks, the Goths, but when they pass by the “hipsters,” neither of them can comprehend.

The joke in the end is on high school students, forever to be lampooned on the silver screen for the absurdity presented to the world every day.

84th annual Oscars award The Artist & Iron Lady

By Hannah Brinsko Around Creek Editor

halfway through the awards, there was a pause for a Cirque du Soleil style performance. Though impressive, many thought the acrobatics seemed arbitrary.

Soon after Jennifer Lopez presented the awards for “Best Costume Design” and “Best Makeup,” the Internet was then filled with tweets and posts about a possible wardrobe malfunction of the American Idol judge accidentally showing off a bit too much skin.

Overall, the night was a great continuation of the biggest night in Hollywood and brought a close to a successful year of award shows.

Teen interest 15

The Vow proves a romantic Valentine’s blockbuster

By Jacob Mancini Editor-in-Chief

The weekend before Valentine’s Day, people committed to the The Vow, Michael Sucsy’s well-advertised and highly anticipated romantic drama starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams.

Audiences’ hearts were sold on the love story long before its $41.2 million debut because of tasteful advertising and February 14 right around the corner. On Valentine’s Day alone, the film was a box-office favorite, grossing more than $11 million.

The movie is about Paige (McAdams) and Leo’s (Tatum) love for one another and if it can truly withstand any trial.

When a car accident erases the last five years of her memory, Paige suddenly is married to a stranger and only remembers

the life that she left behind for him. Not only has Paige forgotten about falling in love with Leo, but she tends to cling to the outdated reality that she can remember in which she still loves her ex-fiancé.

Devious parents, a lustful ex-fiancé, headaches, and a life that makes no sense to her all undercut Leo’s chivalrous efforts to win his wife’s heart back and send audiences reeling throughout the movie.

Cut out to be a sappy love story with a twist by previews and ads, The Vow is actually more about the once-star-crossed lovers no longer being able to hold fast to each other. The bulk of the one hour and forty-four minutes of the movie is about Leo and Paige not being in love, which is why it scored only 29 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

One Direction emerges successfully from X-Factor

By Kristina Koonce Reporter

They may have won second place in the U.K. version of X-Factor, but the band One Direction is taking the world by storm.

Five guys are in the group: Harry Styles, 18, Louis Tomlinson, 20, Niall Horan, 18, Zayn Malik, 19, and Liam Payne,18.

After the boys in the group were denied as a solo act for the X-Factor, Simon Cowell, known for being the “mean” judge on American Idol, did not let their talent go to waste. He put the five, who did not know each other, besides Harry and Louis, in a group that did not win X-Factor, but would win the hearts of teenagers and young adults around the world and become a successful boy band.

Once X-Factor was over, One Direction became huge in the United Kingdom and slowly creeped its way into the United States. After filming their music video for their first single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” and recording their first album, “Up All Night,” they promoted it in the U.K. One Direction teamed up with the band Big Time Rush, known for its Nickelodeon TV show, and went on tour as its opening band. The band thought it would be a good way to introduce itself to the U.S., but it seemed like Americans were already aware of the boy band and had fallen in love with it. Once they were done performing, the majority of the crowd left before Big Time Rush even took the stage.

Once their time on the tour was over, One Direction started to make a name for itself without being connected to another band.

On March 12, the band appeared on NBC’s Today Show, and the large

crowd waiting for their arrival went wild once the group took the stage. They arrived on a double decker, a famous European bus. They hopped off the bus and ran straight to the stage to perform “What Makes You Beautiful” and two more of their songs on their album, “One Thing” and “More Than This.”

Between the tours, performing on the Today Show, and having a special cameo on Saturday nights on Nickelodeon, it was almost time for their debut album “Up All Night” to release here in the U.S. The album had done extremely well in the U.K. and was expected to do well here in the states. Their album was expected to sell between 160,000 – 180,000 copies, which would put them at the number 1 position. They were also expected to land at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

Fortunately, One Direction lived up to the expectations, and “Up All Night” went straight to number 1 in the iTunes Music Store on March 20, the day of its release. One Direction even made history on the Billboard 200 albums chart, being the first U.K. group to debut at number 1.

One Direction’s attempt to breakout here in the US seemed to be a complete success. They are scheduled to appear on Nickelodeons popular show iCarly, and there are plans for their own show on Nickelodeon.

Hopeless romantics were not the only ones somewhat disappointed with the film. The Vow was based on a true story, inspired by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter’s marriage and how it endured the original

their values for the secular cinema screen.

Leo narrates parts of the movie, saying in one section: “Life’s all about moments of impact and how they change our lives forever. But what if one day, you could no

car accident and the Photo of Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum longer remember rocky process of any of them?” courtesy of MCT Campus falling in love again.

While some The actual couple, people have a however, accounts the fortitude that held distaste for the hackneyed theme of their marriage together to their faith in God memory loss in today’s films, and others and resents that the film left that part out. begrudge Hollywood’s rendering of a “You make a promise before true story of faith, still many others hold God with your wedding vows,” the heartwarming story in high regard.

Krickitt Carpenter told Fox411.com.

The Vow speaks for itself by its “You have to take that seriously.” sheer number of ticket sales alone.

The studio version of the story strips the couple of their Christianity and dilutes

Oreo has 100th birthday ®

By Clarissa Melendez Reporter

There have been many new Oreo flavors throughout the years, including: Double-Stuffed, Oreo Golden, Oreo Springtime, where the filling is yellow, Oreo Cakesters, Oreo Mint Crème, and even a Triple Double Oreo. A Green Tea

On March 6, “Milk’s Favorite Cookie,” the Oreo, became 100 years old.

This delicious crème sandwich cookie will be celebrating with a limited time flavor.

The “Birthday Cake” Oreo will be on the shelves.

There are little sprinkles in the vanilla crème with a more original design on the cookie.

O r e o cookies were first created in a Nabisco factory in New York City to satisfy British Student eats Oreo Cookie. Photo by Jacob Arredondo. customers. They were “Oreo Biscuits,” and according to Schuyler Oreo was introduced to the Chinese and Velasco, a writer for The Christian Science Japanese as well.

Monitor, the cookies were sold for only There were some problems that arose $.25 a pound. Their names changed from with the famous cookie. The crème was “Oreo Biscuits” to “Oreo Sandwich,” originally made with lard, but this was “Oreo Crème Sandwich,” and “Oreo replaced with trans-fat, which was still Chocolate Sandwich Cookie,” but people deemed unacceptable by the public. The just called it by the one thing that stayed filling is now made with non-hydrogenated the same, “Oreos.” vegetable oil. The Oreo Organic cookie “Over 490 billion Oreos have been filling is made with organic sugar and sold in the cookie’s first 100 years, making flour. them far and away the best-selling cookie The Oreo is a world-wide famous of the 20th century and an indelible part of cookie, a household favorite. Oreo cookies American culture,” stated Velasco in his have made it for 100 years for a reason. article.

They truly are “Milk’s favorite cookie.”

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Sports

Lady Wildcats claw their way to win in district play

By Jacob Arredondo Sports Editor

The young squad has hit a few speed bumps along the way in the race to capture another district crown.

The Lady Wildcats started their district season on March 7 after a successful out in the CCISD tournament that they hosted only a few days before. The Lady Cats did well the entire tournament, beating teams from all over the area and integrating a fresh line-up any time that the could.

Heading into district play, Creek boasted a record of 7-6, which included big wins over teams like St. Agnes Academy (12-4), and slim losses like the 7-6 score against defending 4A State champs, Santa Fe. The Lady Wildcats played the Clear Springs Lady Chargers in the first district game of the season. Tensions were high in the first match-up of this bitter rivalry between the two schools with the players comepeting with each other since childhood. In the bottom of the first, the Lady Wildcats took a 1-0 lead after batting in sophomore Mae Wadyka, who used her speed around the bases. Freshman Kayla Kerr got the start for the Lady Wildcats

and pitched two shutout innings. It was Wingate as she carried Creek to their first not until the third inning when she gave up district win with her first ever home run. three runs, giving the lead back to Springs.

The Lady Wildcats kept the magic Creek exploded going as they faced back in the bottom of the Dickinson Lady the third by adding Gators. Kerr held the five runs and giving Lady Gators off for the the Lady Cats back the three innings. Kerr only lead. Springs kept addgave up two hits in her ing on the runs in the shutout performance. fourth and fifth inning In the fifth inning, with the Lady Charges Dickinson drew first taking back the lead 8-6. blood when the Lady Down by two in Gators hit a homerun to the bottom of the sevswing the momentum enth, the Lady Wildcats back in Dickinson’s needed to pull out the favor. Heading into the magic they used to win top of the sixth inning, games in the past. Afthe Lady Wildcats were ter tying it up with two down by two, but with a runs, Britney Wingate few swings of the bat, went up to bat with a The Lady Wildcats huddle together during a game. Creek knocked in two Photo by Kara Loewenthal. player on second. Afruns to tie the score up ter fouling out a ball earlier that night that and once again the Wildcats were tied gotouched the fence, a hushed crowd was si- ing into the seventh inning. In the top of lent with anticipation. At the crack of the the seventh, Creek knocked in the game bat, the crowd jumped to their feet as they winning run and gave the Lady Wildcats saw the ball clear the left field fence. The back-to-back wins in the district season. entire team was waiting at home to mob After two impressive wins to start

the season, the Lady Wildcats had a five game slide over spring break.

Playing four games in a five-day period puts a strain on any team, and the losses were getting bigger each game.

In the game against Clear Lake, the Lady Falcons put 4 runs in the first inning and Creek had tried to come back for the third game in a row. Their effort came up short as the Lady Falcons’ defense held steady and only allowed 3 runs from the Lady Wildcats, final score 4-3.

The next game was against Clear Brook where the Lady Wildcats only scored one run. Clear Brook won the contest 6-1. Their final game of the spring break stretch was against Brazoswood.

The Lady Bucs kept the run production up while keeping the Lady Wildcats to only three hits the entire game. The game was called short due to the ten run rule limit being reached in the fifth inning. The Lady Wildcats lost the match up 12-0.

There is still hope for the Lady Wildcats to make the playoffs. They need to run the table for the rest of the season and hope for the right cards to fall in place.

Clear Creek Wildcats baseball action in full swing

By Greg Brotzman Reporter

the Hebron Hawks. The team allowed the Hawks to score in three out of the first four The Wildcat varsity baseball team innings, but limited them to a total of only played in the CCISD tournament on March four runs. The Wildcats fought from be1 with high hopes, despite sporting a 3-4 hind most of the game and finally put the record. Even though the Wildcats were game out of reach when they exploded for hosting the tournament, there was no guar- four runs in the top of the fourth, securing antee of advancement, as they would have a 6-4 win. to come with the best record in a pool that The next day, the Wildcats were forced consisted of other good baseball schools to play yet another Katy ISD team, Seven like Clear Springs, Pearland, and Neder- Lakes. The Wildcats limited the Spartans land. They would also face the grueling to three hits and came out with another win, task of having to play five games over a 5-3. In the later game that day, the Wildcats three-day period. played the Chavez Lobos, from Houston The first game the Wildcats played was ISD. The Lobos were overmatched from against a team coming from a very good the start as the Wildcats scored nine runs in district, the Morton Ranch M a v - the first four innings and never looked back ericks. The game started o f f as they emerged with an 11-4 victory. well for the Wildcats as With three wins and only one game starti n g remaining the next day, the Wildcats were pitche r forced to win a game against the La Porte Will Rose Bulldogs to even have a chance at ad( 11 t h ) vancing to the championship game retired later that day. They knew that three of the Bulldogs were one of the the first four toughest teams they would batters. But face in the tournament. soon after that, things The Wildcats jumped out began to unravel. to an early 5-0 lead in the After the Wildcats first four innings. After givwere unable to get a hit ing up two runs in the top in the bottom of the first, of the fifth, the Wildcats rethey went on to give up sponded by only giving up seven runs in the top of one run in the last two innings the second inning. Alto secure a 5-3 victory. though the Wildcats Despite the Wildcats’ strong managed to only give showing and a four win, one loss up five hits in the record, the Wildcats missed out entire game, walks on advancing due to tiebreakand errors ended ers. their chance of starting The Wildcats took the off the tournament wins from this tournament with a victory. and carried the momenThe Wildtum into the next week in cats then squared up which district play started against a team that against the Dickinson Gahad come all the way Photos by tors. The game against Antonio from south Dallas to par- Alvarado the Gators started off ticipate in this tournament, slow, as neither team

scored in the first five innings. Finally, the Wildcats were able to squeeze two runs in the bottom of the sixth, to secure the first district win of the season, 2-0. The game highlighted Tanner Griggs (12th) and Jake Cosart (12th), who combined to throw a 1-hitter.

The Wildcats next faced off against the Clear Brook Wolverines, who just last year had not only finished 3rd in district, but also played their playoff opponents to a third game (in a best of 3 series).

The game started slow, with both teams scoring a run in the first inning and then failing to push across a run in the second. But in the top of the third and fourth innings, the Wildcats exploded to score nine runs while not giving up any to Clear Brook.

The nine runs opened up the game to the point where the Wolverines could not come back, and the Wildcats ended up winning the game 122.

While wins against Dickinson and Clear Brook were nothing to turn their nose up at, the Wildcats knew their real test came against the defending state champs, the Brazoswood Bucs. The Wildcats would have to over come traveling all the way to Brazoswood, into what surely would be a capacity crowd at the Bucs’ home field.

The Wildcats started out the game with a run in the top of the first and three runs in the top of the third. But the Bucs quickly responded with three runs in the bottom of the third.

The Wildcats then came back to score four runs in the top of the fourth inning, and once again the Bucs would not go away, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth to keep it at a 3-run game. When the Wildcats once again scored 4 runs in the top of the 5th inning, the Bucs only managed to

score 1, and the game was finally put out of reach. The Wildcats came out of Brazoswood with a huge 12-6 victory and had the best record in the district.

The Wildcats could not celebrate for long, as a match up with the Pearland Oilers stood on the horizon. The Oilers came into the game with a 2-1 District record, with their only loss coming from Clear Springs.

Pearland jumped on Creek pitcher Griggs early, with four runs in the first 4 innings.

The Wildcats’ hitting was diminished with an offense that had 15 strikeouts, and only managed to score two runs with one hit. The Wildcats ended up taking their first district loss, 5-2.

The Alvin Yellowjackets baseball team came into the game against Creek ready to play, using the same strength they always seemed to have over the years, pitching, to keep them in it. The Wildcats again could not seem to muster up any offense, and despite a phenomenal pitching performance from Cosart, they lost the game 1-0.

The Wildcats are now faced with two rival schools, Clear Springs and Clear Lake, to end the first round of district. If the Wildcats are able to win both of these games, they will certainly be in good shape to make the State playoffs, and possibly walk away with a district championship.

Sports

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Wildcats win District: H2O polo maintains dynasty

By Jacob Arredondo & Rachel Duncavage Sports Editor & Reporter

Who says cats do not like the water?

For the past decade, the water polo team has been the only one at Creek that has been consistently considered a dynasty. The Wildcats have dominated in water polo since its inception. The team is decorated in everything from banners and trophies to medals and articles in newspapers.

With the start of a new season, the Wildcats are looking forward in achieving another year of success and another deep run in the TISCA Water Polo State Championship. Last year, the boys’ team won fifth place overall in the tournament.

After a successful swimming season, the team has been itching to get back into the water since the beginning of the school year. Since the flip-flop of seasons, where swimming starts in the winter and water polo starts in the spring, it has made the players wait even longer to play a sport that they truly love.

The season started out against Clear Lake in a heated rival match up. In past seasons, both teams have been the best in the state, making trips to the state tournaments in multiple seasons. The Wildcats handled Clear Lake for all four quarters both offensively and defensively. Three players had a multi-score game: Forrest Austin (12th), Stephen Binion (12th), and Max Pfotenhauer (10th). The Wildcats took advantage of

every opportunity that was given and scored one goal in two power play situations.

After the win, the boys’ team cruised on to win their next 9 games, taking out many great teams in the process. During the streak, the boys’ team won big in two tournaments.

They achieved a first place finish in the

first match of the year at the Battlefield and garnered a second place finish. Creek defeated Lamar and Galveston Ball following the match 9 - 8 and 15 - 8 respectively.

Creek saved their biggest beating for Cy-Falls, with a 20-3 victory over the Cypress district school at the Alison Ma-

Senior Helena Terrell in action. Photo by Sierra Kemper.

Spring Shootout, after a 15-6 victory over Clear Falls.

Austin led the Wildcats by scoring four goals.

The team hit their first speed bump in the championship round in the Battlefield tournament hosted by Clear Brook. They had started out by defeating four opponents, all by double digits, including heavy hitters like Sterling and Lake. In the championship game against Strake Jesuit, the boys found something that they were not very used to­— being down in the score.

A hard fought match ensued as the boys tried to capture back the lead. The deficit was too much and the Wildcats lost their

loney Memorial Tournament. Most players on the team scored as they demolished the Eagles for their third straight win.

After the slaughter over the Cy-Falls, Creek dropped its next two games against The Woodlands and St. Marks. In the game against the Woodlands the Wildcats, lost 6 - 11 which sent them to the losers bracket where they played St. Mark.

Creek lost 6 - 10. Creek did redeem themselves by defeating Jersey Village 12 - 4.

Last year the girls’ water polo team did not make it to State, but they are sure they can do it this year. The girls said that be-

cause of the great leadership by their two captains, Senior Helena Terrell and Junior Olivia Todd, they will have the potential to make it to state. The girls work as one—not only do they bond during practice and games, but they also bond outside of school. The team is one big family and they love each member and the way each member contributes to the team.

The older girls are welcoming to the new freshman additions to the team, Nicole Herrick and Ami Artiz. The girls know that each person plays a huge role in taking this team to State.

Each of the girls said something about their hopes and goals for the season.

“I hope that we beat Springs. Also I want to get a black eye to show my hard work for the team,” Megan Todd said.

“I want to stomp Springs!”

Helena Terrell, Senior Captain, said.

“If water polo was easy everyone would do it,” Nicole Herrick said.

The other girls’ were all unanimous in saying that they want to stomp Springs and become District champs.

Both the boys’ and girls’ squads clinched the District title after defeating Clear Falls. The boys beat the Knights 13 to 4, while the Lady Cats won 14 to 2.

The South Region tournement will be on April 21, with the winners earning a ticket to the State tournament, which will be held in Austin at the University of Texas.