Kingwood Park Times, February 2023

TIMES

Students share how music most impacts them.

Pages, 11-13

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

INSIDE

New barn brings needed improvements for FFA students.......page 3

Algebra teacher Hannah Morgan finds success in retail.....page 9

Erick Zapata chases childhood dreams with parents’ support....pages 18-19

Tiny Home crew perseveres

By Morgen Dozier Staff Writer

Progress on the sixth Tiny Homes structure came to a screeching halt in January. For the second time, thousands of dollars of equipment was stolen.

“(Everything) really kind of came to a halt because we need framing, we need nail guns to help us continue with our process,” said architecture teacher Missi Taylor. “Nail guns, impact drills, different things that we use to cut our material – that’s all gone.”

Since the beginning of the school year, more than $16,000 of equipment and tools have been stolen from the Tiny Homes construction site. Teachers have offered the program places to put their remaining tools. Cameras and motion detec-

tors will also be installed on the site to prevent something like this from happening again.

“It’s frustrating because this is the second time that it’s happened to my veterans,” said Taylor. “I think it’s harder for (lead architect) Marshall (Burke) when he showed up that day to work. It’s just a big downer.”

Along with the tools being stolen, the program was a month behind. The previous home, as well as the bath structure they built last year, stayed on campus until this fall because its long-term home in Liberty, Texas, was under construction. Despite the issues, the Tiny Homes team still expects to meet their deadlines.

“We might have to start working weekends in order to meet our deadline,” Taylor said. “I was an

architect and worked with contractors my whole life. And so for me, meeting deadlines is a big thing and it’s unacceptable to not meet a deadline. Time is money. And in the real world, if they don’t finish their projects on time, that will impact their job and it will impact their future.”

Although the struggles with this new structure have been daunting, the Tiny Homes team is persevering and making progress.

“Every year there’s going to be difficulties and challenges and we’re having to work through those right here right now,” said junior Andrew Hennings, the next Tiny Homes lead architect. “But at the end of the year, it will all be worth it and we’ll have a nice house.”

Senior Joe Stephenson climbs back down after measuring the roof of the newest Tiny Home structure. All photos by Morgen Dozier.

Senior Marshall Burke works on the structure inside the Tiny Home.

Junior Enrique Guzman measures a piece of sheet metal that will be used as an overhang.

Progress show helps students prepare

By Camille Blair Staff Writer

FFA held their annual progress show on Jan. 6. It’s designed to help students and their animals prepare for the Humble Livestock Show and Rodeo by getting in the ring and learning what more needs to be done with their animal.

“It’s something that I always look to every year,” ag teacher Kevin McCarty said. “I think it’s instrumental having a judge come in and tell kids basically the same thing that I’m telling them, kind of helps to strengthen these kids’ confidence but also remind them that the work is not finished yet.”

Over the years little change has been made to the show, but this year the event was held at the new ag facilities, which allowed the show to be better run during the day and even after it got dark, due to the lighting and a covered ring. Another change is having the show be on a Friday, which they hoped would make it easier

for students and increase involvement of the show.

“I’m hoping that they gain a sense of confidence, they see that hard work really does pay off and get a renewed sense of commitment and dedication,” McCarty said.

Junior Kelly McMahan, who won grand champion at the progress show with her steer, likes how organized the show was and hopes that it stays that way. But she also prefers the shows that start in the morning because the show ran from about 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

The Humble Livestock Show will be held the week before February break. From the Progress Show, students had three weeks to change what they need to on their animal, a change from the 60 days they used to have.

“I like [the progress show] because I get feedback on my animal before the big show and I can fix what I have to do,” McMahan said.

The new FFA barns have improved how the students are able to care for their animals. They are also much safer when heavy rains fall.

New barns provide needed updates

By Camille Blair Staff Writer

The new district North Ag facility was officially open for all species in September. The old ag barns were built in the ‘90s and had housed animals raised by Kingwood Park students since the school first opened. Students faced many problems because of the age of the barns, but the biggest challenge was the flooding.

Other challenges they faced were security issues. Homeless people would stop by the barns in the past and gates were not always locked properly by the students.

“We had to rely on everybody to lock the gate which oftentimes didn’t happen,” ag teacher Kevin McCarty said. “We had vehicles that had been broken into, stranger dangers and one time we even had some animals being messed with.”

With the new barns, most of the problems were resolved. In addition, the new barns added improvements like better ventilation, insulated roofs, big fans to make the barns cooler and better pen design. The barns can be closed to protect the animals in bad weather now too.

However, as great as the new barns are, they still have some complications,

the main ones being drainage and creating a new flow.

“There’s some improvements we want to make but it’s just going to take us a few years to get there,” McCarty said. “We’re trying to work out the immediate bugs right now. Once we get those taken care of we can start moving to other things such as fencing in some pastures where steers can be turned out, and lambs and goats can be turned out.”

Senior Kenzie Terrell, the president of FFA, has been involved in the program for four years. She likes how the new barns have bathrooms now and the big fans, which will make the barns cooler and limit the need to hang your own fan.

“I hope I can work harder and more efficiently now that we have a new facility,” Terrell said.

The security issues have lessened as well. Even though concerns were raised because of a halfway house nearby, the district took measures to make sure the facilities were secure regardless of anyone who might wander nearby.

“The district has been really good about responding,” McCarty said. “They put up a solid wall between us and them, they’ve increased the cameras, and put up blue phones that will call district police.”

Seniors Eliza Hoing and Lorelei Frank show their sheep during the progress show at the FFA Barns on Jan. 6. The show helped students prepare for the Humble ISD Livestock Show. Photo by Ana La Rosa Grillo.

Photo by Camille Blair.

Upper-level options give kids choice

By Fallon Head Website Editor

During Course Selection Day, students chose from among dozens of classes for the 2023-24 school year. For students choosing upper level classes to earn college credits, their options ranged from Advanced Placement to Dual Credit to OnRamps. Knowing which class is best for individual students can be challenging.

“You have to learn to be independent, because once you get to college classes, you go off on your own,” said junior Kara O’Hara, who is taking both AP and OnRamps classes this year. “You have to learn to be responsible for your work, and not have someone constantly reminding you of it.”

Statistics from Dr. Tong Utakrit, Humble ISD’s director of advanced learning and services, shows that last year, 64% of Humble ISD students who took AP tests got a passing grade of 3 or higher. In comparison, 84% of students who took Dual Credit classes in the summer earned college credit, and 75% of students who took classes through the OnRamps program earned college credit.

“Pretty much the AP exam, it’s two-thirds writing now these days,” Coovert said. “So, for example, even today in my own classroom, I’m teaching about how to write what’s called a long essay question, and that will never stop until they take the AP exam.”

Humble ISD results from last year's classes

s 64% got a 3 or higher on the AP exam

AP classes are structured similarly to the faster-paced advanced classes offered in middle school and high school. The main difference is the fee students have to pay in order to take the exam that would give them college credit for the class.

s 84% who took Dual Credit classes over the summer got credit

s 75% in the OnRamps program got college credit

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES

AP classes provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit by earning a high enough score on a test taken at the end of the year.

For social studies teacher Eric Coovert, he has separate sections of AP US History and Dual-Credit US History this year. The main difference between the two classes is the amount of writing, he said.

“I was in pre-AP for a long time, so I was already kind of used to…more than on level would demand from you, kind of thing,” said senior Cece Gonzalez, who is taking an AP, a Dual Credit and an OnRamps class this year. “But AP classes, my first impression was there’s more tests than I thought. Like my first AP class I took was AP Human, and there’s more tests and more assignments in general.”

ONRAMPS CLASSES

OnRamps classes are run through the University of Texas. Most, if not all, of the work in OnRamps classes count toward a college grade.

A student’s college credit is not determined solely on one test, like in AP classes.

At the end of the year, students choose whether they want to accept the college grade they earned.

“You can almost teach yourself the material at home with notes, videos and stuff,” Gonzalez said. “And then your teacher in high school is almost like your friend who’s helping you along and learning the content with you almost. I would say it’s more focused on what UT or the college is actually giving you rather than what the teacher wants to teach or the teacher’s specific assignments.”

DUAL CREDIT COURSES

Dual credit classes are run through Lone Star College. The grades students earn on their quizzes and test grades are the only grades the college takes.

“[With] Lone Star, it’s different because I’ve only taken one,” Gon-

zalez said. “I took Lone Star English this year. The teacher kind of assigns whatever she wants, like her own kind of things.

“And then she just puts in grades like test grades, quiz grades for the college. It is way more hands on. Lone Star is very much like, OK, just get the credit.”

If students stay in upper-level classes, they don’t always have a choice between the three options. Science is either OnRamps or AP. History is all three: OnRamps, Dual Credit or AP. And English is either OnRamps or AP.

“I would recommend all the classes,” said junior Mark Johanson, who is taking two Dual Credit classes and one AP class this year. “As long as you know that you can handle the challenge, you should definitely try to push yourself to be better.”

Students in AP Human Geography work on a January project. AP Human is a student’s first AP course offered on campus. Photo by Edgar Meirhofer.

Senior Noah Gheorghe plays rock-paper-scissors with AP European History teacher Eric Coovert during a project.

Photo by Sam Dellandre.

Pet-tastic

Peter Van Dolzer, 10th

“Tony is a cat. She's a muted calico. She's 3 years old. We adopted her from an adoption agency. I just saw her and she was clawing at the glass when she saw me and I knew it was meant to be. When she first started sleeping in bed with me she took the whole pillow.”

Alyssa Montelongo, 11th

“Sugar is a fat lab. She's 9 turning 10. The Mom got impregnated and the family didn't want the puppies. We had a choice between three, but the other two got sick, so we got Sugar.”

Clarissa Ramos, 12th

“Koosh is an English bulldog. I got her from Pets R Us. I think my favorite memory is when I taught her how to sit. She doesn’t do anything because she’s fat and lazy. So I said ‘sit’ and I would give her treat. We had to do that like 50 times.”

Oliver Trent, 11th

“Hammy was born on Aug. 18. He was left for dead by his mother shortly after birth. Hammy the Sammy started life out hard, born with a strong heart and a will to thrive. Hammy the Sammy has grown twice his size each week and has mastered the use of his claws. He's quite dashing, I'd say.”

Cassandra Magee, 11th

“I have a Doberman whose name is Samuel L. Jackson. I’ve had her for three years now. I got her for Christmas. I like that whenever she’s in my room I cannot not take my hands off her without her biting my feet. Or if I’m sitting down she will ram her head into my back like a goat.”

Wilk McMahan, 10th “Rebound, the cat is 11 years old. He was a stray. My favorite thing about him is he can climb bunk beds.”

We love our animals, they’re always there to lend a helping paw... or whatever appendages they might have. What makes your pet fantastic?

Harper Toth, 10th

“Kyrie is a King Charles cavalier spaniel. He’s 4. He's really soft and fluffy and it's nice to lay down with him. My favorite memory is going on walks on the beach.”

JOURNALISM & PHOTOJOURNALISM JOIN

WHO

Calling all photographers, writers, videographers, sports reporters, graphic designers, podcast creaters and artists.

WHAT

Join the national award-winning newspaper and yearbook staffs.

WHERE

Room 1504 houses the cameras, computer labs, podcast and photo studios.

WHEN

Stop by Room 1504 today to find out what class is best for you!

WHY

Meet new people. Make great friends. Know what is happening around the school. Be in on all the action. Have fun!

HOW

During class registration, sign up for Journalism I or Photojournalism I.

THIS IS

Be in control of how much you do. Earn an academic letter jacket, and gain college

Become a sports reporter, graphic designer, podcaster, a web editor or make Twitter and Instagram your homework. Work, play, TRAVEL. Be a part of a

not your typical class. and scholarship notice. student-run, award-winning program.

Senior Kim Kirsch and junior Ivy Kubin play with other orchestra members during a preview of Seussical the Musical. Photo by Cara Helton.

Junior Nelson Cartsen played percussion and created many sound effects used during Seussical. Photo by Madlynn Morris.

Senior Connor Langdon and sophomore Kashikala Mundemba play a performance in the cafeteria during flex hour on Jan. 11. Photo by Cara Helton.

Orchestra, band help bring ‘Seussical’ to life

By Jacob Valcarce News Editor

Since November, musicians volunteered hours of their time to perform in Seussical the Musical. For three nights in January, orchestra, band, choir and theater combined as the community turned out to see the show.

“Just seeing the whole process come together at the right time, for me personally, that was really cool to be able to share with them,” orchestra director and conductor of the musical Evan Farmer said.

The musical was held on three different days with a runtime of about two hours. According to Farmer, the musicians played for 90% of the show and much of the music is much more difficult than what they are used to.

“The key signature given isn’t used as much in the music we play in band,” Alexandra Linares, 10, said. “I was scared at first but once I practiced the music, I got it down.”

CAST

Cat in the Hat - Grace Potter

Jojo - Olivia Brenner

Members of the chamber orchestra played in the musical alongside members of the band. They dedicated hours of their time inside and outside of school to rehearse with the theater and choir.

Musicians put a lot of time into making this happen with late night rehearsals, which were sometimes stressful.

“The time where I wanted to quit the musical was where we were practicing with the actors,” Linares said. “For it to be my first time being part of a musical, it was weird to me how we combined the orchestra and the band with theater.”

The musical was a different experience for the musicians because they challenged themselves in a way they’ve never done before and learned to work in a different environment.

“Being a part of Seussical the Musical is an honor,” Linares said. “I would like to have the experience again to be in a musical.”

Horton the Elephant - Asa O’Farrell

Gertrude McFuzz - Taylor Mattingly

Mayzie La Bird - Emerson Harris

Sour Kangaroo - Amara Amadi

Young Kangaroo - Valentina GaribayArroyo

General Gengus Khan Schmitz - Oliver

Trent

Mr. Mayor - Karson Rogers

Mrs. Mayor - Hannah Cater

Yertle the Turtle - Jesse Ramirez

The Grinch - Corbin Lane

Bird Girls - Gabriella Aleman, Gbemisola

Olaoya and Grace Toppass

Thing 1 - Shelby Townsend

Thing 2 - Exa Nix

Who and Jungle of Nool Ensemble: Makenna Broderick, Emma Campbell, Abby Chavez, Ray Hanson, Alyssa

Montelongo, Haleigh Nix, Sarah Orth, Carlie Sawyer, Mia Wyatt-Flores

CREW

Stage Manager - Mark Johanson

Assistant Stage Managers - Elizabeth

Luck and Maebeth Potter

Light Board Operator - Harper Toth

Sound Board Operator - Maya Carris

Light/Sound Technician - Alana Graham

Costumes/Makeup Head - Cece

Gonzales

Costumes/Makeup Crew - Wilk McMahan and Sophia Sopczak

Props Head - Rachel Kanak

Props Crew - Cooper Costellos and Jazlyn Robinson

MUSICIANS

Violin - Kendall Baley, Ty Bell, Kimberly Kirsch, Ivy Kubin, Ethan Otte, Sophia Sullivan, Joseph Weidemann, Alexander Wright

Viola - Vivian Garcia, Brian Gentry, Cameron Krewer, Lucas Pagano, Cece Sullivan, Uriel Torres

Cello - Aryl Clayton, Gael Garcia, Eliza Hoing, Kayley Warr

Double Bass - Hugo Houel

Keyboard - Emma Adams, Hugh Poland

Guitar - Nick Maradiaga, Ryan Stueckemann

Reeds - Colton Anderson, Maddy Amaya, Matthew Bleier, Anna Fastnaught, Jacob Gilmore, Fox Hall, Ally

Linares, Noah Parker, Jake Sisney, Hailey Whiteman

Brass - Rowan Ascencio, Connor Langdon, Kashikala Mundemba

Percussion - Richard Beal, Carsten Nelson

Juniors Taylor Mattingly and Asa O’Farrell share a scene toward the end of Seussical the Musical Photo by Madlynn Morris.

Tech creates magical land for ‘Seussical’

By Shelby Townsend Staff Writer

When people think of musicals, what’s on stage comes to mind. But what most forget about is a critical part of making a production successful: Tech. When Seussical the Musical was performed, those watching were transported to lands imagined by Dr. Seuss and built by students.

“I think they would find it interesting just how much goes into it [Seussical] on the tech side to support the acting side,” tech director Courtney Neuwirth said. For this show, there was not

one, but three stage managers. Junior Mark Johanson was head stage manager, with assistants freshman Maebeth Potter and sophomore Elizabeth Luck. The stage managers were in charge of calling cues for sound, lights, set and more. They also had a new challenge that came with this massive production – microphones.

“Almost every single rehearsal we had something go wrong with our mics,” Johanson said. “We had to make adjustments and try to figure it out, while I’m trying to do all of my other stuff in the middle of rehearsal.”

Of course, you can’t expect a show without costumes. This

show called for out-of-the-box thinking, with the requirement of costumes that represent things from different worlds, which ranges from bird girls to Whos from Whoville.

Senior Cece Gonzalez, the head of costumes and makeup, came up with many unique pieces, including a special tail that grows for Gertrude McFuzz, who was played by junior Taylor Mattingly.

“You have to figure out an onstage transformation and also how to make her tail super long later,” said Gonzalez. “I ended up using boas and it had a pretty interesting look.”

One of the biggest parts of a

show (literally), is the set. For Seussical, the set was a combination of two worlds – the Planet of Who and the Jungle of Nool. The way the characters traveled back and forth between worlds required the use of a rotating set. The set had many moving parts, including windows, bath tubs and even a field of clovers.

“Figuring out how to put a set in different spaces is one of the more challenging creative parts,” Neuwirth said, “Because you want to make sure you’re showing the right place but to have it function in the space as well.”

Junior Karson Rogers performs as the mayor Whoville. Photo by Madlynn Morris.

Freshman Emerson Harris performs as Mayzie La Bird in Seussical. Photo by Madlynn Morris.

Sophomore Grace Potter finishes a solo as the Cat in the Hat.

Photo by Madlynn Morris.

Crafty Corner

By Cara Helton Staff Writer

From crafting on the side and making cow shirts for her daughter, Algebra teacher Hannah Morgan now runs her own small business at The Painted Tree.

“My daughter was about 2 and she was obsessed with wearing cow shirts and I was like, ‘I cannot afford to buy my kid cow shirts and they only make so many tiny cow shirts,’” Morgan said. “There’s not that many options and so I started making shirts. I had always been creative. When I was in college, I had a small Etsy store and so I just kind of continued.”

Originally starting on Etsy, Morgan decided the online marketplace wasn’t for her. She wanted interaction with her buyers. She heard about The Painted Tree several years back from a friend who lived out of town. The idea of a lot of small businesses in one building was really cool to her. When she heard there was one opening in Kingwood, she knew she had to check it out.

“I really wanted to know the people that I was selling to because that is part of the joy, to see people enjoy the things that I made, or it makes them feel pretty or they display it in their house and they enjoy looking at it,” Morgan said. “I wanted it to be a more personal experience than just making something and sending it in the mail to somebody that I’ll never see.”

The Painted Tree was the perfect mix for her and it works really well with her tight schedule as a teacher and a mom. Morgan loves The Painted Tree environment. She finds it to be welcoming and has enjoyed being a part of the community. Her shop is called

“Vintage Cow Designs,” where she sells mostly women’s items including shirts, home decor, cutting boards with engravings and earrings that she makes.

When Morgan first started selling her crafts and making shirts she got a lot of positive feedback from her fellow teachers. They would often see her wearing cute teacher shirts and ask if she could make them some. World History co-teacher Talya Bean has been buying items from Morgan since she started and considers

herself Morgan’s #1 fan.

“I’ve bought a million t-shirts, she’s made lots of teachers gifts for me, little water cups that are cute, sweatshirts galore, just anything I need she can make it,” Bean said.

Most of Morgan’s crafting takes place at home on the weekend where she gets a lot of support from her husband. It can be challenging to juggle crafting, teaching and raising a daughter but Morgan always makes sure her family comes first.

“I have to make choices and

sacrifices, but are they worth it? Yes,” she said. “Do I sacrifice family time? No, because that is my number one thing, so I just have to make a balance but it is worth those sacrifices.”

Since starting her business, Morgan has invested her profits to buy new machines for her store so she can keep crafting. It’s been a six-year process for Morgan to get to this point with her business and she’s still growing.

For those interested in starting their own small business, Morgan suggests to give it a try.

“Just work hard, ask other people for advice, find other people that will cheer you on, that will support you, that will give you good advice and keep those people close to you,” Morgan said.

Algebra teacher Hannah Morgan spends her free time creating goods to fill her shop in The Painted Tree

“I wanted it to be a more personal experience than just making something and sending it in the mail to somebody that I’ll never see.”

Algebra teacher Hannah Morgan, on opening a shop in The Painted Tree

Algebra teacher Hannah Morgan’s Vintage Cow Designs shop at The Painted Tree is filled with designs and crafts she has made. Photo submitted by Hannah Morgan.

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

Students rely on music

Throughout the day many students can be found listening to music around the school. Their headphones or airpods are securely in place and music is running.

“[I listen] almost 24/7, it’s just a part of my life,” junior Matthew Igo said. “I feel like some of the lyrics just touch me in a way I can relate to it a lot, and it feels like an escape for me.”

Students like sophomore Edgar Meirhofer use music as a tool to focus when studying.

“It’s what helps me finish my assignments,” Meirhofer said. “It helps keep me running. It gives me ideas and helps me continue working and doing what I’m doing.”

People are also drawn to music because of the impact it has on a person’s emotions.

“Music is probably one of the main things that makes me happy,” junior Maggie Scott said. “I listen to it whenever I feel any emotions and don’t know how to express it.”

Whether it’s Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Mitski or Playboi Cardi, students are drawn to music and list it as a main tool in getting through their days.

“It’s creative expression at its finest,” Meirhofer said. “You’ll listen to a lot of music and you’ll sit there and you’ll completely relate to this artist because they’re pouring their heart out.”

- By Maya Ortiz

Broussard envisions music in future

By Taylor Nethery Staff Writer

Senior Nick Broussard picked up playing guitar in eighth grade. He started by playing at his friend’s house and took an interest in it, so he saved up and bought his own. He plays bass, guitar, piano and drums. He does vocals and plays guitar for his band, Nemesis. Broussard writes his own songs and occasionally covers a song or two.

“I kind of took an interest to it,” Broussard said. “I’d seen my friend’s guitar and I was like, I kind of want to screw around with that.”

Senior Alex Fullerton is also in Nemesis. He plays the drums and performs with Broussard.

“It’s just fun to play with him,” Fullerton said. “He’s a really good musician and fun to practice

with.”

Broussard hopes to make a career in music, he wants to be able to live off making and performing his own music. He has played in many venues in Houston and enjoys the thrill of playing in front of an audience.

“I definitely plan on making

this kind of my thing that I worry about my entire life,” Broussard said. “But my biggest thing is I don’t necessarily want the money or fame. I want my music and the stuff that I do to inspire people the way that the people I look up to inspired me.”

Broussard’s music inspirations

come from a little bit of everything, which he says has helped him make unique sounds that grab listeners’ attention.

“If you only listen to death metal, you’re only going to make death metal, right?” Broussard said.

When writing music, Broussard said it’s important to write music you genuinely enjoy listening to and performing.

Music for Broussard has been an outlet for him since he started playing. If he’s having a hard time and just needs to get away, he turns to music to help him get through it.

“There’s been times in life that I just don’t typically enjoy,” Broussard said. “And I found that music has been one of the only things [that helps].. And I just disappear.”

Senior Nick Broussard plays the guitar during a local performance. Music is Broussard’s passion and what he plans to pursue after high school. Photo submitted by Nick Broussard.

find fun at concerts together

By Daniel Spears Staff Wrtier

Seniors Alex Brown and Riley Castello, along with juniors Cassandra McGee and Avery Steinke, are avid concert goers. To this tight-knit group of friends, concerts are more than just for music. It’s also an opportunity for them to get closer in the music community and make memories they’ll never forget.

“You doll up and then you go hit the town,” Steinke said, “For a night out with your favorite lads and lasses.”

Steinkie has already been to nine concerts this year. One of the most memorable shows was when they went to the Car Seat Headrest concert and tried to carry in a prop for fun.

“My boyfriend Alex brought a car seat head from my car into the venue for the Car Seat Headrest concert,” McGee said. “We almost got kicked out because they thought it was a weapon.”

Music drives

By Jacob Valcarce News Editor

At age 7, senior Josh Chavez was gifted a junior drum set. A year later, Chavez was given a “real” drum set, leading Chavez to enroll in a music school and start his life in the music world.

“It’s honestly through band I’ve met pretty much my whole friend group for the past couple years,” Chavez said. “Music has pretty much been the central part of my life.”

The group started going to concerts once live performances returned to the Houston area after COVID. They had the money and free time.

“Post-COVID, I hadn’t ever been to a concert before and a bunch of shows were happening again so I was excited to see live music,” Castello said.

The concerts the friends frequent range from the rock band Paramore to the singer/ songwriter Taylor Swift, and even lesser-known bands like Black Midi.

It is the music community the group enjoys just as much as the music they hear at each show. At concerts, they meet

Truly fans

Students often pick up tshirts at concerts or in stores of their favorite musicians and bands. It often becomes a conversation starter in class. What’s their favorite song? Why did they first like them. Read about a few who wear those types of tshirts.

so many people from all walks of life.

“The first concert I had ever been to was Thundercat,” Brown said. “I went with my two sisters and It was a nice time. I wore a really stupid hat and people complimented it there. So it says a lot about the people there. It was a plaid bucket hat.”

With ticket prices usually ranging from $25 to $30 for the group of friends, this can be an expensive hobby, but the group of friends doesn’t mind. To them the bonds they make and the live music are worth it.

Chavez has been involved with music for most of his life. In 2017, Chavez was involved in an ‘80s cover rock band. They played gigs from Houston to San Antonio.

They even participated and won the Group Division for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s “Rodeo Rockstar” competition in 2018, allowing them to perform on the Chairman’s Float for the 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade in downtown Houston.

According to Josh, playing for a live audience is much different than practicing alone or even playing for the band.

“The live-like stage environ-

senior night.

ment is way different it’s just like an energy playing in front especially just up he said. “It’s exciting, inspires you almost.”

Another award in the fall of 2022. of a few selected solo and ensemble

“It kind of validated work that I put toward solo because it was

“I loved the Scooby Doo movie with KISS! Ever since that I have loved them. That’s where my favorite song from them came from. I was like 7.”

Ashley Pearce, 12

“I really like ‘Shape of my Heart’ [by the Backstreet Boys]. It’s just like a really pretty song because boy band songs are usually more sappy or whatever.”

Elaine Smith,

11

Senior Josh Chavez band’s

Junior Cassandra Magee, senior Alex Brown, junior Avery Steinke and senior Riley Costello take a selfie while going to a The Garden concert. Photo submitted by Alex Brown.

drives Chavez

family, music is a part of their everyday life.

“Music is pretty much an everyday staple in our family, as there is usually some type of music playing in the background,” his dad David Chavez said. “That I can think of, Josh is the only one in our family that has taken music further than just listening to it.”

According to David, Josh lives and breathes music. He wants to go to Sam Houston State to become a band director. Band and music is a primary part in Josh’s life and he enjoys teaching kids how to play drums and march.

Music Maniacs

Many students feel a connection to musicians because of the messages their songs send and how they make them feel.

Allie Topass

“Elvis Presly is my grandma’s cousin’s uncle. My dad listens to it so I guess I listen to it. I really liked the [Elvis movie], I watched it a few times.”

Aliera Shadowens

“Billie Elish. Her music calms me down. I relate to it and can feel a connection to it.”

Maria Borges

“Morgan Wallen. He has sand in his boots, I got sand in my cleats.”

Camryn Ladwig

different because energy about of people and up on a stage,” exciting, and it just almost.”

award Josh won was 2022. He was one selected for the state ensemble competition. validated all the toward my was a solo that

I really cared about and that I wanted to do since freshman year, so I was proud of it,” Josh said.

Josh said he is kind of an “oddball” in his family, in the sense that he’s the only musically talented one. However, his family helps him in whatever way they can. They go to every football game and competition. Although Josh is the only musician in the

“There is something ingrained in him, that it just comes naturally to him,” David said. “If he’s not playing music, he’s online researching something, or listening to something and dissecting it, maybe even transcribing it onto paper.

“Along with the drums, he’s even bought and taught himself how to play the electric guitar, the bass guitar, and some keyboard. It’s not uncommon for him to spend hours in his music room, bouncing from one instrument to the other. The sky’s the limit for this kid.”

“Taylor Swift, I always liked her since I was little, and it never really got away from me.”

Christopher Frazier

“Blackbear because we have a lot in common about how our lives go.”

Jesse Ramirez

“Ariana Grande. She was willing to work hard to be an artist and I look up to her.”

Peter Vandolnzer

“Mitski, their music is broad but specific at the same time. Anyone can relate to what you’re going through.”

Victoria Goncalo

“I’ve always liked [Michael Buble’s] kind of music, but last year we had to do a dance to it in my ballet company, and that’s really when the obbsession started.”

“My mom is really into old rock and stuff like that. When I was a kid between 4 and 5, she would just play old rock songs or whatever she liked at the time. It was a lot of Nirvana and random music.”

Ryan Royall,

11

“My sister bought a [Wallows] vinyl and gave me the poster. It’s them at a putt putt course, so I forced myself to listen to them.”

Leah Torres, 11

“My favorite songs by Metallica are probably ‘Fade to Black’ and ‘Ride the Lightning.’ ‘Fade to Black’ is a really good song with a good solo at the end.”

Will

Urbanowski,

12

Chavez walks down the football field with his parents dureing the

Photo by Derriq Young

Boys swim leans on senior leaders

By Morgen Dozier and Allie Jorgensen Staff Writers

When the senior boys were just freshmen, they watched the swim team capture the program’s most recent State Championship. Now, in their final year, they are trying to maintain the success for which the program has always been known.

“This is what I would call one of our transition years where we’ve lost a lot of seniors,” said boys coach Greg McLain. “We’re really transitioning between the end of the team that won the title in 2020 and the new group, you know, kind of the new generation of our swimmers.”

The last time the boys swim team won state was in 2020. That was when seniors Joe Stephenson and Chris Rosser were just freshmen. Neither Stephenson or Rosser competed at the 2020 State Championships but the memories they made there remain vivid in their minds.

“The energy and the atmosphere of the whole meet – I think it was something that was the most memorable, you know, because we all just knew at that point that we were going to come out on top,” Rosser said. His sophomore year, Rosser placed in five events at the State Championship meet, including two individual

events. He placed in three events his junior year.

This year, Rosser is chasing the 50 free and 100 yard freestyle school records. He said he thinks he can get within less than a second margin of the record time.

“But I think it all just comes down to how I execute my race at State, and just to see how and where my training will take me at the end of the season,” Rosser said.

Although Rosser has had an impactful four years on the swim team, he also had some major struggles.

“Sophomore year we did really good (at State),” he said. “We placed third, we got some medals, but last year it kind of took a downturn. I

think I fell off the pace last year, that affected my whole season and my mentality.

“I was feeling burnout for a while after sophomore year, and I think it affected me going into junior year. But I feel like I’ve regained all that I’ve lost up until that point.”

Along with Rosser, Stephenson hasn’t always had it easy. Being the shortest one on his team came with an array of challenges, but he never backed down. At 5-foot-7, Stephenson said he tried to be the hardest worker on the team in order to accomplish his goals. By junior year, he finally reached the State Meet. He placed eighth in the 200 yard IM and eleventh in the 500 yard freestyle.

District Meet Results

He has only gotten stronger. He set two pool records at the Senior Night meet in January. And at the district meet on Jan. 21, Stephenson took gold in all four of his events – two individual races and two relays.

“These four years have been a lot of ups and downs, and I would say they all came together pretty well,” Stephenson said. “Freshman year, I wasn’t one of the fastest on the team, I had to work to earn that spot. And then last year I made a state for the first time. This year I just hope to do the same thing and hopefully place really well and possibly bring back a medal.”

As the season continues on and the seniors grow closer to graduation, junior Logen Black knows the void Rosser and Stephenson will leave on the team.

Black, who has been swimming competitively for eight years, has had a strong season. At the district meet, he earned a gold, silver and bronze in his three races. He hopes he can help lead next year’s team so they can continue the program’s rich tradition of success.

“I am worried just because Chris and Joe are a big part of the team,” Black said. “But at the same time I think we can use our leadership skills and bring it together and hopefully have a great team like what we have now.”

The boys and girls teams won the District Championship on Jan. 21. The girls advanced 15 swimmers and divers to Regionals. The boys advanced 13. Those who finished in the top 3 at Districts, include:

GIRLS

200 Medley Relay

1st: 1:54.47 (A. Renee, H. Dove, M. Dozier, C. Sullivan)

200 Yard Freestyle

1st. Carlie Solomon 2:02.10

2nd. Ava Bailey 2:06.28

3rd. Marisa Chinen 2:08.20

200 Yard IM

2nd. Morgen Dozier 2:16.61

3rd. Hannah Dove 2:16.81

50 Yard Freestyle

1st. Elena Amos 24.57

2nd. Cecelia Sullivan 25.39

100 Yard Butterfly

2nd. Elena Amos 59.58

3rd. Hannah Dove 1:00.11

100 Yard Freestyle

1st. Carlie Solomon 55.91

2nd. Marisa Stone 57.24

500 Yard Freestyle

1st. Ava Bailey 5:35.76

2nd. Marisa Chinen 5:43.75

200 Yard Freestyle Relay

1st. 1:46.02 (M. Stone, C. Sul-

livan, C. Solomon, E. Amos)

100 Yard Backstroke

1st. Renee Alcala 1:03.06

3rd. Lucy Foltz 1:07.15

100 Yard Breaststroke

1st. Cece Sullivan 1:10.64

2nd. Katelyn Walker 1:19.52

3rd. Carmen Ramirez 1:19.86

400 Yard Freestyle Relay

1st 3:46.97 (H. Dove, R. Alaca, C. Solomon, E. Amos)

1 meter Diving

1. Allie Watson 251.55

BOYS

200 Medley Relay

1st 1:42.16 (C. Rosser, J. Stephenson, G. Fabrizio, K. Johnson)

200 Yard Freestyle

3rd Logen Black 1:54.11

200 Yard IM

1st Joe Stephenson 1:59.84

2nd Gabe Fabrizio 2:06.23

50 Yard Freestyle

1st Chris Rosser 21.54

2nd Ian Maxwell 22.38

3rd Sean Kloesel 22.88

100 Yard Butterfly

1st Gabe Fabrizio 54.70

100 Yard Freestyle

2nd Chris Rosser 47.77

3rd Ian Maxwell 50.48

500 Yard Freestyle

1st Joe Stephenson 4:48.68

2nd Corey Foltz 5:32.50

200 Yard Freestyle Relay

1st 1:30.94 (I. Maxwell, H. Anderson, G. Fabrizio, C. Rosser)

100 Yard Backstroke

1st Korbin Johnson 1:00.94

3rd Ivan Rodriguez 1:02.84

100 Yard Breaststroke

2nd Logen Black 1:07.05

400 Yard Freestyle Relay

1st 3:21.97 (I. Maxwell, H. Anderson, L. Black, J. Stephenson)

Senior Chris Rosser competes in a freestyle event during senior night. He will compete in four events at the Region Championships. Photo by James Pham.

Carlie Solomon competes in the final home meet. Photo by James Pham.

Athletes find success in winter seasons

Sophomore Anaih Cross pushes the ball up the court against Lufkin. Photo by Bailey Hall.

Senior Walter Rodee gets his foot on the ball during the Humble ISD Tournament. The boys soccer team went 2-0-1 during the three-day tournament at home. Photo by Jordan Hutchinson.

Against Porter on Jan. 14, junior Jayden Henderson wins the jump ball. Photo by Jordan Hutchinson.

Senior Katie Gerbasich gets introduced before the varsity game against Nacogdoches on Jan. 24. Photo by Taylor Nethery.

Senior Carter Lowrey celebrates with junior David Hrishka as time runs out in the 1-0 victory over Alief Hastings. Lowrey scored the game’s lone goal. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Senior Trent Burningham pushes the ball up the court against Dayton. Photo by Kaitlyn Sitton.

Veterans return with high expectations

By Rachael Ortega Special Contributor

With 58 athletes total, the wrestling team is bigger than it has been in a long time.

“Our goal and expectation is to be district champs for boys and girls,” coach Jeff Knight said.

Knight has been coaching for 13 years, 12 of those as head coach. His mindset while planning was to schedule all the hard 6A schools early in the season so the wrestlers will be prepared when they get to district competition in January.

“I enjoy the competition and seeing the self confidence of athletes grow

as they improve,” Knight said.

Leaders on the boys side include juniors Lucas Early and Brandon Waggoner as well as seniors Landen Smith and Devin Connolly. Juniors Parker Wardlow and Lillian Reid have emerged as leaders on the girls’ side, along with seniors Jo’ Watson and Lola Jasso.

There are 15 on the girls’ team, which has won four individual state titles in the past three years. Wardlow has been wrestling since freshman year loves the team atmosphere. As one of the captains, she helps lead the girls’ squad during practices.

“They are dedicated to wrestling and they’re friends,” Wardlow said.

Early, another team captain who

qualified for the State Championships last year, has also been wrestling since freshman year. He said his knowledge of the sport helps him lead the team.

“I know a lot about wrestling, I know techniques to show, I get things done,” Early said.

The captains said the team is family oriented and everyone wants to see each member succeed. They love Knight’s pep talks and motivational speeches before meets and after practices.

“Wrestling is an individual sport but we stretch the team aspect,” Knight said. “[The goal is to] just improve everyday. You get results by what you put in.”

Senior Lola Jasso wins her match against Clear Falls on Jan. 25. Photo by Jacob Valcarce.

Senior Greg McVaugh looks toward the ref as he tries to pin his Clear Falls opponent in his final home match of his career. Photo by Rachael Ortega.

Freshman Tristan Rodriguez watches the ref as he tries to pin his opponent in the Jan. 25 match against Clear Falls. Photo by Rachael Ortega.

Zapata chases dreams with parents’ support

By Maya Ortiz Editor in Chief

Erick Zapata was in elementary school when he first asked his mother to let him play football. Worried about her son’s safety, Edna Peña emphatically declined.

“No!” Peña told Erick. “No! No.” Erick insisted, though.

“Mama,” he told Peña, “if you don’t let me play football I will never forgive you.”

Peña, shocked by her young son’s verbiage, ultimately let Zapata play the sport. That decision served her son well as he eventually became one of the best offensive linemen in Kingwood Park history. * * *

Zapata was only 14 years old when he lined up on varsity against defensive linemen who were older, heavier and taller.

He vividly remembers struggling in the first few games. He admittedly did not have much of a clue what was happening on the field sometimes.

By the fourth game Zapata gained more understanding and found his home on the offensive line.

By his senior year, Zapata hardly resembled the nervous 6-foot-1, 240-pound freshman. Growing an inch and gaining 50 pounds, he earned the title “dad” from his teammates due to his mature attitude, big stature and full beard.

Erick, who was named first-team all-district offensive lineman this past season, committed to play at Texas Southern University after receiving a full-ride scholarship offer.

“It’s really good to see all that hard work and doing things the right way as a young man pay off right with an opportunity to go play the sport that he loves at the next level,” football coach Clayton Maple said.

Maple saw Erick’s talent early. Catching the attention of college recruiters was more difficult. Offensive line coach Tony Morales said colleges often look for linemen

to be at least 6-foot-3. The former Texas Tech lineman also wonders if stereotypes may have hurt Erick.

“There’s a stigma out there that most offensive linemen that are Hispanic aren’t very mobile and can’t move very well or aren’t physical,” Morales said. “He’s all that. He’s physical, he moves very well. He’s smart. He takes pride in [being Latino], and he’s a great leader for our team.”

On the morning of his 18th birth-

day in August, Erick received a text before the Panthers’ season opener. Manny Ramirez, the offensive line coach at Texas Southern, offered him a spot on the team.

That same night, Erick helped lift the offense to a 45-7 victory – kicking off what would be one of the most successful seasons in school history.

* * *

Erick has been a serious kid for as long as his dad Armando Zapata

can remember. Erick carries that demeanor into football. The first year Erick played football, he lost only one game. The 10-year-old cried over his first loss.

“I said ‘Erick, you are going to lose many more games. Believe me, it’s OK,’” Armando said. “He was always a very serious kid, and everything he does he takes it real serious.”

Erick doesn’t indulge in distractions like social media before games. He is locked in and focused on the game ahead. Unlike many of his teammates, music is not a part of his bus rides or pre-game routines.

“I just like complete silence. I don’t even talk to anybody,” Erick said. “I don’t want to listen to anything. I just want to think about the game, and that’s it.”

Erick is known on the team to

Senior offensive lineman Erick Zapata prepares to go back in a home game last fall. He was first-team all-district. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Armando Zapata helps his son Erick with his football gear during the early days when he coached him. Photo submitted by Edna Peña.

lead by a quiet example. He can constantly be found perfecting his craft in the weight room and on the field.

When the linemen were struggling during the 2021 season, Erick organized a meeting and lit a spark in his teammates. The team eventually snapped its six-game losing streak and ended the year with three consecutive wins.

“He’s the type of guy that comes every day and is just really good at what he does, like he does not take off days,” senior quarterback Patrick Overmyer said. “He just brings aggressiveness. He’s not going to trash talk or any of that. He’s going to put you in the dirt and he’s just gonna do it again the next play over and over again.”

* * *

After seeing a photo of his half brother Nick Zapata playing football at Illinois State, Erick told his father, “I want to be like my big brother.”

Erick’s father and brother were scholarship athletes in football. His dad played at Abilene Christian. Nick was also an offensive lineman at Illinois State.

Erick’s family has always been an inspiration for him while playing football. His parents never miss games.

“Time flies, you have them here for one minute and the next minute they’re gone,” Armando said.

“I learned by having [my first kid]; you just enjoy every minute you can possibly with them.”

Armando, who is a personal trainer in the Galleria area, catches up with Erick weekly over Sunday brunch.

Armando coached Erick for years; but when Erick got older, Armando realized it was better if he had other people coach Erick.

When high school football started, Armando promised Erick he would no longer yell his son’s name during games. Armando could still be heard yelling to the refs though.

His mom Edna Peña is less vocal in the stands but no less supportive. Erick lives with her and lists her among his best friends.

When Erick starts his journey at Texas Southern, his family will continue to show their support for him.

“My family’s definitely happy that I’m playing close to home, but they would be happy no matter how far I am,” Erick said.

After hesitantly agreeing to let him play football eight years ago, Peña promised she would never miss any of his games.

Peña has kept her promise for the past eight years. Now, she and Armando Zapata plan to be fixtures in the stands at all the Texas Southern games.

Girls finish preseason strong

The girls soccer team rattled off seven wins to start the season, outscoring opponents 19-3 during the stretch. They started district play on Jan. 31 against Nacogdoches.

KPTimes.com Video

Senior Liv Roach picks the ball from a Lumberton player and looks to move it up the field. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Emma Yeager, 12, is close to setting the girls’ career-scoring record at Kingwood Park. Check out a recent video on her journey.

Emma Yeager, 12, pulls back the ball against a Lumberton defender on Jan. 7. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Senior Bailey Ricker and junior Addy Gray celebrate a goal in the 2-0 win over Lumberton. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Junior Lexi Villanueva throws the ball in against Lumberton on Jan. 7. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Erick Zapata and his mom Edna Peña walk out at midfield at halftime of the homecoming game. Zapata was a homecoming king nominee. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Make personalized counseling more personal

You sit in your house office with a few other students who have been pulled out of class just like you. As you wait, a bright orange slip sits in your hands reading Personalized Counseling. As you read these words, you begin to wonder about their meaning.

Personalized Counseling is a time for the counselors to sit and talk with you about your classes, goals, schedule, and GPA. However, many other topics could be

added to these sessions to make the sessions more personal. It may be important to know about your schedule and what classes you want to take in the future, but many students are struggling with issues such as stress, friend trouble, or any sort of mental health issues and don’t know how to ask for help.

It is understood that schedules are something that has to be talked about but that doesn’t have to be the session’s main focus. It is preached to us that mental health matters but the counselors don’t seem to have the time to discuss these issues. If we instead use a part of these personalized counseling sessions to talk about what is going on in students’ lives, maybe students would be more inclined to speak with them about their

issues and get help to overcome them.

Each counselor has around 400500 students in their house office making talking to each one very difficult. Because of this, it would be beneficial for the administration to hire more counselors. Hiring additional counselors for the school would help make the experience actually “personalized.” Counselors would have fewer students and be able to get to know each one better. Their schedule might also be free enough to allow them to meet with students when students need them most. Each appointment would be less rushed and students might feel comfortable sharing what they are truly feeling and how things are going. In addition, more counselors would allow for only one student

to be pulled out of class at a time. When being pulled out of class for your personalized counseling session, it feels very impersonal with two or three other students joining you. This makes students feel rushed while in their sessions, knowing that someone is waiting on them. In addition, the students waiting in the office are missing valuable instructional time, having to sit and wait for their personalized counseling session to begin.

Personalized counseling has helped students to have a better understanding of their schedule and what classes are offered, but by implementing a more personalized aspect to these sessions, it could help more students speak out about their mental health and become more comfortable with their counselors in order to do so.

Twins are built-in best friends from Day One

By Ramiro Hernandez Staff Writer

There is nothing like being with someone since birth who looks exactly like you. When you’re a twin, you always have someone to relate to on a personal level. You can talk to them about anything, share inside jokes, enjoy movies you both like and even trick others with your identities.

Like so many things, though, it’s not all perfect. There can be conflicts between each other about certain things, such as food, movie choices and other interests. You can even fight over something as childish as a blanket. But these differences can lead to twins trying to resolve the conflict between them and, in doing so, deepen their bond. I have experience being a twin, and let’s just say that it has its benefits. My brother and I are always hungry for something to munch on, and we always have the same thing on our mind: Food. This shows that twins can sometimes share the

same mindset and have the same interests.

There are, however, also some downsides to being a twin, and one of them is that my brother and I like too many of the same things. We tend to argue over things, such as who gets the last slice of pizza. But in the end, it doesn’t matter how big the argument is – we always make up and get on good terms quickly.

Not a lot of people can understand the bond twins hold with one another. Sometimes even the twins themselves struggle to understand. In addition, there are some twins

who dislike one another because of the similarities they both share. They then often try to have different interests. Twins, however, should not try to distance each other. Instead, they should try to explore each other’s interests and find the one that connects them both. Being a twin is a life with ups and downs, but in the end it’s also about looking out for one another. Twins should not discourage each other, they should push one another to be better and excel through the hardships they encounter together.

My brother and I share similar

movie and show interests, such as Marvel movies and Tom & Jerry. Also, a fun fact about us is that we don’t call each other by our real names. We instead call each other “brother” and have been doing it since we were little.

Overall, from my experience, being a twin is rewarding. There will be arguments between twins, but it’s all about balance between the twins and finding something to keep that balance in check.

Being a twin can be weird at times because you see someone, who is your twin, look like you but act completely different from you. It’s almost like seeing a mirror image of yourself that has different likes and dislikes. But being a twin is something many people cherish because starting on the day twins are born, they often become best friends for life in an instant.

It can be confusing, frustrating and unbearable being a twin. But in the end, it’s a bond that can never be broken and it’ll forever be cherished by the two – even if it takes them a while to realize it.

Juniors Gabriel and Ramiro Hernandez share many of the same interests.

Photo by Isabel Stanley.

Mixed martial arts mayhem

Testing out a mixed martial arts class was a little more intense than expected.

Months ago, I was introduced to a sport that I had never before come across, one that captured my interest with its simplicity and unique culture.

As a long-time casual fan of boxing, it was only a matter of time before I came across mixed martial arts.

I paid close attention to MMA in the months leading up to the much-anticipated Charles Oliveira v. Islam Makhachev fight of UFC 280, and in doing so I researched many of former Champion Oliveira’s fights on YouTube.

I recall watching with surprise as Oliveira abandoned the traditional striking stance to lie on the ground and wait for his opponent to approach, before tangling him up with his arms and legs.

Whatever Oliveira was doing, it was clearly going well for him. Within seconds he managed to sink in a choke, and his opponent quickly tapped out.

Further research introduced me to the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an art of which Oliveira happens to be a master. I was instantly hooked, and I quickly immersed myself in the vast world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, discovering various forms of the sport, legendary figures, and a seemingly endless catalog of positions and techniques.

After an educational period as a third-party observer, I decided that it was time to experience Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in person. I began to research local martial arts gyms. Immediately, I found one only minutes from my home, and better yet, they offered a free trial class.

After a brief correspondence with the gym, I set a date to try out a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, and because it was also offered, a free kickbox-

What’s Hot?

Last semester of the year.

It’s basically summer already.

ing class directly beforehand. I persuaded a friend of mine to join me for the classes, which would be on a Friday night.

As the date approached, I watched YouTube videos on proper behavior and respect in the gym, nervous but excited to experience something completely new. My friend and I arrived at the gym for the kickboxing class just before 6 p.m. After a fun and educational – but brutally exhausting workout, it was time to get a taste of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The class started by briefly bowing in and being welcomed by the especially professional and welcoming instructor, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt. Next came dynamic warm-ups.

Having played soccer all of my life, I am no stranger to the customary jog and stretch, but these warm-ups were truly foreign to me. We began by shuffling around the mats, and occasionally extending our hands to the mat. Following this, we practiced falling flat on our backs, and then crawling on hands and feet.

I have never been an especially flexible person, and I began to struggle, to little of my own surprise. Compounding this issue, my entire body was drenched in sweat due to the hour of kickboxing that I had just finished.

Challenges especially began in the “shrimping” exercise, in which a person pushes themselves across the mat on their side, simulating a realistic situation from competition. My sweaty hands and feet granted me a complete lack of traction, as I slid slowly and pitifully across the mat. Despite the slight embarrassment, I stood up with a broad smile, only to be humbled with a dramatic slip in a puddle of my own sweat.

Moving into the main portion of the class, the instructor demonstrated three takedown variations and then dismissed us to practice with our partners. My friend and I, with some special assistance from the instructor, managed to perform these throws and takedowns to a standard that I was proud of.

After about half an hour of struggling across a mat and being slammed on the ground, I was feeling a bit fatigued and bruised, but a far more powerful sensation of catharsis came over me at the realization of an experience that I had been pursuing for months.

When the instructor decided that my friend and I were prepared to move on, he began to explain a triangle choke to us. He demonstrated with a student of his, throwing his legs to either side of the student’s neck, and trapping one arm in the triangle created by his legs, before applying a gentle squeeze. The student quickly tapped, signaling the instructor to release the triangle.

I had never been put in a chokehold before, and during the period of attempting to recreate the choke with my friend I was shocked by how quickly and painlessly I felt myself losing consciousness. Mere seconds in the choke had me tapping out, as my vision began to fade, and I felt pressure in my head and neck. By the end of class, both my friend and I had managed to perform the choke relatively well.

As the class ended, we had a brief cool down, before we bowed out and went our separate ways. I bade goodbye to my friend and drove home, still a bit light-headed, but flooded with excitement and endorphins.

What’s Not?

Letter jackets coming in. It may cost more than my entire wardrobe, but it sure looks cute.

Horror movie M3gan

It could actually happen Capybaras.

Giant guinea pigs can do no wrong. Apple slices.

Eating these takes you back to childhood Reading.

It’s so aesthetic.

2022. Not feeling ~twenty-twoooo~ New Year’s resolutions. No one ever does them anyway Course selections so early.

How can I pick my classes, when I don’t know what I want to do next? Humidity.

Ruins hair and makes you sweat. Rodeo lineup.

We waited until mid-January for the Chainsmokers?! Fire alarms during flex

We only have an hour, and so much to do.

LUKE CAVALLO

“I had never been put in a chokehold before, and during the period of attempting to recreate the choke with my friend I was shocked by how quickly and painlessly I felt myself losing consciousness.”

Writing becomes necessary release

I’ve always struggled picking one thing to spend my time on or focus on. My brain always is bouncing from idea to idea, and I struggled for a long time finding a medium that I could switch through and bounce back three months later without feeling like I can’t continue because it looks ruined, like I love to paint, but it’s hard for me to step away from it halfway through because I can forget what needs to be done, or once the paint dries it will no longer do what it needs to match what was in my head.

Kingwood Park TIMES

February 2023

Volume 9, Issue 4

Kingwood, Texas 77339

EDITORS

Maya Ortiz, editor-in-chief

Fallon Head, web editor

Derriq Young, sports editor

Jacob Valcarce, news editor

Kaitlyn Sitton, design editor

STAFF WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Reading and writing wasn’t something that came easily to me. When I was little, I fell behind in reading because of hearing issues when I was little. By the time I was two, I was 80% deaf. I got tubes in my ears when I was almost two, and that slowly drained the fluid build up that caused my hearing problems. The first steps of learning reading and writing relied heavily on learning sounds and the alphabet, which I couldn’t understand properly. I had to work hard for years to catch up, and to fully understand how the English language works. Once I did, I found I really enjoyed writing.

Writing has provided me with a unique creative outlet that can be whatever I make it. Its diverse foundation allows me to express

myself in more ways than I could imagine doing in other platforms.

If I need to get something off my chest and don’t know who to talk about it to? Writing is there. If I want to create a world with dragons or mermaids or my favorite characters, I can do that too.

I’ve always loved to tell and create stories, and after I pushed myself to get to where writing can be fun instead of just a hassle, I found that it was a perfect way to immortalize my thoughts.

My 7th grade English teacher once said during a lecture, that “writing makes you immortal” and at the time, I mentally scoffed and moved on, but after a bit it grew to hold a special place in my heart. Writing immortalizes people in the sense that a person’s writing, art

or creations hold a part of them. It will forever be your thoughts, and a way for people to learn or connect from you and your experiences, even after you’re no longer around to share them verbally.

I know for myself, I’m the most honest and open when I’m writing something down to share experiences or discover new ones.

I used to hate writing with such a passion because of struggles I faced at a young age, but now it’s where I turn when life gets hard, when the world tries to push me down, or when I just want to get away from it all. It is how I express myself and what I believe. The reward of what I can do now, and the opportunities presented to me, makes my past struggles worth it.

KP MEDIA EDITORIAL POLICY

KP Media is the official student-produced media of news and information published/ produced by KP Media students. KP Media has been established as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisers may – and should – coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The media will cover community, state, national, and international news if it is directly relevant to the school community, and includes local angles. The media will strive to provide coverage to all school organizations and functions.

Any decisions affecting the publications on all levels will be made by the editorial board, the adviser is allowed to give legal advice and his/ her opinion, but the final decision rests in the hands of the editorial board.

Camille Blair, Khiya Dixon, Krista Edwards, Bailey Hall, Emerson Harris, Yusra Hasan, Cara Helton, Ramiro Hernandez, Ana

La Rosa Grillo, Ryder Lowery, Garrison Moritz, Taylor Nethery, Exa Nix, Aidan Oakes, Elizabeth Piquette, Daniel Spear, Shelby Townsend.

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Madlynn Morris, Luke Cavallo, James Pham, Edgar Meirhofer, Rachael Ortega, Jordan Hutchinson, Sam Dellandre, Isabel Stanley.

Adviser: Megan Ortiz

Cover Photo: Junior Avery Steinke loves music and attends concerts whenever she and her friends find one in the area. Photo by Maya Ortiz.

Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of KP Media is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

The media will serve the best interest of the students and faculty of Kingwood Park High School, keeping itself free from any commercial obligations distracting from this purpose; this is defined by the media itself.

All writing in the media, other than letters to the editor in the newsmagazine, will be written by students of the journalism program and will not be accepted otherwise.

The media will specialize in and emphasize on informing their readers of school news and unique students of the Kingwood Park High School community.

Only the editorial board may prevent material it judges to be in violation of the media editorial policy, from being printed.

Letters to editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper or on the website. Letters to editor should not exceed 300 words, must be signed and must include writer’s address and phone number for verification. Letters to the editor will be verified by a member of the editorial board to determine the authenticity of the writer.

The school newspaper will be distributed free of charge to all students every 6-8 weeks. The paper is completely financed by advertising revenues and fundraising. The money raised is used to pay for the school media printing costs, supplies and other media expenses.

Scan the QR code to read the complete Editorial Policy online.

FALLON HEAD

Comic Corner

By Shelby Townsend

A Bright Idea

By Khiya Dixon

By Shelby Townsend

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