OCT2008 by Clear Creek HiLife

Designer. Refugee Advocate. Strongheart Fellow. P. 12

Creek Football P. 18 Hurricane Ike Heroes P. 12

2305 East Main, League City, TX 77573

Ike damages the Ninth Grade Center Allie Hinga

Hurricane Ike left extensive damage across the coast of Texas, from widespread power outages to the destruction of Galveston Island. Creek has also been dealing with Ike’s aftermath as it works to clean up the damage to the Ninth Grade Center. Both students and teachers have been working to adjust to new

classroom arrangements, and the damage that was done not only to the rooms, but also to personal belongings and years of student and teacher work. During Hurricane Ike, the strong winds blew off a large piece of the roof, which blew backwards, creating a hole in the roof behind it and letting water into the building. The science wing on the second floor of the Ninth Grade Center was the first to take on water, which would eventually seep into classrooms on the floor below. The front hallways of the building suffered only minor damage. After the storm, crews came in to clear out the damage within a day of work. Classrooms lost a number of ceiling tiles, and some of them had to have the entire ceiling grid taken out. Many teachers lost cabinets in their rooms, carpet had to be removed, and over a week after the storm passed through, workers had to remove the insulation from damaged areas. Teachers also lost some of the materials that had been left in their rooms before the storm, such as teaching supplies, student projects, and even some personal items. Items found in the classroom that were still in decent condition were boxed so teachers could retrieve them later. Before school resumed on Monday, September 29, the Education Support Center was working to replace some of the lost items. In wake of the damage done to the Ninth Grade Center, the High School administration worked to place teachers in suitable rooms, as half of the classrooms in the building were considered not suitable for students and still receiving work. Teachers have been relocated across campus, with some in new rooms in the Ninth Grade Center, and others in the portables, the temporary buildings, or unused classrooms on the main campus. It could take anywhere from one to three or four weeks until all the damaged classrooms can be occupied again. Even then, the building will still need work. Mr.

Bockart said that it is “...very likely we will finish the year without carpet.” On the Thursday before school started, teachers were allowed to go into their rooms to view the damage, and retrieve a few items they would need to begin teaching on Monday. Ninth Grade Center teachers experienced various amounts of damage. Mr. Brad Hewlett, the ninth grade theater teacher said that there was absolutely no damage to h i s

room, and that the only real impact he was feeling was not being able

t a k e his students to the damaged teaching theater. Before returning to the school, Hewlett said he was worried because he didn’t know the extent of the damage, and he had scripts and personal and department books that could have been destroyed. Since he remains in his old room in the Ninth Grade Center, he says the only major difference he sees in the school is the crowded

but

even

that

hallways, nothing

new

to him. “It’s really not a whole lot different than it was a couple of years ago when all the rooms were full,” he said. Another teacher, Mr. Graham, suffered little damage to his belongings, because this is his first year teaching at Creek. His room lost carpet and cabinets, and Graham lost paperwork, copies, and his computer, but little e l s e . “I didn’t have a lot of stuff in my classroom yet, so I didn’t have much to lose,” he said. He said he feels bad because he knows that others lost much more.

Continue on page 5. Photo by Cassie Lee

Creek grad wins gold medal

Megan McKisson CCISD’s motto ‘Educate, Equip, Excel” is plastered all over the website and walls of Clear Creek ISD. Most students see the words daily without more than a glance, but Creek graduate and Olympic medalist Riley Salmon has lived them. No ordinary

alumni, Salmon graced Creek with a halftime appearance on Thursday, August 28, where he was presented with the key to League City by the mayor, Toni Randall. “We are so proud of you,” Randall said as a grinning Salmon accepted the key. Growing up in League City, Salmon tried out for baseball, tennis and basketball before discovering his passion for volleyball completely by chance. After discovering that the

gym he had hoped to use for some pickup basketball was being refurbished, he wandered over to another court where a group of students were organizing a volleyball game, in need of a final player. Salmon joined in and has never looked back since. His talent was recognized quickly, and he excelled in club volleyball. “I’m proud to say I was teammates with Riley in high school,” said current Creek head volleyball coach Scott Simonds. “He was, is, and always will be a much better volleyball better player than me. I’m very proud of Riley and I’m very proud to call him a Clear Creek Wildcat. While most of his Olympic teammates played college volleyball at NCAA Division I schools crawling with talent scouts and All-American honors, Salmon played for two years at Pierce College in Los Angeles, California.

It was here that he discovered beach volleyball, and it wasn’t long before he was competing in the AVP Volleyball tour, finishing top-20 over the next couple of seasons. Still, he accepted this as the end of his volleyball years, securing a job as a warehouse supervisor for General Electric. His path seemed set until scout Tim Kelly invited him to play for a professional men’s team in Italy, giving him two days to respond with an answer. “I told him to go for it,” said Salmon’s wife (whom he was then engaged to) Millie. “I wanted him to chase his dreams.” Salmon moved to Italy and was soon signed with the professional team Tomei. It was here in Europe that the then-U.S. Olympic coach Doug Beal discovered Salmon. The 2004 US team qualified for the Games at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but did not bring home a medal that year. Returning to the 2008 Games, Salmon helped his team earn a gold victory once and for all. Salmon serves as a reminder to all Creek students and alumni that with dedication, passion, and hard work, any dream can become a reality. “Don’t ever give up. It’s a long road, but believe me, it’s possible”, said Riley Salmon.

Photo by Wynette Jameson

Opinion

How were you affected by Hurricane Ike?

Ryan Munthe Did you evacuate? Did you ‘hunker down’ or ‘shelter in place’? Well, whatever you did you were surely in one way or another affected by Hurricane Ike. Many residents who survived Alicia said that Ike was worse, and it certainly lived up to that claim. Trees down, flooding, and our very own ‘backyard resort’-Kemah Boardwalk, was all but destroyed by the storm. Many who lived in Kemah were displaced by Ike, and our Ninth Grade Center was severly damaged (which put the ninth graders in the already crowded campus), however some of us, like myself, just had to do some minor fence repair and check for shingle damage. So, we all want to know, Creek: How were you affected by Hurricane Ike?

FRESHM

SEN IORS

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“All of our food went bad in the fridge when the power went out.” -Andrea Lopez

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“I didn’t have electricity.” -Kevin Brian Donovan, Jr.

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“I lost a win

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“My

-Brandon S

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JUNIORS

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OOL H C S H IG H K E E R CLEAR C Staff e if iL H 9 0 0 2 8 0 0 2 Scott Bockart

Principal: Advisor: Executive Editor: Editor-in-Chief : Layout Editor: Graphics Editor: Photo Editors:

Online Editor: : Advertising Managers Video Editor: Feature Editors: Centerspread Editor: News Editor: Sports Editors:

This & That Editor: Creek Spirit Editor: Creek Speaks Editor: Teen Interest Editor: r: Opinion Survey Edito Reporters: Jordan Little Emily Young Sue Ellen van Eps Shannon O’Neil Christen Valcoviak

Wynette Jameson Jan O’Neil Cassie Lee Olivia Huynh Ryan Munthe Hailey Stephens Melissa Devitt ahue Shauna Fererro -Don n Ryan Gripo Adam Vencil Ryan Gripon Hayley Rush Amanda Compton Hayley Boltinghouse Cassie Lee Sue Ellen van Eps Ryan Munthe Allie Hinga Hailey Stephens Megan McKisson Chelsea Huebner Ryan Munthe

Amber Arnold Lauren McGaughey Matthew Johnson Kaitlyn Blake ahue Shauna Fererro -Don

Tracey Griffith William Sheffield Christine Sulkis Emily Dismukes Alina Gregor y

e@gmail.com Email us at: Creekhilif ecity/cchs/ urnalism.org/tx/leagu ljo oo sch gh .hi my :// 284-1705 Visit us at: http 4-1889 or Fax: (281) 28 ) 81 (2 ll: ca es rat For advertising

Editorial

Hey come talk with me, Cassie Lee “Time’s running out, are you ready for your future?”

Cassie Lee Senior year is finally here and my time is almost up. Since first grade, I have given, what seems like an endless amount of dedicated time and work to school. The time I gave up from my life was supposed to be spent learning, deciding, and choosing what my future would be. Now, in less than one year, I must single out one college. This decision could possibly make or break my future. I can remember being a freshman, having reality hit, saying that these were my last years to find out who I am and what I want to be. In a blink of an eye, my final high school year has arrived. Yet still, my decision is undecided, unsure, and unresolved.

Procrastination is what I plan to avoid this year. However, currently, procrastination and laziness has become my theme. After sleeping through my first attempt to take the SATs, my motto has become, “I’ll do it all when I can, and I just can’t right now!” It’s true what people say, senior year is the best, most fun, and exciting year! Just over the summer I climbed Mt. Chrysolite, a 13,000 ft mountain, made a whirlpool with about 500 other people, and had the best time of my life just hanging out with my best friends, Alex and Chloe. My school year was predicted to be a blow off year, be stress free, and enjoy life one day at a time. Unfortunately, I have never felt more overwhelmed with my life. The first task keeping me from my laid back senior year was becoming varsity head cheerleader. I had my work cut out for me. By organizing meetings, ordering uniforms, and teaching all I know, frustration obviously came. That job, in itself, is a handful. Also, cheer camp over the summer couldn’t have gone more wrong. First, cheerleaders cannot live without a ton of drama. Secondly, because of the changing of the school schedule, we had to attend a basic beginner camp. This would have been great if we were beginners, but seeing

that we had already been champions of the advance elite camp the previous year, all the material was extremely simple. So, of course, we looked on the bright side and set out to make camp fun. We did accomplish the fun task, however, we lost our focus in the process and it resulted and messing up during our final performance. Now, our biggest difficulty is to stay on task and stay focused. This is especially vital due to the fact that school started later than usual, thus, giving us less time to prepare our performances. My second dilemma to a relaxing senior year is being Editor-in-Chief of the HiLife Newspaper. Although it doesn’t seem like a huge deal to most teenagers, it is like having a real-life-full-time job. The basic skills that one needs to know are, newspaper dimensions, how to use Indesign, how to use Photoshop, how to place stories, photos, other graphics, and so much more. Not to mention having to assign everyone in the class a story or page to work on. Furthermore, how are you supposed to force people to work and stay busy during class? No one I know would want to listen to someone their own age compared to an adult. What a lot of people do not realize is that the students run our school’s newspaper. Our

teacher is an advisor. It is the kids who sell ads, make money, create business deals, write the stories, take the pictures, place the graphics, organize the paper, send out the paper, and distribute it to the student body. The difference of being Editor-in-Chief compared to just being on the staff is nothing more than having responsibility to make sure everyone is on task and gets their work done, and everyone’s mistake is your mistake. Yes, I have one of the easiest schedules this year. Yet, my year is filled with more responsibilities than most students. By making sure that about forty-five editors and reporters have something to do and are getting it done, and making sure twenty-eight cheerleaders know their material and can execute it well, my senior year is anything but relaxing. So here I am, less than a year until graduation, sitting at a computer, still clueless about my future. I don’t have a college picked out, I still haven’t taken my SATs yet, and still trying to live my life and have fun. Thus, leaving me with multiple decisions and lot of work to do. However, with as much as I have on my plate, “I’ll do it all when I can, and I just can’t right now!”

Guest Editorial: Allison Hinga “Don’t forget those who need to be remembered”

Allie Hinga It was a Wednesday, about a week and a half after Hurricane Ike ripped through Houston and Galveston. I was at home, trying to clean up my room, which probably looked like it had been hit by a smaller, but still violent, storm, when one of my best friends, Mie Millard, returned my call. We discussed what we had each been doing since coming home. My youth group and I had helped move fallen branches from damaged yards in the Third Ward of Houston on Monday, and I was trying to figure out how I was ever going to finish my US History project. Mie had spent the last two days cleaning out houses in her neighborhood, and was planning on figuring out her school work within the next few days. Eventually, we began discussing our plans to return to school after two and a half weeks of evacuation, fear, worry, relief, volunteer projects, and excitement over little things like ice cream or even frozen broccoli in the grocery store. I mentioned that I still needed to write the editorial I had volunteered to do for the school paper. It was the conversation that followed that would impact me more than I realized at the time.

“Are you going to write your editorial about Hurricane Ike?” Mie asked. “No,” I said, “I think I’m going to go ahead with my original idea. I mean, I’m already thinking about putting out a couple of story ideas to cover the hurricane. Besides, I’m not sure how much more people are really going to want to hear about it.” “Yeah, I guess so,” she said, “But I mean, you live in a neighborhood that didn’t really get a lot of damage, right?” “Yeah, we’re a relatively new neighborhood, so we just had a few downed trees and some fences blown over,” I said, “Things are pretty much back to normal here.” “See, my neighborhood is still pretty much a mess,” she said, “I mean, half of the houses around me are pretty much okay, but the other half are just unlivable. It’s just kind of weird, you know? I mean we’re not on television or anything, so it’s like the rest of the world is going on around us, but we’re still trying to recover.” Mie lives in Nassau Bay. Her zip code was in the “after Monday” group, those who would not get power back until at least a week after the hurricane. While her house escaped with little damage besides a lost fence and a lot of debris, houses near hers at lower elevations sustained extensive water damage, and their owners have lost everything. It will be a long time before their lives are as “normal” as mine was a week after the storm. I thought little of her comment at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I

realized she was right. While I was sitting around worrying about how I was going to finish my homework, there were people worrying about when they might get power back, or even worrying about where they were going to stay that night. While I was trying to forget about Ike, others have had their lives defined by it. My world was still spinning, while theirs had come to a drastic stop, and while I had done my share of volunteering to help out those less fortunate than me, I couldn’t help but realize that I was secretly half wishing that life would just go on “as usual.” I’ll admit I eventually ended up feeling a little bit guilty about my attitude. Would it be too much for me to maybe put my life on hold to help out someone who needed a person to care? Maybe I would lose some time to do my work, maybe I would have to give up a little bit of my personal life, but if those things are my biggest concern, then I am a blessed person indeed. I soon realized, however, that this isn’t just about Hurricane Ike. Every day, I encounter people who are struggling with cleaning up the messes from their own life’s “storms.” It could be the teenager hiding a drug addiction, the sixteen year old facing an unexpected pregnancy, or even the accident on the freeway that keeps me from getting to church on time. It is the wife who still hasn’t recovered from September 11, the son who lost his father to the War in Iraq. It was my dad when he was going through a divorce. It was me when I was struggling with

depression and anxiety. It was a friend of mine dealing with an alcoholic parent. It is all of us who have ever felt like life was going by around us at 65 miles per hour, while we were left broken down on the side of the road waiting for help. Every day, I have a chance to help someone who could need anything from a hug to having their house rebuilt, from a bag of ice to a listening ear, and in the end, to just know that someone else cares for them. It might be a few minutes of my time, or it might be an entire day, but either can be equally important to the person who needs help. In my experience, the worst part of suffering isn’t necessarily the actual circumstances; it’s feeling forgotten in the midst of them. Taking the time to reach out to someone, no matter how trivial it seems, has a far greater impact in the great scheme of things than we realize. It can mean the difference between life and death, between ruin and reconstruction. So maybe the next time I hear an update on Hurricane Ike, I won’t wonder why we’re still talking about it; I’ll be happy for the people who are one step closer to getting their life back together. Instead of wishing that disaster relief teams would hurry up and fix the damage, maybe I can help be part of the solution. Maybe instead of skipping around the subject, I’ll look someone in the eyes and ask them what’s wrong. I won’t pull this off perfectly, but I will make a difference.

N ews Election demystified for new student voters Jordan Little Because the majority of Creek’s students can’t vote in the upcoming election, some students may not feel the need to educate themselves on the issues. What most students do not realize is that in the near future they will be eligible to vote. The importance of this year’s election to high school students is one of being prepared when the time comes to cast his or her ballot. Kristen Bateman, a junior said, “Staying on top of the issues, sifting through media bias, and watching political debates will help students make informed decisions when they can vote in future elections as well as help them figure out what they want in a candidate.” The first step students should take in becoming more aware is to become knowledgeable of the candidates and their parties. The Democratic Party was founded in 1792 by Thomas Jefferson to support the Bill of Rights and work against the elitist Federal Party. Barack Obama, a 47 year old senator from Illinois, is this year’s democratic presidential nominee. He is married to Michelle Obama with whom he has two children, Malia age 9 and Sasha age 7. Obama attended both Columbia and Harvard University. His running mate, Joe Biden, is serving a sixth term as a senator from Delaware. Obama’s plan regarding the war in Iraq would be to have all troops withdrawn by 2010. Relating to education, Obama would prefer to focus on early childhood education, college tuition, and teacher service scholarships. Obama would make the U.S. a leader in fighting climate change by leading other nations. Like, republican nominee, John McCain, Obama

is in favor of reducing green house gases and using alternative energy sources within the nation. Regarding health care, Obama is for establishing universal health coverage. The Republican party was started in the early 1850’s by anti-slavery activists and persons who believed settlers should be allowed privileges to western lands free of charge by the government. Its name “Republican” alludes to equality. The party as a whole alludes to Thomas J e ff e r s o n ’s Democratic - Republican Party. John M c C a i n , r e p u b l i c a n presidential nominee, is a senator from Arizona. Seventy-two year old McCain is married to his wife Cindy McCain with whom he has four children, one of the four being adopted. McCain also has children from his previous marriage to Carol Shepp. McCain attended both the U.S. Naval Academy and the National War College. McCain has recently chosen Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin to be his running mate. McCain’s priorities relating to the Iraq War are not on setting a

time for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. He is in favor of “No Child Left Behind” and plans on focusing on educational issues such as teacher reliability, and technology and learning. McCain, like Obama is in favor of reducing green house gases and using alternative energy sources to supply the nation’s energy needs. McCain poses himself against the idea of universal health coverage due to his belief that competition will provide good quality health insurance. Since January of 1968, the American Independent Party of California has qualified to be on the voting day ballot. Ralph Nader is the independent party candidate for the 2008 election. He is a consumer advocate, lawyer and author. His nominee for vice president is Matt Gonzalez. According to www.votenader.org, Gonzalez is an experienced politician who was elected president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2003. Regarding the environment, the Nader campaign would like to cut off the American people’s use of fossil fuels. The campaign also believes that education should be the responsibility

of the state and local governments and opposes the dependence on jeopardizing standardized tests that are promoted in “No Child Left Behind”. The campaign is pro government influence on health care and believes a universal coverage system would improve today’s healthcare. The Nader/Gonzalez campaign would plan to rapidly withdraw troops from Iraq. The Green Party is a federation of state Green Parties and is recognized by Federal Elections Commission as the official Green Party National Committee. The party’s major commitments are non-violence, environmentalism, social justice and grassroots organizing. The party’s presidential candidate is Cynthia McKinney, a Georgia member of the U.S. house. Her running mate is Rosa Clementes. The McKinney/Clementes campaign is pro withdrawing troops and contractors from Iraq immediately. McKinney/ Clementes support Single-Payer National Health Care, which in their view would provide all Americans with quality health care. Their campaign calls for restrictions in greenhouse gas emissions and in U.S. energy consumptions. The Green party supports educational diversity and broad choices within U.S. education systems. Tuesday, November 4 Americans across the country will cast their votes for who they believe should be President. Although unable to vote in the upcoming election, some Creek students have formed their own opinions. Simone Nagle, a junior said, “I support Barack Obama because of his stance on the issues of the environment, abortion, and the economy.” Those under the legal age will just have to be content in knowing that their chance to vote will come in time.

Check up on election F.E.M.A.’s role in Ike Haley Rush The world of politics can be full of confusion and deception. With this in mind the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania established the website www.factcheck.org. Their object is, to dedicate the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to amplify public knowledge a n d understanding. They monitor the accuracy of statements said by leading U.S. politicians. The Annenberg Political Fact Check was established in 1994 by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg. He wanted to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels. The Factcheck website is used to check the facts on politicians. The websites number one quote is “Holding Politicians Accountable.” Any question someone might have regarding politics and the upcoming elections, Factcheck will have the answer. Factcheck has many features on its website, which makes browsing and checking the facts much easier. The Hot Topics section is a list of the most frequently asked questions. One question from the Hot Topics section is “How long have Obama and McCain

been in Congress?” Underneath and easy to find is a simple that answer. “Obama has been in the U.S. Senate since January 2005. McCain joined the House in January, 1983 and the Senate four years later. A chain e-mail that purports to s h o w their time in Congress gives a bogus comparison.” After the quick answer there is a link to read a full and more in depth description. Another interesting feature is the Article Key. There are three types of stories that appear most frequently on their website. They have provided a key so it can be more easily navigated. The three types of stories are Court Watch, Presidential Race, and Congressional Race. The website can also be accessed away from the computer. Fact Check Mobile creates a simpler form easy to use on a mobile device. Subscribing for email alerts is another way to get more involved with politics. Fact Check strives to be one hundred percent accurate. They will provide the truth to any question asked as well as back up to their statements.

Photo by Graphicsfactory.com and Wynette Jameson

Jordan Little

In Ike’s aftermath, some questioned what the agency would do to assist hurricane’s victims. When disaster strikes, the Department of Homeland Security uses FEMA to provide help to those in need of support. The acronym FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its job is to protect the country from any form of disaster. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, some people felt that FEMA was unprepared. Ordinary citizens felt the need to reach out to the Katrina victims. FEMA’s suggested failures with Katrina brought up the question of whether the agency would do a better job in providing relief with Hurricane Ike. What is troubling is the unclear answer to that question. To be fair, FEMA has provided relief to victims of Ike. In Galveston, FEMA has several Disaster Recovery Centers where hurricane victims can receive information in Houston. The agency’s DRC located in Galveston County provides personal assistance to Ike victims. Online, victims in the declared disaster areas can register for federal assistance at www. fema.gov.assistance. FEMA states on its website that the agency will provide money to hurricane victims who need temporary housing, home repair and replacement, or permanent housing construction. As of September 30, FEMA

provided Galveston residents with two points of distribution or PODs, a place where hurricane victims can receive necessary supplies such as food and water. Katherine Sather of khou.com writes that FEMA spokesperson, Marty Bahamonde advised Galveston residents to make sure they had enough food and water. FEMA will not cover the costs to assist victims with items considered luxuries such as a generator or air conditioning. FEMA aided League City by paying 75 percent of the cost of its clean-up. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development along with FEMA introduced a new plan that will assist those who were displaced from their homes due to Ike. The program begins on November 1 and will remain accessible for 18 months to families who live in the Hurricane Ike evacuation zones. Some residents of Houston received support from one of FEMA’s disaster recovery centers in The Woodlands on Wednesday, October 1. FEMA representatives were present in order to assist Ike victims in making plans for their futures. With Ike’s toll of destruction and death, it is hard to estimate just how well FEMA workers are doing in attending to the hurricaneís victims. Certain regions have received help from FEMA while others, such as San Leon feel overlooked. Within the months and even years to come, FEMA’s support to Ike’s victims may or may not become more evident.

N ews Exchange student comes to Creek Hayley Boultinghouse

Outside of the South Shore Harbor Starbucks, Johnny, a foreign exchange student from China, relaxed in the openess of his surroundings. “Beijing is very crowded,” said Johnny. He then explained that he enjoys League City because there is more space. There is more space to move and more space to think. “We grow up together in China, and Americans grow up independent” Johnny, 17, is spending his senior year in the United States with his host family, the Fontana’s. Back in Beijing, he was the only child of a sales manager father and teacher mother. With the Fonatana’s Johnny not only has a mother, Sara, and a father, Francis, but also two brothers and two sisters. Evelyn Joy and Michael attend Creek with Johnny. Peter, the oldest son, is in Beijing and Amelia, the oldest daughter, attends Texas A&M University. “They [host family] are very loving and very satisfied with me. I am happy and it is good. Everyday I learn some funny and interesting things. In China, I am sometimes alone. My parents work a lot,” said Johnny. Johnny arrived on August 20 and had little time to settle in to his new home before starting school. After only a short time in attendance, Johnny could already list many differences between high school in America versus high school in China. In China students do not select their own classes. Certain courses are assigned to them. Students do not move from class to class. They stay in one place all day while the teachers rotate rooms.

“If you are a good student you want to study weekends. His mother likes to come and a lot,” said Johnny. He then explained that a watch. Johnny smiled and admitted that he high school student in China has eight brought his ball and glove with him to League classes a day. They start around 7:15 in City in case anyone here wanted top play. When it comes to music, Johnny’s the morning and do not end until 5-6 top three genres are pop, rock and jazz. o’clock at night. On top of that there He loves to eat Chinese food and when is homework and sometimes school on asked if he had a favorite Saturday. American food, “My As a senior parents don’t allow me in a Chinese to eat American food. high school, the They’re afraid I’ll get fat”, school day is he laughed and said, extended until 8 When asked what o’clock at night the most challenging because students part of living in are preparing America with a host for the Gaokao, family was, Johnny a college immediately responded, entrance exam. “The language. English The Gaokao conversation is very hard is graded on for me now.” Despite the pass or fail challenge, he expressed a unlike the SAT desire to keep learning. in the United Foreign exchange student “I want to learn more States which just Johnny, real name Haoyi. English. I want to learn scales a students about American culture.” performance When asked if he had any role models that in certain core subject areas. encouraged him or shared his outlook on life If a student fails his or her Gaokao exam Johnny replied no. Instead he said, “everyone they must wait an entire year before they are allowed to take it again. has advantages and disadvantages. I like “You must go to the University. to absorb the advantages from people. Sara Fontana, Johnny’s host mother was Going to the University means getting a at his side throughout the entire interview good job,” said Johnny. He hopes providing support to her new “son”. to attend an American university. “We believe he is not here by “Then I will go back to China to coincidence. It is definitely a God work. My level will be very high and they will say ‘we want you”, said Johnny. thing. It has been a gift,” she said. Outside of school, Johnny’s favorite past time is softball. He plays games with his father and some of their Photo by American neighbors in Beijing on the Hayley Boultinghouse

Front page Continued

Other teachers suffered much more extensive damage. Mr. JeffCherry and Ms. Guhl, two World Geography teachers at the Ninth Grade Center lost a significant number of items. Cherry lost personal books, coursework from Rice and the University of Texas, case study binders from the World Affairs counsel of Houston, and a number of atlases and encyclopedias. Guhl said that she lost some of her older teaching supplies, and many students lost their work from the storm damage. She recalls going back to her classroom before school started to assess the damage. She said that while most of her room was damaged, the writing on the blackboard from the day before school got out remained. “It was really an eerie thing to walk in and see everything we’d done two weeks ago,” she said. Both Mr. Cherry and Ms. Guhl have been relocated to the temporary buildings behind the Ninth Grade Center and said that it has been difficult for students to get to class on time and to be isolated from the rest of the building. Though it will be some time before the Ninth Grade Center will be fully operational again, and students resume their classes in their normal locations. Even then, they will still be dealing with loss of materials, and there is a good chance that science rooms will be without labs. Many teachers will also have to continue working with only limited materials. Despite all that, Mr. Cherry said that in the long run, things should turn out fine. “We’ll bounce back, no matter what. We’re resilient,” Cherry said.

N ews Teachers affected by Hurricane Ike Shannon O’Neil Hurricane Ike affected many people in the Houston area, but what some students may not know is that some of the teachers at Creek were part of the group of people affected. Sara Spinks, Thea Lockett, Elizabeth Updegraff, Gena Basnett, Jan McWhorter, and Glen McWhorter were just a few of those teachers. Mrs. Spinks is a Spanish 1 teacher at the Ninth Grade Center. Living on the fourth floor of her Galveston apartment, she was one of the lucky Galveston residents. She left on Thursday, early in the morning, with her husband and three dogs. They went to Terrell and rode out the storm, not knowing what was happening to their apartment near the West end of the island. Even in the midst of the upcoming storm, hopeful news was floating in their minds. They were glad to know that, when they were able to go back to see the apartment in Galveston, it was still livable. Since they were on the fourth floor they had no flooding and no structural damage. However she said she lost her freezer with a lot of chicken in it. “The smell was/is awful, but all is well.” Thea Lockett is a trainer at our school and suffered some damage to her home in Kemah Oaks. She evacuated to Katy and was able to stay with some

Shauna Fererro Hurricane Ike hit the gulf coast at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 13. Even before it made landfall it was creating a disaster, the surge came in before the storm arrived. As a result of the storm many people lost their homes, while others had minor damage but still were without power for days. Many fellow Wildcats have lost many valuable things, and even their houses. Loni Larange, a Clear Creek High School sophomore, was one of many who lost their houses. “It’s upsetting knowing I don’t have a house anymore, but at the same time its exciting because I get to have a new house,” said Loni. Many students evacuated. For some it was like a vacation, “I went to a camp in Hunt, itís just outside of Austin, but there was a camp there and it was free so that was convenient. It was really fun being there, I hope maybe a hurricane named Tina will come through so we can go back”, says, sophomore, Loni Larange. There were also people who decided to ride out the storm. “Not knowing what was going on outside, or if ill be okay, or even if my house will be okay was a little scary,”

friends. However, when she came home on Monday she found that her roof was damaged and she had some water in the house. Spirits are up, however, because she knows it could’ve been a lot worse. Her husband is a police officer in Kemah and has been dealing with the looters while Mrs. Lockett has been experiencing the helpfulness of some of the other Creek teachers. “Whether they have been effected or not, the teachers have been helpful.” Mrs. Lockett said. G e n a Basnett too had an

apartment in Galveston, due to an interesting story. A while back, she promised her friend that she would have lunch with her in a certain café in Galveston. However,

said Tyler Holmes, a sophomore. As it destroyed homes, Ike also destroyed schools. Students who once attended the damaged schools now have to attend school in the areas where they have evacuated. The students may go there for the rest of the semester or even longer. Creek’s Ninth Grade Campus got hit pretty hard, leaving the roof caved in and water damage in the science hall. Many of the students and teachers were transferred to unoccupied classrooms in the main campus. The repair crew on the ninth grade campus are working very hard and as quickly as possible to get the students and teachers back to their normal classes. Being gone for two weeks for the hurricane has strained schedules. Schools are trying to get back to the way things were before the storm. There has also been rescheduling for cancelled club meetings and cancelled games. There is also concern over the number of school, days the district will have to make up. Damage is still being taken into account in the wake of the storm. In Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula, many residents have lost their homes entirely. In downtown Houston several highrise buildings have windows that have been shattered causing

shortly after, her friend was diagnosed with cancer and died around the age of 18. Mrs. Basnett decided that she was not going to hesitate on doing things she always wanted to do once she found out that she also might be sick. Good news soon came for her, yet, that didn’t stop her from making her to-do list and sticking to it. She moved to

Galveston and had an interesting Ike experience. She evacuated to Corsicana on the day school was cancelled and didn’t return until a week later. When she finally was able to get to her apartment she found that her home and car was under eight feet of water. Thankfully, she found her most prized possession untouched. She had placed her son’s Marine Corps picture in a box high up, but when she came back the box had gotten wet. Luckily her son’s picture was neither wet nor damaged. “Your picture

debris of office supplies and glass to scatter all over the surrounding area. Closer to home, there was extensive flooding in the Clear Lake area. The Kemah Boardwalk, where several Creek students once had jobs, is closed until further notice. Fallen trees and fences were widespread. Power outages lasted a number of days and some are still ongoing in certain areas. Slowly but surely, Ike’s victims are beginning to rebuild their lives.

floated because Marine’s are amphibious,” her son told her. She hopes to be able to move back to Galveston as soon as possible. Right now she is staying with good-hearted strangers that opened their home to her, so she could be close to work and her home. Basnett said, “I’m not afraid of Galveston.” Glen McWhorter is the golf coach. He lives in Dickinson Bayou. When Ike started heading closer, he evacuated to Bell Air. McWhorter came home the day after the storm hit and had to wade through the water and debri to get to his home. He said that the water was over the pool and about two feet in the house. “The hardest thing is knowing where to start,” Coach said. His family was lucky to find an apartment nearby to stay at until the house is livable again. They are hoping insurance will cover the cost so they can rebuild and move back in. Mrs. McWhorter, Mrs. Updegraff and Jane McGregor also had storm damage. It’s amazing how, in an instant, someone’s life can just change. As the water came through homes, lives were just taken for a roller coaster. Hurricane Ike, no doubt, caused major damage to our area but the outlook is good for recovery.

Photo Courtesy of MCTcampus.com and Cassie Lee

News

Relief comes in the wake of Ike’s aftermath Haley Rush For every Natural disaster, relief groups across the United States quickly come together to help victims who have faced unfavorable circumstances. Admirably, citizens have seemed to move just as fast to give a helping hand to those in need. As Hurricane Ike and Gustav swept across the Gulf Coast the Mennonite Disaster Service made sure there were more than enough assistance with the phone center. The service was ready for the usual flood of calls from people ready to donate and volunteer like the support from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but this time the phone lines stayed mostly open. “Usually our constituents rise up and say, what can we do? This time, I’m saying, why aren’t they?” said Scott Sundberg, spokesperson for the relief group. The Mennonite Disaster Service was not the only relief organization that was faced with little help from the community during Hurricane Gustav and Ike. In fact most relief groups did not even raise enough money to pay for their shelters

and services in Louisiana and Texas. Suzy DeFrancis, spokesperson for the American Red Cross, said, “It is not that the American people don’t care, but that they don’t know.” De Francis strongly believes the media did not show very well how many people really were in need. She also thinks that since Hurricane Katrina was such a disaster people were not as aware of all the help needed.

The Mennonite Disaster Service depends mainly on donations from the community. After Katrina the organization received eight million dollars, while the donations for Hurricane and Ike were about seven thousand. Which

means Mennonite is using most of their general funds to help hurricane victims. A nonprofit group called Save the Children told msnbc.com that it has also experienced a low response of donations from the public. Thankfully the organization was able to make up for the loss in money due to 600,000 dollars from corporate donations. Other organizations have not been as lucky as Save the Children and are still very low in funds. Philanthropy experts seem to think that the reason organizations have less fundraising is because of investments m a d e t h e

past years after Katrina. They also wonder about the preparedness of the organizations. The experts believe because of all the funding used for Katrina they have better warehouses, equipment, and staff, but on the downside they have fewer funds.

Hurricane Gustav did not break any levees in Louisiana, which was a major scare. Also Hurricane Ike was not nearly as devastating as anticipated, but that does not mean there was not considerable damage. Gustav did top levees and flood many lowlands, while Ike battered a five hundred mile stretch of Louisiana and Texas, Demolishing part of Galveston Island, and causing power outages for millions of people. Students at Creek seemed more than willing to volunteer and help out. Freshman Jacob Mancini, said, “At church we weren’t going to “‘waste our’ hurricane.” Volunteering with some friends was a really good way to help people out and use hurricane Ike to make a difference.” Student Council went to McWhirter Elementary and assisted with a clothing drive. Student Council President, Kelsey Carlisle said, “I was excited to be able to help people who experienced devastation due to Ike. Volunteering was a great experience and I would do it again in a heart beat.” No one for sure knows what the reason is for the loss of recent fundraising, but the students of Creek have not let anything stop them from giving a helping hand.

Photo by Cassie Lee

Media faces challenges while covering Ike Chelsea Huebner Many reporters and residents of Galveston and its surrounding areas have different views on the media coverage of Hurricane Ike. This is due to the media blackout, road blockades, officials restricting access to the heavily damaged areas until they said the area was ready to be seen by the public, and an attempt to ban footage of bodies. During Hurricane Ike the media coverage was done just as it had been during previous storms. The reporters went out when it was safe for them to do so, and they reported the facts and gave the public all of the information that they possibly could. But during hurricane Ike the reporters who stayed on the island, such as those who report for the “Galveston County Daily News” did all that they could even though their roof was damaged, the interior of the building was soaked along with much of their equipment, the power was out, and all they had to work with was one cell phone. But after the storm had passed and the conditions were better and they wanted to go out and cover the aftermath of the storm there was a media blackout called by the mayor of Galveston, Lyda

Ann Thomas. On Monday, September 15 she ordered “all city employees not to talk to news reporters” and she did not mention when the restriction would be lifted. The media blackout called by the mayor frustrated reporters because they had stayed through the storm and been put in a risky situation to cover the storm and to fully cover a national and even global story like Hurricane Ike they had to report the aftermath as well, but now the mayor had taken away a source of their information. During the storm the police chief and fire chief had been helpful sources of information and now the only ones they could talk to were the mayor herself or the City Manager, Steve LeBlanc. This action made many residents of the area and just the public in general suspicious because at first Mayor Thomas had said that they were not going to evacuate the island but then they ended up evacuating and the storm hit. People became especially suspicious because they thought that she might have been trying to save her political

career. That could also be why she tried to have all footage of any bodies found banned. It was never confirmed why she called for the blackout but Dr. William Freudenburg from California said that he had been studying disaster coverage for awhile and that it is very common for the officials in the areas of disaster to have a secrecy instinct because they themselves don’t really know what is going on or what to do and in the case of Mayor Thomas no one knows why the blackout was called for but it did frustrate the media. Another thing that officials did to frustrate the media and restrict what information go to the public was that they did not let reporters go to the heavily impacted areas such as the west end of the island even after the roads were no longer flooded. This irritated the media because as Creek graduate, Chris Kirkham, of the “Times-Picayune” said that “usually a press pass gets you through” but in the case of hurricane Ike the officials would not even let the ones with press badges through the road blocks so that was one of the biggest problems the reporters faced while trying to cover the aftermath and this irritated them because it was something that they were not used to as reporters because even

in the case of Katrina the reporters were allowed into the truly devastated areas of New Orleans, Waveland, Mississippi, and Biloxi where there were people starving and dying and there were bodies in the streets which was a horrible thing for them to see and show but they felt that the people “ [had] a fundamental right to know” and to see what was happening in the place where they or their family live. The reporters felt that was unfair for them because they don’t want to just look around and sightsee, it is their responsibility as journalists to show the people what happened exactly and not just the cleaned up version that the officials would like to show. While most reporters found that covering the hurricane rather difficult, a few such as Matthew Tresaugue of the “Houston Chronicle” said that it really wasn’t that big of a problem because even though there was a media blackout they were able to get reporters and photographers up in the area because they rode along with the television crews in the helicopter. So, having access to helicopters allowed the television crews to cover the aftermath as they pleased because they were only prohibited from flying over for one day and some did anyway.

Photo by Cassie Lee

Calendar

SUNDAY

October

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY B

Cheer Booster 7p - LIB. Homecoming Mtg. - AUX. CAFETERIA 2:45p

NHS - AUX. CAF. 2:35p Aquatice Mtg. - Caf. 7-9p

Candlelight Pep-rally 7

VB @ CBrook Var 6:30p, JV 5:30p Tennis @ Bzwd Var 3:30p Fall Choir Concert - Aud. WP @ Springs 5/6/7p

VB @ Home Var 6:30p, JV

Fall Choir Concert Blood Drive - Aud. during the day Jr. Parent Night Cafeteria -7p

B BEGIN 9 WEEKS

VB @ Home Var 6:30p, JV 5:30p Tennis @ Home JV, Frshmn 3p Senior Parent Night (A-L) 7:00p Caf.

10th & 11th PSAT

5:30p (Jr. High Night) Tennis @ CLake Var 3p Parent Night - Caf. 5-7p

Senior Parent Night (M-Z) 7:00p Caf.

THURSDAY A

Community Critical Symposium - Aud. 7p FB JV @ Home 5:30p Tennis @ Springs JV 3p Academic Coaching

Orch. Concert - Aud. 7:15p FB JV @ Home 4:30p Tennis @ Home, JV & Fr 4p WP @ CSprings - Time TBD Academic Coaching 6th Week Progress Report

A LATE ARRIVAL LCI Band Concert - Aud. FB JV @ CSprings 5p Tennis @ Alvin JV, Frshmn 3p VB @ Home 4:30p, 5:30p

FB JV @ Home 4:30p Tennis Var. District Tourn. Site TBA 3:30p WP JV Championship @ CSprings/Strake Academic Coaching

FFA Lunch - Patio VB @ CLake, Var 6:30p, 5:30p Tennis @ Home Var 3p Tennis FT. Bend JV Tourn WP @ CLake

TUESDAY

MONDAY

FFA Lunch - Patio FB Var @ Dickinson 7p VB @ GBall Var 4:30p JV 5:30

SAT’S - CCHS CAF. 7:30am-1:30pm Tennis FT. Bend JV Tourn WP @ CLake FB Var @ GBall 7p VB @ Dickinson Var 4p

11 Theatre 10am-4pm - Aud. VB @ CSprings Var 12:00pm WP @ CSprings - Time TBD

Academic Coaching Tennis @ Home Var 3:30p WP @ CSprings - Time TBD

B HOMECOMING Mom’s Breakfast - Lib. Carnival - All Lunches Pep Rally FB @ Home Var 7p (CSHS)

FFA Lunch - Patio FB Var @ Brzwd 7p VB @ Alvin Var 6:30p, JV 5:30p

18 Regional Orch Auditions -All Day, Site TBD WP Regionals @ CSprings VB @ CBrook JV Tourn TBA

25 Tennis Var. District Tourn. Site-TBA All Day WP JV Championship @ CSprings/Strake VB @ Pearland JV Tourn

31 A B REPORT CARDS FFA Lunch - Patio VB @ Cypress Woods TBA Tennis Var. Regionals - All Day, Site TBA

November

SATURDAY

FB Var @ Home 7p Academic Coaching

SUNDAY

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

FRIDAY 1

Theatre Fall Show -Aud.

Balfour - Cap & Gowns Balfour Cap & Gowns All Lunches All Lunches

Band Fall Concert - Aud.

Balfour Cap & Gowns All Lunches Theatre Fall Show - Aud. Academic Coaching

FFA Lunch - Patio Balfour Cap & Gowns All Lunches

Theatre Fall Show - Aud.

A LATE ARRIVAL

FFA Lunch - Patio

Mix it Up Day

Bus Evacuation Drill Academic Coaching

FFA Lunch - Patio 12th Week Progress Report

THANKSGIVING BREAK 30

November Calendar Subject to Change

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Features Animal cruelty during Ike

Ambitious Girl

Sydney O’Drobinak Consider growing up in a place where all you know is war. Trying to find the good in life would be difficult. For fifteen-year old, Lovetta Conto, promising future did not seem to be anywhere within her reach. Fleeing to a refugee camp in Ghana, Africa at a young age, She tried to overcome the lifestyle she was growing up in.

Her true passion, she came to find, was design. Lovetta said, “No matter how down the women in the refugee camp were, they always found a way to express themselves with beautiful jewelry and clothes they made from what they had.” After getting the courage to admit to her father and to Strongheart what she wanted to pursue, there was no stopping her. Lovetta is now the designer of a line of jewelry called AKAWELLE. The first

Photo Courtesy of Strongheartfellow.com Lovetta had always seen herself acquiring a good education and achieving great success. However, without money or decent jobs, it was hard for her father to keep up with tuition for school. Lovetta said, “In Africa, everywhere you turn you are told, “It ain’t gonna happen”. But my dad would always say, “Keep walking. Press on. It’s going to happen.” Sure enough, her father was right. Opportunities came knocking when Lovetta met a woman by the name of Cori Stern. Stern founded an organization called Strongheart Fellowship because she strongly believed in helping young people living in unfavorable conditions and giving them the materials they needed to change their downward spiraling futures. Lovetta’s life would change forever when she became the first Strongheart fellow. Her first task as a member was to create a project that would help her and others. The project also had to relate to a career she wanted to pursue in the future. Even though she felt she was letting her father down by going against his dream for her to study law, she felt that she needed to choose this path.

part of the word, “Aka”, translates to “also known as”. The last part of the word, “we’le”, translates to “love”. Theses pieces of jewelry are made from melted bullet shells that were fired during the Liberian Civil war. The money from the jewelry goes to her future and to helping create the first Strongheart House. This house is where she will soon be living with other young ambitious people like herself. She is also in the process of starting a magazine for the young teens of Africa. The students of Creek’s Hilife newspaper welcomed Lovetta to the school last year. They assisted her to jumpstart her magazine and design the cover which she presented at the Aspen Institute. Lovetta is just one of the many people who have never let where they came from, and the many hardships they have gone through, go against who they truly are. Her dream is to take what she has learned and help others to believe in themselves. Even though her actions are small, she has made a big difference in many people’s lives. She truly is a role model to young people around the world.

Allie Hinga

Hurricane Ike left behind a legacy of destruction. When the storm made landfall early on Saturday, September 13, 2008, it left behind extensive damage to the Texas coastline. As residents evacuated their homes in areas endangered by the storm, many left behind family pets to fend for themselves during the hurricane. The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Houston SPCA, began its work days before Hurricane Ike struck, rescuing 55 animals in need of shelter after the mandatory evacuation of Brazoria County and 100 animals from Galveston County. Animals were transported from the county shelter to the Houston location, where they would be able to ride out the storm in safety. September 12, the day before Ike made landfall, 16 volunteers dubbed themselves the “Storm Riders” volunteered to ride out the hurricane from the Houston SPCA shelter caring for the hundreds of animals there, and beginning rescue and recovery efforts as soon as the storm passed and safety permitted. Eventually, the “Storm Riders” would be joined by animal care workers from across the country to aid in the recovery effort.

The Houston SPCA’s disaster response team rescued over 100 animals from the destroyed Galveston County Animal Shelter in Texas City, which suffered water damage from holes in the ceiling and suffered from loss of air conditioning, causing pets to survive without adequate ventilation for hours until they could be moved to the Houston shelter. The SPCA set up a temporary shelter in an old Police Substation in Galveston, bringing in tens of thousands of pounds of supplies to care for rescued animals . On Saturday, September 20, the Houston SPCA would shelter 233 animals from Galveston, take in 149 from the temporary shelter on the island, and conduct 141 rescues. In one instance, rescuers found five terrier-mix dogs that had been left behind on Galveston Island. While they were found on top of a table in the house where rescue workers located them, the water mark was high enough that it is likely that the animals spent the night of the hurricane swimming to save their own lives. In response to the incoming volume of lost, abandoned, and injured pets, the SPCA began “Operation Save a Life,” which

allowed a family to foster a Galveston pet for 10 days. If the pet went unclaimed, the foster family could choose to return the pet to the shelter or adopt the animal. The SPCA has been working to reunite pets with their owners or find them a permanent home, and has been photographing every one of the thousands of lost pets and placing the pictures in an online database, a Disaster Response Pet Portal. “Our staff and volunteers are working around-the-clock to rescue pets and reunite them with their families,” Patricia Mercer, President of the Houston SPCA, said on the organization’s website, “The online database portal created by Pethealth will make it easier for us ready to care for the thousands of pets which are being rescued in the aftermath and ensure they find their way home as soon as possible.” Animal rescue organizations from across the nation have been working to save the lives of thousands of abandoned pets in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Though the rescue and reunification efforts still continue, the rescuers are committed to giving these animals a second chance in life.

Muvlaney said, “I thought that college night was really helpful. Everyone there was extremely

Night really helped me narrow down my choices for college. The representatives helped me to see what I needed to do and accomplish to get into that college. It also motivates me to do better this year at Creek.” There is also no limit to how many schools a student can get information on. One important aspect that many students might not know about is that bringing their parents to College Night might be an advantage. This way parents can ask other questions they have so the students does not have to go up to the representatives alone. Parents might have a better understanding of what to ask and how to ask it. College Night is a very rewarding and beneficial event for students. It is highly recommended for students to attend over their high school years. The representatives are there to support students in any way they can.

A night visit to the future Sydney O’Drobinak Every year, students

of every grade come together for College Night. This is a reception held at a school where representatives from over one hundred different colleges set up booths for students to obtain information. These representatives have everything a student needs to know. They have pamphlets about their colleges with Student and parent financial aid and dorm choices. reading flyers. The representatives can answer questions such as, “When nice and knew everything and should I apply for scholarships and anything you needed to know. financial aid?”, “When and how I find college night successful should I send my application?”, for I feel more informed and and “What are the dorms like?” prepared for my college decision. They can also answer specific Attending College Night could questions students might have on also help narrow down a college a major that they are interested in. that a student might not be sure Certain schools, such about. Actually speaking face as University of Texas and Texas to face with someone from the A&M University, had special admissions office might give the thirty-minute sessions to describe student a better feel for the school in more detail about their colleges or even make them realize it is and to answer any personal not the right for them. Senior, questions. Senior, Sophie Marquise Harris said, “College

Photo by Amanda Compton

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Representatives Are:

Freshman: Allie Etzel

Sophomore: Junior:

Kendall Fox

Courtney Brooks

Who Will Be The Next Clear Creek Queen?

Molly Waldner

Kiara Gradney

Sabrina Durbin

Jacquelyn Davis

Bola Kareem

14 Creek Speaks There was an 8 foot hole in our roof when we got back and mold everywhere. We had to rip our walls down and take our fridge and empty everything out. -- Taylor Brown I didn’t evacuate. I kept hearing the wind, it was super scary. -- Wendy Villarve

During the hurricane I went with my mom to her job at a hotel. Everyone was sleeping in the lobby and all I remember is that my mom kept waking me up and telling me to move so the door that was being pushed by the wind wouldnt hit us in the face. -- Portia Jones-Janes

Luckily, nothing happened to my apartment, but some of my friends weren’t as lucky. This experience was scary because I’ve never been in a hurricane before. -- JoAnna Nigro

All over the news (before evacuation) there were stories and pictures of how Hurricane Ike was already affecting people and just how badly it was supposed to affect us. After Rita, no one wanted to believe the news, so we clicked it off. Everything was normal until my mom woke me up at 9:00 the next morning screaming for me to pack my stuff. We decided to evacuate. -- Ashley Farmer

During the weeks we had off, my golden retriever, Alex, died from age and sickness. My family was very distraught because he was such a great dog and we had had him for so long. -- Ellen Gaudet

AND WE SURVIVED IT! I was walking home [Wednesday afternoon] from the bus stop when I heard a lot of commotion from other Creek students. Some were saying we had school, some were saying we didn’t. I called my mom and she said in a worried voice, “Elyssa, I want you to come home, pack your clothes, and unplug everything.” I went home and [packed] my whole closet in 3 suitcases.” --Elyssa Holmes My mom didn’t know where she was going, she was just driving. After about 5 hours we started stopping at hotels to find a vacancy. We didnt find one until 1:00 in the morning in Austin. -- Ernesta Henry On Thursday, September 11th my family and I evacuated to get away from Hurricane Ike. I’m not sure where we went, but it was not far away enough because we still got caught in the storm. -- Dakota Sinks Photo courtesy of MCTCampus.com

Students in Journalism-1 classes share their unique Ike experiences ... can you find Ike’s eye somewhere on this page?? I did NOT want to leave our house the way we did. We live on the water and we didn’t have any shutters up, nothing. It was like sitting there waiting for Ike to come destroy it. -- Kaitlin Kasey The night of the hurricane, everyone in the house was up and waiting. Tension was high and the sound of the wind was loud, foreshadowing a long and dark night ahead. Standing at the doorway feeling the intense winds was enough to keep me up until 4 a.m. I have never been through a storm as strong as Ike. -- Blake McClimon I stayed up all night because everyone was worried about possible tornado warnings and the fact that at any time, we could have to go into the “safe room.” -- Reanna Bain

The storm was crazy and fun to go through but I’m evacuating for anything worse than Ike. Driving around Kemah the next day was eye-opening. When I looked across the water and saw the Hilton hotel, I thought, ‘Wow, that could have been us,’; seeing the damage to homes in Kemah; and seeing the X signs, knowing they were looking for dead bodies. It was scary. We were insaenely lucky. -- Chyan Brinkerhoff After I got home I helped out with my church handing out food, drinks and other things for the victims. -- Tianah Brewer

The deck and stairs [of my house] were gone. The back and left side of the house was fine because the plywood stayed on, but the right side in my room and window was smashed in. There was also a hole in the floor, and the water had risen up past the stilts. Everything downstairs was gone. [My house] will have to be torn down. --Lauren Campise

I slept through the whole thing. I heard some rain. When I woke up, outisde there were trees down everywhere. There were no lights and only cold water. -- Sparkle James My mom, dad, brother and I were smushed in between our four pets. There was barely enough room to breathe with everything important to us in the car! --Devon Zanka

Creek Speaks 15

Ordinary heroes at Clear Creek High In the face of disaster, local citizns lend a helping hand

The CC Demo Crew hard at work. Photo Credit: Sherry Jackson Megan McKisson The sun swelters over a crowded Target parking lot as hurricane victims waiting for food and water swarm in, but the happy line of volunteers passing out rations don’t mind. Eagerly, they fill up the vehicles with cases upon cases of water, fervently asking “You want more? You need more?”

A few miles away, a Chinese bistro hangs a sign declaring “Free Hot Meals!” as hungry, power-less people stand in line, talking and joking with each other. Neighbors participate in street-wide cleanups, borrowing one another’s chainsaws and lugging fallen oaks out of each other’s yards while creating and renewing friendships. All over the city, people are coming

together to face the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, each restoring the damage in their own unique way. These ordinary heroes – regular people volunteering their time to help those in need – made a world of difference for many victims. “For me, Hurricane Ike was a lot more than just rain and wind,” said freshman Jacob Mancini. “My family decided not to ‘waste the hurricane. We decided to help.” Mancini was among hundreds of other Creek students who relieved victim’s

The Imaginary Invalid

Megan McKisson

Habitat for Humanity Ryan Munthe Everyone has probably heard of Habitat for Humanity. In some way or another, this groundbreaking non-profit organization has done so much good for families in need over the years. Some common misconceptions about Habitat for Humanity is that it is a giveaway program to families. These homes are sold to homeowner families at cost, and financed with no-interest loans. Their mortgage payments then go into a revolving fund that is used to build more homes. And, now, instead of sorting through paperwork to get on the Bay Area Habitat for Humanity team, you now can join up by joining a club, right here at Clear Creek High School. Creek Habitat for Humanity pledges to get Clear

Creek students interested in non-profit organizations and community service by getting people working, all the while having a blast. It’s all a nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry that gives needy a decent house in a nice community for anyone in need. Habitat for Humanity has built homes in over 100 countries, providing over 1 million people safe and sturdy (as well as affordable) housing. The homes cost around $60,000, but volunteers and in-kind donations keep costs down by $30-$40,000 per home. This is a great program, and now that it’s at Creek, there’s no reason not to help out-it’s a lot of fun. Come join the Creek Habitat for Humanity Club!

damages, representing the silver lining in a cloud of disaster. The “CC Demo Crew” – comprised of Creek seniors Cassie Lee, Alex Macoch, Chloe Vogel, Danny Robinson, and Tommy Henshaw – spent hours tearing out demolished first floors of flooded houses. “It was a great feeling to know that I’d spent my time wisely and helped people in need,” said Lee. “It was fun, too!” Junior Allie Hinga spent her break in the Third Ward of inner-city Houston with her youth group, clearing fallen trees out of resident’s yards. “It was really interesting to see firsthand a lifestyle completely different from the one I have known,” said Hinga. Some of Creek’s organizations and teams banded together and applied their strength in numbers to become an unstoppable volunteer force. Among these groups were the Clear Creek Cavaliers, who helped distribute school supplies, clothes, and shoes to unfortunate students. “It was great to work as a team towards a new kind of goal,” said Jordan Dannelly, 12th. “We are used to working together but volunteering as the Cavaliers was a new experience for us.” Many of the Creek staff lent a helping hand to their fellow colleagues, clearing out ruined homes and helping each other through the disaster. Though their countless individual identities cannot all be recognized, the overflow of gratitude these heroes received is widely apparent. Hurricane Ike has interrupted and distorted hundreds of lives, but the community it struck hasn’t given up without a fight. With each helping hand, they more closely return to our daily routines. Even in the height of its wrath, Hurricane Ike was no match for the compassion of local citizens.

The Imaginary Invalid, CCHS Drama Department’s latest venue, is a timeless comedy written by French playwright Moliere sure to entertain audiences of all ages. Argon, the play’s protagonist, is an ailing hypochondriac unsatisfied with the current care he is receiving from his countless number of doctors. Unbeknownst to Argon, his wife is eagerly awaiting his timely death so she can inherit his fortune. “There are surprises around every corner and the show is full of laughs,” says junior Brittany Exstrom. “It’s a great show.” Though the drama department has been put on a brief hiatus due to Hurricane Ike, the cast is back in business, fervently preparing for opening night. “We’ve had to work our tails off to get back in track,” said junior Jen Martinez. Local intermediate Advanced Acting

classes are in for a treat as they will get to attend a special showing the day two days before opening night. “I’m so excited for the intermediate performance so I can show the kids what they have to look forward to when they get to high school.” said Exstrom. As the play begins to come together, the actors couldn’t be more ecstatic. “As I step into the costume, I step into the world Moliere has created,” said Martinez. “It’s an amazing feeling when we actors get to live in the world as characters,” agreed junior Jessica Glass. The advanced showing will be held Thursday, October 30th. Opening night will be Saturday, November 1st at 6 p.m., and the show will run Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the same times, with a special matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 9th. “We will showcase our hard work and talent on Opening Night,” said Martinez. “We’re ready to show them what we’ve got.”

Photo Credit Compliments of Graphicsfactory.com

16 Ike Photos

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S ports Cats craving a victory Megan McKisson What sprints, kicks, marches, and wears maroon? Creek football season, of course. Both old faces and new are gracing the many facets of Creek’s turf this year, once again bringing the diverse Wildcat community together. “The best part of football season are the Friday night lights,” said senior linebacker and defensive captain Zack Duncavage. “The whole school unites for one cause – cheering on the team.” “Football is important because it brings the school closer together,” said senior defensive end Gerry Espinol. “When everyone comes together, we represent a community.” Leading the 2008 football team is head coach Daryll Warden. “If we play to our maximum potential, I think we will be very successful this season,” Warden said. “We have great team chemistry this year,” said Brent Comardelle, wide receiver. “If we keep practicing hard and staying on top of our game, we could definitely become district champs.” Of course, football season often involves much more than the game itself. Many Wildcat organizations have been earnestly preparing in their own areas of expertise. Members of Creek’s high-kicking drill team, the Cavaliers, have been perfecting their crowd-wowing routines since June. “We’ve gotten more creative and ‘stepped out of the box’”, said captain Molly Waldner. “Our strong leadership, desire to improve, and great work ethic are going to bring us success this year,” said Cavalier director Traci Carpenter. “We’re ready to take it to the next level.” The Wildcat band has also grown with experience, eager to take the field at halftime once again. “Our marching has become more advanced,” said trumpet player CJ

Bass. “The band is the soundtrack of the school. Football season wouldn’t be the same without our music.” Nor would it be without the cheerleaders, pumping up the crowd from the sidelines with their high-energy chants. “I love football season,” said junior Victoria Monette. “Band chants, meeting the rival school’s cheer team, throwing out footballs to the crowd, getting everyone pumped up for victory…it’s just so much fun.” “We set examples of school spirit through team unity,” said head cheerleader Cassie Lee. “We are no longer Varsity, JV, and Freshman but Clear Creek Cheerleaders.” For the graduating class of 2008, one last chance remains to stand proudly under the bright lights and represent Creek. “I feel like these past four years have flown by,” said senior Cavalier Hannah Carson. “I can’t believe it’s almost over, but I’m more than ready for my final moments. This is going to be the best season ever.” Whether band member, Cavalier, football player, cheerleader, or simply a spectator, football season is a time when everyone can enjoy the rewards of school spirit, work ethic, and unity. “This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said senior Tyler Eby. “This is our year.”

An unexpected loss

Sue Ellen van Eps As Creek played Brook for the first time this season, the entire football team was ready to stomp on Brook and have another win to add to their records. Defensive linemen James Caldwell said, “I

a 23-7 lead second quarter, it was a definite win for the Clear Creek Wildcats. Into the second half of the game, it was obvious the Wolverines were catching up. Creek’s lead was no longer as strong. A change in their defensive line-up made Creek lose their hold on winning the event.

Clear Creek WIldcat Football players gets set to fight the Clear Brook Wolverines team. Photos by Amanda Compton felt anxious. The feeling in the locker room was that we were going out to beat Brook.” When the game began, Creek’s side was all laughs and cheers. You could see all the maroon throughout the stands. The shouting and yelling of “Go Creek” could be heard throughout the stadium clearly. Both the offensive and defensive starters were off to a great start. This was a game everyone wanted to win. Marcus Mara, Jordan Wright and Brian Boyd scored touchdowns for the Wildcats. Gerado Espinal and Marcus Davis had amazing runs during the game. With

They needed to get their heads together and not let the Wolverines score anymore. Creek had a defeat of 30-41. It was a letdown for the team as well as the fans. “I felt disappointed and I felt like the team didn’t capitalize on some key plays,” said center Jad Ziden. The shouting and yelling was no more positive but more negative with a strong feeling of disappointment. This was a game that Creek was supposed to win but got turned around with a depressing outcome. Creek Wildcats won’t let this loss get them down. This team is ready to take on everyone headed their way. Their skills will be back and they won’t underestimate any team headed their way.

Photos by Amanda Compton

Sports

The sights and sounds of the Wildcat stadium Will Sheffield As the stands were filled with camera crews, fans, and officials on the muggy Thursday evening, the band prepared to blow everyone away with their musical exposition. The Wildcat Drum Line provided an intricate beat as the other members marched in with smiles on their faces. Even the Color Guard was in spirit with shining silver face paint accenting their bright and enthused looks. The Cavaliers who were dressed in a magical combination of sparkling maroon, silver, and white, were last in line to march to the upbeat tempo of the drums into the quickly filling stands. The Wildcat Band was soon settled and the show began. The Memorial Maverick Band played the Pasadena Memorial High School song. The Wildcat Band responded with an energetic performance of the Clear Creek High School song and followed up the first performance by leading the stadium in the Star Spangled Banner. The music floated through the air as one does in water. After the performance, they were applauded exuberantly from both sides of the field. Soon the kickoff was up and the band began their encouraging routines in the stands. They played as much as they could with enthusiasm a n d intensity all the way

until half time. The cameras were still intensely rolling with about two and a half minutes left in the half. The band quickly whisked behind the bleachers to prepare for the half time show. As they did that, Olympic gold medalist Riley Salmon walked proudly to the center of the field followed by city officials, old Creek teammates, and even

combination of teal and black, the band marched onto the field. They advanced into a square formation and began their performance of Movement 1. They marched in complex circular motions and even combined and separated into different formations. The Maverick Color Guard danced to their flags and swung the fiery pennants swiftly with

Jessica O’Neil watches the opposing team’s band play while waiting to lead the Wildcat Band. Photos by Amanda Compton

the Mayor of League City, Toni Randall. They reminisced on the times in high school during the presentation. “He was, is, and always will be, a better volleyball player than me,” said Scott Simonds. The crowd, as well as Salmon, laughed at and applauded the statement. The applause went to a roar as Mayor Randall stated, “We’d like to present to you the key to the city.” Salmon’s eyes grew so wide they could be seen from Clear Lake as he graciously accepted the highly recognized award. As they

walked off the field in jubilance, the Maverick Band lined up to play its show. Dressed in a f o r m a l

precision. The percussion section mainly dominated the song with high ringing notes throughout. The finale of the performance consisted of the band making multiple square formations that combined and separated multiple times before the finish. The band then compressed near the away bleachers as the Maverick Sidekicks walked proudly onto the field. Their sparkling wardrobe was consisted of silver and teal. The Sidekicks were introduced, then they began a kick routine to “Wild, Wild West” performed by the band. Their kicks were as high as their spirits as they began to end the presentation. They finished in a tiered triangular formation and walked out with the band in toe. The Wildcat Band was already prepared to march onto the field before the Mavericks even left the area. Camera crews quickly focused their cameras on the prominent band members. There were mixed feelings in the band about being televised “I was nervous at first,” said Cody Waggett, a second year xylophone player, “But then I just went with it.” No matter, with plumes a n d instruments

high, the band marched out to play their first show of the season. Their attire was drenched in the Wildcat colors of maroon, white and silver. They radiated with confidence towards the fans in the stadium. The intimidating force spanned from the left goal line to the opposite forty-yard line. The color guard added more to the show by wearing sparkling greenish-blue uniforms in essence of H2O, the name of the halftime performance. The whole assembly was frozen in time with the color guard posing in a statuesque manner and the band awaiting orders from the squad leaders. Percussion began the routine with high bells and chimes. The percussion slowly got louder, and progressed, and then there was a blast of notes from the band to the audience. From brass to woodwind, there was poise and elegance throughout their swift movements. With grace, the color guard spun their banners in unison with the beat of the captivating music. The band moved swiftly through their formations and seemed very well coordinated. The composition executed was completed with another loud blast of notes to the audience. This was greeted with loud and abundant applause. The band compressed toward the away bleachers and introduced the Cavaliers. They were dressed in a sparkling western fashioned combination of white, silver, and maroon. They marched to the beat with faces of excitement. They began their performance of Fire by Jimmy Hendrix. They spun and danced with enthusiasm and intensity. They jumped as high as they could and floated down with grace. The sparkling performance ended with the Cavaliers bowing their heads to the audience. The Wildcat Band and the Cavaliers then marched off of the field. After the show, the members of the band proceeded behind the bleachers and were turning in all of their show uniforms. In the duration of this hectic process, there was still talk about their performance on the field just minutes before. “I feel like we did well, but there is still room for improvement,” said Gabby Wildman, a second year flute player. Most seemed to agree with the statement, but were definitely not disappointed in the routine just performed. Many of them were very eager to play more performances. Christos Patelis, a second year bass clarinet squad leader said, “It was a great first show and I think it will be an even better season.”

Sports

Cheerleaders determined to lead Emily Huynh

Get ready for guard Tracey Griffith

This year, the Creek’s Color Guard is led by their captain, Sarah Craig, and their instructor, Kayleigh Cole. The color guard is currently working on finishing their show, H20, which they perform with the marching band during football season. The show is performed on the football field during the half time of the games. The color guard enhance the visual effect of the marching band’s performance through dance and the coordinated spinning of equipment like colorful flags, rifles and sabers. The color guard will perform with the marching band at UIL and then compete in their own regional competition later on in the year. After football season, the color guard will continue to practice on their own for winter guard, which lasts from January to March. They will practice in a gym along with a recorded piece of music. But Taylor Morgan, a member of the color guard, says that she personally prefers the performances during the football season because, “It’s something about being out on the field, and you can’t really see anyone but you feel like every eye is on you and it’s the greatest adrenaline high ever.” This will be the third year that the Clear Creek color guard participates in a competition for winter guard. Last year they did well in the competition, tying for 6 and 7 place out of about 14 schools. They had a score of only about 15 points less than the winning school. This year their goal is to place even higher in the competition. “I want to win and prove that we are steadily getting better,” said Taylor Morgan. All the members of the color guard are good friends. When asked the best thing about being a member of the color guard, Taylor said it is that, “we are all like sisters, even Kayleigh our instructor and it is like hanging out with your family and being at home.”

The girls are back to school and ready to practice. Another year and the 2008-09 Creek Cheerleaders have been working hard and sacrificing their time to make this year one of the best. While showing off their new skills, the Varsity girls have been hitting all the football games, kicking off the start to a great season. Nancy Nardone, a senior on the Varsity squad says, “Even though the year has just begun, all of the games have been a blast! We have made all them so much fun. It’s a lot different being a senior this year on Varsity, by just knowing that it’s my last year cheering for Creek. With that in mind, I am doing everything I can to have as much fun as possible.” Some of the new juniors that are on the Varsity Squad like Shannon Baty and Kaci Stephens have been enjoying their first year as Varsity Cheerleaders so far. Being new to the team, they are required to practice harder, but are excited about the year ahead, none-the-less.

S h a n n o n Baty is ready the challenge being a Varsity Cheerleader. “I always t h o u g h t cheering my freshman year was really fun and a great experience. Getting to cheer at games, performing at pep rallies, and being a part of spring show. Sophomore year, as a junior varsity cheerleader, was a little more difficult, with most of our team out

for o f

for the fall season with injuries. Three of us had to cheer alone at a game with the rest of our team in the bleachers. But I have to say, my favorite part was cheering with the varsity at their Friday night football games. I always looked forward to being on Varsity and not just cheering for the homecoming and Lake Game with them, but every game. Although being on varsity means big responsibilities, I can really tell this year is going to be the

best. Cheering in front of big crowds and rooting for our team”, said Shannon Baty. The Cheerleader’s want all of their performances and shows to be outstanding. That’s why the girls have buckled down this year and have been working extra hard to make the team look together and sharp. They have also been preparing for the upcoming pep rally for homecoming.

Another Junior on the Varsity Squad is Kaci Stephens. This year is Kaci’s third year on the cheerleading squad and she hopes to continue with Creek Cheer until she graduates. Kaci said, “This year on Varsity, we have become a closer squad. Last year I had a broken foot so I didn’t get to cheer very much. The year has started off great and I’m looking forward to an exciting first year as a Varsity Cheerleader!” All though the girls have tons fun in cheerleading, there are plenty of responsibilities to overcome. The Cheerleaders always do a great job at accomplishing them every year and are expected to do a great job this school year.

Photos by Kaitlyn Boryk

Who sweats glitter, the Cavaliers Alina Gregory Creek Cavaliers are now in their busiest season – Football Season. They have been hard at work, practicing their daily field routines. The officers this year are: Molly WaldnerCaptain, Ashley Johnson1st Senior Lieutenant, and Jennifer Adams, Halle Hardman, Lindsay Satterfield, and Evelyn

Fontanna are the Junior Lieutenants. The officers work very hard and have extra practices that they have to attend. They are also on Jazz Company and Kick Company and attend those practices as well. The social committee does many tasks for the Cavaliers. They buy line gifts for all of the Cavaliers every week during Football Season. They

are also in charge of remembering and celebrating each Cavalier’s birthday. Social Committee does the slideshow for Spring Show and keeps a scrapbook of the whole year. They organize all

social events and have a very important job. Elizabeth Tormey is the President, Jordan Dannelly is the New-New Liaison, Kelsey Conklin is the Secretary, and Kelsey Sutton and Isabella Arnao are Historians. Cavalier Captain Molly Waldner said, “We work hard every day so that we can do our best when we perform.” Girls that are in their first year of being Cavaliers are called New-News. Most NewNews are sophomores, but some are juniors and seniors also. They try out in March, about a month or two before Spring Show. The Cavalier Director is Traci Carpenter. She has been the Director since 2006 and in her first year introduced the team to competition. Since then, the Cavaliers have competed in the Houston/Galveston area and also in Orlando, Florida. Every week during Football Season there is a Cavalier Girl of the Week. She is announced at the game and it is a great privilege to be the Girl of the Week, since there aren’t very many games, and there are a lot of Cavaliers. The Cavaliers put on a Dance Clinic every year and give back to the community by volunteering at events such as the James Glenn Fun Run and the Village Fair.

Photos by Kaitlyn Boryk

Sports

Determined for state Albert Nkansah While many kids were getting ready for school, the Lady Wildcats were busy getting their season underway. Creek Volleyball had many expectations to fulfill this year, as last year they made it all the way to the Regionals and had a record of 22-12. However, this team came into the new season focused on a goal to go to State. “[Our goal] is to win district, which would be the sixth time in eight years, and also to get to state,” said Head Coach, Scott Simonds. Creek started off their season sweeping Clements for the second season in a row, winning 25-11, 25-10, 25-11. Megan

Pendergast was able to lead the team with 9 kills. The Wildcats then went on to participate in the Duncanville Tournament. They fell into the Consolation Bracket early, but were able to rebound and win the bracket. The team defeated Red Oak in the Consolation Finals, 25-15, 25-21. Finishing 5-1 and seventh out of 36 teams in the Duncanville Tournament, Becky Bekelja made the All-Tournament Team. Next stop was Stratford, and Creek quickly disposed of the Lady Spartans, 25-11, 25-21, 25-13. Then on to the 36 team Spring Branch Tournament. Here, Creek went on to win their rematches

with both Clements and Stratford. The Lady Wildcats went all the way to the semifinals before falling to Pearland in three sets. However, the girls were able to salvage the trip with a big win in the third place game vs. Katy, while Becky Bekelja and Megan Pendergast received All-Tournament Team for their efforts. The Lady Wildcats were 12-2, all before the first day of school. When school started, the team did not fall off. They beat Friendswood in straight sets before going on to play in the highly competitive Pearland Tournament that took three days and consisted of 76 teams. They started the tournament off red-hot, winning the first six games and going to the semifinals before finally getting cooled down by San Antonio’s Reagan High School, who is ranked third in the state. Creek ended up fourth and Haley Jacobs received the prestigious Outstanding Tournament Libero. Creek finished off their non-district schedule defeating Deer Park and CyFair before Hurricane Ike came. Coach Simonds made sure his girls did not come into district play rusty as they overpowered Brazoswood 25-11, 25-18, 25-13. They then went on to play rival Clear Brook. Creek jumped on the Lady Wolverines early and never looked back as they were able to win 25-12, 25-14, 25-17. The Wildcats continued on their rampage as they routed Alvin in three sets, 25-16, 25-12, 25-14, in front of the home crowd. The Lady Wildcats have been able to consistently win games this year, which is one of the reasons why the TCGA ranked Clear Creek, fifth in the state and first in the Houston area. “(The ranking) is pretty accurate, but we will when it counts and when we are at our best we can beat anyone,” said Senior Outside Hitter Megan Pendergast. With all the awards they are accumulating, they are only worried about one accolade and that is the state championship.

Athletes of the Month

Molly Waldner Girl Athlete of the Month Alina Gregory

This month’s athlete, Molly Waldner, has been dancing ever since she was four years old. Waldner is the Captain of the Cavaliers and has been on the team since her sophomore year as well as a Junior Lieutenant her Junior year. Waldner’s favorite thing about dancing is the rush she gets when performing in front of a big crowd. It has always been her dream to be Captain of the Cavaliers, and she’s glad that she could accomplish it. Outside of Cavaliers, Waldner dances for Marvelous Motion in Houston, which is a professional hiphop company. She got the chance to meet and dance with the Jabbawockeez, and Marvelous Motion won first place and $2,000 in a show put on by them. Waldner also teaches at dance studios which takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Waldner wants to tour with singers and be a back-up dancer at concerts when she gets older.

Photo by Haily Stephens

Photo by Melissa Devitt

Ike creates damage in athletics Kaitlyn Blake

Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast on September 13, 2008. The storm was only thirteen days old when it made landfall, but no doubt, it had plenty of impact that damaged our city, homes, and schools. Hurricane Ike created massive loss for the many people in Houston and Galveston area. Neighborhoods, schools, and buildings were destroyed during this category two hurricane. Also, many schools in our district were affected by this hurricane. Thus made the need for repairs and renovations. As of September 18, seven schools in our district still did not have power. The school district decided to wait another week before finally reopening these schools. However, displaced students enrolling into any of the schools in our district were told to register on Monday, September 22 so that they would be ready for school the following week when they are to return. Our district serves more than 36,000 students in our schools. Thirty-nine schools in our district were damaged due to hurricane Ike. The district is expected to pay $24.3 million dollars to cover the repairs from hurricane Ike.

Falcon Pass Elementary and the Clear Creek Ninth Grade Center had the most roof damage in the district. Stewart Elementary and Brookside Intermediate had the most flood damage. The flooding made their gyms and cafeterias temporarily unusable. M a n y of the middle school gyms were damaged and the hardwood floors need to be replaced due to water damage and flooding. The district has made arrangements to have some middle schools and high schools sharing gyms. Daniel Sparks from Creek said, “Aside from the disappointing fact that the band box blew over, I would say that CCISD did okay.” Another student, Brendan Fang, said, “Well, obviously some of the schools in our area got hit pretty hard, but compared to schools around the Galveston / Texas City area, I think that it’s nothing we can’t

preserve and get through as a community.” Falcon Pass Elementary and Stewart Elementary are the only elementary schools in need of major repairs. Brookside Intermediate, Victory Lakes Intermediate, Space Center Intermediate, and League C i t y Intermediate all need major repairs and renovations. Among the high schools in our district, the Clear Creek Ninth Grade Center is the only high school that needs any major repairs.

Photo by Graphicsfactory.com

Marcus Mata Boy Athlete of the Month Alina Gregory

Athlete of the Month, Marcus Mata, is a rising star on the football field. Mata is a Junior and Quarterback for the 2008 Varsity Football Team. Mata says his goal for this year is to win district. To get ready for this season, Mata went to conditioning camp, drank protein shakes, and had two-a-days practices. Mata’s hard work obviously has paid off because the Wildcats won against Pasadena Memorial in their first non-district game 42-21. Mata ran for 53 yards to make a touchdown. Mata has been playing football since 7 grade. He likes football because it is fun and a team sport. Mata wants to go to Baylor University on a scholarship to play football. With his leadership skills on and off the field, it is clear that Mata is a good choice for Quarterback.

Photo by Haily Stephens

22 This & That Eyes on the prize

Involved on campus

Allie Hinga

Amber Arnold

At the end of the school day, teachers go home to their lives outside of the classroom. Some go home to families, others work on hobbies, and others train to run marathons. Creek is home to a few teachers who have been involved in various marathons and triathlons, from those who have been running for many years, to those who are just getting started in a pastime that demands the utmost preparation and dedication. Mr. Matthew Richards, a physics teacher at Creek began running seriously in 2001. He competed in his first race in 2002: a five-kilometer “Turkey Trot” at Eastern Michigan University, where he attended school. In 2003, he competed in his first marathon, but struggled with a late start and cramping towards the end of the race. “I didn’t run a great race because I ran too fast at the beginning,” Richards said. In May of 2008, he ran his second marathon. In addition, between 2005-2008, Richards participated in 10-12 triathlons. These races ranged in length from sprints, which involved an 800-meter swim, a 14 mile bike, and a three mile run, to international distance triathlons, which include a half-mile swim, an 18 mile bike, and a 6 mile run. Richards described the triathlon as “probably one of my favorite races.” In 2006, he participated in a Half Ironman Triathlon, which included a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike, and a 13.1-mile run. Richards said that his best race was in an international distance triathlon last August, in which he was first in his age group. Ms. Jeanne Kregel, a chemistry teacher, has been running marathons for the past 20 years. She took interest in the event after watching her husband run one and deciding she wanted to try it. She competed in her first marathon in 1985, and has since run marathons across the

country, in places like Houston, Disney, and New York. In all, Kregel has run six full marathons, and numerous half-marathons. It takes a long time; a lot of hours,” Kregel said about the training required for the event, “I’m not really fast, I’m just steady.” Kregel said that her best race doesn’t necessarily mean she ran her best time. There are many things that make an event memorable. She recalls running in New York before the Twin Towers fell, and that race was especially important to her, because she is a Native New Yorker. Though her best time in a marathon is under four hours, her most rewarding marathon was actually her slowest one. She ran a marathon for the Susan Kohlman Foundation with a friend who had survived breast cancer. Another of Creek’s running teachers, Mr. Michael Vitek hasn’t actually run a marathon yet, but he began his running seriously last year when he ran the Half Ironman Triathlon. “I was very slow, but I finished. That’s what mattered,” Vitek said, “I beat some people, though.” Vitek plans to compete in another Half Ironman on October 5, and said he has been training a great deal more for this race, putting in eight hours of practice a week, working on two events each day, and taking time for each event at least every other day. To train for the swimming part of the race, Vitek swims in lakes and ponds, because the triathlon will take place in open water. On October 30, 2009, he will participate in his first full Ironman Triathlon, which will include a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a 26.2-mile run, the distance of a full marathon. There are a number of other teachers at Creek who participate in similar races, and all of them share the same dedication and determination to an event that requires nothing less than everything they can give.

Creek’s student council plays an important role on campus, allowing its members to be involved in organizing various events for the school. Joining student council gives students the opportunity to participate in activities and get involved with the club by joining committees. Generally, student council members are expected to love being around people, and to be hard workers. They should be kind, caring, and friendly. Students are expected to be respectful of others in the class and be team players. Student c o u n c i l participates in school a c t i v i t i e s , Photo by Haley Rush creating projects that their fellow students will love. Mrs. Jenny Carlisle and Mrs. Diana Bartlett are leading the group this year. The organization wants to be more active helping on campus and in the community. This year Carlisle has a government leadership class where students plan student counsel activities. Student council is working to build the organization back up. Their goal this year is to increase membership, visibility in the community and school spirit. This year, student council is planning the talent show, student and teacher of the month, community services and school dances. Student council is planning to take field trips to district meetings three times this year. The first one will take place on October 10, and will be held at Wheeler Fieldhouse in North Houston. These

meetings provide an opportunity for the student council to get together with the other schools in CCISD to find out about important upcoming activities, dates and other service project ideas. It’s a time for members to get to know each other, and to find out what student council is all about. This first district meet is the only one that will be open to everyone without requiring service hours or active status. The organization is also planning to attend two overnight state conventions. The student council president this year is Kelsey Carlisle, a senior, the vice president is Melissa Devitt, who is also a senior, and the secretary is Marissa Trevino, a junior. The other officers are Sabrina Durbin and Chris Del Basso. “I wanted to be secretary this year because last year I was president and I wanted to step down this year but still be an officer,” Trevino said. On the evening of October 13, student council will be sponsoring a homecoming candlelight pep rally, which will involve candles all along the home side. At the football game against Galveston Ball High School on Saturday October 3, 2008 at the Veterans stadium, student council did a special presentation for Ball High, since those students lost everything during Hurricane Ike. With the school year getting underway, student council is planning numerous projects to help make Creek a better place for students.

The Great Debate

Should students be allowed to have lunch off campus? Why or why not? Yeah, of course? Why not? Umm... Not so sure about that... Students should be allowed to have an alternative food source outside school.The only choices we have at the moment are cold lunches from home, or (let’s face it) disgusting lunches at school. (Sorry.) We need more options. -Lindsay Holden, 11th grade Yes, because you can get other types of food or even have the opportunity to go home. -Carlee Abshneider, 12th grade I think that students should be allowed to eat lunch off campus, but only kids who have their parking permits should be allowed. If students didn’t eat off-campus the cafeteria would be super crowded. - Rachel Rodriguez, 11th grade I definitely think students should be allowed off campus for lunch. We are and should be responsible for our tardies and absenses, so what’s the matter with eating good food instead of overpriced cafeteria stuff? -Katie Kuhlman, 11th grade

No, because you have 30 minutes for lunch, making it not worth it. It’s not going to kill you to bring or buy your lunch, or if you really want something off campus have someone bring it to you or wait till after school to go get it. You’re killing the environment by burning gasoline that doesn’t need to be burned. -Melissa Moede, 11th grade I think that seniors should at least be allowed to eat off campus because they have earned it. All other grades shouldn’t because they can deal with what is on campus. -Dillon Magee. 11th grade If students had demonstrated that they could handle responsibility, then yes. However, due to our lack of maturity, I agree with the decision not to let students eat lunch off campus. -Mie Millard, 11th grade

This And That

Students Produced: The real Ike experience The following works were completed by students in Ms. Roten’s World and U.S. History classes. They were asked to write about or illustrate their experiences during Hurricane Ike. Time seemed to slow down as we crested the Kemah bridge. Devastation and destruction was everywhere I looked. Pieces of wood and tree limbs scattered the road and the sidewalk. People stood in their front lawns, staring with mouths covered with hands, tears in their eyes, staring at where their house once stood. Now they see only rubble and shingles, boats strewn across front yards and trees through roofs letting the stinging rain into their once beautiful home. Some start hauling limbs to the street trying to get to the normal life that eludes them like a needle in a h a y stack. Others sit on the c u r b w i t hElia Lopez working in AP grief in their eyes, despair in their hearts, and confusion in their souls, pleading to try and make sense of what just

happened to their home. As we drive past home after home that, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, condemned to demolition, hope is stirring. Neighbors help other people remove limbs and dry wall. Strangers walk the streets looking for ways to help. -Caleb Trout

Locked in a cave of wood The wind howling like a fallen child. I’m holding onto what’s left of my sanity I am not afraid… The whips of rain slash at me I clutch my hands and shut my eye Suddenly, it all stops. Eerie quiet. I am not afraid…

Studio Art

I walk outside. All is silence My sanity is safe for nowAnd I am afraid…. -Elizabeth Hom

Photo by Ryan Munthe

Anxious, helpless, wary, Deciding on the things we must carry. Cat, dogs, birds come along Hurry, hurry! We cannot be long! I was awake at midnight, Too fearful, too filled with fright. The scarcely held fear welling within, This is it! I heard my mother’s tone; grim. The moon was high, The time to leave nigh. It wasn’t this serious yesterday, It was meant for fun and play! This massive storm coming upon us, Come on, we weren’t supposed to fuss! Stop! Don’t panic, don’t worry, We need to go, not to worry. Our possessions, our wealth, not all of it, We’ll just bring along a little bit. My family and I all nice and packed, Me dog, he gives a little yap. The mood is cold, This storm is bold. Let’s go, a long drive ahead, Twelve hours is a long time to not be fed. The wind howls, the sun soon will rise, Though right now nothing will escape my eyes. I’m alert, I’m active,

No, wait; in this car I’m a captive! Drowsy, sleepy, tired, Gee, I wish I had a Red Bull to keep me wired. We’re tired, it’s noon, I’m going to pass out soon. The day after, we all sit alive, And watch the wrath of Hurricane Ike. The news reported his fury, Every word spoken making us worry. Houses wrecked, schools closed, Ike’s might, a steady pose. We worry for our own home, If it’s victim to that deadly funnel, wait, the phone. It rings, and rings, With news it brings. None of which I receive, But I can still perceive, People flooded, houses wrecked, I’m just a little vexed. We return home a week later, And what we see, we must savor, And be thankful we didn’t lose a thing. -Zachary Victoria

How it’s made: The Homecoming Carnival Allie Hinga October 17 is Creek’s annual homecoming game against Clear Springs High School. The day of the game, students enjoy a pep rally, shortened classes, and the homecoming carnival. The carnival

provides students with a chance to enjoy a lengthened lunch period and a see all that Creek’s organizations have to offer, while helping those organizations raise funds. Every year, Creek’s clubs and organizations use the carnival as a chance to raise money for their various activities.

Different clubs set up booths that market anything from food and drink sales to games to various paraphernalia. In the past, different booths have sold pizza, funnel cakes, dog tags, decorated flip-flops and sunglasses and henna tattoos. Organizations use the booth to raise funds, as they receive money based on how many tickets they sell. On the morning of homecoming, setup for the carnival begins at 8:00 a.m. Booth organizers are responsible for providing all of their own materials, and will have until 9:40, when A lunch begins, to set everything up. Meredith Harris, the teacher in charge of organizing the homecoming carnival, said that this year, booths will be spread out a bit more to give them the space they need. PALS students will be available to help with setup and make sure that every booth that needs power is plugged into an outlet, and during the carnival, they help people hosting booths and act as crowd control and security if needed. After the carnival, PALS students help count the tickets that each booth raised to determine how much money each organization will receive. The homecoming carnival acts as a fundraiser for them as well, as the ten-dollar fee required to host a booth goes to the PALS students. This year, carnival organizers have experience setbacks due to Hurricane Ike. Ms. Harris expressed the difficulty different groups are having with so much instructional time lost, especially new clubs or those who are trying a new activity this year. “It’s made everything really nerve wracking, because new people only have two weeks to come up with an idea and make it happen,” Harris said.

During the carnival, students will be able to purchase tickets for one dollar each to be used at the different booths during their 45-minute lunch. Ms. Harris says that she is working to make sure that every booth offers a different service, so that clubs can raise as much money as possible, and students will have a greater variety of ways to use their tickets. Some booths will be offering multiple products, as long they don’t conflict with the other booths. Students will have an opportunity to purchase lunch, drinks and snacks from various booths. The Chamber C+hoir will be performing some of their music, and on the other side of the courtyard, different bands will be performing some of their music. At t h e e n d of the carnival, clubs turn in the tickets they receive, which will determine how much money they raise. The money will be used to fund club activities throughout the year. While the homecoming carnival is primarily seen as a way for students to have fun and enjoy their day before the big game that night, Ms. Harris says there is more to the carnival than just fun and games. “I want it to be an opportunity for all the clubs to get together as a campus to have a day that’s just fun for kids,” she said. With Creek’s homecoming less than two weeks away, teachers and students are working to make sure that they can put on the best carnival possible: one that helps them raise the maximum amount of funds while helping students to enjoy their day.

Graphic courtesy of Graphicsfactory.com

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