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Opinions
Volume 8 Issue 7
Clarification needed in district competition rule staff editorial
On April 9, Silver Dancers captain Ramsey Shobe and multiple dance team parents spoke at a school board meeting in protest of rules that prevented them from competing at the Vista Ridge Dance Competition when its Saturday portion was rescheduled to a Sunday due to bad weather. According to the PfISD Extra-Curricular Handbook,the Silver Dancers are subject to UIL regulations and therefore could not attend the contest because of UIL restrictions on Sunday competitions. The Silver Dancers were the only team forced to forfeit the competition, drawing attention to the discrepancies between the PfISD handbook and those in other districts. According to the UIL Constitution, the Sunday rule preserves a day for teachers and students with no competition or practice. However, it should be altered to protect either Saturday or Sunday to allow for more flexibility. In addition, the PfISD Extra-Curricular handbook
should be amended to specify which organizations are subject to UIL rules and which are not, as the current clause causes confusion when determining which rules apply to which organizations. The handbook defines any extracurricular activity as “an activity sponsored by the UIL, the Board of Trustees, or an organization sanctioned by Board resolution.” This leaves too much room for interpretation, as it implies that all extra-curriculars are governed by UIL rules but does not explicitly state so. Other district handbooks, like that of Leander ISD, list the specific activities that are governed by UIL, leaving no room for interpretation as to which rules apply to which organization. If the PfISD handbook were organized in this way, there would be much less confusion for the students, faculty and community when events such as the contest postponement occur. Regardless of whether or not the district specifies which organizations must follow the UIL Constitution, the
Because of these obscure rules, you will not be able to compete.
UIL should make accommodations for weekend events. The Sunday Competition rule is in place to save Sunday for faculty and students to be home with their families, but could better serve its purpose if it were changed to apply to either Saturday or Sunday. That way, competitions or events could be held on either Saturday or Sunday, as long as the other day is left free for students and teachers. There would be more flexibility and less scheduling issues when organizing events, and would have allowed the Silver Dancers to compete while staying within the bounds of UIL organizations. The board has not yet responded to the appeals made by the Silver Dancers at the board meeting, but should consider changing the ExtraCurricular Handbook to specify which organizations must follow UIL rules, and the UIL should alter the Sunday competition rule to not be specific to Sunday but reserve one day out of the weekend when teachers and students cannot compete.
You’re good to go!
Hit Miss or
Staff rates the ups and downs of life at HHS
Announcements need to be played Although we have touched on this subject in a previous issue, it needs to be brought up again. Teachers need to play the announcements and keep their classes quiet during them. Regardless of whether one loves announcements or hates them, the fact remains that announcements are the medium that we get daily reminders of information. While the price of prom tickets and deadlines for testing payments may not seem like make or break information, it is still information that we need to know. If we didn’t, they wouldn’t announce it. First and fifth periods are five minutes longer than other classes for the sole purpose of announcements. Teachers need to figure out a way to end their classes in a timely way to play the announcements, while still maintaining control so that students may glean the information they need, and go on about their day. We find the lack of annoucement presentation way off target.
Lack of colors creates dull environment Throughout the school students are limited to few color shades, except for in the art mural in the art hallway. Without these colors, our school has a dim environment rather than a vibrant environment that promotes learning. More expressive colors in the interior of our building could make our school even more innovative and appealing for students, staff, and visitors. By adding bursts of color and originality to the walls and ceilings we would be able to express not only our positive attitude, but also our creative Hawk Spirit. However without this tinge of color the school feels suffocating to some causing this lack of color to be completely off target.
Correction In the last issue of The Hawk, we incorrectly quoted Merle Baxter as saying “states in Africa,” rather than “countries in Africa.”
Hawk the
Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville, Texas 78660 http://cms.pflugervilleisd. net/HHS 512.594.1100 Adviser : Kari O. Riemer Principal : Devin Padavil
The Hawk, official student newspaper of Hendrickson High School, is an open forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions. Opinions expressed reflect the beliefs of the student author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Hawk Staff, the Hawk Adviser, the Hendrickson Faculty and Staff, or the Principal. Letters to the editor are welcomed, and may be dropped off in E102.
ILPC Bronze Star, 2014, 2015
editorial staff
reporters
co-editors: Nyssa Kruse & Gabrielle Wilkosz
Mackenzie Akin Katie Betschart Paris Bowman Julian Cowell Rion Ellis Alexander Fulton Virginia Gaffney Cassidy Hayes Mikaela Kelarek Jannis Ly
copy editor: Maria Mendez news editor: Holly Sill sports editor: Taylor Bodeen
asst. copy editor: MarQuise Prince-Salone opinions editor: Kylie Ruffino life, style & arts editors: Madi McVan &Kayla Meadows
Jennifer Ly Megan McKinney Chloe Ogrodowicz Ileana Perez Chloe Pham Rumor Stojek Madison Trim Alejandra Velazquez
Visit us on the web at www.thehawkonline.net for more original content.
On the relationship between
Privilege,
& ProsPects
Performance,
Survey explores correlation of wealth to educational success
5
aP classes over all 4 years
50%
of workforce, trade school or military-bound seniors have a job
57%
of acc-bound seniors have a job
73%
of college-bound seniors maintained an 85 or higher average in core classes
pages 10-11
53%
of college-bound seniors have a job
All statistics gathered from survey detailed on pages 10-11
collegebound students had a median number of
almost
25%
of college-bound seniors drive a car to school, but do not pay for gas or insurance
Cover Design by Nyssa Kruse
Hthe awk
Volume 8 Issue 7 April 24, 2015 Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive 78660 Pflugerville, Texas Visit us on the web at thehawkonline.net for more original content.