Kingwood Park Times

HANDS-ON LEARNING Chemistry students work to solve the problems at the watershed caused by Hurricane Harvey. – page 3

SCHOOLOGY TAKEOVER Teachers have found many ways to incorporate Schoology into their lessons and daily routines.

– page 2

GOLD RUSH

POSTSEASON PLAY NEARS

State champion Jacob Allen has traveled the country to compete in wheelchair racing.

The volleyball team has been all smiles as they have dominated district opponents.

– page 11

– page 10

Kingwood Park Times OCTOBER 2018 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 1 • KINGWOOD, TX 77339

REMEMBERING HARVEY

One year after Hurricane Harvey,

Memories still vivid of devastation, fright

by Nick Farace Editor-In-Chief

I

t was Monday, so early in the morning that the sky was dark and the streets were quiet. Yet, the noise that filled English teacher Caryn Raspberry's ears that morning was unsettling.

Gurgling water seemed to echo from the pipes. As she and her husband crawled out of bed to see what was going on, they never expected what was ahead. * Just a week earlier when Rasberry first heard about Hurricane Harvey, she didn’t think much of the pending storm.

“I have lived here my whole life, and I didn’t expect much,” she said.

Nevertheless, the fifth-year teacher decided to take a trip to the grocery store to buy non-perishable food items along with water and batteries. Even when the power went out a day after the rain started, she was RASBERRY unfazed.

“The English teacher in me came out, and I would sit and read books by candlelight,” she said.

Rasberry sat by the windows inside of her hot, dark apartment and watched the rain pour with her husband and daughter for hours and hours. She met her husband on the first day of school in 2008. The two were first year teachers right out of college, and gelled instantly.

“We had adjoining classrooms and we had a door connecting our rooms,” she said. “We used to flirt during the day and in between classes, it was so cute.”

When Harvey approached, the

Photo contributed by Caryn Rasberry

Piles of furniture and personal belongings were stacked up outside the King's Harbor apartment complex where English teacher Caryn Rasberry lived with her husband and young daughter. The family had to walk through waist-high water to safety after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and water flooded much of Kingwood in August 2017. couple was enjoying the quiet time with their daughter, who was just a year old at the time. * Their family time turned suddenly scary after the noises in the pipes led the couple outside to investigate.

“The parking lot was quickly filling with water, and our cars were in the middle of it,” Rasberry said. “The first thing we decided to do was pack up our things and put them in the car so we could make our escape.”

Rasberry said she and her husband packed up the most valuable things in backpacks and trash bags, including things necessary to keep their daughter

occupied. They loaded things up onto kitchen counters, jammed items in cabinets and threw clothes up onto their mattress. One of the hardest parts about this situation was the choice they made to leave their dog.

“We didn’t have any room to carry the dog, and we decided that we could come back for him later,” Rasberry said.

Her young, small family was forced to walk from their apartment in King’s Harbor all the way to Town Center, where they met her father-in-law, who planned to provide shelter for them during the flood. At that point, the water was up to her thighs.

“We were nervous about walking in the water because it was so muddy,” she said. “We slipped many times and tripped over curbs and branches in the water. The thought of snakes in the water really creeped me out as well.”

About an hour later, Rasberry and her husband returned for their dog and other valuables. They carried the dog in a large plastic container, floating him along as they walked back to Town Center with water up to their waistlines.

Rasberry said she continued to believe there would only be a few more inches of rain. As she walked away from her home and everything she owned, she had no idea she wouldn’t be back for

four more days.

“We had no idea what was going on back at the apartment complex,” she said. “We were at my father-in-laws for four days and all I could think about was the apartment.”

Rasberry’s daughter didn’t fully grasp the harsh reality that had set in upon her family. She continually asked for toys that she often played with at home, but Rasberry told her the toys were “on vacation.”

On Thursday of the same week, she and her husband received an email from the apartment landlord, saying that considerable damage had been done to first-floor apartments, which increased their anxiety and desire to return home.

“Going back was the most horrific sight, it looked like a warzone,” Rasberry said. “We could tell right away that our home had been flooded with more than seven feet of water.”

Rasberry’s husband is about 6-foot-3.

When he stood next to the water line on the garage, it was way over his head. Rasberry couldn’t take in the scene and said she felt sick looking at the damage.

The refrigerator was on top of the kitchen counter, the couch was wedged out the window, and the queen mattress was stuck inside the living room.

The only things that were salvageable were some clothing items that had floated on the bed in the water.

“I didn’t think it was real, I was in disbelief and shock as to how much damage the water caused,” she said.

Standing there, hand in hand in hand, the young family was faced with perhaps the greatest challenge in their lives. Having lost everything in the worst natural disaster in Houston

RASBERRY, Continued on page 7

City makes move to prevent future flooding

by Nick Farace

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Businesses and apartments around Kings Harbor had more than five feet of water in them when Hurricane Harvey hit in August 2017.

Editor-in-Chief City Councilman Dave Martin has begun a project to ensure catastrophic flooding does not devastate Houston again. It starts with restructuring the Lake Houston dam.

Martin hopes to add six more gates to the four already on the dam, which would allow for controlled release of excess water from the lake.

“The plan is to have the excess water from Lake Houston flow through the dam and into the spillway which leads to the Gulf of Mexico,” Martin said.

This process is a great engineering and constructional feat, which will take an estimated three to seven years to complete.

“We have to make sure we are careful and that the dam is stable, because if we make a mistake, flooding could happen again,” he said.

Last year, Texas governor Greg Abbott appointed two members from the Kingwood community to the San Jacinto River Authority, the organization in charge of controlling the river in this area. This committee was in command of the Conroe dam during Harvey, and no Kingwood representatives were on it during or before the hurricane.

“They agreed to lower the amount of water by two feet under the holding capacity,” Martin said. “This gives them the ability to better control the San Jacinto River in times of heavy rain.”

As a Kingwood resident for 18 years, Martin said he wants to make sure flooding doesn’t happen again because he knows how special this town is.

“The Kingwood Bubble is a unique place and we have to prevent flooding at all costs, because if we flood again, we will have an even harder time recovering,” he said.

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news

October 2018

NEWS

BRIEFS National Merit winners named

Seniors Andrea Unwin, Nicholas Logan and Kyle Celaya-Alvarez were named National Merit Commended Scholars.

Approximately 1.5 million high school students take the PSAT each year. Of those, 50,000 (3.3%) are Commended Scholars, and 16,000 (1.1%) are chosen as National Merit Scholar Semifinalists.

Competitions begin for choir

Choir completed its first auditions for TMEA in September. The students who made it through to the next round include: Bryn Arntsen, Hannah Babin, Korii Butler, Alicen Criner, Keeley Domilos, Preston Farley, Maggie Fowler, Allen Geslison, Alana Glover, Peyton Hampton, Leeya Hinojosa, Majoys Lane, Christian Leierer, Emmee Licir, Cassie Mabrey, Roguen O’Brien, Camryn Pollock, Marc Rodriguez, Keith Sago, Andrea Sanchez, Brooke Searcy and Brent Welsh. First Alternate was Skyler Schultz.

Senior ad deadline nears

Parents still have a few days to create a yearbook custom ad for their favorite seniors.

Space is also available for clubs and organizations at the school. Ads can be created and purchased online at jostensadservice.com. The last day to order is Oct. 19.

Musicians named to honor orchestra

Orchestra students started working on audition music last spring to earn a spot on the honor orchestra. The five students from KPARK who scored high enough to make it into the prestigious group include Beau Bell (Bass), Kathryn Carson (Violin), Isabel Hughes (Viola), Emily Kluge (Cello), and Sawyer Star (Bass). These kids get to rehearse and perform in November under the direction of an invited clinician.

Kingwood Park Times

Minimal issues arise with new program

by Kathleen Ortiz Staff Writer First came Canvas. Next Remind 101. Then, Google Classroom was the must-use program in the classroom.

Now meet Schoology–the latest program to be bookmarked and downloaded onto the computers and phones of students. Teachers are mandated to use it, and students are cautiously optimistic that it will last longer than the others.

“Schoology is only as good as the teachers who are submitting content onto it,” senior Fritz Rasmussen said.

“If the teacher submits the bare minimum, they only add maybe an online quiz once a week, they’re not fully utilizing the benefits of Schoology and it’s not a very strong program.

“But when a teacher marks on the calendar every day, I think that is when Schoology is used to its fullest extent.

It makes students accountable because they can’t say, ‘Oh, I had no clue that the homework was due today.’ It also holds teachers accountable in that they must be prepared.”

Pre-AP Geometry teacher Lauren Reeve was one of the few teachers who started using it last year. Reeve uploads everything she does in class, posts videos and helpful solutions to problems that were on the homework.

She uses it for communication with students, the gradebook, and, of course, for the Yoga Club she runs.

She realizes it’s not always easy for teachers or students.

“Ask for help, if needed,” Reeve said. “A lot of Schoology is trial and error, especially for us. We don’t know everything and so we just kind of have to fiddle with it sometimes and try and figure it out.”

Schoology’s potential is evident, but it has taken students some time to get used to checking their laptops and phones for homework every night.

Assignments are usually due at 11:59 p.m. or 7:25 a.m., depending on the teacher.

“I always forget I have homework on there,” sophomore Crosslin Silcott said. “It’s not like I can just look in my

5

Photo by Jayme Wilkey

During Flex Hour, a number of students converge on the computers in the labs in order to work on their Schoology assignments and quizzes so they do not have to do them at home in the evenings. The majority of teachers use Schoology on a daily basis. folder, my binder and physically see my the one app. Reading passages and homework. I’ll forget I have homework videos embedded have replaced the on Schoology unless I write it down.” need for most textbooks.

A number of “There’s no books, teachers are also everything’s online,” "A lot of Schoology is Keeler said. “[That’s using it for tests and quizzes in- trial and error, especially good] because I don’t side and outside become a hunchfor us. We don't know back from carrying of class. Grades often pop up as everything and so we around all the weight soon as the quiz is of the books. And just kind of have to completed, giving everything’s easier, the kids instant fiddle with it sometimes it’s more condensed. feedback.

Teachers don’t have Schoology may and try to figure it out." to carry around parequire students - Pre-AP Geometry pers.” to check in often With all the positeacher Lauren Reeve for homework, but tives, come a handful freshman Quinn of negatives. Doing Keeler likes how everything is kept on homework in the car is not really an

option anymore, due to the need for internet access. Computer and phone glitches have been leaving students with unfinished quizzes. And with all the “updates” teachers are putting on the dashboard, students frequently miss important messages because they’re focused on the latest ones.

The transition will take time for both teachers and students. With KPARK piloting the program at the high school level and its inclusion in all the middle schools, Reeve urged everyone to take a deep breath. New programs take time, she said.

“Patience, everyone needs some patience with Schoology,” Reeve said.

“It can be very frustrating and it can get frustrating very quickly. You just have to be patient.”

ways to stay sane with Schoology 1

Check Schoology often. Before school, right after school, right before dinner, right before bed.

2 Double check your deadlines for Schoology assignments.

3

Make sure you know how your teachers want your assignment submitted.

4

Do your Schoology homework early.

The internet goes out when you least expect it.

5

Don't do quizzes or assignments on your phone. They do not work!

-By Autumarie Kellett

HAVE YOU BOUGHT YOUR YEARBOOK YET? Order today at JostensYearbooks.com Or pay $65 with check or cash in Room 1504.

news

Kingwood Park Times

October 2018

3

City shuts down Panther Perks

by Autumarie Kellett

Staff Writer

Photo by Eliza Gonzalez

Sophomore Donate Bynes works to gather a sample near the watershed by Humble Elementary as part of a Chemistry project and field trip. The students then worked with Humble students to test the water.

Watershed project offers hands-on learning

Chemistry students joined with elementary students for a real-world project.

Photo by Eliza Gonzalez

Junior Carter Korb makes coffee near the front office as part of Panther Pals. served the coffee, while even learning customer service skills.

Panther Perks wanted to stand out and be different by selling coffee, and giving kids an opportunity to get to know the Panther Pals better.

Although it was shut down, it was still a good learning experience for the kids. Now it is set up in the library with a donation jar, giving the coffee away to the teachers.

“It was good while it lasted,” Bean said.

Building process for Tiny Homes begins

by Autumarie Kellett Staff Writer A group of high school students went and spent the day with Humble Elementary 5th graders to work on chemistry experiments. The outing was part of a district wide project called the watershed project.

“I love kids and being able to experience and learn with them,” junior Tristan Azucena said.

It all started when one teacher had a dream, a dream to have elementary students and high school students work on something together to learn. That one dream became a reality, going from just two people to 20 teachers and over 2,000 students. More than 400 students from KPARK alone participated.

With the recent destruction of Harvey, teachers came together and created a project with the overall goal being to build natural sanitation filters along the watershed.

Within the project, students put in a lot of time and effort to figure out how to solve the problems of contaminated water. The classes split into four different groups: the media team, the data team, the public speaking team, and the children's book team.

For a month, Panther Perks served hot and iced coffee near the front office. However, a City of Houston ordinance shut them down. Due to the child nutritions industry regulations, without a permit Partner Perks can no longer sell to students.

“I talked to (Principal Lisa) Drabing about maybe selling before faculty meetings,” said Panther Pals sponsor Tayla Bean.

The shop was open every Tuesday and Friday morning and sometimes during flex hour. Iced coffee was $3 and hot coffee was $2.

The first day it opened was a memorable one.

“We had a lot of people, lot of buddies and workers,” senior Emma Engelage said. “It was the first morning, a huge rush of people came in. Everyone was working, no one was standing around doing nothing.”

Panther Perks was sponsored by Panther Pals, an organization which builds friendships between people with and without disabilities. All of the money raised went toward the organization to fund activities for the kids.

With Panther Perks, the members had a new way to learn life and social skills. They took orders, prepared and

by Jayme Wilkey Staff Writer

Photo by Eliza Gonzalez

Juniors Emily Georgy and Allonna Bodkin work with an Humble Elementary fifth grader to take notes while studying the watershed.

Before testing the water, junior Brett Fahrenholz talks with a fifth grader about some of the research they did prior to running the tests.

“I learned that very talented kids are at the school” said chemistry teacher Tara Bailey.

In the end, all the kids presented their information. Eventually, the top projects will be presented to the district.

“It’s very unique, an experience we’d never gotten before” Azucena said.

Photo by Eliza Gonzalez

Inspired by the Community First!

Village movement in Austin to create homes for the homeless, KPARK set out to create a program of its own.

After a year of work, the Tiny Homes group has started building its first house. “(Summer Creek assistant principal) Al Segura could not sleep one night and saw it on Facebook that there was a tiny house community in Kansas City for veterans,” architecture teacher Missi Taylor said. “He sent it to me and asked me, ‘Wouldn’t this be great if we could do this?’”

Not long after, Taylor was working with Segura and Summer Creek architecture teacher James Gaylord to start the plans for a project that has just kept growing.

Senior Sarah Dalby, lead architect and designer, spent many hours designing and redesigning the tiny home that the club will be building this year.

Since the homes will not have indoor plumbing, the group plans on building

in a community where the residents will share a community kitchen and an outdoor bathroom, like the tiny homes in Austin.

“I would say, my proudest is when I see Sarah Dalby present her design for the tiny home we are going to build and watching her grow,” Taylor said.

The students met with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in September. They also have met with various organizations around Humble ISD. “Some of the kids I have taught for four years, some of them I have watched answer questions and see them sound so knowledgeable," Taylor said. "It is a very proud mom moment for me.”

The group's first home will be built near the tennis courts. The cost for construction is $25,000 per house.

Fundraising and donations have been critical.

“I would say they are pretty excited,” Taylor said. "To go from a piece of paper to a real life building and walk in it, I would say it is exciting.”

KINGWOOD FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY Stacy L. Norman, DDS 281-359-9100

"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

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feature

October 2018

Kingwood Park Times

Shattered knee forces Garcia to adjust routine Garcia is in a 10-month recovery from a knee injury she suffered while on vacation in July.

by Rafael Boecher Staff Writer

O

ver vacation, Spanish teacher Nancy Garcia went on a trip to Costa Rica. She joined a few other teachers, who were all there to practice what it would be like taking students abroad. It was a free trip that she earned; but, as she said, it ended up not being so free after all.

It was July 28 and all she was doing was walking when it happened. The floor underneath the group went from brick to wet tile. That was all it took to make her slip and send her falling down onto her knee.

“Once I looked at my knee, I knew that it wasn’t right, and I was just hoping it was dislocated,” she said. “I’ll never forget that it looked in the wrong place and in the wrong shape.”

Unfortunately for her, it was much worse than a dislocation. She had actually shattered her kneecap into five shards. One of the tour guides took care of her during the rest of her trip, and she was sent home the next afternoon with a cast and a wheelchair, enduring that entire flight in a more than uncomfortable state.

Once she got home, she had surgery on her knee. One of the shards was removed, and the remaining four were wired together.

“The scariest moment was really after the surgery, after I got back home, because the pain was intense,” she said.

After the surgery, she started on the 10-month recovery, but it was far from easy. She was unable to do many of the things she had done before. The injury rendered her unable to drive, go to the store, go to her children’s school events and other activities. Then in September, her brother passed away.

Since the surgery, she has needed help; and KPARK students and staff have worked hard to make her life as easy as it can be.

Co-workers have brought her food, helped her at work, volunteered to bring her to and from school, and one staff member has even gone over to mow her lawn three times.

Counselor Caren Barnes has been one of these helpers.

When she first heard about the injury, Barnes immediately reached out to Garcia to check up on her and see how she was doing. A few weeks after school started, Garcia returned to her classsroom.

“We had a faculty meeting and she had only been back a day, and so the principal said, ‘Ms. Garcia’s back!’" Barnes said. "Everyone was clapping. They were glad, and she said something briefly and she got teary-eyed. She said, ‘I am so thankful for the help,’ and I think it’s from her heart.”

Photo by Kylie Moore

While Spanish teacher Nancy Garcia was using a wheelchair to get around, she know mostly relies on a crutch while teaching.

Garcia was in Costa Rica when she slipped and shattered her kneecap in late-July. The recovery will take almost 10 months.

Barnes has picked Garcia’s kids up from school and dropped them off at home, has brought meals, and has helped out with her classes when needed.

“She truly is a strong teacher and a good person, and one thing about her is her character is really strong,” she said.

Counselor Kelly Kilpatrick shared the same concern as Barnes. She was very worried once she had heard the news. She’s tried to help Garcia with anything needed – even running to get her a bag of ice for her knee.

She said she felt sympathetic, knowing how difficult

recovery is due to her own surgery in the past.

“I know it’s nice, when friends are there to take care of friends,” Kilpatrick said.

With all the help Garcia has been able to get along just fine during her time back at KPARK. “[I’ve been surprised by] all of the outpouring of love and support from my co-workers and people that used to work here,” she said. “I just appreciate it so much. … Everything means a lot to me.”

YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR STORY

Find slideshows of the fall play, volleyball and football games, classes and clubs and more.

Stay updated on a daily basis.

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Kingwood Park Times

HUMANS OF KPARK

October 2018

5

Reading becomes favorite pasttime for senior While living with his dad, senior John Lawson said he endured emotional and verbal abuse.

After seeing a family therapist for a year, he decided to move in with his mom; but his dad didn’t like it and tried to make him stay. Lawson refused, and for 10 years his life has gotten better.

“Living with my mom, I was able to gain confidence and I finally got the love and affection I needed,” Lawson said.

Although there are still issues, he has found an escape through reading. Fantasies are a way for him to relax and forget his troubles. They provide another place, another time, a perfect reality.

“Science fiction is just a peaceful state of mind to forget things,” he said.

- By Vallery King

Everyone has a story. This is the first installment of an ongoing series.

See more Humans of KPARK stories at kptimes.com.

Photo by Kylie Moore

Photo by Trinity Curl

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Prescott's early love for Astros remains When she was 8, HazelAnne Prescott moved to the United States from Scotland.

She may have already spoken English, but Astros baseball is what really helped her feel like an American.

“Kids are cruel and make fun of you if you’re just a little bit different,” Prescott said.

“So I think [baseball] helped us.”

The Astros not only helped her at school, but they also brought her family closer.

“I think because it was this American thing we were doing as a family that it helped us assimilate into the American culture,” Prescott said.

Even with tickets for some of the highest

seats at the Astrodome, Prescott’s mom didn’t pass up the chance to attend games. Prescott said she still remembers her mom didn’t even move the first few games. She just sat petrified.

Prescott was at the last regular season game in the Astrodome in 1999 and had season tickets during their run to their first World Series title in 2017. Those were both good seasons for the Astros, but that’s not what keeps her going.

“It’s always fun; even when they lose, it’s fun,” she said. “I just love the Astros.”

- By Kathleen Ortiz

Storytelling, acting among new theater teacher's passions Theater teacher Gerry Poland has been acting all his life. Poland’s mother played a major role in Poland’s early years.

“She and I [would] act out famous scenes from movies, plays we would even take my Sunday school lessons and act [them] out,” Poland said.

Poland is also a professional actor who has worked in off Broadway performances and in many theatrical performances.

Besides being a theater teacher and a professional actor, Poland is also a writer.

The death of Poland’s father sparked

Hebert works to make senior year best yet Senior Stuart Hebert wants to make the most of his high school years.

He runs cross country and track, is on Student Council, and dabbles in architecture through the school. Through architecture and Student Council, he has helped start the non-profit Students Helping Veterans: Photo by Gabby Norman Big Heroes, Tiny Homes. “[We are] building tiny houses to alleviate the homeless population in the Houston area in the next 10-12 years,” he said. “It’s a large-scale project. It’s not something I’ll ever see built out in my high school career. It’s definitely something that will last longer."

Hebert doesn’t just spend all of his time doing things for the KPARK community, however. He enjoys his job working at the Garden Center, where he loads mulch and has learned to diagnose plant diseases.

Hebert said he hopes to go to the University of Louisianna-Lafayette to study Biology and eventually have a career in conservation.

He said he has loved his time at KPARK. “The atmosphere, it’s not something you’ll get anywhere else,” he said. “There’s really not as many niches as the stereotypical high school. It’s very open to everything and everyone.”

- By Gabby Norman

the flame for writing. Poland loves to tell stories and to take people on a journey.

Poland spends most of his spare time writing and even wrote the book 40 First Dates: One Poet’s Journey. It’s a collection of short stories consisting of unique experiences with first dates.

However, due to Poland’s busy schedule writing as been forced aside.

“I write a lot and I’m looking forward to getting back into it,” said Poland.

- By Trinity Curl

Cosplay allows entertaining escape

Photo by Corrina Simmons

Makeup mishap shapes career goals Many girls know what it is like to go through a makeup disaster in middle school. Well, freshman Kylie Moore had hers when she was in sixth grade.

She used to like the guys on a soccer team that practiced on a nearby field, and so she would wear a full face of makeup to practice everyday for a year.

One day she was heading to practice, and she realized she had gone too far.

"My mom told me as I tried to leave the house that my eyebrows were so dark they looked like I did them with a Sharpie,” said Moore, who now wants to become a make-up artist to save future teenagers from the same mistake.

- By Corrina Simmons

“I think cosJunior Katalena play should be Bryson Gerrity is recognized as your typical tomboy. an entertainNo skirts, no dressment,” Gerrity es. There’s nothing said. “It’s peoreally unusual ple doing what about her. Except they love to do. for the fact that she "I would cosplays. want the public “Cosplay is sort of to know that big thing, especially cosplay isn’t at conventions,” she all fun and said. games, but Gerrity cosplays also a good mostly video game way to meet and manga franpeople that chises, usually as like the same vocaloids or a voice things and not synthesizing AI. She get judged for attends conventions as well, like PAX Photo by Maria Landy Garcia it.”

Where Gerand Comic-Con. rity gets ideas is mostly through her Cosplay, to Gerrity, is a sort of friends or from books that she reads. escapism from reality, a chance to “Anyone who wants to do cosplay express who she really is. Gerrity shouldn't be afraid of what others occasionally sketches out her costhink, but be strong, be passionate plays before she actually creates the about what they love to do,” she character. However, her struggles of said. cosplay are mainly in maintaining - By Ashley Christoph everything: the wigs, the props, the material for the costumes.

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feature

October 2018

Kingwood Park Times

During flex hour, sophomore Nicholas Zambrano plays chess in the library. One of the most popular places for students to go during flex has been the library, where puzzles, games and other activities are set up.

Photo by John Lawson

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Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Using flex hour for tutoring, junior Airish Aslam works on math in Clare Kerr's classroom.

Seniors Kennedy Knight, Kaleigh Waskow and Luke Tiedtke work on a lab in Kristen Lynam's room during flex hour.

Activities continue to increase during flex hour Teachers have sponsored a number of clubs this year and are seeing high rates of participation because of Flex Hour. Some organizations are even using the time to have leadership team meetings. These are any of the clubs open to any interested students: American Indian Club: A club for American Indian/Alaska Native students for scholarship purposes. Rm 2411, Thursday B, Mason Anime Club: In this club, students will get together and share their appreciation for Japanese animation and art as well as expanding their awareness and understanding of Japan's culture.

Rm. 1409, Thursday B, Theriot ASL Club: Signing Panthers Social interaction.

Rm. 1403, Tuesday B, Woods.

AV Club: A place for students to share and explore their love of film-making. Rm. 2402, Monday B, Watson Bible Study: Students read and discuss Bible passages. Rm. 2100, Wednesdays A, Hunt Book Club: This club is for any student interested in books & reading. We read and discuss a variety of books, have battle of the books, read to elementary students, and simply have fun. Library, Thursday B, Castille Boots for Troops: "Boots For Troops" will adopt a soldier, affiliated with the KPARK family, that is stationed abroad. Rm. 2206, Friday B, Welch College 101: Explore different colleges/universities, online/traditional/hybrid, surviving freshman

year. Rm. 1303, Fielding, Wednesday B Craft Club: Making crafts for the Sped Life Skills department to sell so they can pay for their CBI trips. Rm. 2206, Thursday A, Barber Criminal Justice Club: Practicing to compete in the TPSA competitions. Learning more about Criminal Justice. Rm. 2404, Tuesday B, S. May CRU Christian student: organization with fellowship, study, and prayer. Rm. 2214, Friday A (2nd and 4th), Trautner/G. Taylor Culture Club: Culture Club is a group that will look at (study) a different region each quarter and work toward a lunch date focusing on the food of the region. Rm. 1604, Tuesday A, Prescott Drama Club: A social club for students who are in theatre or friends with students who are in theatre that want to socialize in different activities. Rm. 1104, Monday A, Fera/Polland Environmental Club: Students can get involved in improving the current conditions of the environment through projects such as recycling, informing their peers, and helping the community. Rm. 2409, Thursday A, Bailey FCA: Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rm. 2200, Friday B, Ackerman/Jackson Fishing Club: We meet weekly to turn in forms, discuss tournaments, verify grades, turn in tournament fees, discuss fishing strategies. We follow the Texas High School Bass Associations rules and guidelines Rm. 1722, Friday B, Wilson French Club: Explore and experience French language and culture. Rm. 1315, Tuesday B, Randall

FSHS Catholic Organization: The purpose of our club is for students of the Catholic faith to come together to support each other, pray for each other, the Church, and our world, and to have fellowship with each other. Students of other faiths are certainly welcome. Rm. 2212, Wednesday A, Rosato German Club: Come learn some conversational German! Rm. 1303, Monday A, Rasberry GMB Club: Games, Movies, and Books Club. Rm 2102, Monday A, Welborn Guitar Club: For all levels of guitar players from beginning to advanced. We will learn and play together. Rm. 1408, Thursday A, Winters HOSA Club: Career and Technical student organization for those interested in learning more about medicine and the healthcare field. Students do not have to be enrolled in health science courses to join HOSA. Rm. 1400, Friday A, Caizley/Rockwell Journalism Club: Collaborate on writing, design, photography, social media, video and web projects with students in Newspaper, Yearbook, Journalism and Photojournalism Rm. 1504, Wednesday A, Ortiz Karaoke: Come sing your heart out. No talent required. Room 1311, Friday B, Villegas New Student Club: New students at KPark can talk to others that are new and hopefully meet new friends. Also, there's a teacher to ask questions.

Rm. 1307, Tuesday B, Story NHS: National Honor Society based on scholarship, service, character and leadership. Rm. 2506,

Monday A, Lero Panther Pals: This program builds friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Rm. 2101, Wednesday A, Bean/Medina Robotics: Are you interested in Robotics? Come join us as we build robots and brush up on our programming skills. Rm. 1408, Friday B, T. Smith/ Wenter Skills USA: Career based club for collision and refinishing. Rm. 1722, Friday B, Wilson Texas Hold'em Club: Learn and play one of the most popular card games in the world. Rm. 2209, Thursday B, Dang Tiny Homes: We meet to review construction progress, upcoming presentations to city officials, non profit organizations, architects and contractors. Rm. 1410, Friday A, M. Taylor/Johnson, Travel Club: This Travel Club will help you explore, learn more about and share places you've been or always wanted to visit, while making new friends! Rm. 2305, Thursday B, McDowell UIL Academic Team: The team will practice for upcoming meets and learn "tricks" that get better math scores. Rms. 2207 and 1409, Thursday B, Payne/Theriot Yoga Club: Share the benefits of yoga as a mind and body experience, and share those benefits with others in the community. Rm. 2309, Wednesday A, Reeve/May

feature

Kingwood Park Times

October 2018

7

REMEMBERING HARVEY

Devastation during Harvey takes emotional toll French teacher Beverly Randall has a new home now but the impact of Harvey continues to follow her.

by Crosslin Silcott Staff Writer

F

rench teacher Beverly Randall admits she was a mess after receiving 10 feet of water in her Forest Cove house.

“It was a great loss,” Randall said. "Emotionally, it [created] a lot of anxiety.”

Randall was one of hundreds of Kingwood citizens who lost their homes to flood waters in August 2017.

Families and homes all over Houston were struck with trauma and left devastated.

“We all try to pretend like everything’s OK, but it’s not necessarily. And that’s OK,” Randall said.

Hurricane Harvey wasn’t Randall’s first time flood waters filled her house.

On Memorial Day in 2016, she flooded in the same house.

“Here we go again,” Randall said to herself when she heard Harvey was headed RANDALL toward Houston.

Randall and her family prepared for the second hurricane. They braced themselves for the worst by moving all of their possessions upstairs, in hope that waters wouldn't reach the second floor. Once that was done, all there was left to do was wait.

“Just waiting… waiting and worrying,” Randall said.

Randall said she felt thankful she had known how to effectively prepare for Harvey after having experiencd the Memorial Day flood.

“I felt a lot of sadness for my neighbors, more so than for myself. I felt like we had been prepared and we’d been through it before,” Randall said.

Harvey had a heavy impact on Randall and her family. They just recently bought and moved into a new house, affecting their financial decisions on a daily basis.

"We owned the house outright when Harvey hit so we did not have to rebuild anything," Randall said. "We got it cleaned up and lived upstairs until we moved into a rental last May when the weather was getting pretty hot.

"We are up for having our property bought out by the county and we are just waiting for a closing date. We purchased a new home in September and have already moved in there while we wait for the closing on the buyout."

Leftover boxes from the flood have yet to be unpacked. As a teacher, she lost all of the files that she had created for the school year. Textbooks and flash drives full of hard work were destroyed.

“I learned that material possessions don’t matter at all, period.

They just don’t,” Randall said. “It’s your people and your animals that matter. And as sad as it is to lose everything, it's not. It doesn’t really matter.”

They still visit their old property in Forest Cove.

"We take our dog down there to walk almost daily," she said.

"It's a beautiful acre and a quarter that we will miss. But nothing compares to the feeling of safety from flooding in the house we have now."

With all the loss Randall experienced, she said she felt depressed at times.

“I don’t know if everybody has experienced depression, but it kind of makes everything you do harder,” Randall said.

Recuperating from all the emotional and physical trauma has been tough for Randall. It’s an everyday struggle.

“The news is like, ‘What’s wrong with these people who haven’t rebuilt yet?’" Randall said. "They’re acting like it’s traumatic, but it’s normal. It’s normal that your house isn’t finished yet. It’s normal that you’re still living upstairs, because it takes so long to recover.”

Recovering is an everyday process and struggle. Or as Randall said, “It’s a psychological game.”

Photo contributed by Beverly Randall

The kitchen in Beverly Randall's Forest Cove home was destroyed after 10 feet of water rose in the home after Hurricane Harvey. The family remained in the upstairs of the home until last May when they moved into a rental property.

Photo contributed by Caryn Rasberry

Friends, strangers rally to help Rasberry rebuild Management Agency (FEMA), Rasberry’s family was granted $1,200. They felt robbed, like FEMA was overlooking the amount history, they were forced to start over in every aspect of their lives. of damage that had been done in their home.

Raspberry's husband, Patrick Ballay, teaches at Kingwood High “My family was not happy, we felt no pity, and we had nowhere School. He lost not only his home and all his belongings, but he else to turn,” Rasberry said. also lost his classroom.

The two teachers’ salaries that usually supported the family “My classroom had about 6 inches of water standing in it, so were no help now, and so Rasberry and her husband consulted basically everything that was touching the floor had to go,” he said. other family members.

Two weeks after the flood, teachers were let in to see their “Someone in our family suggested starting a GoFundMe, and rooms, in hope of salvaging we ran with it,” she said. “We any personal belongings that didn’t have high expectations at may have been in the classroom. all, and we hoped to gain a few “I was also dealing with the loss hundred bucks from it.”. of everything from our apartThe GoFundMe spread ment, I didn't really have the amongst Rasberry’s and Ballay’s time or mental energies to get students, getting hundreds of as much out of my classroom as retweets on Twitter and attracting I wished I did now,” Ballay said. donors from all over Humble ISD The couple said they didn’t and Kingwood. One of those even know where to start. Their former KPARK English - English teacher Caryn Rasberry, donors, rush of emotions was almost as teacher Mark Babich, said he whose apartment took in 7 feet of water. couldn’t resist a cry for help from strong as the rush of floodwater that had terrorized their home. such a dear friend.

“I was angry and mad, espe“She was in my department cially after learning about strategic flooding and the release of and I knew her situation was bad,” said Babich, who retired last water at the Conroe Dam,” Rasberry said.

June. “I wanted to do whatever I could.”

During Harvey, the water was building up upstream at the Babich said he cooked the family meals, including his famous Conroe Dam. Officials deeded it OK to let the water go, causing spaghetti and meatballs. Other prominent members of the it all to rush downstream and flood the Kingwood and Lake KPARK staff contributed to the effort to help Rasberry recover Houston areas. from this disaster.

“I just kept thinking, ‘Why us?’ Like why did they release that Associate principal Brian Johnson donated pairs of genwater and flood our whole town?” Rasberry said. tly-worn shoes to Ballay. Teacher Kimberly Villegas donated With many questions left unanswered, they pushed on and dresses to Rasberry. To this very day, Rasberry and her husmade the first step in the recovery process. Unfortunately, their band continue to wear the items donated to them. Principal insurance only covered groundwater flooding, and the water from Lisa Drabing also texted Rasberry almost everyday, checking the hurricane was not deemed ground water so they didn’t receive in on the family and making sure they had what they needed. any insurance money. After contacting the Federal Emergency “It’s the little things that add up and make a huge difference,”

RASBERRY, Continued from page 1

"A lot of people will try to be sympathetic and say, 'Oh, it's going to be OK. It was a bunch of junk anyway.'

But our family didn't buy things that weren't meaningful or useful."

Babich said, “and when a lot of people donate and support a cause, it really adds up.”

The GoFundMe has amassed more than $15,000 for the Ballays, and they said none of it has gone to waste.

“It has gone toward replacing both of our cars, getting toys and clothes for our daughter to keep her happy and occupied, and just ensuring we have the items that we need to support ourselves,” Rasberry said. “These kind people have literally saved us, and if it weren’t for them we would have had to empty all our savings and retirement and it still wouldn't have been enough.”

After the storm had cleared out and it was announced that KHS students would be attending Summer Creek, the family found an apartment off the Beltway, close to Ballay’s work. Once KHS construction was finished, they bought a house in Greentree, where they currently reside.

“A lot of people will try to be sympathetic and say, ‘Oh it's going to be OK, it was a bunch of junk anyways,’ but our family didn’t buy things that weren’t meaningful or useful,” Rasberry said, with tears welling in her eye.

She said the storm and the flood made her appreciate the items the family owns and that everything serves a purpose or holds a memory.

“We literally lost everything,” she said. “Photo albums, cameras, computers, furniture, decorations. You name it, we lost it.”

Rasberry said the experience has given the family a desire to be more prepared for the possibilities of what life may bring to them, and it has also has given them the desire to always be there for those around them.

“I’ve become much more generous and optimistic about helping those around me, and I never take anything for granted,” Rasberry said. “The little things mean so much. Like yeah, the hurricane and the flooding was a big and impactful event; but what stands out more is the generous hearts of many, many people in this town who have helped us reclaim some of the life we used to have.”

8

feature

October 2018

Kingwood Park Times

REMEMBERING HARVEY

Still unpacking boxes after returning home,

Dawkins finally able to find humor again

by Kathleen Ortiz Staff Writer

With a no-nonsense attitude, special ed para Dee Dawkins recounted the events of hurricane Harvey. Although, the storm destroyed the first floor of her house in Woodstream Village and left her displaced for 12 months, she simply said she is grateful to be alive.

“I’m still standing, I’m strong, I’m okay,” Dawkins said. “Just like the storm, it too has passed DAWKINS over. I go on.”

While moving all her important papers to the second story of her house, the flood waters rose. Her biggest worry wasn’t the papers or herself, but how Veronica, her 30-year-old autistic daughter, would handle the storm. “[My daughter] didn’t think anything of it, she understood it,” Dawkins said.

“She’s just a wonderful child. Although she lost a lot of materialistic things, she tried to replace them. For the most part, she says like me, ‘Didn’t need it anyway.’”

After a year of relocation in various homes, Dawkins, her husband and Veronica finally returned home in mid-September. It’s not even completely done yet, but she said that some people on her street still aren’t back in

Photo contributed by Dee Dawkins

at all and so she focuses on how lucky she is compared to them.

“Remember you’re not the only one,” Dawkins said. “When you look down the street and you see that your house looks like every house on the block, it’s OK. You can survive.”

Dawkins is grateful for the people from her church, her friends and one particular KPARK student whose name she never caught. As the water rose, he led her out of the house on a jet ski while pulling a kayak with Veronica in it. Despite the gravity of the moment, Dawkins grinned remembering the ride, her first time ever on a jet ski ride.

Dawkins is truly thankful for all the KPARK volunteers who were also the first people in her house the morning after her family was rescued. “It has made us more aware of how blessed we are, how little we need to survive, we are grateful, we are closer,” Dawkins said. “And we can joke about it more now.”

Workman's first hurricane is one she will remember

by Gabby Norman Staff Writer Special ed para Pam Workman moved to Kingwood five years with her husband Doak, but she never experienced a natural disaster until Harvey.

“We prepared by getting a generator and food on Friday,” Workman said.

“After that, we just hunkered down. The power ended up being out for two weeks.”

WORKMAN When the storm hit, Workman was at home with her husband and three kids: Duran, 26, Megan, 23, and Dex, 20. Her two dogs were with them as well.

“We got our cars out the night before as we realized some of the roads were being flooded,” she said. “About 10 p.m., the water was ankle deep in the road. At 3 a.m., water started to creep into our home. It eventually got to be about three feet deep.”

The Workmans were eventually rescued from their son’s second story bedroom window by volunteers from Pensacola, Florida. Since they had no place to go, they stayed at a hotel on Highway 290.

“It only took about two days for the water to recede,” Workman said. “It receded really quickly. In our neighborhood, everything was covered in mud. When we got to our house, the garage door had been forced open by

Photo contributed by Pam Workman

Special ed para Pam Workman had help cleaning up from family and friends, including some KPARK basketball players and coaches Jeffrey Hamilton, Nick James and Corey Kaspar. the floodwaters. When we got inside, everything was just covered in muck, and it was everywhere. It was really slippery, and it was hard not to fall."

Throughout all this, Workman said she stayed strong, knowing that the only way it would ruin her life was if she let it.

“People were amazing,” she said.

“The basketball coaches and boys came and helped us, along with so many others. We weren’t going to let it ruin a day of our lives. There was a certain beauty to it. It made us stronger.”

Workman said she wouldn’t really change anything.

“We did all we could,” she said.

“We didn’t let it ruin us. The only thing I might change is that they wouldn’t have let the water out of the dams, or if they had to, they would have let people know in advance, not in the middle of the night.”

Photo contributed by Sara Geiger

When Sara Geiger's family went back to her mom's house to find their cat, the water was filling their home.

An unforgettable year full of loss, kindness I awoke to the sounds of rushing water. We lived right by a lake, I didn’t worry. The noise got louder as I heard crashing in the living room. My eyes snapped open, and I looked over the edge of the bed.

No, I thought, this is not happening.

I shook my dad awake, and he immediately jumped out of the bed and yelled over the gurgling water to get the files from his desk and take them upstairs.

I grabbed a drawer and sprinted over to the stairs.

We both frantically started running up and down the stairs bringing pictures, papers, CDs, and other irreplaceable items to safety.

The water was rising.

BY SARA “I was trying to remain GEIGER calm for you,” my dad said, when I asked him about it later. “But I knew we had to get out of there before it got worse.”

Two feet of water had risen in the house by this point. On the way to get more stuff, I slipped down the flight of wooden stairs and twisted my ankle. I was soaked in the smelly, brown water.

For a moment I thought about my brother, mom and grandparents, who were all in their own homes not far away and very likely in danger.

After about half an hour of carrying things to safety, we trudged through the now hip deep water and got ourselves settled upstairs. There wasn’t anything else we could do to keep our things dry. We called friends and the police station. Everyone told us they were coming as fast as they could but it would be a least a few hours before we would be rescued.

After about two hours, I started to hear shouts in the distance and I ran downstairs and started yelling for help. A man and a woman approached on their canoe. They told us to climb inside and stay calm. One of them got out and swam behind the canoe to make room for me. They were from Tennessee. They heard about the storm, had a canoe and wanted to help.

From there I got on a bigger boat with more evacuees and they took us to land. Then we were transported by car to a FEMA shelter by a friendly woman who lived in Kingwood. At the shelter, I was given a new set of clothes. Everyone had to change in the dark,

overcrowded bathroom, guided only by the light coming through the crack of the door.

Our worlds were turned upside down in a matter of hours. In all, there was four feet of water in my dad’s house. My mom’s house and my grandparents’ house had a little over five feet each. My mom, brother, grandparents and their German Shepard were all rescued by volunteers on jet skis and taken to my aunt’s house.

The days after the water went down were the hardest. Seeing the downstairs of our house completely destroyed was heartbreaking.

The piano had fallen over, various pieces of clothing and other items were scattered around. The house smelled like feces and old food. We started the long process of going through what we could save and what had to be thrown away.

Volunteers from all over town and even outside of Texas came and helped us. This was the time we needed our neighbors the most and they came through to make the difficult process a little less stressful.

Having kids from schools in the area come and help also made the process more bearable for my brother and cousins.

“I learned about the incredible kindness of people,” my dad said. “The number of strangers who came by to help us clean up and bring food amazed me,” my dad said.

We stayed in a rental house for a few months while having people work on our house for hours everyday for us to get back on our feet. Eventually, we moved back in. However, Harvey hasn’t disappeared from our lives.

“I still get nervous every time it rains,” my dad said. “I have very few sentimental items left.”

My dad lost many of the pictures of me and my brother from when we were little. The crafts we made him were destroyed.

In the past year, I learned a lot about life from Harvey. I’m so grateful for everyone in my life who offered support and sent good thoughts to me and my family.

People’s ability to laugh in that difficult time was refreshing. To this day, whenever we are searching for another item we’re missing, my mom laughs and says, “It probably got Harvey’d!”

feature

Kingwood Park Times

October 2018

9

REMEMBERING HARVEY

Tiptons hope for new normal as repairs near completion The Tipton family, who have three students at KPARK, only have a few more weeks before their house is completed.

THEN

NOW

by Alyssa White

Staff Writer

Freshman Cameron Tipton’s family thought they were going to be safe as Hurricane Harvey approached, but they were wrong. In a neighborhood in which only two houses got flooded, Tipton’s family was among the unlucky. Seven feet of water filled their home.

“I thought we were going to be fine,” Tipton said. “I just thought it was going to come and go.”

Cameron Tipton and her siblings – sophomore Peyton Tipton and senior Reagan Tipton – helped the family try to prepare.

The Tiptons placed sandbags around the doors. They also taped the cracks in the windows and doors. Nothing worked.

“After what seemed like 12 hours of helping my dad, I took a break and helped my mom,” Tipton said. “I helped my mom buy food and water; and I helped my dad put stuff up high.”

After the Tiptons were done preparing, Cameron said they went to sleep hoping and praying their house wouldn’t flood. At about 1 or 2 in the morning, the family realized that the water was quickly rising outside. At this point they could not get out unless they swam or took a boat.

“We finally escaped to our friend’s house down the road, but my dad stayed behind to make sure everything was taken care of,” Tipton said.

Once they were out of the house, they realized that the water had risen so high that it covered the electrical box.

Photo contributed by Cameron Tipton

in the midst of the flooding, the island in the kitchen where the Tiptons had stacked many of their belongings was underwater.

“I was so scared because I didn’t want my dad to get electrocuted while he finished putting stuff up,” Tipton said.

Her dad finally made it out safely, allowing Cameron to relax a little. Her family lost most of their belongings in the flood, but they worked to help others as their house was being rebuilt.

One of her biggest struggles during the recovery was when her family had to put its dog down.

“My dog was super old, blind and had arthritis,” she said. “Since we were living in the upstairs of our house, she couldn’t walk up the stairs everyday.”

Cameron said the past year has

Photo by Alyssa White

taught her family the importance of saving money to rebuild their dream home.

“It has been about a year and our house is still not done,” Tipton said.

“I just wish we stayed in our rental house longer.”

In about a month and a half their house will be completely finished.

“During this time, I have learned that helping others has inspired me to do more good things in life,” she said.

The Tiptons continue to live in the upstairs of their home as they wait for the remodeling to be completed downstairs. The kitchen area pictured had water higher than the island when Hurricane Harvey hit in August 2017.

The family said the house should be complete in the next couple of weeks.

House repaired but bitterness over dam remains Teacher Jeff Wilson said he knew better than to remain in his River Club Estates home as Harvey neared.

by Trinity Curl Staff Writer The smell of water damage and moldy sheetrock stunk up Jeff Wilson’s soggy home. Water-lines up to six feet tall ran along the walls. Devastated and defeated, Wilson walked through his once picture perfect home. Wilson’s 5-year-old cried at the sight.

“I never want to go through this again,” Wilson said.

Wilson, the collision and refinishing instructor in the CTE department, WILSON is not easily rattled. Before Wilson started teaching, he was a bull-riding champion.

“It’s an adrenaline rush you’ll never experience anywhere else,” Wilson said.

As a Texas native, Wilson has been through countless hurricanes.

When Wilson heard about the arrival of Hurricane Harvey, he knew exactly what to do.

“Pack your stuff, load your family up and get out,” Wilson said.

Wilson spent three weeks with his family at his ranch in Cold Springs.

Wilson’s neighbor called to update Wilson on how his house was holding up during that time. Wilson’s house didn’t have any problems until the Lake Conroe dam began to release water at an alarming rate.

“It devastated people,” Wilson said.

“That's the real reason why we got the amount of water we got.”

Wilson’s house got four feet of water and six feet of seepage. Wilson’s family spent the following months in a camper outside their home and every other weekend at their ranch. “[I was] a bit more grateful at the fact that I was smart enough to invest in flood insurance,” he said.

Even after Wilson’s house was rebuilt, the Lake Conroe dam still leaves a bitter taste in Wilson’s mouth.

“Don’t open the damn dam,” he said. “I understand that Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, [and] all of these lakes that are created for power and controlled by a dam, depend on summer vacation people coming to their lake. I understand that property around these lakes are worth a lot of money, but I don't care how much money… it’s not worth a person’s life to keep that going.”

Photos contributed by Jeff Wilson

Teacher Jeff Wilson said he is grateful he had flood insurance as he spent many months since August 2017 watching his home be remodeled. Wilson's home took in four feet of water.

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October 2018

sports

Kingwood Park Times

Just two years since moving from Ukraine,

Allen racks up medals, finds joy in new home Gabby Norman Staff Writer At any given time, there is a 95% chance that junior Jacob Allen has some sort of Ukrainian chocolate tucked away in his backpack. Chocolate and sugar are his favorite foods, even though the state champion wheelchair racer knows it doesn’t make for a winning diet.

“Two days before a race, he has spaghetti, but he doesn’t like pasta sauce, so he eats spaghetti noodles with ketchup and grilled chicken,” his mom, Sheela Allen said.

The thought of his pre-game routine draws a contagious smile across Jacob’s face. “[I will] eat ketchup with anything, including mashed potatoes,” he said.

Valera “Jacob” Allen was born in Ternopol, Ukraine, 17 years ago with Spina Bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly. This causes Jacob to use a wheelchair. He can walk with the help of crutches, but the wheelchair provides him with more mobility.

Because his father had passed away and his mother was sick, Jacob was placed in a Ukrainian orphanage when he was six. In the winter of 2015, Jacob came to the United States for a hosting program to spend four weeks of the winter holidays with Sheela and David Allen.

“We fell in love with him the moment we met him,” Sheela Allen said.

After four weeks, "My hands bled Jacob went back to from rubbing Ukraine; but the Allens knew something against the wheels, was missing. In Janand I didn’t know uary 2016, the Allens asked Jacob if they how to sit in it. I could adopt him. had trouble with “In Ukraine, children over the age of 10 have the gloves, and a say,” Sheela Allen said. “They can refuse even though I was to be adopted. But he tired, I had to keep said yes.”

During the process pushing myself to of adoption, the Allens do more." had to make three junior Jacob Allen, on trips to Ukraine. The the first time he tried first trip is where they went and officially wheelchair racing met Jacob, and he had to handwrite a letter saying he wanted to be adopted. The second trip is when the Allens had to stand before a judge.

“In the courtroom in Ukraine, the judge asked Jacob if he wanted to be a member of our family,” Sheela Allen said. “Then the judge asked me ‘What are you going to do if you stop loving this child, would you return him?’ I got teary eyed and started crying, and [said], ‘I’m never gonna stop loving this kid.”

The third trip was where the Allens went to get Jacob’s paperwork, passports and Visas to travel to the U.S. Jacob had a green card for a year as they worked through the process of him becoming a U.S. citizen.

Since Jacob was over the age of 14, he had to take the Oath of Citizenship. On August 29, Jacob officially became a United States citizen.

U k r a i n e i s n ever fa r f rom h i s m i nd .

Jacob said he was hesitant to leave Ukraine because his friends and three older siblings lived there, but he believed in the American Dream. He said he knew that if he came to the United States, he would have a better life.

“Better than Ukraine,” Jacob said. “There’s a war in Ukraine with Russia, so it's a little bad in the country.

Different people, they look very sad sometimes. In Ukraine, they never help you. They are very bad when people walk around asking for money. They ignore them. Sometimes they park in a wheelchair spot; and in Ukraine, there are very bad roads.”

Jacob started at Kingwood Park in January 2016. He spoke Ukrainian, Russian and could understand Polish, but didn’t know any English.

Since Jacob was treated no differently than any other student in KPARK, he needed a PE credit. When a friend introduced the Allens to the sport of wheelchair racing, they took to the idea. They introduced Jacob and a sport brand new to Humble ISD to boys head track coach Chris Elliott.

“I was worried about having the knowledge necessary to allow him to be a good athlete because it was brand new to me and to a lot of other people,” said Elliott, who has coached for 19 years. “I was probably more worried about that, making sure he received what he deserved as far as coaching goes.”

The first time Jacob tried to practice, it was painful.

“My hands bled from rubbing against the wheels, and I didn’t know how to sit in it. I had trouble with the gloves,

Photo by Sadie Lewis

Junior Jacob Allen laughs as a classmates takes his picture in photojournalism class. He has become much less shy than when he first arrived at KPARK. “On the first day of school, it was new, and school here is much bigger than Ukraine. I needed help–where and which class I needed to go next. I used Google translate a lot. Here is good and (Ukraine) is good, but here is better,” Allen said.

Junior Jacob Allen has been under the eye of the Paralympic Committee, and is going to Switzerland this summer for the World Cup. “My hope is for Jacob to become a leader, and to be a good role model for other kids, because Jacob can’t be the only paralympic athlete," Jacob's mom Sheela Allen said. "I want him to become an ambassador to educate other people about opportunities."

Photo by Sara Geiger

and even though I was tired, I had to keep pushing myself to do more.”

He was a quick learner, though. It wasn’t long before he excelled at it.

When he’s racing, he said all that he thinks is, “Push.

Just go fast, faster, faster, faster.”

In his first race, a 100-meter dash, Jacob clocked in at 20 seconds. Over the course of the year, Jacob qualified for the state championships in the 100, 400, and the shot put.

Finally, due to all of his hard work and determination, Jacob placed 1st in the state for the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 16 seconds. He also took second place in the 400 and fourth in the shot put. Over the summer, Jacob went to Junior Nationals and Nationals. He had strong showings at both.

“He already has that competitive drive, and he understands the type of work it takes to be really good… As far as everything else, Jacob just has that natural ability. Some people call it the ‘It factor,’” Elliott said.

Allen has interests beyond the track. He loves to draw and go to the movies with his friends. He gets donuts with his mom almost every day after school. He loves Russian rap and playing video games.

Jacob has had a hard time adjusting to the American way of life, but one of the hardest things has been the language barrier. Google translate was a big aspect of his early days, but Jacob now is becoming increasingly proficient at English.

Whenever Jacob doesn’t want to do something, Elliott said, Jacob always smiles and tells him, “I don’t understand,” or, “I speak no English.”

“He’s a very caring young man, he’s a very happy young man, and he knows more English than he pretends to,” Elliott said.

Photo by Sara Geiger

Jacob said he hopes to pass all of his classes and EOCs so that he can graduate. He wants to attend the University of Illinois.

“In KPARK, all the people can walk, and I feel a little different, like I can’t do things,” Jacob said. “I want to play soccer, but I can’t because I can’t walk very fast, can’t go big distances. The University of Illinois is a premier training spot for Paralympians that go to the Paralympics. There are a lot of Olympic champions that go there.”

Throughout all of this, one could assume that the state champion may detest his condition, but Jacob has maintained his easy-going and sunny disposition.

“I think my Spina Bifida is good for me and my body.

I think it has helped me by letting me know what I am really good at.”

Mrs. Allen puts it the best.

She said, “The wheelchair isn’t Jacob, it’s not even a part of Jacob, it's something he uses. Jacob is Jacob.”

Jacob Allen practices almost every day, and has lofty goals for this year. He hopes to drop four seconds off of his 400-meter and 2 seconds off of his 100-meter. Track coach Chris Elliott said, “The kids really respect him because they see the work he puts into it.”

sports

Kingwood Park Times

October 2018

11

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Senior Emma Joy serves against Lake Creek during the Pink Out game on Oct. 2. The Panthers won the match to remain undefeated in district play.

Junior Alia Williams, senior Katie Searcy and senior Yates Barker celebrate a point in a Sept. 7 victory at home. The team finished fifth in 5A last season and are hoping to reach the state tournament for the first time this season.

Photo by Carissa Haensgen

After dominating district teams, Panthers eye postseason Sara Geiger

The volleyball squad has several programs used to strengthen the bond among the girls. Each senior gets a freshman “sister” to mentor and bring into the group.

For the first time in its 12-year history, the varsity vol- They also have “The Program,” which is a combination of leyball team is ranked No. 1 in the state, according to Vype physical and mental team-building challenges. Miser and magazine. The Panthers are expected to win the district Unwin both said the bond the girls have is strong and a big part of their success. title and advance deep into the playoffs, “There’s lots of laughing during pracwhere they hope to land in the State "There's lots of tice,” Unwin said. “We’ve all known each Tournament for the first time. other since freshman year. We’ve played “Everyone is focused on the goal laughing during together a lot, not only at school but in of going to state,” said senior Andie practice. We've all local clubs.”

Unwin, the team’s captain.

One of Miser’s proudest moments There are many talented girls on known each other was when the team defeated Willis High the team, but coach Kelly Miser said since freshman School, the toughest team in the district. the one who stands out is Unwin, who said she was pleased with the girls’ has been playing volleyball since she year. We've played She execution. was 11 years old.

“That was a big win for us,” Miser said.

“She has the right attitude on a daily together a lot, not “It was great we had so much support basis, always does the right thing, and only at school but from the faculty, administration and is a leader on and off the court,” Miser students.” said. in local clubs."

Although the team is proud of being When Miser came to KPARK three - senior team captain years ago from Hargrave High School, Andie Unwin ranked first in Houston, they try not to focus on things that are beyond their the team already had three district control. championships to its credit. However, “We aren’t really focused on ranking, it doesn’t matter they have never won a state title.

Miser said she knew when she arrived the Panthers were in the end,” Unwin said. “We just want to do our best every hard-working and competitive. She said she has simply time. There is no selfish playing; we play for each other.”

When students fill the stands and show up for the team built on that foundation ever since.

The team has not lost a district match since 2016. Last it definitely impacts the game.

“Having the stands filled with support is really important in year, the girls had their most successful season; they won the district title against Barber’s Hill and tied for fifth in motivating the team,” Miser said. “An electric environment gets the adrenaline pumping for the girls.” the final state rankings.

“We have a mature group this year,” Miser said. “We have seven seniors and six starters back on the team.”

Staff Writer

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Senior Andie Unwin and junior Libby Overmyer laugh on the court during the team's Pink Out game. The players have dominated their opponents throughout the season and kept it light and fun on the court.

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sports

October 2018

Kingwood Park Times

Swimmers hope regimen helps them return to State Meet

by Kathleen Ortiz Staff Writer The first 12 hours of senior Abby Bennett’s day are constant motion. Wake up at 5. Swim for two hours at the high school. Sit through five AP and dual credit classes, and then swim for two more hours with her club team.

Bennett doesn’t even claim to have found the perfect balance.

“You try and get as much done at school as possible because you know you have practice and then you have to get up so early that you can’t stay up late doing homework or else you’re going to die in the morning,” she said.

“You just have to grind at school or else you’re going to not do well.”

Bennett’s not the only swimmer with a busy schedule.

The team starts practices at 5:45 a.m on the first day of school and there is no offseason. The schedule is created with one goal in mind: win. And it has worked. Last year the girls’ team finished second at state while the boys finished third. It’s the first time both programs have finished in the top three.

“It’s just they have a grueling, long season,” boys’ swim coach Greg McLain said. “We train through Thanksgiving, we train through Christmas. The only break they get is Spring Break, so most people just don’t realize how long the season is for the swimmers.”

With a large number of seniors who graduated the coaches weren’t really sure what to expect from the first two meets.They saw a lot of positives. “[They looked] surprisingly good,” McLain said. “I was very happy with what we saw the first two meets, we don’t expect to see a lot of fast swimming this time of year. They’re tired and just getting back into shape and the fact that both squads have already put out some really fast times we hope means there’s good things in the future.”

The coaches have made their expectations clear this season. They had unforgettable seasons last year, but now all they’re focusing on is this year’s girls and boys.

“If we’ll do what we’re supposed to do we’ll swim our best,” girls’ coach John Dissinger said. “So, that could be we get third at State, we get 10th at State. Who knows?

As long as they come give their best effort that makes me happy, because you can’t control the results all the time you can only control the effort.”

The girls’ 200 free relay has already put out one of the fastest times in the state and the coaches are excited to see what’s ahead for this year’s swim team. “[Our expectations are] really just to do things right,” McLain said. 'To make good grades in the classroom, to be good teammates to each other, to treat each other with respect, and then hopefully through a lot of hard work that translates to success in the pool.”

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

In the team's first home swim meet, sophomore Crosslin Silcott competes in the 100 backstroke. She is one of the swimmers coach John Dissinger said is taking on a leadership role this year after the team graduated so many seniors.

Photo by Eliza Gonzaez

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Junior Braden Hunt makes a splash during the 100 butterfly. Much of the boys team remains intact from a year ago when the team finished third in the state.

Senior Abby Bennett pushes herself in the breaststroke during the 200 IM. She was part of last year's team when the girls finished second at the State Meet.

Cross country teams eye final push toward peaking for postseason Senior Zoie Reyna said she hopes to help fill void on team after losing junior Anneke Kluft with a season-ending injury.

Kyle Katzmarek and Kathleen Ortiz Staff Writers

Photo by Eliza Gonzaez

At the Huffman Hargrave meet in early October, sophomore Brandon Braswell and freshman Barrett Kenny sprint toward the finish.

With strong starts to the cross country season, the boys and girls teams set goals of winning the district meet and qualifying for the state meet.

“The best thing for us as a team is the camaraderie of the guys, they’ve really developed great friendships,” boys’ coach Chris Elliott said. “Rueben Ramiro and Reece Maynord have been the top runners, but everyone has been pretty close.”

The girls cross country team has also had a great season so far. The varsity girls have had a number of top three finishes, including meets against 6A teams like Kingwood and The Woodlands. Much of their early success was because of junior Anneke Kluft, whose season was cut short in late September when a podiatrist diagnosed her with a stress fracture and tendonitis in her left foot.

“I mean, I was sad about it," Kluft said, "but I could laugh about it or I could cry about it. I allowed myself about a minute in a gas station bathroom to just freak out, and then after that I’m not going to cry about, whatever. It’s life.”

Kluft had been one of the most improved runners, dropping her 5K time by more than a minute this season and reaching a personal best of 20 minutes and five seconds.

Girls’ coach Erica Hanneman said Kluft put in a lot of hard work over the summer.

“She consistently pushed the pace and was not afraid to go out with the lead pack,” Hannemann said.

Hannemann said senior Lindsey Broussard has been a consistent performer for varsity all season and senior Zoie Reyna is a strong leader and mentor for the team.

Photo by Eliza Gonzaez

Senior Ensley Hammond climbs one of the many hills on the rigorous Huffman Hargrave course Oct. 4. She won the JV race.

“When I got the news that Anneke was out for the season it was truly a huge loss, especially because she’s been doing very well and progressing rapidly,” Reyna said. “However, at the end of last year my coach asked me if this upcoming year I wanted to focus on myself like the past years or lead the team and put them first. I made the decision to step up and [put the team first].

"I have always been ready to lead the team so the same focus only intensifies and becomes stronger as district nears and I’m confident that every single one of my teammates are stepping up to the challenge without an ounce of intimidation to perform at the best of their abilities for themselves, each other and Anneke.”

Kingwood Park Times

sports

Multi-sport athletes find niche kicking Though often considered outsiders, kickers have come up big for the Panthers when needed the most.

October 2018

Victory over Porter one to remember Go to KPTimes.com to see a full slideshow of the Panthers' 28-27 come-from-behind victory over Porter on Sept. 29.

by Nick Farace Editor-in-Chief Sophomore varsity football kicker Gage Guerra has been a key player for the Panthers all season, but he was thrust even a little more into the spotlight in the come-from-behind win against Porter on Sept. 29.

After trailing by 17 points in the second half, the Panthers climbed back to tie the game on a 1-yard touchdown by quarterback Sam Johansen. Guerra was then called upon to kick the extra point with just 29 seconds left in the game.

“Jogging out onto the field you could feel the energy in the air,” Guerra said. “After it went through, everyone was cheering. It will be one of my most favorite memories of high school.”

Guerra and freshman Carter Bennett are unique in that they are both multi-sport athletes, but it wasn’t until middle school the two became field goal kickers and punters for their middle school football teams.

“I think I was four of five when I first played soccer,” said Bennett, who played soccer until he was in sixth grade.

Bennett is the kicker of the freshman football team, and he said his history of playing competitive soccer at Alliance Soccer Club likely helped give him the edge above other kickers in the program. He no longer plays soccer though.

He swims year round instead.

Guerra has been playing soccer for KPARK and the Dynamo youth, and has emerged as a strong kicker for the varsity football team. He looks up to NFL kicker Dan Bailey for inspiration.

“My favorite part is not having to stay for the whole practice, I love getting to leave early,” Guerra said.

Both guys agreed there is a lot of pressure that comes with being a kicker, especially in big moments.

“If you miss the kick, all the blame is on you; but if you make the kick,” Bennett said, “you’re the man, and you get a lot of love.”

Bennett said it doesn’t take much to be a kicker, and he chose to be a kicker because it doesn’t take up too much of his time. Although getting to leave early is nice, Guerra said being a kicker isn’t all fun and games.

13

Photo by Jayme Wilkey

Senior offensive lineman Brody Dorfman celebrates with senior running back Dalton Roger after a first half touchdown against Porter.

Photo by Maria Landy Garcia

Sophomore Gage Guerra walks toward the locker room after celebrating a big victory over Porter. His extra point after KPARK's touchdown in the final seconds sealed the victory for the Panthers.

“We don’t really fit in with the rest of the team, mainly because we don’t play a really major role and because we leave practice early,” Guerra said.

Although they play a unique role, coach Clayton Maple said they are just as important as every other position.

He said he loves coaching the kickers because they play a vital role in the final score of each game.

“I love to know that we have guys that can get us points at any time,” he said.

Both kickers admit that the best part of being a kicker is the rewarding rush of energy they get after making a kick.

“And the Chick-Fil-A that the moms bring us before games, that’s probably the best part of it all,” said Guerra.

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Senior quarterback Sam Johansen prepares to take a shot into the endzone while under pressure in the first half.

Sophomore Juan Garcia goes for extra yardage as a Porter defender hangs on his side.

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

Tennis advances to state playoffs for 11th season

by Kyle Kitzmarek Staff Writer The tennis team is undefeated in district play this fall.

Coach Wade Bartels said his goal is to repeat as district champions, qualify for regionals and get better every day.

“The more we work in practice the more prepared we are for games,” senior Colby Burke said.

The regional championships are October 28-29.

“Every week we’re just trying to win each game one at a time, we’re 3-0 and going into the playoffs as the 1st ranked team in our area, so we’re looking to keep winning every week and putting in as much work as we can in practice” junior Madison Taylor said.

There was a recent study led by Saint Luke's Health Center in Kansas City that discovered playing tennis can increase people’s lives by 10 years. Burke said tennis adds years to your life because it keeps not just your body in shape and active but your mind as well.

“Tennis forces you to make quick decisions while playing,” Burke said.

Bartels said tennis can keep people active into their 70s and 80s.

Bartels has played tennis for 35 years, dating back to when he was in eighth grade. He played at Sam Houston State University and then went on to play as a pro in Australia. “(Australia) was a beautiful country, and I was fascinated that the time of year was the opposite of what it was in America,” Bartels said.

Bartels has coached tennis at KPARK since it opened in 2007. Under Bartels, the team has won 10 district championships in 11 years and have qualified for regionals three times.

“There are a lot of players on their first year on varsity, and we’re just trying to come together,” Taylor said.

Photo by Kylie Moore

Senior Fritz Rasmussen serves during a home tennis match. He has been a leader for the Panthers the past couple of seasons.

Junior Madison Taylor serves in a doubles match. The tennis team remained undefeated against district foes this season.

Photo by Kylie Moore

14

opinion

October 2018

Kingwood Park Times

Paint adds character, fun to senior year KPARK should join other Humble ISD schools in starting a fundraiser that allows seniors to paint their parking spots.

by Blanca Cantu Staff Writer Recently, Humble ISD schools have started allowing seniors to decorate their own parking spaces. In 2015, senior girls from Summer Creek managed to convince their school by showing its benefits. Unfortunately, Kingwood and Kingwood Park don’t seem to be showing much interest in this proposal.

Allowing seniors to decorate their purchased parking spot wouldn’t just be about self-expression. Yes, it would be a great way for them to leave a creative mark on the school. However, that’s not all it does.

A portion of the money that is used to purchase the spots gets saved up for senior events, making it extremely beneficial.

Over at Summer Creek, they charged the students so there would be enough money to go toward their senior picnic and prom. The Project Graduation committee organized and ran the fundraiser. Perhaps KPARK's seniors last year would have greatly benefited from this considering they never raised enough money to leave campus for their senior picnic. They simply had to have it outside the school with what they could afford.

Fundraising can be a lot of work and be quite challenging. If KPARK would allow us to purchase parking spots, with most of the money going toward helping seniors, then senior students would be able to go about their year not worrying if they’ve raised enough money to have a fun prom and picnic.

Just last year Atascocita High School went ahead and joined in with Summer Creek. Atascocita made it to where not only would the money be helping senior events, but it would also help lower the costs of AP exams, making the exams more affordable and therefore more accessible to students.

Atascocita charges $100 for a parking spot. Summer Creek charges an early-bird price of $75 until the end of May. After that deadline, the price increases to $100 as well.

Photo by Blanca Cantu

Parking spots at Humble HS showcase kids' interests and participation in certain activities at school.

So why hasn’t KPARK done this yet? Seniors do have the ability to decorate their spaces with chalk through the PTSA, but by the looks of it students don’t seem to be too fond of that idea. Plus, chalk is not something that can survive year-round weather conditions. Principal Lisa Drabing said she isn’t sure how KPARK would be able to go about it and still manage to have our school give off a clean look.

This is an understandable reason. Although seniors would only be painting certain parking spots, how will KPARK manage to keep them clean every year or be certain the designs won’t ruin the school's look?

At Summer Creek, students must submit a sketch of what they plan to paint on their spots when they turn in their parking application, which allows the school to make sure that it’s not anything inappropriate.

Once the design has been approved the student is allowed to paint their designated area. Summer Creek assistant principal Ricky Mourning said a number of parents hire a professional painter to then paint the spot. He said that it has been such a hit that a few teachers have also requested the option to pay for and paint their own parking spots.

When the school year ends, the painted spots get power washed and painted over with a white primer, leaving them clean so that they may be used again the following year.

All in all, the idea of allowing seniors to decorate their own parking spots is a great one. It has many benefits and could end up being a fun tradition. It would add one more perk for seniors when they reach their final year.

Juggling school, work takes toll on teenagers

by Kayla McCusker KPTimes.come Editor Working as a teenager in high school is not uncommon.

What is uncommon is having close to full-time hours while going to school for eight hours and doing homework, extracurriculars and maintaining a social life.

Being in high school is hard enough without having to work on top of it. However, I work about 30 hours a week. That’s about five hours a day for six days. Most of the time I work nights so I’m there until 10:30 or even later on a school night.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my job and I really enjoy money; it’s just a lot to take on all at once. Some days I do not want to put my customer service voice on at all. Some days I’m so tired from school the thought of standing on my feet for hours makes them ache.

In addition, I have as much confidence as a skittish cat. At my job I work completely alone so when things go wrong or people get angry I have to deal with it myself, which has really helped to make me less of a scaredy cat but has also made me

But time? I never have. This makes everyone annoyed with me. I can’t do things around the house as often as my mom would like.

My friends have to try to make plans around my schedule. And lack of sleep makes me extremely tired. have a very short annoyance level. When people are unhappy, I keep my smiley demeanor; but when they leave or I go to the back of the store, my face goes slack and stays put in a frown making a smiley welcome just a little harder to achieve.

This attitude sometimes follows me out of the store. I get short with my family and more angry than I should at small things.

However, working has really helped me grow in many ways too. Being an anxious person I had to learn how to handle situations and people alone.

Being the only worker at a store means you have to do ev-

erything -- every single thing that has to be done in the store. It seems like a lot, but I became a master of multitasking and time management very quickly.

Homework, the bane of my existence, is often the last thing I think about everyday. I usually remember homework around 10 p.m. and scrap together simple answers that are not likely to get me a 100. Somehow I get by and have pretty decent grades.

But time? I never have. This makes everyone annoyed with me. I can’t do things around the house as often as my mom would like. My friends have to try to make plans around my schedule. And lack of sleep makes me extremely tired, which means I sleep late and don’t wake my ride up early enough and have to run to get to class on time.

A few weeks ago I was training someone at work, and they asked me what I do for fun. I had to think for a minute, just staring at her. I had no idea what I did for fun. I don’t do anything for fun anymore.

Everyday I sleep, go to school, work and sleep again.

Where is the place you feel most comfortable?

"Canada. We moved a lot and whenever I lived in Seattle I remember wanting to go home for Christmas to be with my family for the holidays instead of staying in Seattle."

- freshman Brooklyn Muscroft

"KPARK theater room.

We’re all family here. The theater kids are my brothers and sisters and whenever I’m not there I wish I could be there doing just anything."

- sophomore Gabbie Pearson

"Any Catholic Church.

Before my grandmother died, she took me to church a lot so going there reminds me of her and brings back good memories. I try to go at least twice a week."

- senior Gerald Merino

"Disney World. I have so many good memories there and my brother works there."

"The dock behind my grandparents' house in Pekin, Illinios. I feel safe there, I grew up there and I - senior Meagan Buck know everyone. It's a small town"

- choir director Ben Fahnders

opinion

Kingwood Park Times

EDITOR'S CORNER

Finding time to relax is critical for balance School is back and that means starting off with a fresh, clean slate. The gradebook is reset and we have new opportunities to prove that we are great students and great friends. The cold KPARK air reminds us that we don’t have another summer for many months, months that are filled with testing, homework, meetings and competitions.

Despite the huge bummer it is to be back sitting in cold classrooms in uncomfortable chairs, there are many positives going into the fall semester. The weather is changing (slowly), football season is

BY NICK FARACE in full swing and homecoming season is upon us.

Fall is arguably one of the best times of year. The change in weather this time of year is exciting and often creates a buzz from all people. It makes going outside and enjoying nature more doable and fun. Football is back, and between the NCAA and the NFL, we are presented with many opportunities to sit back and watch the games with friends and families, creating rivalries and good memories. And then there’s homecoming, one of the most anticipated days of the school year.

Homecoming week is a great way to focus on the positives of the high school experience rather than the negatives.

Too often, students get caught up in the stress and mess that is high school. We feel trapped under the weight of the pressure from parents, teachers and friends. We often get tunnel vision, focusing on school and tuning out the rest of life around us.

While, yes, school is important and it’s our job to do our work on time, study for tests and complete projects, school is only a small fraction of our lives. Taking time to sit back and enjoy other aspects of life can help us de-stress and give us time to count our blessings.

The fall semester presents us plenty of opportunities to step outside of the box that school puts us in, and gives us the chance to enjoy the aspects of life that we actually enjoy, like watching football with friends and family and enjoying the nice fall air.

October 2018

15

From darkness to light Emergency surgery repairs Christoph's vision

Life is hard when you are born with a visual impairment. No eye contact is ever made. Social cues don’t matter. Keep quiet and don't intervene were the rules I lived by.

Every day was filled to the brim with challenges, like falling behind in class because I couldn’t see the board and the fact I had to get extra help because I couldn’t see the small print of assignments. Going to the wrong classroom because I couldn’t see the room numbers.

Everything sighted people take for granted were obstacles for me. It was especially heartbreaking to know that people immediately assumed I had other issues, like autism or Down Syndrome due to my glasses being so thick.

Because of this, I kept

BY ASHLEY telling myself that I was CHRISTOPH stuck like this. That there was no point in caring if nobody else did. Everyone avoided me like I was a disease.

Then last spring, for the first time in my life, there was hope. Hope that I could finally be accepted. A chance to rewrite my fate. No longer would I be put into the disabled category, and the term “visually impaired” would never leave my mouth again.

And it all started with that visit to the opthamologist.

The office was clean and white, and doctors bustled through the halls. I sat in the chair, the optometrist's equipment sitting nearby. The door swung open, and Dr. Charlene Crockett stepped in.

She ran through the normal updates and explained the annual exam. I nodded, letting her know I was listening.

The procedure continued as normal until she dilated my eyes. For awhile there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary. But then my head began to hurt. It was

a dull ache, not really noticeable unless you focused on it. I decided to pay it no mind, being the one who always wants things to work out OK. My mom and I got home, and I realized that my headache was getting worse. I tried to take some medicine.

My head was still pounding The next day, I knew something was wrong on the way to school. I couldn’t really open my left eye. After I arrived to school with my head pounding and my eye losing sight, then came the nausea.

It was when I’d vomited in second period that I was sent home. Each time I tried to eat, anything that went down came right back up. The next day I woke up with Mom sitting next to me. She saw that my eye was red and swollen, and I could barely open it. This was when we knew something was definitely wrong. We scheduled an evaluation, and after a few intense hours or so, we arrived at a clinic.

It was tidy, small and very quiet as well. I was scheduled for emergency cataract surgery. After running a few tests, I got into the hospital gown, and I was knocked out Two hours later, I woke and struggled to open both my eyes. I was told that Dr. Joshua Yudeteck or ‘Yu,’ as he was nicknamed, had drilled holes into the edges of my eyes to let the fluid flow freely and that I was given a lens with a -15 strength.

When my eyes were well enough to be opened, I couldn't believe what I saw. I could see shapes and colors sharper and more clearly. It was like I was looking through the eyes of a regular person.

As I looked around the room and saw my mom’s face for the first time, tears streamed down my face. I learned I had acute angle disclosure glaucoma (AADG, as I like to call it.) My emergency surgery had cured my visual impairment which was something neither my mom nor I had ever expected. Although recovery took awhile, it’s hard to believe that was all just six months ago. Now, there are days I forget my glasses and actually manage just fine. I can actually see. And the most amazing part? I’m not visually impaired anymore.

What's your favorite band or artist to listen to?

"Metallica because they are some of the originals. They did classic rock before anyone else."

"Drake because he’s been around for a long time and he makes creative music."

- junior Jean Pizano

"Panic At The Disco!

They’re fun!"

"Taylor Swift because she has always been there for - senior Caitlin Meaux me."

- freshman Micah Cuccia

Kingwood Park Times

- sophomore Emily Porterfield

"U2 because their songs always have meaning and depth to them."

- science teacher Maricela Donovan

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, Blanca Cantu, Alyssa White, Crosslin Silcott, Sara Geiger, Carissa Haensgen, Eliza Gonzalez, Kylie Moore, Vallery King, John Lawson, Trinity Curl, Jayme Wilkey, Gabby Norman, Kathleen Ortiz, Sadie Lewis and Corinna Simmons.

Adviser

Megan Ortiz

Kingwood Park High School 4015 Woodland Hills Kingwood, TX 77339 281-641-6696 October 2018 Volume 5, Issue 1 The Kingwood Park Times is a public forum for Kingwood Park High School and is distributed free to all students and staff.

16

October 2018

Last Look

Kingwood Park Times

Photo by Carissa Haensgen

Junior cheerleader Scarlett Vaughn cheers during the pep rally while her teammates perform stunts behind her.

Photo by Carissa Haensgen

Sophomore Morgan Kalenta, senior Mallori Morte and sophomore Elena Ivonye perform a special routine with the Silver Stars.

Pep rallies add excitement

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

During the chant to decide the loudest class, freshmen Cali Burningham and Charlee Poulin help try to lead their classmates to victory.

Photo by Kathleen Ortiz

After introducing the football team prior to their game against Porter, senior defensive lineman Hayden Park tries to fire up the crowd after encouraging them to watch the game at Turner Stadium.

With a routine that had the crowd screaming, junior Emily Mulloy, sophomore Mina Oakley and senior Jaslynn Guevara perform a routine with a number of other ROTC members. Hours of work go into perfecting the ROTC routines.

Photo by Carissa Haensgen

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