WORLD TRAVELERS Students hail from a number of countries around the world.
– page 4
GOLF GRADUATE
BROTHERLY BOND
Senior Leah Alberto will graduate in the coming days. She will be a freshman on the Sam Houston State golf team in January.
Seniors Dakota and Dylan Mercer have relied on each other since they were young.
– page 12
HISTORY MADE The volleyball team defeated Lovejoy to win the first volleyball state title in Humble ISD.
– page 11
– page 7
Kingwood Park Times DECEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 2 • KINGWOOD, TX 77339
DAY OF SERVICE IN THEIR WORDS
IN THEIR WORDS
“A family with a small child were getting food and it showed that all the work we were doing paid off in the end because it benefited the community.”
“I met a little girl named Annabel and she was so cute. She said she was going to miss me and invited me to her birthday party.”
- Sorrel Estrada, who volunteered at H.A.A.M.
“The highlight of my day was during lunch when I sat down with these groups of kids. I asked them how their day was and they all started talking about their day. One kid said, ‘Thank you for being here.’ And that made my day."
- Madsen Cooper, who volunteered at North Belt Elementary
“The highlight of my day was when all of the 1st graders in the class hugged me in the end.”
- Saylor Robinson, who served at Hidden Hollow Elementary
“I liked being able to make conversations with people who have difficulties remembering their past.”
- Suzanne Durand, who volunteered at Silverado
- Mia Saavedra, who volunteered at Hidden Hollow Elementary
Photo by Jayme Wilkey
During a stop at Foster Elementary, freshman Casey Whitehouse reads to a group of kids that included first grader Ayah Jrab. Students helped out teachers, spent time with the kids and folded t-shirts for an upcoming fundraiser during Day of Service.
Day of Service tradition continues by Nick Farace Editor-In-Chief Day of Service was created with one goal in mind: making Kingwood Park a better place. Year in and year out, freshmen get a chance to leave an impact on the school and the community. This year’s Day of Service, which took place on Nov. 13, was the seventh year for the biggest high school related volunteer effort in the district. Assistant Principal Brian Johnson was among the teachers and staff who witnessed the creation of the day in 2011. “I took some students and teachers down to a conference focused on what we could do to make our school better,” Johnson said. The kids and teachers came back with a ton of ideas, all of which were service oriented. “After a few meetings, we planned the day," Johnson said. "We called a bunch of places, asking how many kids they needed and what kind of work needed to be done,” he said. That first year, Johnson said that the Annual Fund had not yet been established, so they had to raise their own funds. “We went out and explicitly asked for donations from businesses and families to help cover bus costs and t-shirts and things like that,” Johnson said. Fast forward seven years. Day of Service remains one of the most prominent days on the school calendar. Student Council sponsor and English teacher Natalie Johnson is in charge of making sure the day goes smoothly for all involved. Now in her second year of organizing the day, she works tirelessly contacting sites, getting permission slips and securing buses. “A lot of what I do is planning events at the beginning and end of the day,"
“Older women who work the garden said we completed in two hours what would have taken them a few weeks.”
- Luke Leger, who volunteered at Oak Forest Elementary
Photo by Eliza Gonzalez
Alexandria Spradlin works with classmates on cleaning up and planting the garden at Deerwood Elementary. The students were surprised with rare snow flurries partway through their day. Natalie Johnson said. "We want those events to kick off the day and inspire the kids, and wrap it all up and send them off with a heart of service." This year, students were sent all over the area, including Village Learning Center, Jesse Jones Park, H.A.A.M., Farrington Mission, numerous nursing homes and many elementary schools. “The weather got very cold, and we had some groups working outside, so Mrs. Schwind and I bought 40 cups of hot chocolate and delivered it to certain groups,” Natalie Johnson said. The behind the scenes work done by Natalie Johnson isn’t easy and it's never perfect. “This year, we didn’t have enough shirts," she said. "We had to scavenge around to get the students their shirts. We also had a few of the buses fill up with too many kids, so we had to switch kids around.” Brian Johnson said that the goal of Day of Service is to inspire kids to want to do more. In doing it with freshmen,
he hopes that the sense of service is fostered early. “My highlight was seeing this one family get so excited as I put food in their car was a special treat,” said freshman Sydney Ferner, who served at H.A.A.M. Regardless of what site they were assigned, the day made an impact. A lot of students walked away with ideas and goals to volunteer on a larger scale in the future. “My ultimate service goal would be raising money to build more homes in the poverty areas of Brazil," freshman Nicholas Haynes said. "I grew up there and I would like to see more people out of poverty in my home country." Brian Johnson is encouraged by all the positive responses from the kids and hopes the tradition continues to grow. “It has become a very good thing, and I think a lot of our students look back on it with fondness,” he said.
“The smiles of the people we were working with had constantly been lit up.” - Vince Ragsdale, who volunteered at Village Learning Center
"Some of the kids’ parents weren’t able to show up to their Thanksgiving feast. I felt like talking to them during the feast really changed their outlook."
- Katina Mundemba, who volunteered at Pine Forest Elementary
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December 2018
CALENDAR
WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO Dec. 15 Mr. KPARK - PAC @7:30 Dec. 18 Final exams begin 1st Period exam 7:25-8:51 2nd Period exam 8:56-10:38 5th Period (no exam) 10:43-12:14 Flex 12:14-1:14 7th Period exam 1:19-2:50 Dec. 19 3rd Period exam 8:20-9:50 5th Period exam 9:55-11:25 Dec. 20 4th Period exam 8:20-9:50 6th Period exam 9:55-11:25 Dec. 21 WINTER BREAK Jan. 7 Student Holiday/ Teacher Workday Jan. 8 First day of the second semester Jan. 10 No late arrival Jan. 17 Alice In Wonderland PAC @ 7:30
Kingwood Park Times
NEWSPAPER/YEARBOOK
Journalism students travel, rack up awards Photographs and feature stories have garnered state and national attention for journalism students throughout the fall. by Jayme Wilkey Staff Writer Even the child lock on a car cannot hold back the journalism team. On the road to San Antonio for the TAJE state conference the journalism students stopped by Bucee’s. They were there for a snack and to stretch their legs. Forty-five minutes later, six girls were huddled around YouTube videos on their cell phones fixing a stuck latch that would not allow the back door to close. Roadside assistance said they would arrive to tow the car in three to five hours. The girls fixed it five minutes after Googling the issue. “Had they not figured out how to fix it on their own, they would have missed their competition,” journalism adviser Megan Ortiz said. “They arrived at the hotel with five minutes to spare and rushed into opening ceremonies. They were on a mission and it paid off.” Within three weeks, eight students went to state and national competitions. They won six individual awards for writing and photography. The October issue of the newspaper also won first in Best of Show at state and fourth in Best of Show at nationals. “My favorite part was when the students were waiting for their awards and heard their names for the first time in a journalism competition,” Ortiz said. Each year there are national and state competitions. The program usually attends two in the fall. The state conference hosted by TAJE is in San Antonio, while nationals rotate. Next year the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Conference will be in Washington D.C. and in 2020 it will be in Orlando, Florida. Eligible students in the journalism classes are invited to attend. “Do it, go for it,” said freshman Kathleen Ortiz, who won two photography awards in San Antonio. “When you go don’t shy away, take advantage of your experience.” Students in yearbook, newspaper, journalism, and photojournalism worked to create all the stories and photos in the newspaper. As more people start to join, the journalism program has plans for expansion. With Instagram and Twitter accounts, it is only the beginning. They are working on creating videos, podcasts and a blog. Meanwhile, yearbook has started to create its own pages.
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
During a regional TAJE workshop in Houston, sophomore Eliza Gonzalez and freshman Trinity Curl try to capture the perfect angle as they work with an instructor on setting the right shutter speed to capture the water droplets as he bursts water balloons. Gonzalez and Curl also attended the TAJE state conference in San Antonio in October.
FALL AWARD WINNERS JEA/NSPA On-Site Competition (Chicago)
Jayme Wilkey: Excellent - Sports Feature Photography Crosslin Silcott: Honorable Mention - First-Year Photography Gabby Norman: Honorable Mention - Sports writing
TAJE On-Site Competition
Gabby Norman: Superior - Feature writing Kathleen Ortiz: Honorable Mentions - Contrast Photography and Hot Photography
ATPI Fall Contest
Kathleen Ortiz: Second Place - Sports Action Photography; Third Place - Photo Story; Honorable mentions - Sports Action Photography and Photo Story Jayme Wilkey: Honorable Mention - Sports Action Photography Eliza Gonzalez: Honorable Mention - Sports Action Photography Kylie Moore: Honorable Mention - Landscape Photography
With 144 pages due before winter break, the staff is writing stories, designing pages, and taking pictures. “The thing I really like about yearbook is seeing it all finished at the end of the year,” said sophomore Eliza Gonzalez, co-editor of the yearbook. “Whenever you know how much hard work you put in to it and remember making those spreads from the beginning, it just looks so good and you are proud of yourself.”
Jan. 18 Alice In Wonderland PAC @ 7:30
TINY HOMES
Building process underway on home
Jan. 19 Humble ISD Secondary Science Fair-Cafeteria/ Lower LGI @ 7 to 8pm
The goal is to have the walls up by the break.
Alice In Wonderland PAC @ 7:30 Jan. 22 Alice In Wonderland PAC @ 7:30 Photo by Maria Landy Garcia
Jan. 24 No late arrival
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
While at the observation deck of the John Hancock Building in Chicago, sophomore Crosslin Silcott takes photos of the Chicago skyline. Silcott was one of five journalism students who attended the National High School Journalism Conference in November.
Seniors Alejandro Vargas, Chris Stewart, senior Sarah Dalby and senior Matthew Yanez help build the tiny home during architecture class. Senior Koby Danley carries wood for the tiny home being built on campus. The plot of land is near the tennis courts. Photo by Maria Landy Garcia
by Jayme Wilkey Staff Writer With a concrete slab near the tennis courts and supplies being shipped in, tiny homes is starting to build. “Gosh, to think about where we were at the beginning of the year," architecture teacher Missi Taylor said. "We now have a fence, container, everything is locked and secured. We have the actual setting of the foundation. By the end of December, we should have all four walls framed.” Tiny homes is setting up building days where the community can come help and build. They want the whole community to join in. They do not want this to be just a Kingwood Park thing. Right now the program is teamed with Summer Creek. The two schools are not building to-
gether, but working toward the same goal: creating houses for homeless veterans. Each school is building a model home on their own campus. Taylor encourages all to participate. "Students, parents, people who do not take my class," she said. "Recently, John Kerr, who is a Kingwood fireman, was helping us out there." The goal is to make sure every detail in the house is perfect and makes the veteran feel at home. Right now tiny homes is choosing last minute fixes to the house, such as carpet and cushion patterns. “I think they found it very challenging to all agree on the scheme be it a color scheme, patterns, or fabric or paints that go with,” said Mrs. Taylor.
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Kingwood Park Times
December 2018
BLOOD DRIVE
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SILVER STARS
Goat Yoga provides laughs, entertainment The Silver Stars held a Goat Yoga fundraiser at Bear Branch Elementary on Nov. 17. Photos by Kathleen Ortiz
Photo by Maria Landy Garcia
Preparing to have his blood drawn, senior Stephen Macias laughs as he begins the process that takes about 30-minute. The HOSA department holds four blood drives each year. They held two in the fall.
Blood drives provide critical help by Trinity Curl
Staff Writer Rayne Cutrer has received multiple blood transfusions, so the freshman knows how important giving blood is. Each unit of blood that is donated can save three people’s lives, including her own. “[Donating blood] is so much bigger than yourself and anything that you can even fathom, because that ripple effect of how that saves a person’s life, or even that person’s day, is so much greater than yourself,” said Cutrer, a member of HOSA. On Nov. 8, Health Occupations Students of America held its annual November blood drive. Each year HOSA hosts four blood drives: one in September, November, February and April. Each time small RVs park outside of the school, packed with people saving lives. During the most recent blood drive, people sat in beige angled seats with machines humming gently in the background. Near each chair hung blood bags full of dark red blood, and nurses in deep blue scrubs watched the blood flow through narrow tubes while they monitored the donors. “Last year we were only able to host three, because our first blood drive was supposed to be Sept. 7, which was actually our first day of school, because of Hurricane Harvey,” said Leanna Rockwell, an athletic trainer, health science instructor and co-sponsor of HOSA. In order to prepare for each blood drive, Rockwell finds HOSA students to volunteer at the blood drive two weeks before the date. During the two weeks before the blood drive, 20-25 HOSA students sign up to work the drive and sign people up to donate. Donors must be at least 16 years old with parent permission and must weigh at least 122 lbs. With the addition of flex lunch, there is a new approach to getting people to sign up to donate. “This year we set up in the commons and actually had people walking around trying to get people to come to the commons to sign up,” said Rockwell. After the blood drive is over, the donated blood goes to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, which is the blood center that HOSA goes through. The
Sophomore Morgan Kalanta sits still as a goat chews on her hair during Goat Yoga. Halfway through the class, the instructor placed goats on the backs of the participants.
Photo by Maria Landy Garcia
blood is then distributed to local hospitals in need. “Think of your maybe 15-20 minutes of your time could save a person’s life, could save multiple people’s lives,” Cutrer said. Cutrer, the Liaison for HOSA, has received multiple blood transfusions due to her having blood hemorrhages. One time Cutrer was losing blood at such an alarming rate that she passed out. Cutrer was then quickly rushed to the hospital and given a blood transfusion. “If I wasn’t given that blood transfusion my heart rate would have lowered down to probably 50, which is the heart rate of an infant, and I would have died,” said Cutrer. Donating blood doesn’t just affect the person who needs the blood. “That affects their families, that affects their friends, [and it even] affects their doctors,” said Cutrer. The November blood drive collected 65 units of blood, which can potentially save 195 people in the local community. “Think about it: 20 minutes and you can save three people’s lives” said Cutrer. “It’s almost unthinkable. If you can give blood, you should give blood.”
Boys' pageant sure to entertain by Nick Farace Editor-in-Chief The second annual men’s beauty and talent pageant, Mr. KPARK, is just around the corner. On Dec. 15, guys from clubs and teams will take part in the newest competition at the school. Student Council, in charge of planning and decorating events such as homecoming, picked up the idea from a training conference they attended last year. “We heard it and immediately thought about putting it on here,” student council sponsor Natalie Johnson said. Mr. KPARK is a joint effort between Student Council, theater and Silver Stars,
with theater getting the proceeds from the tickets. “(Theater teacher Abbey) Fera and I drove to Klein Oak to watch their show, and we got great ideas on how to run ours,” Johnson said. “It was a very fun show.” The boys who participate in the contest are nominated by coaches, sponsors and friends. Student Council asks each sport, club, and group to pick one boy to represent them at the competition, which takes place in the auditorium. “We have the guys walk across the stage, answer a Q&A session, perform a talent and do a group dance,” Johnson said. “It’s hilarious.”
Before she can have her blood drawn, junior Mia Kenu gets her blood pressure taken. Students are monitored before and after they donate to make sure they are feeling well.
Participants Mr. Freshman - Thor Yeager Mr. Sophomore - James Cochran Mr. Junior - Daniel East Mr. Senior - Fritz Rasmussen Mr. Aeroscience - Simon Ngo Mr. Architecture - Stuart Hebert Mr. Basketball - Anthony Curtis Mr. Choir - Marc Rodriguez Mr. Cross Country - Alex Mojica Mr. Chemistry - Carson Griffing Mr. Dance - Louis Rodriguez Mr. Economics - Oliver Ngo Mr. French Club - Ricardo Mojica Mr. Football - Hayden Park Mr. HOSA - Khoa Do Mr. Orchestra - Dontae Bynes Mr. Robotics - Thomas Sokol Mr. Stuco - Kyle Celaya-Alvarez Mr. Theater - Blayn Larson Mr. Tennis - Colby Burke
Freshman Jewel Wiley laughs as sophomore Jordan Meyer meditates during goat yoga. Sophomore Victoria Golden looks up at the goat on her back. The Silver Stars used the money raised to help pay for their spring competitions.
After the goat yoga session on Nov. 17, sophomore Hannah Boss poses for a picture with one of the goats. Goat yoga was a fundraiser for the Silver Stars at Bear Branch Elementary.
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December 2018
Kingwood Park Times
Schwan finds home in theater spotlight The sophomore earned the starring role in Alice in Wonderland.
tive teacher, she will bluntly tell you if something sucks,” Schwan said. The most valuable lesson Fera has taught Schwan is to believe in herself, which is hard for Schwan. She didn't believe she would get the role of Alice. by Vallery King “As soon as I got on the stage, (Fera) Staff Writer told me to shake off my nerves and ophomore Graci Schwan made to believe in myself; and it paid off,” a bet in sixth grade with a friend, Schwan said. Theater is putting on the 1953 version and whoever lost had to try of Alice in Wonderland out for Peter Pan, Jr. in January. This is Schwan lost the bet something different and landed the role of from the dramas they one of the lost boys. typically perform. She was a raccoon “There will be lots What twin, which helped her of fun giant pieces realize her passion for Varsity theater making it more interacting. winter show active and exciting,” “I wasn’t expecting Fera said. to like theater as much When Dramas are diffias I ended up liking it,” Jan. 17-19, 7 p.m. cult since adult-like Schwan said. “Since emotions are hard to Jan. 19 & 21, 2 p.m. that first rehearsal, I recomprehend when alized it was something Where only being a young I really loved to do.” KPARK Performing adult. Children's plays Theatre has influare more freeing and Arts Center enced Schwan, giving actors are able to exher the motivation to How much plore inner childish overcome her fears. emotions. $10 She said theater has “I want the people to given her confidence, come and have fun and not only for standing on the stage but facing everyday life see the hard work put into the show,” Fera said. “Not only that, but I want in school. “I used to be scared of everything, my students to have fun.” In choosing Alice, Fera said she but I wish I hadn’t been,” Schwan said. She used to have terrible stage fright thought about one important thing until one of her performances. Every- -- a child’s wonder. “When Schwan is performing you one ran around panicking and scared for the performance, but Schwan said can see this girl a little bit younger she walked onto the stage, took a breath than herself, and she still brings that fun curiosity and playfulness that Alice and was totally calm. “I went onto stage and thought, this has,” Fera said. Casting roles is not only about talent. is just rehearsal,” she said “From that In casting the role of Alice, Fera and moment, it showed me you don't have tech theater director Gerry Poland to be afraid to go on stage.” For all the highs Schwan has had on needed someone who could keep up stage, she has also had her lows. Last their grades, was good at memorizing year when she auditioned for Fiddler scripts in a timely manner, and someon the Roof, Schwan didn’t get the part one they could count on with the big she wanted. Her name was nowhere responsibility of the role. “We felt that Graci not only fit the on the cast list. She was devastated and actually thought about quitting theater. character, but also fit all of the other “I’m really glad I didn’t quit qualifications for somebody we needed theater because that would have to be a lead,” Fera said. Fera first taught Schwan in sixth been really sad,” Schwan said. All of her time is devoted to theater. grade at Kingwood Middle when she She is at rehearsal or theater events was the theater teacher there. Not from Monday through Saturday. only has Fera seen Schwan grow Her biggest influence is theater up but also develop as an actress. teacher Abbey Fera, who began teach- “She is able to step outside herself and into her character,” Fera said. “She has ing at KPARK four years ago. “She is a very honest and produc- matured into this great lead actress.”
S
Alice in Wonderland
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
During the theater department's winter gala, sophomore Graci Schwan performed "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago for the Broadway-themed evening. During an after school rehearsal, sophomore Graci Schwan rehearses with sophomore Brooke Searcy for Alice In Wonderland. Schwan earned the role of Alice. Searcy will play the role of the Duchess.
Photo by Jayme Wilkey
Alice in Wonderland Cast List Alice.......Gracie Schwan Cat.......Gabbie Pearson White Rabbit.......Julia Prokop Caterpillar.......Caitlin Meaux Frog Footman.......Veronica Gonzales Duchess.......Brooke Searcy Cook.......Nicole Kirsch Queen of Hearts.......Morgan Morris King.......Carson Griffing Courtier.......Paige Heyl Mad Hatter.......Rayne Cutrer March Hare.......Blayn Larson Dormouse.......McKenzie Ambler
Tweedledum.......Emily Porterfield Tweedledee.......Madison Goss Humpty Dumpty/Knave.......Evan Janacek Mock Turtle.......Brett Janik Gryphon.......Jordan Hale Soldier 1.......Michael Kell Soldier 2.......Veronica Gonzales Gardener (Act 1 only)/Executioner.......Shane Hoffart Pink/Gardener 2.......Trinity Curl Yellow.......Kaitlynne Butler Gardener 5.......Izzie Brantley Violet.......Kadee Tiner Gardener 7.......Suzanne Durand
Stacy L. Norman, DDS 281-359-9100
Soldier 3.......Miles Bailey Blue.......Elyse McVey White.......Erica Wallace Stage Manager.......Carey Beal Assistant Stage Manager.......Codi Watson Costumes.......Codi Watson Lights.......Jordan Armstrong Assistant Lights.......Izzie Bratley Sound.......AJ Bossaler Set.......Nick Dalpe Props.......Ella Robinson
"Our goal is to make your smile healthy and beautiful in a comfortable and friendly setting. We hope you love us enough to send your family and friends!"
2325 TIMBER SHADOWS DRIVE, BUILDING A, KINGWOOD, TX 77339 s FIND US ON FACEBOOK
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Kingwood Park Times
HUMANS OF KPARK
Everyone has a story. This is the second installment of an ongoing series. See more Humans of KPARK stories at kptimes.com.
December 2018
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CrossFit becomes favorite pastime for Young Counselor Kimberly Young has hobbies outside of school that don't have to do with helping kids. She loves CrossFit, a fitness regimen she has been doing for four years now. “I had two babies and I needed to lose pregnancy weight,” Young said. “I also wanted to build strength and be a role model to my daughter.” Her favorite thing to do in CrossFit is back squats. She said when she works out it “relieves my stress.” She laughed when asked how long she plans to continue CrossFit. “As long as my old age and body will allow me to do it,” she said. - By Kaitlyne Laman Photo by Kaitlyne Laman
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Photo by Kaitlyne Laman
Senior packs his bags for Germany Cade Hebert is a senior, but not for much longer. He will soon be transferring to a school in Germany. He is already taking a German language class online through Texas Tech, so he can learn some basic German. Cade wants to go to Germany because he went and visited his sister Carlee (a ‘16 Kingwood Park graduate) at her college in France when she was studying abroad. During this trip, Hebert saw everything that happens on a daily basis and he just knew he wanted to go there. His family told him he could finish high school early and then study
abroad. He didn’t want to give up on such an opportunity. He will stay with a host family while there. “I’m pretty much free to do what I want, when I want,” he said. “I won't have people telling me what I can and cannot do.” Hebert said he is not nervous about moving to Germany. The only thing he's sad about is leaving his dog. He won't be gone in Germany for that long, however. When he returns, his plan is to attend Colorado State University. - By Kaitlyne Laman
Freshman finds challenge in lacrosse Freshman Bane Klinefelter and his dad have always had a special bond through sports. His dad played football when he was younger. Thanks to many games of catch and watching the NFL on Sunday nights together, Klinefelter does as well. Football season did not fill enough of Klinefelter’s days in the spring, though. In sixth grade, he started to play lacrosse. “Lacrosse is literally like every sport combined,” Klinefelter said. “It’s like hockey but on grass. We do basketball formations, hit people like in football. It’s baseball mechanics. It’s got everything.”
He’s gotten more invested through the years, from going to tournaments with friends to playing on the joint Kingwood and Kingwood Park high school team. He plays with a few other Kingwood Park students, but only one other freshman: Barrett Kenny. After watching Klinefelter play when they were in seventh grade, Kenny joined the same team. “I went to Kingwood Middle and I was the only kid there that played,” Klinefelter said. “So when Barrett joined, it was like someone I could actually talk to about stuff.” - By Kathleen Ortiz
YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR STORY
BUY A YEARBOOK $65 Online at jostensyearbooks.com or with cash/check in room 1504.
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December 2018
Kingwood Park Times
Where in the world have you lived? With a student body that has reached a record 1,850 students this year, a vast number of those kids have lived outside of the United States. Here are just a few whose international experiences help shape the diversity at the school.
Ana Landy, 12 Ecuador
Eliza Gonzalez, 10 Mexico "My favorite part of living there was the community because everyone is friends with everyone, so there is always something to do."
Vlad Small, 11 Ukraine
Danny Naqvi, 12 Dubai
“The country is very traditional and cultural and very full of nature.”
"In Ukraine, there are trees everywhere, and during the winter we get snow."
"There are a lot of deserts and luxurious cars and buildings.”
Hai Do, 10 Vietnam
Yanziel Ruíz, 11 Puerto Rico
"I remember we’d play soccer against the other provinces and we'd win the cup."
“I like the people, the beach, Christmas and the weather.”
Hung Tran, 10 Vietnam "My favorite thing about Vietnam is the Vietnamese people. They are very friendly."
Gerald Merino Aguilar, 12 El Salvador "I miss the coffee. My grandmother used to prepare it in such a way that was different. I also miss hanging out with my friends every day."
Hao Do, 9 Vietnam
David Sarmiento, 11 Colombia "I like the food and people. They are fun and friendly."
Nick Chaves, 9 Brazil
"I used to fly kites and play Vietnamese folk games with my friends."
Daniela Lugo, 10 Venezuela "It is small but has very pretty beaches, and the people are very kind. It's like we are all siblings."
"Brazil is pretty bad. There's a lot of stuff going on, a lot of gangs there. I miss my cousins there, though."
James Cochran, 10 Saudi Arabia
"Saudi was very family oriented, and all of the kids would always find a way to have their own fun since everything was really simple. I really liked being exposed to different nationalities and connecting to everyone."
Foreign exchange students make Kingwood home
Photo by Anaih Ibarra
With a flag she brought signed by her friends in Spain, junior Aina Riera keeps memories of home close as she spends the year studying at Kingwood Park.
Riera enjoys U.S., misses home by Anaih Ibarra Staff Writer Junior Aina Riera entered a new world the moment she stepped onto American soil. Traveling 5,115 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, she ended up in Kingwood. She left her family and friends in Spain to come spend a year in the U.S. Riera said she thought living in America was going to be easy. It was anything but simple. “The first week I couldn’t understand anything," Riera said. "It was horrible.” She struggled as she learned to adjust to the language, the food and her host family.
“Nothing seemed normal” Riera said. In Spain, Riera played the violin, was in competitive synchronized swimming and sang in the choir. Another activity Riera likes is running, which led her to join the cross country team this year. Although Riera has made new friends, she still misses hanging out with her friends in Spain and walking on the beach. Riera says she misses the parties and the food back on her island. Despite seeing new places and learning new things, Riera still yearns for home. “It’s very different, I miss Spain,” she said.
Piyawat "Poom" Kongkachuichay
Margaux Winandy
Grade: Junior Country: Thailand Family: Mom, dad and older sister. Hobbies: Watching soccer Q: Why did you want to and how did you become an exchange student? A: I wanted to have a new experience and improve my English. Q: What is your school in Thailand like? A: It is bigger than here and has more buildings. Grades 1-12 are all in one school. Q: What do you like or dislike about American schools? A: There’s unity here. A lot of people are in sports and they all play for the school. It’s cool. Q: What could others do that would make your stay here easier and more enjoyable? A: They could try to understand my English and support me.
Grade: Junior Country: Belgium Family: Mom, dad and older brother. Hobbies: Play tennis and sports in general. Q: Why did you want to and how did you become an exchange student? A: I love to travel, love to meet other people, it’s nice to know another language, to get experience and to discover another world. Q: What were your expectations of the U.S. before you came? A: The first thing was the fast food, and then people in hats and boots and ranches. Q: Describe your first couple of weeks here. A: It was complicated because the language was complicated, and the accents are hard to understand. I felt very quickly that I got a good (host) family in the Lattimers. Q: What do you miss most about home? A: My friends and the food.
Kingwood Park Times
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December 2018
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Obstacles continue to strengthen brotherly bond
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
With surgery behind them, Dakota and Dylan Mercer encourage each other through recovery. Both had knee surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligaments they tore during football practice this fall.
Mercers dealt with devastating loss at an early age. by Kathleen Ortiz Staff Writer Kingwood Park seniors Dylan and Dakota Mercer have leaned on each other quite a bit throughout their lives. When the twins were in third grade, their younger brother Connor was hit by a car and killed. Their parents divorced soon after. With no other family in the area, they served as important crutches for each other. “I think what really brought me and him closer together was that we really didn’t have anybody else there for us,” Dylan said. “So we just got closer together because it was just me and him.” Their late brother Connor was goofy and easy going. He caught on quickly to what his older brothers did. They ran around the house and often played tag. Mostly, though, they played video games together. Although Connor was two years younger than Dylan and Dakota, it wasn’t uncommon for him to beat them at video games. The twins struggled immensely after Connor was killed. Their grades suffered as they grieved their brother and coped with their parents’ divorce. They eventually were forced to repeat third grade. “I was there for (Dylan) whenever he needed it,” Dakota said. “I was there to help him. I was there to be supportive, and so one thing I’ve done is be very supportive in everything he does up to this date.” The Mercer twins are now helping each other cope with a different type of pain. They tore anterior cruciate ligaments, which connect the thigh and shin bones and helps to stabilize the knee. Dylan tore his left knee’s ACL the first day the Kingwood Park football team was allowed to practice in pads in August. Dakota tore his right knee’s ACL during an October practice. “You want your kids to be able to do whatever their heart desires their senior year,” the twins’ mother, Amy Drye, said. “You want them to go out with a bang. And instead, they can’t walk.” The boys literally felt each other’s pain. Drye, a paraprofessional who works with special education students at Kingwood Park, remembered that Dakota was extremely worried when Dylan underwent knee surgery Sept. 4. “What if my brother doesn’t come home?” Dakota asked his mother. Dakota told his mother that he couldn’t go to school the day Dylan had surgery. He needed to be with his brother. “He was just very concerned,” Drye said of Dakota. A few weeks later, Dakota’s high school football career also ended prematurely. Dakota had surgery on Nov. 30. The procedure to repair an ACL tear usually lasts about an hour, but the recovery process is long. It can take up to nine months before patients can return to their pre-injury condition. “I really just want to get back on my feet again and be able to exercise, run and do some things that I enjoy doing, what makes me happy,” Dakota said. They’re once again leaning on each other. Dakota did Dylan’s laundry and other chores to make life easier for his brother after Dylan tore his ACL. “Even though he can be a complete pain in the butt sometimes, he’s there for me; I’m there for him,” Dylan said. “No one can make me laugh as much as he could and no one can make
Photo contributed by Amye Drye
On the day of Dylan Mercer's surgery for his torn anterior cruciate ligament, his mom Amy Drye and twin Dakota Mercer stayed nearby until they knew the surgery was a success. Dylan had his ACL surgery on Sept. 4. Dakota had his ACL repaired on Nov. 30. me as happy as he could. I don’t know what I’d do without him.” The Mercers aren’t sure what they’ll do after they graduate. They’ve considered joining the military. Their dad, grandparents and uncles have served in the armed forces, so they have always been surrounded by military mottos. “The whole military mindset...it’s always like, ‘Suck it up and be a man,’” Drye said. “That was always kind of the motto, and they really take that to heart. No matter what is going on, they got to suck it up, put on their brave face, put on their big-boy pants and just do it.” Even though they may be on the military path, they aren’t guaranteed to remain together. Their mom can’t imagine them living apart. After all, Dylan cleans up after Dakota, who is labeled “the tornado” at their house. Their strong bond was evident one summer after Dylan went to visit his dad in San Antonio while Dakota remained in Houston to work as a lifeguard. It was the first time one visited their dad without the other. They didn’t last 30 minutes before one called Drye claiming he couldn’t be apart from his brother anymore. Drye recalled how they were so used to just being together. They had never been apart aside from their classes in school. “One of them would never go to a friend’s house without the other,” Drye said. “They always went together or they stayed home together.” No matter where they end up, the Mercer twins say they’ll always have each other to call. “It’s going to be really difficult not having someone there for me constantly or having someone to annoy or pester,” Dakota said. Their mom has no doubt they will adapt, as they always have.
Photo contributed by Amye Drye
Dakota, Connor and Dylan Mercer hang out together in Oklahoma City. Dakota and Dylan were 6 years old at the time. Connor was 4. “People would be surprised to know the struggles that we’ve all dealt with throughout their entire lives,” Drye said. “What we’ve been through with their brother, their dad and I divorcing, and us moving around a lot, you wouldn’t know all of that because they do well in school. They have friends. They’re very adjusted to whatever has been thrown their way.”
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Day of Service
December 2018
Kingwood Park Times
Serving motivates freshmen to keep giving “I would love to volunteer at animal sanctuaries because I love animals. I want to be a vet when I am older, so I would love to get as much experience as I can.” - Andrea Cardona-Sanchez “I would like to take over teachers' jobs for a day so students could understand the stress of teaching and the teachers can have a day off.” - Kylee Monk “I would like to help build houses in South America. I heard that South America is a beautiful place, and the people there are really grateful.” - Katherine Kirsch “I would like to open an orphanage and fund it. I believe everyone deserves to be loved and feel loved and important.” - Gabriella Usher “I would help people with a terminal illness. I would also like to help out orphanages because I feel bad for them because their parents aren’t around. My mom died, and I have felt that feeling of not having a parent around.” - Tristan Richardson Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Freshmen Katina Mundemba and David Pattillo talk to a student during the Thanksgiving feast at Pine Forest Elementary. Freshman Joey Vela plays with a student during Day of Service at Foster Elementary.
“My ultimate service goal would be to help the teachers (money wise) at schools. I saw how much money, time, and effort it takes to do their jobs and they don’t get paid much. Donating money would definitely help their situation.” - Aislinn Mayora “I would like to provide shelter and food for everyone in the world who needs it because it would just make the world a better place.” - Tristen Glazebrook
Photo by Jayme Wilkey
When was a time someone or a group of people helped you?
“When my mom had so many groceries in the store because there’s 11 of us. Her card was empty. No money. And we didn’t know what to do. So this man behind us was like, 'I’ll give and God will bless back.' He paid for our food.” - Tabita Henry
“People helped at my elementary school, and I wanted to be just like them.” - Haseeb Ahmad
“When I was little, I lived in the Third Ward and sometimes my mom needed some help feeding me, so she would go to the church to get food. It was a surreal experience being on both sides of help.” - Xander Aguilar
Day of Service
Kingwood Park Times
December 2018
9
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Freshmen Monica Miller, Kylie Moore and Rachel Morris make Play-Doh art with kindergarteners at Pine Forest Elementary.
Photo by Eliza Gonzalez
Freshmen Jakob Lugo, Zoey Urick, Gabriella Usher and Kadee Tiner try to separate buckets at Deerwood Elementary.
Photo by Jayme Wilkey
Freshman Julia Vaughn helps fold t-shirts for the L3 run while volunteering at Foster Elementary.
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Freshman Ruben Orozco gets crowded by students during recess at Pine Forest Elementary. Recess was a highlight for the elementary and high school kids during Day of Service.
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Freshman Michael Nelson plays tag with students at Pine Forest Elementary.
Memories of serving remain in minds of students "The highlight of my day was getting to spend time with this one kid at lunch because his parents didn’t show up to the feast. We were just talking about science the whole time." - Emily Nieto, who volunteered at Pine Forest Elementary
Photo by Eliza Gonzalez
Freshman Christian Story adds soil to the gardens near Deerwood Elementary. The group got a lot of work done in a small amount of time.
I was helping) asked me to help her paint her nails or get her water and tea." - MacKenzie Dorow, who volunteered at Silverado
"It was great when my friends and I talked to a little boy that had no one to eat with and got to know "I realized that I was helping when him." - Sivan Moreno, who volunteered there was a table of kids who at Pine Forest Elementary couldn’t speak English, so I talked to them in Spanish and helped "I liked playing bingo with an old them with their lunch.” - Michael Lasalle, who volunteered man named Mr. Bell, walking an at Oak Forest Elementary old lady to a table for a game. Also, an old lady fell asleep while "I was surprised to see how many I was painting her hand." - Bailey Doughtie, who volunteered people actually needed help. I at Silverado Nursing house liked when Mrs. Beth (the woman
“Right after my momma died, everyone was helping us. My sister and I would go and stay with people all the time so my dad could take a break.”
“I was impacted by an organization called Blue Santa. They were cops who donated to kids who didn’t get Christmas. I was really happy about what I got.”
- Lynssey Young
- Hunter Hudson
“When my mother was first handicapped and we had no help, every night families from my old school and our neighbors would come and drop off meals for us each night. It just allowed us more time to do all the things we needed to get done. It impacted us by letting us know just how many people we could count on to help us through the hard time.” - Melina Merritt
10
sports
December 2018
Kingwood Park Times
Painful foot disease doesn't stop Park Senior battled through pain to earn 1st team All-District honors at defensive end.
said. “My parents are always there, and it’s hard for them sometimes because they have work. I have a little brother and sister, and they have to do stuff, and the sacrifices my family have made for me are crazy.” The excruciating pain Park goes through almost daily isn’t the only by Gabby Norman obstacle he has faced because of his condition. Staff Writer “I was in a way depressed, just Senior Hayden Park’s body doesn’t cause I was hurting, and I was tired believe his legs belong to him. His of hurting, and I didn’t want to do antibodies attack vessels from his anything because my body was killcalves to his feet and kill them, caus- ing me," Park said. "It was physically ing bleeding, nerve damage and killing me. There was no medicine scarring. to help me, nothing could cure me. Nonetheless, he People would [ask] me, fought through his ‘Why were you gone pain to pursue his love so long?’ and I would of football by playing tell them that I was at for Kingwood Park. the doctor, they told It’s been a long prome I had this disease, cess. He was diagand people would say nosed with livedoid ‘You’re lying, I don’t vasculopathy, a blood believe you.’” vessel disorder, in People would tell eighth grade; but it Park that his scars took many doctors were just burns, but to determine exactly he tried to disguise his what was wrong. hurt at their disbelief of “We went to about his struggle. seven different docBesides his family, tors and they all told one thing has guided us it was ringworm, Park to where he is tobut we didn’t believe day. His faith has been them because there a big aspect in helping were scars bleeding him learn to cope by - his mom Nicole Park out of my feet,” Park talking to God. said. “We went and got a biopsy and “I’m constantly told by the older transferred to a dermatologist at Tex- people and even by my youth pastor, as Children’s main campus. ‘We're praying for you, keep fighting. “There, we found out what I had One day, this is gonna pay off,’” Park and she told us how rare it was and said. “I just gotta keep believing, and that a Hispanic white kid should not I have to make sure that my relahave it because the only thing they tionship with God is stable because have on livedoid vasculopathy was Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relain 85-year-old Chinese women, and tionship.” Park said. that was way back when.” Sometimes Park wakes up and is in Park has been in and out of the hos- such agonizing pain that he can’t get pital since his unexpected diagnosis. out of bed. His body can somewhat “At the hospital, we have to stay shut down when his feet are especialthere for transfusions one, two, three ly bad and full of scars. Anytime his days in order to get [them] done,” he feet or ankles act up, the Parks im-
“His pain is his constant sidekick. He has grown so much in this process that the pain is not what defines him, it is just there. Most days I forget, but he can't.”
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
After defeating Porter as seniors, defensive end Hayden Park and quarterback Sam Johansen pose for pictures for their families. The two seniors played integral roles in the team's playoff berth this year. Both were unanimous First-Team All-District selections. mediately head for the hospital. “At the end of the day, nothing can help,” he said. “No Tylenol, no medicine, no ice, no heat can help alleviate the pain. Sometimes I just kinda sit down and I’m like, ‘Man, just push through it. It's just a little bump in the road. If you continue to push through this, everything else in life will be easier.’” Park realizes that how he acts affects the people around him. Even when it’s not easy, he tries to smile and laugh. He doesn’t like people seeing him sad.
“His pain is his constant sidekick,” his mom said. “He has learned to endure it, walk with it, put it at the back of his mind. He has grown so much in this process that the pain is not what defines him, it is just there. Most days I forget, but he can't.” Park knows that as of now there is no cure for livedoid vasculopathy. He just has to find a way to live his life with it. “In the beginning, I was just asking myself the questions, ‘Why me? Why this? Why now? I have so much ahead of me,’” Park said.
Park is optimistic that someday there will be a cure, but until then, he is surrounded by his faith, family and friends. He goes out of his way to try to think of others before he thinks of himself and said he knows that eventually, his determination will pay off. “It’ll suck sometimes, but this life is not meant to be perfect. This life was made to make you struggle, to make you hurt,” Park said. “It’s taken me about 2-3 years to be like, ‘Let’s get it, come on. Bring it on, bring it on. What’s next?’ If I’m pushing through this, I’m winning.”
Maple draws inspiration from former coach by Taylor Rankin Staff Writer
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Coach Clayton Maple talks with varsity players at midfield of Turner Stadium after they beat Porter Sept. 17. The Porter victory was the team's biggest upset of the season.
Football coach Clayton Maple wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he was a junior in high school. His dad was a truck driver in the city of Houston, and he wondered, “Well, why not just be a truck driver too?” Then one day, Maple told his high school football coach Mark Coley that he was thinking of pursuing a coaching career. He remembers Coley saying, “You will definitely be one of the good ones. When you graduate, come find me and I will give you a job.” Soon after Maple graduated college at Sam Houston, he reached out to his former football coach and got the job he was promised. Maple coached with him for four years before embarking on his own. He came to Kingwood Park in 2015 and is now in his 22nd year of coaching. “My former coach had great leadership, organization and was just overall a good man and good coach,” Maple said. “Hopefully I’ll be half as good as a coach as he was to me.” Maple is the one impacting students on the Kingwood Park football team. Senior Clay Sowell said he is being influenced by Maple on a daily basis. “Everyday he is telling us to do the little things like taking care of our grades, the locker room and ourselves as people,” Sowell said. “The football field is the football field, but he’s taught me how to be a man off the football field, and I think that’s the biggest impact on me.”
Senior Hayden Park credited Maple with making a leader out of him and pushing him to be the best athlete he can be. Maple wanted to be a coach because he loves to interact and build a bond with his players. It’s never just about the sport for him. “My players have good parents and influences in their lives, so as their coaches we just get to add onto that," Maple said. "Through the sport they see even more disappointment and hard times and realize that they just keep fighting." Assistant coach David Feliciano described Maple as a family man who enjoys working with the players. “He’s a caring person who puts family first, and that’s what I respect about him,” Feliciano said. Maple’s responsibilities include watching and showing videos of games, mowing the grass, lining the fields, washing uniforms and cleaning the equipment. “I still enjoy all of this,” he said. Most of all, he enjoys the people and memorable wins. “From time to time I still get calls from my former players inviting me to weddings, checking in or letting me know they had a baby,” Maple said. “Just knowing they are still there and reaching out is just a great feeling.” Sowell said he will definitely keep in touch with Maple. “He’s had a big impact in my life and I think that letting go of a person as influential as he is would not be very smart to do,” Sowell said. “He cares about us no matter where we go or what we become. So coming back and checking in on him and seeing how he and the team is doing would be pretty cool.”
sports
Kingwood Park Times
December 2018
11
Golden girls take home first title
Final season teaches senior hard work truly does pay off Starting from day one, my senior season was anything but ordinary. We participated in a lot of teambonding activities, which were created to make us work collectively. These activities were not typical for volleyball teams. They ranged from waking up at 3:30 a.m. for a pool workout on one day and fireman's carries across BY KATEY the football field SEARCY another time. During each exercise, we were required to finish as a team while not letting the pressure or pain tear us apart. We were pushed, gaining a key component that helped lead us to the title at the U.I.L. Class 5A Texas state championship. We discovered a motto we lived by throughout the whole season: “One team, one heartbeat.” This stood as a reminder that only as one team we could be successful. We had to rely on each other in order to accomplish our goal of winning a state title. With that mindset, dedication and competitive drive we made school history. It was a surreal experience
to become the school's first volleyball team to win or even reach the state tournament. Leading up to our season, each player dedicated their summer hours to be in shape for the long season ahead of us. During our preseason, we wanted to compete against the best. We played in 6A tournaments that exposed us to some of the toughest teams in the state. We traveled to Austin, Pearland and Clear Creek. The grind was demanding as we battled between morning weightlifting to afternoon practices, yet we still managed to fit in our team-bonding dance class. As we could tell by the results, all of that work paid off. Before the playoffs, we even went up against Ridge Point, the eventual Class 6A state runner-ups. We defeated them in three sets. Still, arriving at State was unlike anything we imagined. When approaching the Curtis Culwell Center for the first time, we were all in awe to see giant state championship banners streaming across the front of the building. We were still in disbelief our season-long dreams had come true. The first night, we watched the Class 4A state semifinals at the arena and got a feel for the atmosphere of the gym. The loud crowd echoed in the
gym as our adrenaline rose for our game the following day. On Friday in the semi-finals, we knew our time had come as the national anthem began to play. It was our time to show everybody what we worked so hard for this season. We battled to a five-set victory in the semifinals to secure our place in the title game. I will forever remember the final moment of our championship game against Lovejoy. It was the end of the third set when Libby Overmyer hit a sharp, cross-court ball for the kill. My whole world stopped. All of our work had paid off. I fell to my knees and was quickly engulfed by my teammates flooding the court. My eyes quickly filled with bittersweet tears. I was so proud of all my teammates and of how far we had come this year. Unfortunately, that was the end of my volleyball career after playing for seven years. I am so thankful to have been on such an amazing team with all my best friends. After all my years of playing, I’ve finally learned to "trust the process." Before this, I often ignored that saying. However, the state championship made me realize that dedication and hard work really do pay off.
Photo contributed by Meredith Hadley
As another key point was won at the state tournament, Katey Searcy, Andie Unwin, Julia Hadley, Emma Joy Omenson and Libby Overmyer celebrate on the court.
Postseason awards cap off championship season LIBBY OVERMYER
State Tournament Most Valuable Player
Photo contributed by Meredith Hadley
ANDIE UNWIN District Most Valuable Player
Grade: 12 Position: Rightside hitter/setter Club: Kingwood Revolution Other KPARK sport: Swimming Earliest volleyball memory: My mom and Yates Barker's mom coached us at the YMCA. We just laughed and had fun the whole time with underhand serving. How has coach Miser impacted you? She pushes us every day and provides so many opportunities for us to make lifelong memories with teammates. What sport do you wish you were good at? Gymnastics Favorite movie: Madagascar Favorite snack: Goldfish Favorite activity in free time: Sleep Dream vacation: Cancun
KATEY SEARCY District Defensive Player of the Year
Grade: 11 Position: Outside hitter Club: Houston Juniors Other KPARK sport: Soccer Photo by Kathleen Ortiz Earliest volleyball memory: My mom would always bring me to clinics when I was super young because she was a coach, and that's how I learned most of the basics of volleyball. I was normally one of the best players on the team, but I would say I started to struggle my freshman year of club volleyball when I moved clubs. I had a team of girls who were better than me, so I had to work really hard to get playing time. What sport do you wish you were good at? Tennis because I think it is fun to watch. Favorite class: Biology because I think that is super interesting and that's what I want to major in. Favorite movie: The Blind Side Favorite snack: Strawberries Favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries Celebrity crush: Theo James Favorite book: It Ends With Us Dream vacation: Bora Bora
Grade: 12 Position: Middle Blocker Club: Kingwood Revolution Other KPARK sport: Basketball Earliest volleyball memory: The first time I can remember volleyball was in 7th grade when I made the A team. I was shocked because of the little experience I had in the sport. My world had revolved around playing softball since I was 5. What sport do you wish you were good at? Soccer. I never played it as a kid but it looks so cool when people are coordinated with their feet because I am not at all. Favorite class: Yearbook because we get to work on the computer and design layouts, which is something I want to do in my future -- graphic design. Favorite snack: Honey Buns
ERIKA WILLIAMS District Newcomer of the Year
Photo contributed by Meredith Hadley
Grade: 10 Position: Middle blocker Club: Houston Juniors Earliest volleyball memory: I played in a little church league and was not good at all. How has coach Miser impacted you? She really pushes me to my best ability
Photo contributed by Meredith Hadley
What is the funniest moment from this season? Before a playoff game, coach Miser and Schoffner performed a rap to hype us up. It was a remix to “I Like it Like That” by Cardi B. It was so funny seeing them try and rap. How has coach Miser impacted you? I had some doubts this season taking on a new role as a middle blocker, yet coach Miser believed in me and knew the challenge was nothing I couldn't handle. Favorite movie: Jurassic Park Celebrity crush: Theo James Dream vacation: Australia
Dream vacation: Australia What sport do you wish you were good at? Track, just because it’d be fun. Favorite class: Principles of Health Science, because I love the teacher. Favorite movie: Deadpool Favorite snack: Goldfish Favorite TV show: The Office Celebrity crush: Dylan O'Brien Favorite book: The Fault in Our Stars
Class 5A all-state team: Libby Overmyer, Katey Searcy, Andie Unwin. First team all-district: Libby Overmyer, Yates Barker, Alia Williams. Second team all-district: Julia Hadley, Sydney Kolar. Honorable Mention all-district: Tori Marquez, Emma Joy Omenson. District coach of the year: Kelly Miser.
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sports
December 2018
Kingwood Park Times
Alberto to join golf team at SHSU in January Alberto took the title in her final high school meet on Dec. 2. by Sara Geiger Staff Writer Leah Alberto, former district and state golf champion, is ready to move on. She will graduate high school this month. In January, she will start her golf career at Sam Houston State University. “I feel like once I’m surrounded by people who have similar goals to me, I’ll be more motivated,” Alberto said. She knew it was a special opportunity when the golf coaches at Sam Houston first contacted her. She immediately went to her counselor and asked if she had enough credits to graduate early. She had 21.5 credits after her junior year and needed 26 to graduate. All she had to do, in addition to her fall semester, was take two online classes: English and Government. She completed both in early November. Coach Angela Chancellor said that Leah will be leaving a void on the team. “I will miss how easy she is to get along with; she makes everyone, even the new kids on the team, feel welcome,” said Chancellor. Although she was excited for the opportunity, it was a hard decision to make. Her faith was a major deciding factor. “My family wanted me to take the offer but they were worried I wouldn’t be prepared for what college would bring,” Alberto said. “I’m a very faith-oriented person. I knew God wouldn’t have presented me this opportunity if it wasn’t what was best for me.” Another factor in the decision was the team she would leave behind. She
Photo by Sara Geiger
During practice, senior Leah Alberto works on hitting her ball out of the sand. Alberto will graduate in December and play for the Sam Houston State University golf team in January.
Photo by Sara Geiger
Senior Leah Alberto lines up the ball as she practices putting at the Oakhurst Golf Course during seventh period golf class. called her coach and asked for advice. “As a coach, I wanted her to stay,” said Chancellor. “Overall, I’m just happy to have had her on the team.” Another factor in her decision-making process was her sister, Hanna, who is a junior at Sam Houston and is also on the golf team. “I’m looking forward to being able to see her more and being on the same team again,” Hanna said.
Although Hanna is excited for her sister to be going to the same college, she thinks Leah might encounter some difficulties at her new school. “I think that her hardest adjustments in college will be in time management and getting used to the new team dynamic we have here,” Hanna said. Leah and her sister both said they are very close and motivate each other to go a step further in everything.
“She’s definitely set a bar that I strive to meet,” said Leah, “Golf for her is so natural; if she doesn’t go pro, I’ll be so mad at her.” One of her goals for her golf career in college is to go to every tournament. “I definitely want to try to go to conference, regionals and, eventually, nationals,” said Alberto Leah wants to be an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse.
“Everyone says that it’s so sad to be an ICU nurse, but I just want to make people feel happy in their last days,” Alberto says. “I want to help people.” Coach Chancellor describes Leah as one of the sweetest girls she’s ever met or coached. “She and her sister are always super respectful, gracious and very humble,” Chancellor said. “It was great to get to coach a kid with that much class.” Even though Alberto isn’t going to finish the spring semester of her senior year, she said she won’t be missing much besides senioritis. However, she is sad to leave her friends and golf team behind. “Out of everything, I would say I’m going to miss the people here the most,” Alberto said. “I’ve gotten so close to so many new friends on and off the team this year.” Leah had her signing Nov. 14. Now all she has to do is pass her English final to go off to college in January. “I’m nervous but really excited to start my future early,” Alberto said.
Sandquist continues quest for dominance on mat Sophomore leads strong group of wrestlers looking for a three-peat as district champions in boys and girls.
UPCOMING HOME MATCHES Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
by Autumarie Kellett Staff Writer Sophomore wrestler Madison Sandquist is a threetime All-American. After eight years of competitive swimming, she found it wasn’t for her and followed the footsteps of her brother Nate into wrestling. “I remember being uncoordinated, confused and really sore after I started wrestling," Sandquist said. "None of it seemed right to me.” Her drive and passion for the competitive sport helped keep her motivated, as well as the inspiration from her brother. He and the rest of her family stand behind her, cheering her on to do better. “My dad runs down and acts like a coach,” Sandquist said. As a girl in wrestling, competition is hard to find. She travels a lot to find tougher opponents. So far, she has competed in Fargo, N.D., Dallas, Missouri, Kansas, Tallinn, Estonia, and Tennessee. She usually finishes in the top 10, and she has a number of top three finishes. Last year she became a state qualifier, along her with brother, who graduated from KPARK last year. Her hard work and skill have impressed even her veteran teammates. “She is very fundamental and very experienced for her age,” said senior Connor Wood, who qualified for the region meet last year at 195 pounds.
She continues to push herself to work harder with hopes of returning to the state meet again. Maddie and Reyna Aguilar are both returning state qualifiers this season. “She has a passion for wrestling and always has a smile," coach Jeff Knight said. "She does a great job teaching the younger wrestlers as well.” With Sandquist and 11 other returning region meet qualifiers, the Panthers hope to build on the past two years of success. The girls and boys won the district meet the past two years. “Come out and support us this year," Wood said. "I want to see full stands at the wrestling meets."
Photo by Jayme Wilkey
Sophomore Madison Sandquist returns to the wrestling team in hopes of earning herself another trip to the state tournament. She qualified as a freshman.
RETURNING REGION QUALIFIERS GIRLS Bella Yamawaki - 95 lb class Grace Klauzner - 119 lb class Destiny Armendariz - 138 lb class Maddie Sandquist - 128 lb class Reyna Aguilar - 185 lb class BOYS Brandon Herazo -113 lb class Chris Castillo -132 lb class Anthony Smith - 160 lb class Christian Leierer - 160 lb class Chris Stewart - 170 lb class Connor Wood - 195 lb class Sean Dietrich - 285 lb class
sports
Kingwood Park Times
GIRLS' SOCCER Meet the Captains
December 2018
Byrd looks to make impact in senior year by Ava Lee
13
BOYS' SOCCER Players to Watch
Staff Writer
BAILEY SCHOENER
Grade: 12 Position: Defense Earliest soccer memory: Playing goalie and getting scored on eight times. What are you most looking forward to this season? Playing high school soccer one last time with all my friends and being state bound. Most-played song: "Dance Her Home" by Cody Johnson Favorite dessert: Brownies with ice cream Favorite activity in free time: Hunt and fish
Senior Allie Byrd led her team into round 2 of last year’s playoffs, and now she’s back and ready to win. Byrd, who has been playing basketball since she was 6 years old, is in her third year on varsity. She has built many relationships with her teammates and has made amazing memories with them. “We have really good chemistry on and off the court,” Byrd said. “I think we share the ball really well on the court. We’re a very non-selfish team.” The girls practice everyday after school to prepare for their upcoming games. They put their all into every practice as well as every game. Kingwood Park started playing Class 6A programs so they were ready for new schools and districts they would meet throughout the year. “I know we have a different district so I don’t know the new teams very well, but I do know Huntsville will be a good competitor,” Byrd said. While busy playing basketball she also occupies herself with another one of her favorite sports, soccer. She loves keeping herself active, and one of her goals was to go to college for soccer. She’s committed to the University of North Texas and
CARLOS GALLEGOS
Photo by Crosslin Silcott
Senior Allie Byrd looks to make a move in the team's home game on Nov. 30. Byrd leads the Panthers in points and rebounds. is excited to play for its team in the upcoming years. “It’s very time consuming dealing with both basketball and soccer, but I love staying busy and doing something 24/7, so I enjoy the crazy schedule,” she said. Everyone knows how special Byrd
REMAINING GIRLS' HOME GAMES Dec. 18 vs. Porter at 7 p.m. Jan. 1 vs. Huntsville at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 vs. Montgomery at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 vs. Lake Creek at 6 p.m. Jan. 25 vs. New Caney at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 vs. Willis at 7 p.m.
is to the team, along with her other teammates. “It feels good to be playing on varsity because we get to represent KP girls basketball and make a name for the program,” Byrd said.
REMAINING BOYS' HOME GAMES *All games start at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 vs. New Caney Dec. 21 vs. Willis Jan. 11 vs. Caney Creek Jan. 22 vs. Tomball Jan. 29 vs. Porter Feb. 5 vs. Huntsville
Leadership key priority for seniors this season by Kyle Katzmarek
TAYLOR DEBROSKY Grade: 12 Position: Defensive and attacking midfielder Earliest soccer memory: My first soccer ball I received on my 3rd birthday. It was, of course, my favorite color at the time: pink. Best KPARK soccer memory? The opportunity to go to state. Most-played song: "1994" by Jason Aldean Favorite stores: Adidas and Nike Favorite dessert: Brownies Last movie I saw: The Grinch
Staff Writer Six-foot-five senior Brett Hisey is one of the leaders on varsity. Hisey started playing basketball in seventh grade, but he decided he wanted to keep playing and make the high school varsity team in eighth grade, when he saw a Kingwood Park varsity game with the rest of his team. “The experience was great,” he said. “From then on, I decided to make it a goal to make varsity in high school.” Hisey’s sport wasn’t always basketball, though. He used to play baseball, and he wants to try playing it again this season. Hisey said his individual goal for the season is to be a good leader, and his goal for the team is to make the playoffs and win district. “We can achieve these goals by showing up and getting better every day and work together as a team,”
Grade: 11 Position: Center attacking midfield and right back. Earliest soccer memory: Watching the Liga MX games on TV with my grandpa. Can't leave house without: My headphones Last movie I saw: Instant Family Favorite dessert: Donuts Most-played song: "American Teen" by Khalid
said Hisey, who is in his third year on varsity. Another senior leader on the team is Max Snelus. Snelus and Hisey have become leaders this season by making sure their teammates are working hard in the classroom and on the court. “The leadership wasn’t very good last season," Snelus said. "This year we’ve tried to be better leaders.” Hisey doesn’t plan on playing basketball in college, so this will be his final season on a basketball team. In his last season as a basketball player, Hisey said he hopes to be a key player for the Panthers. For others hoping to make varsity down the line, Hisey had a little advice. “You have to stay on top of your grades and don’t give up if you get a setback,” he said. “Nothing comes easy.”
EDUARDO GUAJARDO Grade: 12 Position: Goalkeeper What are you most looking forward to this season? I look forward to winning district again and make it to state. Most-played song: "Me Rehúso" by Danny Ocean Last movie I saw: The Grinch Favorite store: Hollister and American Eagle
Photo by Kathleen Ortiz
Senior Brett Hisey focuses on a free throw in a victory against Santa Fe at home.
CRISTIAN BAUTISTA Grade: 11 Position: Attacking midfielder Earliest soccer memory: My dad was my coach. What has been your best memory playing for KPARK? My best memory so far has been winning district last year and actually being involved in it. Most-played song: "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott Favorite dessert: Apple pie a la mode Favorite store: PacSun
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December 2018
Korean lessons top 2019 priority In the past, my New Year’s resolutions have been more on the cliche end of things: Eating better, working out everyday, stop procrastinating. As of 2019 I’m going to be focusing on something far more difficult but a skill I can hopefully dedicate myself to. This year, my New Year’s resolution is to focus on learning Korean. Hopefully I can learn by finding books, apps, and anything that will help me try and set my mind to learning a whole different language. Talking to one of my grandparents or friends who are fluent in the language will be great help to learn the correct pronunciation. I tried taking a class, but it wasn’t helpful. Even though the teacher was fluent, he jumped into everything thinking we absorbed all the information in such a short amount of time. Eventually, my sister and I just dropped out of that class because we couldn’t learn it that quickly. My dad and his side of the family are fluent and I go to a Korean church. Learning the language would be very helpful. Although my dad knows Korean, he didn’t BY AVA LEE teach us because we grew up in Texas and it was a priority to learn English instead. I grew up with divorced parents, so both households were two totally different environments. My Korean father has stricter rules than my Hispanic mother. At my grandparents' house where my dad lives, we take off our shoes at the door, and our furniture has little coverings on the legs of them so they don’t scratch the carpet. Pets are something we don’t typically have. Having a clean house at all times is such a priority. My dad tends to butcher these rules. I don’t exactly know why, but he was born in Indiana and grew up traveling. He’s very “Americanized.” He has many tattoos, which is known as a disgrace in Korean culture. He also works out a lot, which isn’t something Koreans typically do. Most Koreans are pretty lean and stay that way, so gyms aren’t a huge thing in Korea. I believe his departure from some of the cultural traditions prevented me from a deeper connection with Korean culture earlier. I guess I never thought learning Korean was important until I got a little older. I know basics and can understand what my grandparents say to me, but being able to respond in the correct way is important to me. Even though I’m half Korean and half Hispanic, learning Korean is more of a priority to me right now. While I wish I was already trilingual, I have taken Spanish classes in the past. According the U.S. Census Bureau, Spanish is the second most popular language in the United States. Korean is No. 7. Being able to speak Korean would be unique and a skill I can use in the long run with family, in the workplace and while traveling. Growing up in Katy and Kingwood, I didn’t see many positives to being Korean. Once I found there’s a whole community of Asian-Americans in the downtown area, it opened my eyes a little more. It has inspired me to embrace that I’m not your typical Texan and that I have a unique side of me that I can embody.
opinion Resolutions showcase array of goals
Kingwood Park Times
I want to be a bet ter role model for my family because I see my siblings acting out and being terrible kids. I feel if I’m more respectful and more obedient to my parents and my family, so maybe that they would start to be too! - Kaitlyne Laman
2019 New Year's Resolutions
My New Year’s resolution is to not stress as much. I have struggled with stress most of my life. I stress over school work, tests, passing a class. It gets overwhelming. One I got sent to the hospital for stressing over the STA AR test. If I stress less it would be bet ter for my health. I can learn not to stress as much over grades by studying for tests and learning not to procrastinate. - Olivia Kennedy
s My New Year’s resolution is to be more confident because it will make me stand out. s I want to go to sleep early because I go to sleep around 2 or sometimes 3 a.m. s I want to be more grateful because sometimes I'm not and it hurts people's feelings. s I want to pick up my grades in classes so I pass them. s I want to start working so I have money. - Michael Rios This New Year’s I hope to start being more responsible with money. I have a bad habit of spending money as soon as I receive it, and when my gas tank is almost empty I am lef t with $0.90 in my bank account. I spend too much money on wants, instead of needs. I need to start being more responsible with the money that I earn, by saving it. This would also be beneficial because I spend an overload of money on fast food. Get ting fast food causes me to slowly become unhappy with my body and get taken advantage of by friends. “I forgot my wallet, can you buy my food? I’ll pay you back I promise” -- words I hear too many times. I feel too bad to simply say “no,” when I know I am get ting taken advantage of and will never get paid back. This results in, once again, a loss of money and toxic friendships. - Crosslin Silcott s Learn English. s Work hard in dance to be a Silver Star. s Take French classes to be trilingual. s Get my driver's license and have a car. s Get a job so I can have my own money.
My first resolution is to go to bed on time. My second is to set an alarm, so I won’t be late to school. Third is to be more productive in general. My fourth is to be more positive. Fif th try to eat more food, so I can gain some weight. - John Lawson
My New Year's resolution is to get more sleep at night because I'm tired at school, which sometimes makes it hard to focus. Another resolution of mine is to eat bet ter/healthier foods because I eat a lot of junk which isn't good. I would also like to become more active instead of sit ting at home all the time. I want to become more polite and respectful to others. I want to be on time or early to things, not late. - AJ Rinaudo s Learn to play the Bari Sax bet ter s Actually work for the region auditions s Grow as much as possible s Keep with my New Year’s resolutions - Jace Butler s Be more responsible with my grades. (Check them more) s Ask more questions when I need help instead of suffering silently. s Practice learning my other languages more of ten. s Try not to be so hard on myself for my mistakes. s Be more confident in my abilities even though they’re not perfect. - Natalie Mount I want to get straight A’s in all of my classes for a full nine weeks -- if not longer. I also want to train my dog to get something I need from the upstairs part of my house so I can stay on my couch. And I'd like to start painting more so that I can get good at it again. - Corinna Simmons s Improve my skills (draw more of ten) s Learn different languages s Increase my grades (try to get As) s Try to get a bigger tank for my turtles s Try to train my dog s Study for any quiz/test - Stephanie Saucedo
- Daniela Lugo Castro One of my New Year’s resolutions is to increase my 40 time. Another one of my New Year's resolution is to increase how much I squat. I play cornerback, and having a big speed advantage against faster wide receivers would benefit me and possibly land me a spot on varsity in the future. If I can improve in these two areas I would be the best corner I can be. - Devin Beane My New Year's resolution is to remember and keep up with things instead of forget ting stuff. I want to stay on top of my work more than I already do and not get too overwhelmed by school and swim. - Jayme Wilkey
Stop Procrastinating: This year i'm going to slow down and make sure I get everything done, which means being more organized. Meet New People: I focus too much on just my good friends so this year I want to get out and meet new people. Reduce Stress: This year has been my most stressful year and I think it's because I focus too much on stuff that isn't worth it. I try to please everyone when most of them aren't even my friends. Limit Bad Foods: We all love Chick-Fil-A, Whataburger, Starbucks, MOD, etc., BUT it is a huge money drainer. I spend too much of my money on food that I really don't need. Is the fast food worth the extra weight, money and even time? As much as I wish it was, it's really not worth it. Control Your Emotions: Having your heart broken is the worst feeling. High school girls should not be get ting so upset over guys at this age. It isn't good for your own health and leads to HIGH rates of depression for absolutely no reason. No high school boy is worth get ting your heart broken over. - Taylor Rankin
As graduation nears, uncertainty brings questions This is my last year of high school. That is crazy to me and terrifying. I’m so used to the stability that school brings, it’s crazy to me that in less than a year I can choose to go to college or not, get a place of my own or not. I need to figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life in less than a year. I thought I knew what I wanted; but the closer the end comes, the less sure I am. I wanted to go into book publishing, and now I want to go in to makeup artistry. When I was younger and a random adult would ask me what I wanted to do when I grew up I BY KAYLA would always say I wanted to be a MCCUSKER profiler like in Criminal Minds. I’ve changed what I wanted to be so many times, and I still want to do everything I ever said before. I want to be a K9-cop-profiler-book-publishing-makeup-artist.
What’s even scarier to think of is college. I don’t have to go, and I don’t trust myself to make myself go. I know that there are no laws making me go, meaning I can drop out any time I want. Only 19 percent of college students at public universities actually get their bachelor’s degree in four years. Being grown up and doing grown up things is weird to me. In my head, I’m still 7 years old and my biggest problem is worrying about whether or not it will rain during recess -- not doing things like taxes. I don’t even know how to do taxes. I have a lot of fears when it comes to being an adult. I want to be happy, I want my career to be something I love. I want to become successful with money. I like stability. I like patterns. I like knowing what to expect from the day. I won’t really have rules to follow or a daily schedule planned for me. After graduation ends, I can do whatever I want. The possibilities are endless. How utterly terrifying. Technically, I’m an adult who can do things like vote. But I’m not ready. I am 100 percent not ready to be a full adult. At the moment, I’m like 40 percent adulting. I’m not ready for the other 60 percent anytime soon. I do my best to be independent but still need my mom to call and go to the doctor with me. When the doctor asks me what’s wrong, I look at my mom for
the answer. I live in hope that the phrase “high school is the best years of your life” is completely false. I want high school to be over but I also never want it to end. It’s a weird limbo. I don’t like being told what to do, but I don’t want to be in complete control either. I am responsible for my life being successful or it going down the drain. I feel like I have a good plan. At least I think I have a good plan. Finish high school, go to Lone Star to get my esthetician certificate, get a job at a store like Macy’s or Ulta while I build my career as a well-known freelance makeup artist. Easy enough, right? "I think" is a state I don’t enjoy living in, I need ‘I think’ to be ‘I know.’ But I won’t know. I won’t know if everything is going to work out until it’s happening. I can’t tell the future (no matter how hard I try). Thinking about the future is a daunting task for many young adults. I’m just going to focus on ‘I think’ turning into ‘I know.’
opinion
Kingwood Park Times
EDITOR'S CORNER
Giving of time, love more valuable than presents It’s official, the Christmas season is upon us. Christmas decorations are popping up in the school, our homes and in shopping centers. Yards are filled with Christmas lights, Santa Claus blowups and nativity scenes. Christmas trees can be seen in almost every front window. Radio stations pump out all of our favorite Christmas music from BY NICK FARACE artists like Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin. Shopping malls are jam packed as people rush to get gifts for their loved ones. It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the secular Christmas. In the past 10 years, Christmas has become increasingly secularized, putting an emphasis on buying and getting and shopping, and less about faith, generosity, and love. This year, let’s go back to the way Christmas used to be. Instead of rushing to buy gifts and stressing about if it's the right size or if its a good gift, give a person a genuine gift from the heart. Give a person your time, show them you care. Be generous this season, and thank God for the wonderful gift of life, and the people around you. Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle, look for opportunities to serve the needs of those around you, and be genuine in your “Have a Merry Christmas” wishes to friends you know and everyone you meet. Christmas is so much more than buying and getting gifts, and when we realize that Christmas is about faith, generosity, and love, the season will become even more magical than it was before.
December 2018
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'Greatest accomplishment' not so easy by Kate McIlhany Staff Writer It was midway in a conversation with a close friend that I realized my entire thought process was stupid. What was so stupid? Well, I was mocking her for something she enjoyed to watch. I don’t remember exactly why I felt the need to put her down. Perhaps it was a sense of jealousy or superiority at the time, but whatever it was there was no logical reason for me to give her a hard time about it. It should not matter what makes her happy as long as it wasn’t morally wrong or hurting anyone. We all go through the struggle of high school, we all breathe the same air and we all enjoy getting those Mondays off from school. So why is it that so many of us feel the need to make ourselves feel superior over our peers? So many kids are afraid to express their love for certain interests simply because certain things aren’t seen as the “OK” interests to enjoy. You may think that the condescending put downs are reserved only for out of the box interests; but, no, people gain enormous satisfaction from insulting popular interests as well. No one can win in this game. Kids are mocked for playing a popular video game. How dare they enjoy a video game!
The same people who flaunted internet sensations such as the Harlem Shake and Gangnam Style are really going to pick on younger generation kids for Fortnite dances. Really? No matter what these younger kids seem to latch onto there will always be hordes of people ready to jump on and deem their actions as “cringy.” There is nothing wrong about kids enjoying these popular things, like I said it should be fine as long as they’re happy. There seems to be no escape to this. It doesn’t matter if you like something popular like Fortnite or something different like anime. It’s going to be mocked. So is there hope? I mean, in changing society? No. However, in changing your own view? Yes. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” It was and always is up to you to decide what is and isn’t considered cool. It is also up to you to acknowledge that this isn’t going to change. Society as a whole is going to keep trying to bring you down and it is up to you, not your peers, to stand strong for your interests.
CARTOON CORNER
"Distractions" by Crosslin Silcott
"Trophy Hunting" by Sara Geiger
What is the best present you have ever received?
"A phone because it opened up a whole new world of communication."
- senior Destiny Armendariz
"My car, because it was a total surprise. I was not expecting it."
- junior J'Kyle Martin
"Go kart, because it went faster than my four-wheeler."
"My car because it was a great gift that I'll be able to use for - sophomore awhile."
Larry Davidson
Kingwood Park Times
- sophomore Cassie Huber
"Football tickets because I love the Broncos."
"A goat because I got a really good goat."
- freshman Michael Kell
- senior Alex Lucas
Editor in Chief Nick Farace
KPTimes.com Editor Kayla McCusker
News Editor
Autumarie Kellett
Writers/Photographers
Rafael Boecher, Kyle Katzmarek, Ashley Christoph, Maria Landy Garcia, Crosslin Silcott, Sara Geiger, Eliza Gonzalez, Vallery King, John Lawson, Trinity Curl, Jayme Wilkey, Gabby Norman, Kathleen Ortiz, Corinna Simmons, Ava Lee, Kaitlyne Laman, Olivia Kennedy, Michael Rios, Daniela Lugo Castro, Taylor Rankin, Stephanie Saucedo, Natalie Mount, Kate Mcilhany, Jace Butler, Sadie Lewis, Alyssa White and A.J. Rinaudo.
Adviser
Megan Ortiz
Kingwood Park High School 4015 Woodland Hills Kingwood, TX 77339 281-641-6696 December 2018 Volume 5, Issue 2 The Kingwood Park Times is a public forum for Kingwood Park High School and is distributed free to all students and staff.
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Last Look
December 2018
Kingwood Park Times
Sophomore Caleb Budde, junior A.J. Weeks, sophomore Gabbie Pearson and junior Emma Engelhardt perform "Olaf Entrance" from Frozen. Freshman Carey Beal and sophomore Emily Porterfield dance and sing to "You Can't Stop The Beat" from Hairspray.
Gala offers Broadway twist
Photos by Kathleen Ortiz The theater department held its winter gala on Dec. 1. Dinner was served as theater students performed Broadway hits.
Senior Caitlin Meaux sings "Tango Maureen" from Rent at the theater's gala.
Freshman Rayne Cutrer sings the part of Angelica Schuyler from Hamilton's "Schuyler Sisters."
Freshman Sorrel Estrada performs "Oh My God You Guys" from Legally Blonde.
Freshman Michael Kell plays the role of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray's "You Can't Stop the Beat." All of the JV theater group performed the song during the winter gala on Dec. 1. Guests enjoyed a dinner served by the students while they watched a number of Broadway's most popular songs being performed.
Freshman Cameron Goerner pours drinks while she isn't performing. Goerner acted in "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Senior Brett Janik and sophomore Caleb Budde sing "Sincerely Me" from Dear Evan Hansen.
Seniors Carson Griffing and Shane Hoffart perform Abbott and Costello's "Who's On First?"
Senior Paola Goyco-Velez sings "When He Sees Me" from Waitress.