The Hawk December 2023

THE NEXT CHAPTER Admissions cycle presents unique challenges for applicants Pages 6-9

Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville. Texas 78660 Volume 17, Issue 3 December 15, 2023

In Inthis this Issue...

Issue...

4

Guardian Act

11 Swim Team

12

Festive Drinks

1.indd 1

12/11/23 5:24 PM

2 Our Turn Hit or Miss Transphobic restrictions on theatre Changes made to FAFSA jeopardize artistic integrity Opinions Volume 17, Issue 3

Kate Hayes | Co-Editor If you live in Texas, transphobia is basically inescapable. Whether it’s in the classroom, sports, or public restrooms, transphobes are constantly creating new ways to systematically exclude us from everyday life. Their latest attack? In the theater, of all places.

Sherman High School made national headlines early November when they instituted a new policy dictating that actors in the school’s production of Oklahoma! could only play genders that matched their assigned gender at birth. This decision came shortly after transgender boy Max Hightower was assigned the role of Ali Hakim in the musical, complete with his own solo. Many people, Max’s family included, speculated this was a deliberate move by the adm in is t rat ion to exclude a transgender actor from a major role.

In the process, however, several cisgender women cast in male roles also lost their parts.

After major media backlash and protests, the Sherman ISD school board reversed the policy, a surprising decision considering Sherman’s conservative leanings. With that success acknowledged, there have been other examples of schools restricting transgender and nonbinary actors in Texas, and it’s very possible the school board would have voted differently had the story not received massive media coverage.

When I see archaic policies such as this one put into place, I think back to Hawk Drama’s production of Urinetown last year—where the lead, a male character, was played by Bella Monette, a female student.

Everyone I spoke with agreed that she played the part fantastically, and if our school forced theatrical roles to be based in sex, it’s very possible that an actor less suited for the role would have taken the role. Theatre, particularly high school theatre, suffers from this gender inequality problem. As an art that typically interests more women, theatre programs often have more qualified female actors than they are able to cast, and

not enough qualified male actors. Casting women in men’s roles is a long-standing solution to this problem, and ensures that all performances in a production were satisfactory. If Pflugerville ISD had brought down the same decision that Sherman ISD did, it’s possible the quality of Urinetown would have been extremely diminished. Not only was the decision practically nonsensical, but it was also wildly inconsistent with the history and norms of theatre arts.

It’s a well-known fact that during Shakespeare’s career as a playwright, female actors were banned in England.

Thus, all of the female parts he wrote were carried out on stage by men, which was quite normalized at the time.

Further more, Shakespeare actually wrote numerous roles with characters who cross-dressed for reasons such as safety or the pursuit of love.

For example, in As You Like It, the character Rosalind dresses up as a man in order to deter potential assassins while traversing a forest.

The fact that Sha kesp eare’s plays were incredibly successful while containing elements of gender nonconformity demonstrates that has little bearing on the quality of a production. The only forces that would be seeking to limit this freedom are not actors or directors, but administrators looking to enforce a transphobic agenda with little regard for the history and traditions of theatre.

So, not only do policies like Sherman High School’s discriminate against transgender students, but they also violate the artistic precedence that theatre is built upon. Attacking transgender people almost always harms cisgender people in the process—when Max Hightower lost his role, so did many others, trans or not. Limiting the freedoms of one group too often leads to limitations on everyone. So, we must work to ensure that this discrimination does not occur again—not just for the sake of transgender people, but also to protect the very foundations of theatre itself.

Illustration by | Eliana Grant

2-3Opinion_converted.indd 2

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form for incoming college students seeking financial assistance in order to pay for schooling. Many students and parents rely on the eligible aid FAFSA can provide.

Low-income students and families are not the only ones who rely on it, so do people with siblings who also are or will attend college. Recently, FAFSA has elected to not consider a student’s number of siblings when determining the amount of aid students will receive.

This poses a great issue for families with multiple children they plan to put through college. This will greatly affect low-income families, who statistically have a higher number of children than high-income families. Additionally, middle class families will also be affected by this as they will be expected to pay off multiple loans.

FAFSA’s disregard of students’ number of siblings when deciding the amount of aid they will give is a miss.

Statistics mislead students The college application process is a grueling and co nfusing process, but so is the process of determining what colleges to apply to. There’s a range of factors to consider when applying, ranging from location to the quality of the school’s programs. However, it seems most seniors take into consideration the acceptance and graduation rates of schools as the determining factor of the quality of the school. A low acceptance rate is not always an indicator of prestige or quality.

Even if a student is seeking prestige, they should still do more research on the school rather than basing it off of acceptance rate.

As for graduation rates, they can be greatly misleading.

Public schools are known to have lower graduation rates because a decent amount of students only attend part time or transfer schools. Rather than solely focusing on graduation and acceptance rates, seniors should look at the location, programs, and opportunities offered at the colleges they are considering to apply to or attend.

Therefore, solely basing the direction of one’s college applications off of graduation and acceptance rates is a miss.

School starts to enforce IDs Starting next semester, the school will begin enforcing IDs in order to appease the district’s mandate. Student’s will receive a warning when they are caught without an ID on campus and will be given Saturday school following five warnings. Although this is not entirely the school’s fault as they are facing pressure from the district to impose IDs, the usage of IDs does not feel the most efficient way to ensure school safety. A student could easily use a fake ID, or go unchecked by staff for having one, especially in big crowds. Given this, the district’s strict enforcement of IDs feel useless in bettering safety on campus, making it a miss.

12/11/23 5:40 PM

Opinions December 15, 2023

Your Turn “I think [affirmative action] should be used, but it shouldn’t be the only thing they base the application on.”

-Aidan Cheely, 12

Staff Editorial

3

Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville, TX 78660 http://www.pfisd.net/HHS (512) 594-1100 Student Population: 2,134 Staff: 180

Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action contradicts legacy admissions

Adviser: Kari Riemer Principal: Michael Grebb www.facebook.com/HawkNewspaper

The Hawk, the 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 E211. Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff.

“They shouldn’t base it off of race, I feel like other qualities should be considered instead of just race.”

-Saachi Sharma, 11

The Hawk is printed monthly at Community Impact in Pflugerville, Texas.

1,000 copies are printed each run, and are distributed to the student body for free before school on publication day and on newsstands throughout the building.

Editorial Staff Editors

“I do not believe that colleges should base their choices solely on race.”

-Isaac Bendixen, 10

“I think that colleges choosing their admissions based on race shouldn’t be how it’s done.”

-Haydn Helmcamp, 10

“I think affirmative action is a way to ensure equality in all colleges and make sure that everyone has equal opportunities when it comes to education.”

-Natalie Mathews, 10

In the 2023 SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. UFC Supreme Court cases, the Court ruled the end of affirmative action in higher education in a 6-3 vote. This officially ended the use of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability as factors in determining college admissions.

The Court’s decision was under the basis that affirmative action violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Those in opposition of affirmative action argue that its use reduces the chances for applicants who do not fall under those categories to receive an acceptance into a college, therefore making its use unfair. Although this is a valid concern, this argument and ruling fails to consider the other factors that impact and sway admissions decisions. Additionally it ignores the benefits affirmative action can have on creating a more diverse and inclusive campus.

When considering the issue of an equal decision process in college admissions, legacy admissions cannot go unmentioned. Legacy is applicable for applicants who have a parent or grandparent who has previously attended the university; that factor would then go into consideration when determining their admission decision. Although the popularity of legacy preferences among universities has been on a recent decline, its use still remains prevalent among many institutions. The continued employment of legacy admissions gives legacy applicants an edge against traditional applicants in the decision process simply based on heritage.

Unlike affirmative action, legacy admissions add no benefits to the campus.

While affirmative action can be used to

add more diversity to campus life or reduce demographic disproportions, such as a campus being predominantly white or male, legacy preferences remain simply an inhibitor in achieving a fair admissions process. In a way, affirmative action has been utilized by colleges to improve the environment of their school and allow students a more inclusive space to feel safe and accepted. Moreover, it gives students who have had limited exposure to diversity an opportunity to meet new people and learn new perspectives, creating a space for growth outside of the classroom.

Although affirmative action does not directly address economic disparities, it does provide some coverage for individuals from lower socioeconomic situations. It makes college more accessible for certain groups who have not always been able to afford or attend university due to certain historical boundaries that were previously in place. Affirmative action helps even the playing field in that regard, as it considers some underprivileged groups.

Given these reasons, it is hypocritical to argue affirmative action as the sole cause for creating an “unfair” decision process, when legacy admissions still remain in common use. Additionally, it’s important to weigh the benefits affirmative action has on institutional environments before determining whether its application is unfair or not. Regardless of your position on affirmative action, it’s necessary to consider all sides of its usage as well as the other contributors that may sway college decisions before fully condemning it within higher education.

Co-Editors: Kate Hayes, Lilianna Moran Copy Editor: Sophia Johst Assistant Editors: Eliana Grant, Gia Patel

Reporters Emily Rodriguez Travis Tellez

Artists Diane Salazar Eliana Grant

Associations Interscholastic Press League Texas Association of Journalism Educators Journalism Educators Association National Scholastic Press Association Columbia Scholastic Press League

Honors ILPC Bronze Star 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 ILPC Silver Star 2021 Columbia Scholastic Press League, Gold Medalist 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 Silver Crown, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 Pacemaker Finalist, 2018

THE NEXT CHAPTER Admissions cycle presents unique challenges for applicants Pages 6-9

Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville. Texas 78660 Volume 17, Issue 3 December 15, 2023

In Inthis this Issue...

Issue...

4

Guardian Act

11 Swim Team

12

Festive Drinks

1.indd 1

12/11/23 5:24 PM

Illustration by Diane Salazar

Illustration by | Eliana Grant

2-3Opinion_converted.indd 3

12/11/23 5:40 PM

4

News Volume 17, Issue 3

FFA places in leadership development events contest

Sophomore Nessany Quintanilla, senior Alex Gierbolini, and junior Lyliana Quintanilla show off fourth place FFA award for AG Advocacy. “I was really nervous going into it since it was my first time ever making it this far,” Gierbolini said. “But walking out before even seeing my scores I felt great, because I knew me and my teammates did amazing.”

Photo provided by | Pilar Lira

Eliana Grant | Asst. Editor The Leadership Development Events Contest, a competition held by the FFA, was able to bring home several awards for the school. Held on Nov. 18, the area 12 competition resulted with Agriculture Advocacy placing fourth, and Job Interview placing first. Job Interview's candidate was Junior Lyliana Quintanilla, who went on to place sixth at finals for the Job Interview leadership development event.

“We have different categories of events in FFA and this is our fall one, so I competed in the Job Interview contest,” Quintanilla said. “I have to submit numerous forms of paperwork, I have to give a phone interview, an in person interview, and then write a letter of correspondence. And, I had to go through numerous rounds to get to state finals, and then I won sixth.”

This was a big win for the school’s FFA

as these competitions are an important affair in the agriculture world, and are an honor to win.

“I'm super excited, I'm super proud of myself,” Quintanilla said. “It was the first time I've ever competed in this contest. It's the first time Hendrickson FFA has ever had someone go to state finals for a Job Interview, so it was really cool.”

Quintanilla has been in FFA since the eighth grade, as well as 4-h, another agriculture program, since she was five years old. This means she has been working in agriculture for most of her life. Both her talent combined with the organization made for a successful competition win.

“We have great Ag teachers in our FFA program,” Quintanilla said. “They were super helpful and supportive, and they had me very well prepared for state finals.”

District begins preparations to meet Guardian Act requirements

Lilianna Moran | Co-Editor This year, Texas introduced the Guardian Act that requires each school district board of trustees to ensure at least one armed security officer is present at each campus during school hours. If a school lacks an armed officer they must resort to a different method such as training a staff member to become a guardian or hiring a new officer.

“The Guardian acts to fill the void of some campuses not having an armed officer on campus,” principal Michael Grebb said. “So, it’s a way to train and arm certain staff members to fulfill that requirement from the state of Texas.”

In order for a staff member to become a guardian, the individual must be at least 21 years of age and have a completed

h i g h s c h o o l education or GED. Those eligible and interested then go through a rigorous selection and training process.

“First, they would fill out an application and then a background check,” Grebb said.

“Then, I believe it’s over 40 hours of training before they can be armed at school.”

In terms of the district, the

employment of staff members as guardians is less geared towards the high schools and more so the elementary s c h o o l s who lack any security r e s o u r c e officers (SROs.) A process that is currently underway for elementar y schools.

“I know they

are in the process of picking people doing the background checks,” Grebb said. “I would anticipate that the training would be in the spring and they would start to have them on campus as soon as possible.”

However, for the high schools, Grebb feels the utilization of staff guardians will not take place anytime soon.

“The only reason I don’t think the high schools will be affected as much is because we always have an armed person,” Grebb said. “But, that’s not to say that they might not train some people just so they can, in case we’re in between people (officers) and stuff like that.”

Avery Howe | Artist

District board yet to decide on new supervisor Eliana Grant | Asst. Editor The district superintendent Dr. Douglas Killian has been selected as the finalist to move to Cypress Fairbanks ISD. This has left many to wonder how the superintendent position will be affected and who will replace him.

He sent out a mass email regarding his moving of school districts and expressing his thankfulness to PFISD. “After careful consideration and heartfelt contemplation, I accepted a new opportunity outside Pflugerville

4-5News.indd 2

ISD and have been named Lone Finalist for Superintendent of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD,” Killian said in the email. “This decision has not been an easy one, as my time in Pflugerville has been marked by extraordinary moments and the privilege of working alongside the most dedicated and passionate educators and staff.”

On Thursday December 7th Killian was approved as the official Cypress Fairbanks superintendent. Killian will remain with PFISD until December 31st, continuing to work with​the district until his move.

“Our Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Dec. 14 to discuss hiring an Interim Superintendent as well as a possible search firm to help identify the next Superintendent of Pflugerville ISD as part of the planning process,” Killian said in a follow up email. “The hiring process will include staff and community input and will go on into the spring semester. I know the board’s goal is to hire the best candidate possible to serve this amazing district and awesome staff.”

In the wake of Killian’s moving, board president Renae Mitchell sent out an email reassuring all on the state of the superintendent position.

“Dr. Killian's dedication has undoubtedly made our district stronger, and we are grateful for the positive impact he leaves us with,” Mitchell said in the email. “As your Board President, I want to assure you that I and my fellow Board Trustees are fully committed to a smooth transition and will work closely with staff to select our next leader.”

12/11/23 5:25 PM

News December 15, 2023

5

Graduate details experience in Israel during start of war Lilianna Moran | Co-Editor Tel Aviv, Oct. 7, School alumnus Yael Behar was abruptly awoken by her apartment roommate urging her to get up. Alarms echoed throughout the flat as Behar and the other residents coupled closely in the stairwell.

“I was processing the siren sounds and also the sounds of missiles being intercepted in the air, and though I was initially surprised and confused, I was okay with it at the time,” Behar said. “I knew that Gaza gets into altercations with Israel and it just happens sometimes, so I was prepared for that inevitability.”

The sirens eventually passed, and Behar, with her other three roommates, shuffled back into their apartment.

Two hours later, again, the city’s sirens alerted of a breach. And, so again, Behar was back in the stairwell. A cycle that would continue over 10 times the rest of that day, and multiple times throughout the few weeks Behar was there.

“By the end of the night, I was already getting really scared, nobody had any details on what was going on, but it sounded like the missiles had gotten louder or closer,” Behar said. “So, by the end of the night, when the missiles were still going off, I was terrified. I could hear stuff in the distance and was reading the news which didn’t help. I think at the end of that day Israel had declared war on Hamas, so at that point, I knew things were getting more serious than I originally expected. So, that terrified me even more.”

Fresh out of high school, Behar had flown out to Israel during the summer for a year-long study abroad program.

There, she visited her Israeli family and worked as an intern for an architecture firm.

“I’d been to Israel before recreationally but definitely not for such an extended period and definitely not with this level of independence,” Behar said. “I got to explore lots of areas of the country, both with the program and by myself. It was an opportunity to integrate myself with the culture and the language that I considered myself a part of, but not really connected to — so it was nice to connect.”

However, this only lasted a few months.

Following the first few days after Israel’s declaration of war, Behar stayed in her apartment. The stream of alarms became a common occurrence, and the number of people in the stairwell continued to lessen as more and more people evacuated Tel Aviv. After around a week

4-5News.indd 3

in the apartment, Behar had made plans to travel to her family in Haifa and stay with them until she had a way to leave the country, a process she describes to have been “a mess.”

“First, I was looking online for a flight,”

flight. At some point, somebody on board had a medical emergency and we diverted to Iceland for two hours, so I missed my connecting flight from New York to Austin. I was stuck in New York trying to get a new flight for three hours,

Yael Behar lounges in a hammock during her trip to Israel. “That day my family and I had gone to a fruit orchard for my cousin’s birthday to pick lychee,” Behar said. “I probably ate five pounds worth of it, plus tons of other fruit before almost falling asleep in these hammocks they had on the side of the orchard.”

Photo provided by | Yael Behar Behar said. “I flew with Delta to Israel, so I was hoping they could fly me back but they had suspended all their flights from Israel because things had gotten worse at that point. So, I booked a flight with British Airways, and the plan was that I would fly from Israel to London to Dallas to Austin. But, they canceled my flight so I had to get another flight, this time with Israeli Airlines, which was the only airline flying out of the country.

So, that was horrible, it was a super long

but I eventually made it back.”

Upon her arrival back, Behar’s family warned against the rise in anti-semitism within the States as tensions heightened.

“I think you can fight for Palestine while also being supportive of Jews, but a lot of people have been using this as an excuse to be anti-semitic,” Behar said. “Lots of students at college who had Mezuzahs or some kind of way they were identified as Jewish are being hate crimed online. Swastikas are spray

painted on their dorm rooms. It’s just bad. There was a period when my mom told me to take off my Magen David that I wore all the time. I don’t think that anyone in Pflugerville is going to commit a hate crime against me for being Jewish but the fact that I have to think about it, the fact that that’s something that crosses my mind every day I’m putting on my Jewish star is saddening to me.”

Behar notes the uptick in Islamophobia as well.

“I can only offer a Jewish perspective, because I am not Arab or Muslim, but I know that it is happening,” Behar said.

“I know that both demographics have had amounts of hate that have been a result of this, and it’s not justifiable in any way. Putting aside the whole conflict it is never okay to be Islamophobic or antisemitic.”

Although Behar is home now, the experience of the war is something she feels will stay with her forever.

“There are few things that really ever cross my mind as a possibility, and being stuck in a wartorn country miles from home is not one of them,” Behar said.

“When I came to Israel, I understood a part of it was the possibility of some altercation happening with Gaza. This is the reality for many Israelis and Palestinians who live there, and I was okay with the fact that it could happen.

But, for the past several years, things have been sort of in a stalemate, with the occasional one off bomb being thrown around. I didn’t ever expect to be in the middle of a war that was so involved. It was the most terrifying experience of my life, and I hardly got to experience the full effects of it.”

Behar sympathizes with both Israelis and Palestinians who do not have the option of escape as she continues to deal with the impacts the war has left her with.

“It breaks my heart that Israelis and Palestinians are still being subjected to the worse parts of this war, that I have the privilege not to experience,” Behar said. “It was still scary and surreal, what I experienced. It left me confused and cowering in my apartment alone. I still have a fear of thunder and loud noises, because just for a split second, I hear the sound of a bomb and it makes my heart jump, before remembering that I’m here in the U.S. I think a lot of Americans think they are exempt from this war because it’s half way across the globe, but as an American, it only took one experience of war for me to be permanently affected.”

12/11/23 5:25 PM

6

Feature Volume 17, Issue 3

THE NEXT Austin-area colleges provide options for students The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is a public research university in Central Austin. The annual cost without aid is $29,788. The application fee is $75. This Public Ivy school has an acceptance rate of 29% and guarantees admission to Texas public high school students in the top 6% of their class.

Huston-Tillotson University

The University of Texas at Austin

Huston-Tillotson University, located in East Austin, is a private historically black university with an acceptance rate of 50% and an application fee of $25. Before aid, the annual cost is $25,652.

St. Southwestern University, located in Georgetown, is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 51%. There is no application fee. The annual cost prior to aid is $61,720. Southwestern holds claim to the unique title of being the first institution of higher learning in the state of Texas.

Southwestern University

Edward’s University St. Edward’s University is a private Catholic school located in South Austin with a 94% acceptance rate. There is no application fee for those who apply early, but those who apply under Regular Decision will be charged $50. The annual cost is $67,544 without aid. The school is well known for giving great financial aid and scholarships.

Austin Community College

Texas State University (TXST) is a public research institution located in San Marcos. It has an acceptance rate of 70% and a $75 application fee. The annual cost without aid is $26,275.

Texas State University

6-7.indd 2

Austin Community College (ACC) is a public 2-year college with an acceptance rate of 100% and no application fee. The annual cost without aid is $24,276, but with aid that drops down to an average of $6,612.

12/11/23 5:26 PM

T Educators CHAPTER recall college experiences Kate Hayes | Co-Editor

Teachers were young once, too, you know.

When science teacher Hector Flores applied to colleges as a senior, he knew he wanted to get away from Pflugerville—a town he’d spent his entire life in. He decided to apply to a school five hours away in Abilene, McMurray University, where he graduated in 2017 with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies. “[McMurry] was my second choice,” Flores said. “I applied there because they were going to give me a running scholarship.”

At McMurry, Flores competed in Track and Cross Country at the collegiate level.

“It was fun,” Flores said. “I met a lot of cool people. I was part of the traveling team for tracking and cross country so I got to go to Michigan, New York, other places like that. It’s a lot of fun traveling.”

In terms of academics, Flores studied three different concentrations under an Interdisciplinary major.

“Mine were coaching, psychology and health administration,” Flores said. “It's more of a broader degree. And then of course, I'm eventually gonna go to grad school and get a more concentrated degree, probably in something like Curriculum Writing or something else teaching-related.”

However, Flores changed his major several times before landing on Interdisciplinary Studies.

“At first, it was microbiology,” Flores said. “And then I did a couple of classes, I didn't like it. Then I switched to nursing. I went through nursing school, I was near the end, but then it turned out that it wasn't for

me. So then, I switched to Interdisciplinary because I needed a year to finish school and I just wanted to finish.”

While Flores went to a school with just over 1,000 students, other teachers had very different experiences: for example, English teacher Sarah Smith graduated from UT Austin in 2016, which at the time had over 50,000 students enrolled. Smith was automatically admitted to UT based on her class rank, but says it wasn’t her first choice of college.

“I really wanted to go out of state,” Smith said. “But, I realized it was going to be a lot cheaper and they had great programs and some other fun stuff I was excited about. I also probably got cold feet about moving so far away—it started to become more real.”

UT was much closer to home, but still over a hundred miles from where Smith grew up, outside of the Houston metropolitan area.

“I didn’t really notice a huge difference between the cities at the time,” Smith said.

“It’s funny because now I go back to Houston and they’re very different cities. I don’t think I would have liked to go to U of H and be in the middle of a huge city like Houston.”

Smith grew to love Austin during her college years, owing to the city’s art scene and accessibility.

“I think that the only reason I was able to go to UT and stay in Texas is because of Austin,” Smith said. “You’re at a college and you’re on a campus and you still get that college experience but you have access to so much more in a city. I had friends who went to A&M in College Station and they would tell me what they were doing on the

weekends, and I’d be like, “that’s it?” But that’s just College Station. There’s not a ton of robust industries there.”

Smith initially entered UT as a journalism major, having previously served as editor of her high school newspaper. However, she quickly realized she didn’t want to be a journalist, and became an undeclared student.

By the end of college, she had switched her major to English and also attained a minor in Education.

“I loved being an English major, it was great,” Smith said. “Never had to take any multiple choice tests, never had to take a math class. Just read books and talk about them.”

Smith recognizes the utility of having a degree like English that is broadly applicable to various fields and job positions.

“I think that not having a specialized degree is really useful, because 75% of the people that I know don’t work in the field they got their degree in,” Smith said. “That’s just the nature of today’s workforce; they just want people to be educated, it doesn’t mean you have to have all this knowledge about one specific field.”

Ultimately, Smith emphasizes that seniors should not pressure themselves to have their futures completely planned out.

“You’re going to learn and change so much, even in the first three months,” Smith said. “What you think you want to do is going to change. When I graduated college, I had no idea what I was getting into.

Accept the uncertainty you’re embarking on because college is really just the next step in something that’s lifelong.”

SAT remains vital component of college admissions Travis Tellez | Reporter The SAT is a standardized test that nearly all students will have to take at one point or another in their high school careers. It is a test created by and administered by College Board with the purpose of measuring a high school student's readiness for college.

Colleges will then look at these scores to compare applicants based on a single data point. For as long as the SAT has been administered, there are still many questions regarding how the SAT and its scores work.

“Students need a score of 480 in English, and in Math, a score of 530 will give you college readiness. That means you’re eligible to take college-level classes,” college and career counselor Leigh Ann Spradlin said when talking about what colleges look for in SAT scores. “If you don’t score that on either section, you must take developmental courses. You can still graduate from high

6-7.indd 3

school, and you can still go to college, you just have to have those specific scores to take college-level classes.”

When it comes to admissions, colleges may offer test-optional admissions, where applicants can choose not to send their scores if they don’t like them. Then, colleges will look more closely at applicants’ other achievements, such as GPA and difficulty of classes taken during high school. However, if an applicant’s SAT scores are satisfactory for the college, it’s recommended that they send them.

Once students have SAT scores that they are satisfied with, they will have to submit scores to colleges when applying for them.

“To access your scores, you have to log in to your collegeboard.org account,” Spradlin said “ It costs $14 every time you send them to a school.”

When it comes to signing up for the SAT,

the school signs up every junior for the SAT that takes place in March, but students are also able to sign up on their own. “To register yourself, you just get on the College Board website and look at the dates they offer,” Spradlin said “Only certain locations offer the SAT, like Round Rock High School, and you pick a location and just show up there and take it.”

It is important to take the SAT multiple times so you can improve your score, so it is recommended that students take it two to three times. Students should begin practicing for the SAT as soon as they can, as it will improve their chances of getting a higher score.

“A good way to practice for the SAT is Khan Academy,” Spradlin says “Even if you did 10 minutes a day on Khan Academy, that's enough, you don't have to do it for hours at a time.”

Feature Seniors offer college December 15, 2023 application advice to underclassmen

“If you’re stressed about having the top grades, when it comes to actually applying, make sure that you also put the same amount of effort into your essays. That’s honestly what they look at most when it comes to accepting you, because that’s what sets you apart. So, make sure you put something really interesting in that—even if you think there’s nothing interesting, there’s definitely something.” -Smithi Balan, 12

“Apply early during the summer. My grandpa was president of a university, and he said applying early gives you a higher chance because they look at statistics and people who applied early for his college are more likely to stick there. So, if you apply early, you get more scholarships and are accepted quicker.” -Kian Williams, 12

“When they ask you dumb questions about your life, don’t overthink it, and make sure that you understand who you are at least half as a person before you answer any questions so you don’t give a fake version of yourself.” -Zion Onwujuba, 12

“My advice would be just get on top of it as soon as possible. I waited, and now I’m already starting school again and have to balance school on top of doing college applications.” -Christan Cottle, 12

12/11/23 5:26 PM

8

Feature Volume 17, Issue 3

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Ivy applicant reflects on college prestige, admissions process Kate Hayes | Co-Editor As December comes to a close, application deadlines for many colleges are approaching. In their college search, seniors evaluate the schools they apply to based on a variety of factors—for example, the cost of attendance, location, or the size of the school. One factor, however, has gained increasing importance to some in recent years: prestige, the reputation of a college.

“To be real, I do care about prestige,” senior Maya Hay said. “There’s a certain level where it’s cool to go to a prestigious college. And, schools labeled as prestigious open the door for certain opportunities that I, especially, would not have at other schools. In a way, yes, at a certain level it is the title and the academics, but it’s also finding a space in a world that commonly does not have spaces for me.”

Hay, the president of the school’s Girl Advocates club and reporter for the Student Council, is applying to four Ivy League institutions this admissions cycle— Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard, and Yale, which are among the most well-regarded colleges in the country. However, she has a lot more reasons behind her interest than just reputation.

“My cousin and aunt went to Brown and my uncle went to Dartmouth, and they all had such an amazing experience,” Hay said. “Also, some of these schools offer things you wouldn’t have, like an open curriculum and no GPA or class rank.

to say that other schools don’t give you opportunities, but people are more quick to let you in just because of where you are.”

However, with great aspirations comes great effort, and Hay says the experience

Illustration by | Avery Howe the top level industries instead of having to work your way up is just a more secure future, to a certain extent,” Hay said. “In a way, it does give you an advantage. Not

of applying to multiple prestigious colleges has been difficult.

“They have so many supplementals,” Hay said. “Yale has, like, six questions.

When you’re applying to these schools, it’s definitely a lot of work and a lot of self-reflecting. A lot of the time people want to go to those schools because of the title and the supplementals will make you think, “why do I want to go to school here?” If you don’t give an honest answer as to why, they’ll immediately know this person is not here for the academics.”

Throughout her application journey, Hay says she’s learned a lot, and has some advice for future Ivy League hopefuls.

“A lot of people think that you need to have groundbreaking research to get into these schools, or all of these really extreme things, but the reality is they’re looking for interesting people,” Hay said.

“They're not going to find that if you're not being who you are or representing what you care about, your values, your passions.

So just make sure that what drives you isn't the title of going to that school, but finding a place for you, and a place that matches what you want.”

Ultimately, while prestige is a factor in most people’s college applications, Hay says it shouldn’t be a priority.

“Prestige is not everything,” Hay said. “A lot of people think that prestigious schools are like the best of the best, but the reality is a lot of the things that you could get at those schools you could get at any other school. The only difference is the title and price tag, which makes it so inaccessible for so many people. It’s all about what you want, not changing yourself to fit in.”

August September

October

November

December

Aug. 1: 1 Applications Seniors study for upcoming SAT open up for many dates colleges

Seniors begin submitting applications

Nov. 1: 1 Priority deadline for many colleges

Dec. 1: 1 Regular deadline for some colleges, Early Decision results

February

March

April

Feb. 1: 1 Regular deadline for some colleges, Early Action results

Mar. 1: 1 juniors take SAT, Regular Decision results Regular Decision results released in early April, released mid-March seniors consider colleges

January Jan. 1: 1 Regular deadline for some colleges, Early Action results

8-9.indd 2

That’s something that I really value in higher education.”

More reasons for Hay’s interest include the quality of academics, professors, and strong alumni networks.

“Getting that networking and going to

May May 1: 1 Decision Day for seniors to commit to a school

12/11/23 5:26 PM

R

Feature December 15, 2023

9

Spradlin discusses options for students outside of higher education Eliana Grant | Asst. Editor One big question that comes up within the entirety of a student’s career is whether or not they are going to go to college.

While this may just be something to ponder in elementary and middle school, high school is where many students come to serious consideration in whether or not they attend college.

“I think it's different for every student,” college and career counselor Leigh Ann Spradlin said. “It should be personalized for every student, I definitely don't think college is the answer for everyone. So I just have to support each student with what they want to do.”

Some students may still not be sure which path to take, but Spradlin makes it very clear that having a plan for your future is

the most important aspect. Either way one decides to go, proper considerations and viewing all of your options is essential.

“There are trade schools,” Spradlin said. “People do consider those colleges, but they are a two year school that students can learn a trade, more like HVAC, welding, plumbing, electrician, all that good stuff…keep the world going round.”

When considering the path a student may take in their life, it is important to see the pros and cons of going to college versus not going to college. Putting a plan into a particular perspective offers a clearer example of what a student may do with their future.

“There's a drawback to everything, and there's positives to everything,” Spradlin

said. “I think the drawbacks [to not going to college] would be, as long as they have a plan, I don't know that there are drawbacks…it's going to be different for every kid. So just having a plan is what we want.”

While some may be dead set on going to college, it is important to know that there are other options available for a student's future career. Research is an important aspect in any part of planning, so having an idea of what you would like to do or where you are going is essential.

“We have [a college] down the street called Texas State Technical College, and they will actually pay back your school if you don't get a job right away, so it's a really good deal,” Spradlin said. “The other one is the military. Our students

are going to the military right away, and then they have their school paid for later if they choose, and then they get…the government benefits while they're there.”

Whether a student goes to college or not is their own decision, and something only one can decide for themselves. Whichever path a student chooses to take it is still important to have their plan laid out.

“Going [to college], they need to think about, financially, how is that going to set them back later on,” Spradlin said. “And then not going to college, just making sure again that they have a plan and they have…a goal in mind. If it's to work for a year and then go to school, that's okay. If they want to do military or whatever, it's just making sure they have a solid plan.”

College counselor gives students advice on application prep Lilianna Moran | Co-Editor

How to Stand Out

The Specifics College and career counselor Leigh Ann Spradlin offers guidance to students of all grades on how to manage the application process, which is often considered confusing.

Plan ahead, research colleges “Make sure you know where you want to apply, do the research. Are they good Participate in extracurriculars

matches for you? I’d recommend having a well-rounded list of reach schools, target schools and safety schools and making sure you stay organized with deadlines and meeting those deadlines.”

Build your academic resume

“When the application opens, know that you don’t have to have it done quickly.

Start your essay the summer before your senior year

“Everybody takes AP classes, everybody’s going to school and getting good

Make sure you take your time on it and really spend extra time on those short answer questions and anything else that might pop up.”

grades. But, the resume is the thing that sets you apart.”

Reach out to colleges; make yourself known

8-9.indd 3

“Do [FAFSA] as soon as it opens, because it’s first come, first serve.”

12/11/23 5:26 PM

10

Sports Volume 17, Issue 3

Competitive Cheer’s Comeback Senior answers questions regarding upcoming competition

Gia Patel | Asst. Editor

What do you compete in doing in a varsity competition?

“We compete in non-tumbling,” senior varsity cheerleader Kimberly Rowley said. “We have stunt, jumps, and a gameday performance.”

When was the last time cheer competed?

“The last time our cheer team ever competed was ten years ago,” Rowley said.

When and where is cheer having its competition?

Senior Kimberly Rowley shows her school spirit during the school song after the neon night game at The Pfield against Cedar Creek. “Cheer was really fun, and now we’re competing, so we have that to look forward to.” Sarah Stokes | Photographer

“We compete on December 10 in San Antonio at NCA Regionals,” Rowley said.

How do you feel about competition?

“I feel excited and happy to show off all our hard work,” Rowley said.

How is cheer preparing for competition?

“We practice every day during our cheer period as well as after school,” Rowley said.

“We practice for around one and a half to three hours.”

What does the day of competition look like?

“We meet at the school on Sunday at 5pm,” Rowley said. “We then drive to San Antonio, we compete at nine, and then we have awards.”

10-11.indd 2

12/11/23 5:35 PM

Sports December 15, 2023

11

Diving Into Playoffs Basketball team aims for season victory Sophia Johst | Copy Editor

Kevin Bretfelean shoots the ball during the game with Ennis. “I’ve been practicing every morning,” Bretfelean said. Zoe Ewing | Photographer

Friday, Nov. 10 marked the start of the season for the boys basketball team. The team has been practicing since the end of October in preparation for their game against Ellison.

“Ellison is really good,” junior Kevin Bretfelean said. “I think they were in the top 20 in five A this year.”

Despite the opposing team’s skills, they managed to play well against them during the first half of the game. In the second half of the game though, the team ended up losing 74-51.

“It was neck and neck until the second half kind of got away from us,” Bretfelean said.

“So, we ended up losing.”

On Nov 14th, the team played an away game against The Gateway. They ended up winning 63-35. Additionally, they have won recent games against Hutto, Kaufman, and Braswell. Overall, the team has done well in their recent tournaments and proved their capabilities.

“We want to win district this year,” senior Amir Thompson said. “Then we can go far in the playoffs.”

With the start of the season, the basketball team already has their goal for the entirety of the season set out.

“The goal is to stay and get further in the playoffs than last year,” Bretfelean said. “We made it to the second round last year and hope to do better this year.”

The team is set on advancing further in the playoffs this year. The playoffs will take place towards the end of February to early March. In order to qualify for playoffs, the individual team needs to meet a certain level of qualifications.

“You have to be one of the top four teams in the district to qualify,” Thompson said. “We will then get seated against other district’s top performing teams.”

In preparation for district and eventually the playoffs, the team has been working hard during training in order to achieve their goal.

“We’ve been really focused when looking at tapes and trying to correct mistakes to make us better as a whole,” Bretfelean said.

Swim team advocates natatorium in new rec center Travis Tellez | Reporter As the year goes on and temperatures start dropping, the swim team continues to advocate for change in their training situations. The swim team has been advocating to the city for the construction of a new natatorium in the new recreation center that has been in construction. This matter has been a point of contention between the staff of the swim team and the city as they press for the construction of a full natatorium.

This proposal has been requested by the parents who work with the swim team to make training for the team better and more reliable. As of this school year, the swim team is training at the nearby Gilleland Public Pool, which is an outdoor 25-meter pool. While the pool does have the necessities for a team to train in, such as multiple lanes, diving blocks, and basic gear, it is still under construction. There are no bathrooms, aside from one portable toilet, there is no real gate for entry, and for the longest time, it had no heater in the pool.

As the year goes on and temperatures start dropping, the swim team continues to advocate for change in their training situations. The swim team has been advocating to the city for the construction of a new natatorium in the new recreation center that has been in construction. This matter has been a point of contention between the staff of the swim team and the city as they press for the construction

10-11.indd 3

of a full natatorium.

This proposal has been requested by the parents who work with the swim team to make training for the team better

gear, it is still under construction. There are no bathrooms, aside from one portable toilet, there is no real gate for entry, and for the longest time, it had no heater in

Sophomore Andrew Gilbert dives during the Temple Elf On The Shelf Invite. “As a team, we’re improving generally and we’re getting faster and faster,” Gilbert said. The swim team earned the 2nd highest combined team score at the invite. Photo provided by | CADY

Photos

and more reliable. As of this school year, the swim team is training at the nearby Gilleland Public Pool, which is an outdoor 25-meter pool. While the pool does have the necessities for a team to train in, such as multiple lanes, diving blocks, and basic

the pool.

“We could be doing better if we had more consistent workouts,” swim oach Ashley Campbell said, “We wouldn’t have to cancel as much if we had a facility that was indoors and relied less on the

weather.”

For the month that the pool had no heater, the team had to train at the Windermere pool, which is not a competitive viable pool, which caused more people to not show up to practice.

“No one goes to practice, ‘cause it’s way too cold, which causes it to always get canceled,” sophomore swimmer Haydn Helmcamp said, “A natatorium would probably mean more swimmers would show up.”

Due to these problems, the parents who work with the swim team have been trying to push for the city to build a natatorium for the swimmers to use in the new recreational center. The prospect of a new natatorium would allow for many benefits for the swim team, as they would not have to worry about the weather and the cancellation of practices, as well as gaining the ability to host their own meets, bringing in profits for both the city and the team.

“The city had initially thought of building a natatorium in the new rec center, but they decided that it wouldn’t be profitable, so they are building a lap pool instead.”

Campbell said, “With a natatorium, we could have more consistent practices, people would be more motivated to train, and we would be able to host our own meets, which would be profitable for both the city and the team.”

12/11/23 5:35 PM

12

Entertainment Volume 17, Issue 3

A Cozy Winter Season

Staff review favorite festive drinks

Milk+Tea

Illustrations by | Eliana Grant

Kate Hayes | Co-Editor This fall, I decided to try the Brown Sugar Coffee Latte from milk+tea in Stone Hill, formerly known as Ding Tea. Milk+tea only has one size of the latte, priced at $5.95. The amount of coffee you get is respectable for the price, but as someone who drinks extremely fast, sometimes I wish the establishment had larger sizes available for purchase.

Still, I loved the stark contrast between the smoky coffee flavor and sweet milk of the latte, and would definitely recommend it for purchase if you’re a person who likes coffee. Be warned, though, the combination of coffee and dairy did not bode well for my stomach, so if you have problems with lactose, I might skip out on this one.

Kate Hayes | Co-Editor Black Rock has been my go-to for coffee ever since I started boycotting Starbucks, and it’s so conveniently located near the frontage road and the H-E-B that I often find myself grabbing a drink from there.

Although I’m not partial to peppermint all that much, I was intrigued what their newest seasonal drinks would be like.

Suffice to say, I was more than a little bit disappointed.

I ordered a medium Peppermint Bark

Blondie and received what looked to be a normal latte. Drinking it also confirmed that it just tasted like a latte. I’m still not sure if I was given the wrong drink or if the Peppermint Bark Blondie just isn’t that peppermint-y, but either way I was displeased with the establishment after this. I ended up paying $7..4 4 for a drink I wouldn’t have bought otherwise.

Black Rock

West Pecan

Lilianna Moran | Co-Editor West Pecan is a small coffee joint located in the middle of downtown Pflugerville and known for their unique drink and food options. Upon arrival, the shop was decked in festive decor and crowded with people working, talking, or playing games. Out of all their holiday drinks, I decided to try the Cinnamon Solstice, priced at around

Dazzle

Dutch Bros

Gia Patel | Asst. Editor The Candy Cane Cocoa from Dutch Bros is the perfect winter beverage for getting in the holiday spirit. Dutch Bros released their seasonal menu on Nov. 1 with six drinks that will be available until Dec. 31. Their hot cocoa has a perfect ratio of chocolate to peppermint with not one flavor overpowering the other. It was sweet, but not too sweet. However,

it took a while to get to the cocoa due to the Soft Top since there was more than I expected. For the smallest size of the cocoa, it is $3.00. I highly recommend trying this winter drink from Dutch Bros for anyone who is a fan of both hot cocoa and peppermint.

The Human Bean Sophia Johst | Copy Editor With the beginning of December and the preparation for upcoming holidays, various coffee shops are releasing winter themed drinks. Among them, the Human Bean is now serving a drink

12.indd 2

called Santa’s Special, which features flavors of peppermint, chocolate, and the traditional mocha. Even as someone who is not particularly fond of peppermint, the drink still tasted good. For only $6.50, it made for a sweet holiday treat.

Eliana Grant | Asst. Editor In order to search out the perfect holiday drink I went to Dazzle Coffee.

Located in downtown Pflugerville, with another location in Round Rock, they have been providing an array of beverages for around 17 years, and are one of my favorite local places to go. On this particular occasion I was unable to find a holiday menu on their online website or social media, so I went in blind and was only able to see their seasonal drinks once I drove up

$7.50. As you could imagine, the drink tasted mainly of cinnamon and some ginger, which overtook the flavor of the coffee. The drink itself was enjoyable, but the price for a regular size was not worth it, especially considering the after effects the coffee had on my stomach.

to their location. I ended up getting an iced brown sugar latte with cinnamon, which was evidently a perfect drink.

It provided a mild sweet taste of the brown sugar, with notes of cinnamon, and luckily didn’t have an overpowering flavor of coffee. The drink can also be ordered hot, along with any other of their 10+ seasonal beverages. Though I wish it was sweeter, a medium latte only cost me $4.60, which I consider to be a great value for the amount of drink I got.

Starbucks Emily Rodriguez | Reporter I was excited to try the new Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai drink at Starbucks as I’ve never tried anything with oat milk or chai. When I asked the barista for one, she explained how no one has really liked it in the past because it tastes watered down. I ordered it anyway, as I was set to get this specific drink. I get my drink about 6 minutes later and I

take a sip of it. I instantly get the taste of gingerbread. It gives you the vibes as if you were making a gingerbread house. It had an interesting aftertaste where you can really taste the oat milk and chai. It was watered down, yet it was still good to me. It was worth buying for a total of $6.4 4 including tax. It’s a holiday drink so the price was a bit higher than usual.

12/11/23 5:25 PM