MyDSHSNews April 2017

April/2017

MYDSHSNEWS

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soccer in the playoffs Page 15

SNAPCHAT >> MYDSHSSNAPS

It seems all too familiar...

Following multiple fatal accidents on the Dripping Springs section of 290, students were asked about their driving habits

Page 8 & 9

IN THIS ISSUE OPINION

Column: Senioritis attacks Page 2

SPORTS

Profile: Senior golfer Lindsay Koppel Page 16

FEATURES

Home Ec club reignites Page 6

OPINION

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April, 2017

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Senioritis: The plague Rylee Matousek Opinion Editor

Ahh, senioritis. The one thing that teachers hate, students embrace, and parents believe doesn’t exist. Nobody really knows what causes senioritis, but no matter how much you swear that it will never happen to you, it is inevitable that you will eventually start wearing sweatpants to school and forget why you’re even here.

The second semester of one’s senior year is prime time to contract the virus. Something happens to the seniors, and simple activities become immensely difficult. The prospect of moving on with our lives seems more tangible than ever, and we laugh at freshmen who are convinced they have senioritis, because, honey, they have another thing coming.

Senioritis comes in many different forms: from forgetting school-

work to just missing school in general. The time period between the end of spring break and the end of the school year is the most difficult time for seniors. It is the final push before we graduate and leave high school in the past.

Any form of homework feels like the biggest struggle in the world.

Attempting to work on portfolio takes at least 15 hours of rest and frequent naps in between work.

Our brains are exhausted and the light at the end of the tunnel seems so close, yet so far away.

I’ve written about senioritis before, but I don’t think anyone can truly understand its effects until you’re experiencing it first hand.

But why does senioritis happen? Is it because we are completely over high school and want to be thrown into life on our own? Is it because

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5 songs to cope with senioritis: 1. velvet skies - sticky fingers 2. terracotta - garden city movement 3. artichokes - maps & Atlases 4. can’t pin me down - marina and the diamonds 5. escape (the pina colada song) - rupert holmes we are ready for change or are ready to start working? I’ve thought long and hard about the causes of senioritis, and the only conclusion that I can come up with is the fact that there is rarely any work to do, and the need for me to be at school becomes redundant. Most seniors have at least one off-period. Personally, I’m only enrolled in two academic courses, so my workload is close to nothing. On flex days, I find myself participating in less than an

Meet the Staff Editor-in-Chief Jaxson Thornton ‘18 Opinion Editor Rylee Matousek ‘17

Features Editor Jaxson Thornton ‘18

Sports Editor Jillian Shepperd ‘17

Entertainment Editor Nifa Kaniga ‘17

Online Editor Grayson Ruiz ‘18

News Editor JT Dahill ‘17

Staff Writers Emily Curran, Giselle Galletti, Alyssa Weinstein, Camryn Horst, Jade Berry, Liliana Reyes, Clara Comparan, Olivia Fletcher, Dallas Johnson

hour and a half of classwork.

It’s hard to feel a need to be at school when you have no work to complete. I hope that seniors will be able to overcome the deadly disease that is known as senioritis, and we will all graduate with flying colors. We are almost done and our hard work will soon be recognized.

On the night of graduation, we will all be thankful we didn’t give up with only a few months left. Good luck my friends.

Opinion

MyDSHS welcomes reader viewpoints through letters to the editor and guest columns. Opinions expressed in myDSHSnews are not necessarily those of the Dripping Springs High School or Dripping Springs ISD administration.

Editorials, Columns & Letters

Editorials express the opinions of the myDSHS Editorial Board. Letters and columns are the opinions of an individual and not myDSHS.

Letters

To submit a letter, email DSHSstudentmedia@dsisdconnect.com. Letters should be a maxiumum of 400 words. The letter is not guaranteed to be published.

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

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COLUMN

Prom and all its insecurities Liliana Reyes

We all know prom as a night full of glamour, romance, dancing, and bliss. A night where girls are supposed to dress up like princesses, the most beautiful versions of themselves, accompanied by the boy who asked with the most Twitter worthy promposal. What about the boys who want to ask another boy to be their date, the girls who want to wear suits, or anyone left in an anxious dilemma over the size of their dress?

It is hard for high school students to break out of the heteronormative mold without facing hate and resistance. Society has created an outline that defines step by step what our high school lives should look like. The typical teenage tale of boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, and finally boy asks her to prom where she wears a tight sparkly dress and they are crowned prom king and queen. Many, if not most, students find themselves outside of such scenario and are made to feel less than others because of it.

Let’s start at the beginning: boy meets girl.

Fortunately, relationships that don’t include specifically one man and one woman are becoming more normalized. However, in a small con-

Staff Writer

servative town like Dripping Springs, LGBTQ+ relationships are still spoken about with a scandalous connotation. As a result, many students remain closeted and fearful of not being fully welcomed at the school. Therefore, when prom comes around, the possibility of gossip and hate speech is so likely, asking their crush to the dance seems highly inconceivable. A night of inclusion and fun suddenly leaves out a large portion of the student body.

Next: boy asks girl to prom. Even for heterosexual couples, this expectation causes a lot of unnecessary limitations. Promposals are supposed to be original and showcase the most Twitter worthy puns with a Pinterest standard of cuteness. In theory, putting in this much effort is incredibly sweet, but for those uncomfortable with such attention or for those who can’t afford it, this extra pressure may lead to feeling inadequate. There’s also an unspoken rule that when going to prom, the boy must ask the girl to be his date, God forbid the other way around. If she decides to, society labels her promposal as a “brave” last ditch effort to secure a date while he

is branded “unmanly.” The elaborate promposals also shouldn’t be expected to come from the boy in the heterosexual relationship because it perpetuates harmful gender roles.

Finally: girl wears tight sparkly dress. I’m sure you can see the issues here for a number of reasons. For starters, girls are often put down or gossiped about for not wearing a dress that is perfectly on trend, especially if it’s bigger than a size two. Not to mention the girls who may not want to wear a dress, who would feel more comfortable in something else. No one would think twice if a girl showed up in a long formal dress, but a suit? All heads would turn and gossip would spread debating her sexuality and even gender identity, similarly if a boy wore a dress to prom.

It’s sad to think that a romantic night intended for self expression and fun would consist of plenty of body shaming and judgment. The attitude surrounding prom needs to change in order for everyone to have a memorable experience that will last a lifetime.

NEWS

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April, 2017

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Introducing DSHS’ Young Women’s Club Alyssa Weinstein Staff Writer

An organization like no other, the Young Wom- want to seek working women outside the Women’s en’s Club of DSHS has sparked popularity among Club, especially entrepreneurs, to arrange a local female students as they are ready to promote the seminar or luncheon for these speakers to discuss “[resilience]” and “empower[ment]” of women, said their jobs, their education, how they became succo-founder Gwyneth Pietrzyk. cessful, and how they overcame adversity. Pietrzyk During football season, Hi-Steppers Rylee Ma- explained that for this semester, the club will stay tousek, Gwyneth Pietrzyk, and Sky Turner created in the Dripping Springs community “to build a the idea to form this organization on a bus ride to foundation”, and they plan to expand to the Austin a football game. Finally, second semester of this community next year. year, the co-founders were able to begin the club.

However, along with the Young Women’s Club Pietrzyk and Turner said they were inspired by receiving a positive reaction from the female stuPietrzyk’s mom, Pietrzyk’s mom’s boss, Matousek, dents, Turner and Pietrzyk explain that the club Mrs. Shepperd (the sponsor of the club), and by has also received a negative reaction, specifically each other to start this organization. Pietrzyk’s from the male student body. Pietrzyk said that in mom and her co-workers explained to Gwyneth her debate class, guys have negatively commentthe “diversity of women and men in the work- ed on the organization, showing they’re not fans of place”. Pietrzyk even said from her personal ex- her club. Also, Turner has received feedback from perience at her job at Homespun Kitchen and Bar male students saying the Young Women’s Club is that “women are not looked at the same as men” unnecessary, and saying comments such as “Why in society. One of the driving forces that Pietrzyk are you guys doing that? We don’t need that”. The was influenced by is the fact that most female high two girls even said that on Twitter, male students school students don’t realize this “phenomenon” between men and women “until it’s too late”.

By starting the Young Women’s Club, Pietrzyk hopes to teach her peers “how to be powerful in society”, not as woman, but as a person.

The Young Women’s Club launched it’s first meeting March 8 with a result of over 40 female students from all grade levels. The founders were shocked, “we didn’t know [what] the turnout” would be, if there would only be one person or 40. Turner said when they walked into the meeting, she could “feel the love and the energy” of all the new members.

For the activities of the Young Women’s Club, the trio wants to contribute to the Dripping Springs with community projects and networking events. However, they first want to “work with the Dripping Springs Women’s Club” with their luncheons in which working women discuss a variety of topics such as politics, their interests, along with events like fashion shows and legislative sessions, said Pietrzyk. The group is ready to “volunteer” and to “contrib- The founders of the Young Women’s Club (from left to ute all they can” for the Women’s Club because right): Rylee Matousek (senior), Gwyneth Pietrzyk (junior), overall, both organizations are striving for the and Sky Turner (junior) “same goals and ambitions”. The founders also

are now wanting to create a Gentlemen’s Club, and Pietrzyk and Turner gladly welcome it. They support the men creating an organization that they’re passionate about in order to seek their goals. Yet, the women do not want a “barrier” or any kind of “tension” between the genders. Pietrzyk believes that the male student body is misunderstanding the club’s intentions as being solely about feminism, but that’s not true. Even though Turner and Pietrzyk identify as feminists, they are not forcing feminists beliefs upon others. Turner clarified their intentions are “not to hurt anybody else, we’re just trying to have fun”.

Moving forward from the first meeting, the club is still expecting new members to join, including the 40 plus who showed interest March 8. Turner and Pietrzyk are expecting for the club to “keep going” in size and popularity, as they will not turn down any female student who shows interest; they welcome all girls to come and participate. They ask all female students who are interested in becoming a member to provide a $5 fee in order to fund luncheons and events, as well as for all members to participate in an event about every three months. The founders also plan on giving the members certificates to verify their membership and community service time for when they apply to colleges.

Overall, the Young Women’s Club goals are “to change how people view each other” and “to [understand] and [accept] people of all pathways of life and culture and races”, said Pietrzyk. Turner and Pietrzyk added how difficult high school is, and that “it is so much easier when you’re surrounded by people who share the same passion and goals as you do”. They hope to make young women realize how large of a role women play in society and for them to “see their value”.

Pietrzyk states how crucial it is for women to learn this at young age than later before they “move into their future”.

The next meeting for the Young Women’s Club will be March. 29, and the meet and greet will take place at Thyme and Dough on the first weekend of April.

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

Students Model Geometry for Cause Camryn Horst Staff Writer

At the beginning of the second semester, GT Geometry students were introduced to the task of designing, building, and presenting a tiny home suitable for Community First! Village, a community that provides affordable, permanent housing for formerly homeless individuals in East Austin.

They used their knowledge to build a 3D model of their designs, which were presented on March 7 in the lecture hall. The members of the winning team were Varun Verma, Robbie Lopez, Thane Johannsen, and Owen Tuohy.

The students were taken on a field trip to Community First, a project of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and taken on a tour of a few of the 200 micro homes by an architect who was instrumental in designing the homes.

“As we moved through the project, students covered the concepts of scale, trigonometry, and surface area/volume,” teacher Ms. Lee said. “As we went through each of these concepts in class, students figured out how they could implement the concepts into the project.”

The final phase of the project consisted of teams placing their designs onto 3D software so that their designs could be viewed from every angle.

“At the end of the project, they presented their final designs to a panel of architects and city council members who chose the winning design in five teams of four,” Lee said.

Lee said the project was a great way to switch up their everyday classroom routine.

“The ultimate purpose of the project was for students to see how they can use their talents, abilities, and concepts we learn in class in a way that can serve and benefit others,” Lee said. “The final presentations were awesome and I think everyone who saw the designs were impressed by everything that each team had thought through.”

Lee was blown away by the creativity that arose from this project.

“These students have come up with some killer designs, and I’ve been so impressed by their thoughtfulness and creativity throughout the whole project.

There is also a 98.5% chance one of them will eventually save the world or cure some crazy disease, so get your face time in while you can,” Lee said.

Ms. Kelsey Lee with her GT Geometry students who presented their projects to Community First! Village, an organization that provides affordable housing in East Austin. Photo provided by Kelsey Lee

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FEATURES

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DSHS’ new Home Ec Club

A pair of juniors hope to make a buzz about their new club Jade Berry Staff Writer

The sharp doorbell chimes echoed through the hallways signifying the end of the day, and through the mass of students streaming out of classes towards the exits, a few struggle against the tide and trudged deeper into the heart of the school.

These few students are members of the newly revamped Home Economics club founded by juniors Tabitha Kelley and Samantha Terry. The club meets every Wednesday after school in D.120, Jordan Batson’s room from 4:30 to 5:30. First founded mid-November of 2016, the Home Ec. club has gained a significant amount of new members and interest in the past month.

“We came up with the idea the second semester of our sophomore year and thought about it over that summer,” Kelley said. “And we got it up and running during the first semester of this last year, and it’s just now starting to get up on its feet.”

Co-founders Kelley and Terry explained their hopes for the club to expand in the future because of the student’s dire need for a life skills class.

“Tabitha and I both realized that we didn’t know how to do a lot of basic adult things like cooking, cleaning, and taxes,” Terry said. “So we wanted to make a place where people like us could learn all the skills that people need to have a full functioning life.”

The girls decided that they wanted to have a science teacher as a sponsor so that if it were needed, they would have access for some of the science equipment for their lessons.

“Originally I agreed to sponsor the club because Tabitha came to me super excited about this new club that already had a small group of students who were ready to join, so for one I just wanted to support the people involved,” Batson said. “But also, I

feel like Home Economics is a huge part of anyone’s life, right? Everyone ultimately has a home, whether it’s an apartment, or a house, or whatever, and if I can help people have a better home life, then yeah I’ll do it.”

In order for the Home Ec. club to teach all of the subjects that the members are interested in, they require certain materials that may not be available in the science labs.

“We have a small budget that the school gives us, and we will ask members of the club to bring in some materials from home,” Terry said. “Next year we will be asking for $10 from each club member, and hopefully the administration will take notice and give us more funding.”

Each meeting, Terry and Kelley teach a different lesson that the club members voted for in a previous meeting.

Photo by PhotoTexas

“I must admit that Sam does most if not all of the work, but it takes her a lot of time and research,” Kelley said. “We want to know what we are talking about after all. We really want to make sure people are learning what they need to know and that means that we need to know what we are teaching.”

Terry admits that despite all of her research and studying, there are some subjects, such as CPR, that they cannot teach themselves because they would need special certification.

“At some point we’re going to get special guest speakers to lecture us and show us how to perform certain tasks for lessons,” she said.

So far, both girls are pleased with the larger turnout of interested students this semester compared to the minor group earlier this year and continue to work towards teaching the students qual-

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

ity lessons that will help guide them through life.

“We’re at a pretty good point right now. I’m hoping that it will get a little bit larger,” Kelley said. “Though honestly I’m more concerned with people learning valuable lessons that they will need later in life rather than having a huge club.”

But despite the still small number of students, both Batson and the founders remain determined in their hopes for the club to expand and teach students the necessary life skills.

“Hopefully it can make even a significant impact on a small group at the beginning, but as time goes on, hopefully we can grow the club and as we grow the club, we can grow the impact,” Batson said. “We just want people to leave with not just book smarts, but street smarts and home smarts as well so that when they go off on their own, they feel that they’ve got a grasp of how their life can work,

not just in a high school setting but in a responsible setting.”

With both Terry and Kelley becoming seniors next year, they have mentioned their desire for the club’s continuation after their graduation, and that for the club members to be able to walk away from high school knowing how to live independently.

“Every year the club will nominate two more officers,” Terry said.

“And we will teach them how to run the club, which we hope is how the club will continue after we leave.”

Although their hopes for the future of the club run high, it was agreed that it would be extremely beneficial for the students if Home Ec. were to become a part of the school’s available curriculum.

“I think that everyone could use this information,” Kelley said. “And if the school system was willing to make it into a class, I feel like much more people would be able to be more independent sooner in their lives.”

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

COMING SOON from APES: Waste not, want not.

Dripping Springs, touted as a district of innovation, is setting the pace for a revolutionary way to turn voluminous and costly institutional municipal solid waste into gold.

John Crowley, the district Food Services director, purchased three sorting tables, dubbed “the StyroGenies”, and a Compost Accelerator from Foodservice Sustainability Solution, a Georgia-based company.

DSHS Principal Joe Burns jumped at the opportunity to implement this technology on the DSHS campus, confirming our reputation as leaders in environmental awareness and fiscal responsibility.

This novel system will enable us to compost ALL food waste, including proteins, dairy products, and oils. This keeps their nutrients out of the landfills and in the environment. Moreover, the DSHS Agricultural Department will mix this nitrogen-rich compost from the compost accelerator with animal waste and bedding, bag it, and sell it to support the highly successful program.

The styrofoam (polystyrene) trays that would otherwise take up

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landfill space will be close-loop recycled and turned right back into lunch trays for DSHS students. This not only composts food waste back into useful nutrients, reduces our waste that ends up in landfills, and promotes recycling, but it will make money for the school over time.

By eliminating the need to purchase styrofoam trays and introducing a source of revenue from the sale of the compost created, these new technologies will not only pay themselves back in full, but continue to add to the DSHS budget.

Also, by reducing the amount of waste we generate, we save money on disposal fees and replacing trays. By reducing the amount of organic matter entering landfills, we reduce methane emissions.

By increasing awareness of solutions to problems in our increasingly disposable society, we exemplify a paradigm shift in what istmeans to be good stewards of our planet in a time where it could never be more important.

Be sure to look out for the complete transition to the new waste system at DSHS in the coming weeks!

FEATURES

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April, 2017

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The Hays County epidemic Jaxson Power-Thornton Editor-in-Chief

The boy’s eyes drifted back and forth as he nervously played with his keys, passing them back and forth between his fingers like a hot rock. His voice paused as he gulped for air and searched for the proper words to speak of what happened. It was an event he’d rather forget, but probably one that would shape many of the nights in the coming months for him. Joe Szymanski, junior at AESA Prep School in Dripping Springs, days before his 17th birthday, was one of the first responders of a fatal crash on the 290 near Dripping Springs last month.

“I almost felt like it wasn’t real... but at the same time I had a sort of adreniline response to get the kids out of the vehicle.”, Szymanski said.

Szymanski was driving home from a night with some friends in Austin when he saw the very recent crash, a crash which proved fatal for 58-yearold Robbi Lynn Sluder and 49-year-old Brian Tobias Sudduth.

“There was a dad driving with four kids back from a baseball game in an FJ Cruiser, I think, and a woman in a Jaguar headed towards Drip from Austin, and it was right at the section of 290

where there is no median, and, we didn’t know this at the time but she was drunk, and she had swerved and hit the driver’s side of the FJ Cruiser, sending it into a ditch, and it killed the father instantly.”

Luckily, thanks to the heroic acts of Szymanski and other civilian first responders, the four kids were extracted from the vehicle Brian Sudduth, left, and Robbi Sluder, both died in the before it caught fire. They crash on March 2 (Department of Public Safety Photo). were then transferred to Dell Children’s Medical Center and are all could do to save her life. expected to make full recoveries.

“We tried to get the lady to respond in the Jag“The kids were crying, and we were trying to uar, but she wasn’t responding, and we couldn’t pull them out when we realised a gas line had rupmanage the door, so were forced to wait for help to tured, but thankfully we were able to get the kids arrive.”, Szymanski said. out and safely away from the car a few moments Szymanski, a good personal friend of my own, later.”, Szymanski said. was clearly shaken by the experience. His voice Unfortunately for the woman in the Jaguar, twitched and went monotone, tethered with more there was nothing that the civilian first responders stutters than I’d ever heard from him before as he looked blankly to the left.

“There was a lot of smoke... so much smoke and debris, and [the FJ Cruiser] caught flame at one point, too. And the Jaguar was just crushed... flat... it was like nothing I’d ever seen.”

Since this accident on March 2, there have been five more major crashes in and around the Dripping Springs area, three of which resulted in fatalities.

The most recent accident that proved fatal involved 16-year-old Hays High School junior Brynn Aylor, who was killed in an accident that occured on her way home from school on March 22.

“I always knew it could happen, but I never thought it would happen so close to me. As a kid you never really think it’s going to happen to you because everyone thinks they are invincible.”, Szymanski said.

So the question then becomes “why?”. What is happening in Dripping Springs and Hays Coun-

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

ty to cause so many accidents, and more importantly, so many accidents that turn fatal? Why is the Dripping Springs section of the 290 so quickly becoming one of the most infamous sections of highway in the nation?

Texting and driving, the lead cause of dristracted driving accidents, makes a person up to six times as likely to be in a wreck than drunk driving.

According to TxDot, last year, in Hays County alone, there were over 943 accidents caused by distracted drivers. That means that, on average in Hays County, about 78 crashes of varying degrees are caused by distracted driving per month. This seems like an unacceptable statistic, right?

In agreement with that stature, legislation was passed in Hays county last year to crack down on this distracted driving epidemic. Penalties are up to $500 for this offense and were designed to be harsh in order to deter drivers from partaking.

However, in it’s first year of action, less than 100 tickets were given in Hays County to distracted drivers.

“We’ve made a great effort to educate before enforcement,” says Buda Chief of Police Bo Kidd, whose department has yet to give even one ticket for the offense. Kidd, however, is insistent that Hays County community members are complying with the Hands-Free ordinance.

“I think with a combination of education and technology, most new cars have hands free options.

I think we’ve got compliance.”, Kidd said.

Numbers don’t lie, though, and the figure of 943 distracted driving caused accidents from last year alone seems to loom as an ominous cloud over the head of the seemingly lackadaisical enforcement of Hays County’s Hands-Free legislation.

In order to test Kidd’s claims that the education of distracting driving’s often fatal consequences is detering drivers from using their devices, I ran an anonymous poll of students here at DSHS. In modern day Driver’s Ed, students are forced to watch educational videos about distracted driving and why it is extremely dangerous. The fact that these lessons on distracted driving are a requirement for students to be able to get their li-

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Many mourned the death of five Dripping Springs residents at the site of the Mother’s Day Crash of 2016, near the Water Tower on 290. Photo courtesy of Statesmen.com censes makes students like ours here at DSHS the of officers on the road, or some other solution, many perfect sample selection to test Kidd’s claim. residents of Dripping Springs are beginning to call Out of the 57 students polled, 35 students, or for some solution.

61% of those polled, admitted to texting and driv“Is it really worthy it?” Szymaski asked, “Is it ing. really, truly worth it?”

Even more interestingly, out of those who admitted to texting and driving, 88% of those studetns recognized that it is not safe to text and drive in some capacity.

This simple poll of DSHS students, which is actually significantly lower than the national average for motorists over the age of 21 who text and drive, directly contradicts Police Chief Bo Kidd’s claim that Hays County residents are complying with the Hands-Free ordinance, and the negligance to enforce those laws have had deadly consequences.

Whether it be an increase in the enforcement of these laws, or an increase Junior Brynn Aylor was killed in an accident on Jack C. Hays Trail.

Entertainment

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April, 2017

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The 89th Academy Awards Alyssa Weinstein

Staff Writer Every year for the past three years, I watch the Oscars in great anticipation and excitement. I watch every movie nominated in all the major categories, analyze the nominated films, and pick the ones I want to win. Usually, I am content with the winners of the Oscars, as not all the nominees that I root for actually win.

However, after watching this year’s Oscars, I sat in such disappointment and screamed into my pillow about five times out of frustration.

Sounds a little overdramatic, right? Well, let me put it this way: The Oscars are my equivalent to the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the FIFA World Cup. So when I watched as the most obviously deserving actors were denied their Oscar statues for their beyond incredible performances, and were instead given to the mediocre actors, I was… well, let’s just say there was a lot of screaming at my house.

So let’s start from when Justin Timberlake did his awesomely entertaining, flawlessly smooth performance of his nominated song Can’t Stop The Feeling. After watching him killing the opening of the ceremony, I was in good spirits to begin the night.

I knew what was coming after the opening, as tradition, the first category announced is Best Supporting Actor, and I was rooting for either the timeless Jeff Bridges for Hell or High Water or the newcomer Dev Patel for Lion.

My favorite part of when they announce the nominees for actors is how the Academy will always show a clip of the nominated actors’ performance in their film. Having seen all these films, and recollecting the performances from the clips, Mahershala Ali’s performance in the clip was not comparable to Patel’s or Bridg-

es, especially Patel’s. That’s when I thought, “Patel is about to win his first Oscar. How could he not after showing that clip of his brilliant performance?” WRONG. the Oscar went to Ali, for his frankly forgettable, unsubstantial performance in Moonlight. That’s when everything began to go downhill.

As I try to ignore all the Trump bashing, and political whining throughout the next half hour, the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category was coming, and I was ready for Viola Davis to win for Fences. This category was the only one in which I was 99.99% sure she was going to win, as no actress in the category was in the same realm as her.

And for the first and last time of the whole night, I was extremely happy for her, and to top it off, her speech was seamless, eloquent, beautiful, and not political.

The time following Viola’s win, the minor categories were announced and awarded. Like everyone else who watches the Oscars, this isn’t a part of the ceremony I really pay attention to. However, when Hacksaw Ridge won two Oscars for Best Achievement in Editing and for Best Sound Mixing, I was really happy it at least won in those categories. Hacksaw Ridge was my favorite movie of 2016, and I knew that Mel Gibson, Andrew Garfield, nor the film was going to win, so it was rewarding to see it win these accolades.

As the rest of the ceremony carried on, I was anticipating to see the Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original and Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture, but I knew the best was saved for last. Therefore, the time passed with Jimmy Kimmel’s shenanigans and the Best Song performances.

Overall, I think Jimmy Kimmel did an excellent job of hosting the

Academy Awards, with the mix of him having candy fall from the “sky,” him and Matt Damon having their little feud, pranking people from a Hollywood tour bus, and especially him lifting Sunny Pawar (the little boy from Lion) like Simba from Lion King made me all laugh.

After the enjoyable entertainment from Kimmel, the major categories unfolded, and my disappointment grew more and more.

For the screenplay categories, it annoyingly went to my lesser favorite movies of 2016, Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea. When I chose my picks for Best Screenplays (Hell or High Water and Lion), I selected them on the basis of being an influential, emotionally evoking, ambitious, and unique story. Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea fit none of those descriptions; Moonlight is easily forgettable and Manchester by the Sea left me feeling bleak and empty. With that in mind, I was still trying to sustain my hope in the rest of the categories, but that was quickly shattered.

Best Director, not surprisingly went to Damien Chazelle for La La Land. I really do love Chazelle, more for his work in Whiplash than La La Land, and I was rooting for him two years ago, but I was getting really tired of La La Land, or as I like to call it “The most overrated movie of 2016”.

Now I, wanting to shred my list into tiny little pieces, was about to watch the Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture be announced.

My pick for Best Actor was Denzel Washington with his one-of-akind performance in Fences; every sentence he uttered in his film was spoken with the utmost passionate turmoil and emotion, and I was confident he was going to win his third Oscar, WRONG. It went to the emotionless, stern, bottled-up performance of Casey Affleck’s Manchester

by the Sea. Next, my pick for Best Actress was Natalie’s Portman’s reincarnated Jackie Kennedy performance in Jackie. For her to study clips, videos, and read several books about the First Lady in order to recreate Jackie’s presence in her accent, mannerisms, and behavior, her role was deserving of Portman’s second Oscar.

WRONG. It went the light and fluffy actress, Emma Stone, for her singing and dancing in La La Land.

At this point, all hope was lost, and I began to wave my white flag.

For Best Picture, deep down, I wanted Hacksaw Ridge to win, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

So I joined the bandwagon and was rooting for La La Land. But I had a feeling that La La Land was so anticipated to win, it actually, in the end, wouldn’t, similar to Boyhood in 2015.

When Faye Dunaway announced the Best Picture of 2016 was La La Land, I was satisfied with the win.

But of course, that was taken away once they realized she read the Best Actress in a Leading Role envelope instead of the Best Picture envelope.

So, Moonlight unexpectedly won the coveted award.

Of all the Oscars I have watched in the past years, I have never been so disappointed as this year’s Oscars, all due to the Academy overcompensating for their mistakes last year.

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

The Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards Olivia Fletcher

Staff Writer The Austin Long Center, partnered with the University of Texas at Austin Fine Arts Academy and the Zach Scott Theatre Company, put on the 4th annual Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards (GAHSMTA), with the awards show taking place on April 13.

This year, the Dripping Springs’ production of My Fair Lady was nominated in six categories: Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Ensemble, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Trinity Adams), and Best Featured Performers (Logan Dundon and Ellie Kuykendall). Ellie Kuykendall is also participating in the select ensemble for the performance. The department is very pleased and honored to receive these nominations and hopes for the best on April 13.

GAHSMTA is a regional musical theatre competition where high schools in the greater Austin area can sign up to enter their school musical for consideration for a multitude of different awards from best scenic design, to best leading actress and actor, to best orchestra.

The musicals are all judged by at least three of the members of the GAHSMTA panel of artistic professionals in the Austin area from the beginning of the musical theatre season in November to the end of the season in late February.

After all the productions have been viewed and judged by the individuals, all the judges gather together to deliberate on what schools should receive nominations in which areas. Although each award receives at least eight nominations, there is only one school that will actually take home the award. And with the number of schools participating growing each

year, the competition is getting more and more intense.

The Dripping Springs High School theatre department has participated in the event since its inception four years ago and has been nominated in multiple categories each year, and winning awards in Best Costume Design for Once Upon A Mattress (2014) and Best Supporting Actor Milo Tucker for Annie Get Your Gun (2015) and Joey Kelley being awarded the Wells Fargo Scholarship for his role in Fiddler on the Roof (2016).

At the actual event of GAHSMTA, 2,000 spectators gather in the Long Centers main stage theatre to watch the eight shows nominated for Best Production perform a number from their show with accompanying performances from the select ensemble members.

Select ensemble is a collection of students enrolled in a private or public school in either Travis, Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, or Williamson Counties who audition to be a part of the high caliber group that represents the Long Center education programs and performs the opening and closing numbers of the show, which in the past have been original songs written by Allen Robertson.

The awards show is always a glittering spectacle with a red carpet, full length gowns, and celebrity guests from Jonathan Groff, who played King George in Hamilton NYC to Tituss Burgess from Netflix’s The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards promises to be a success for its fourth year running, and all are invited to buy tickets to attend on April 13 or watch on KBVO news when it is broadcasted the following weekend.

Lana Del Rey– Discography and Love

NERF WAR POPULAR NERF GUNS

Dallas Johnson Staff Writer

Ever since January of 2012, Lana Del Rey has wowed the music audiences of the world with her “debut” album Born to Die (not counting her completely unknown or talked about album Lana Del Rey). Her, arguably, most popular song ever, Summertime Sadness and its remixes, come from Born To Die.

DOOMINATOR

STAMPEDE

Photo from lanadelrey.wikia.com Other smaller singles such as Born to Die, the flagship song, and Video Games, the lead single, also stem from this critically acclaimed album. Video Games’ chart positions, however, didn’t predict good things for the rest of the album as it only peaked at number 91 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Her follow-up singles were sporadic but also performed better; her highest position ever being Cedric Gerval’s remix of Summertime Sadness, as mentioned earlier.

All of the initial markers pointed to it being an even bigger success than Born to Die, as it debuted at #1 instead of #2 and a majority of its singles appeared in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart (West Coast, Shades of Cool, Black Beauty, Brooklyn Baby, Ultraviolence).

11

STRONGARM

LONGSTRIKE

RAMPAGE

CREATIVE

12 MYDSHSNEWS

April, 2017

WANT TO TELL A STORY? >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/contribute to submit your creative writing. ​

Staircase

Anonymous Contributor I am at the top of the stairs.

“I’m the queen of the world!”

I am a little girl, And I give my cape a whirl.

April Puzzle Answers 15. limo 16.Shakepeare 17. fertility 18. flora 19. showers 20. Nixon

I am at the top of the stairs With the final box.

Going of to college, I support the grey fox.

I am at the top of the stairs In a lovely white gown.

I’ll change my name, Soon the bells will sound.

I am at the top of the stairs With a boy and a girl.

Both call me mom; I turn in a whirl.

by Jade Howe

8. Jobs 9. prom 10. Annie 11. eggs 12. aries 13. Lent 14. Beatles

I am at the top of the stairs In my red prom dress.

Looking down at him With little to no stress.

1. sandlot 2. bunny 3. pranks 4. Halloween 5. Ides 6. Robinson 7. gold

I am at the top of the stairs, And I’m mad to the core.

She will never understand What black stands for.

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

13

by Jade Howe

SPORTS

14 MYDSHSNEWS

April, 2017

WANT MORE SPORTS? >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/sports for all the latest coverage.

Six wrestlers make a deep run at state 12 wrestlers advance to regionals, team finishes 2nd Camryn Horst Staff Writer

The Dripping Springs High School varsity wrestling team sent six wrestlers to Cypress, TX on February 23-25 to compete in a state-wide tournament.

Out of these six wrestlers competing, sophomore Clayton Jetton placed 6th in his 195 weight class and freshman Chase Warden placed third in 126. Overall, the Dripping team, nicknamed the “Dirty Dozen” placed 14th.This is the first year that the team has advanced this many wrestlers.

“Our team has done the best we’ve ever done this season,” junior Ben Owens said. “We sent 12 wrestlers to regionals and 6 wrestlers to state which is a big deal.”

The state qualifiers were determined based on how the team placed in regionals.

“The best four wrestlers from each district qualify for regionals, and they enter a tournament there, so there are 16 wrestlers,” sophomore Tony Quevedo, who placed sixth at regionals, said. “The top four then advance to state.”

The venue was described to be a lot larger than just your average duel.

“We have gone to this venue before for one of the biggest tournaments in Texas, so I kind of knew what to expect, but it was a whole different atmosphere.

This experience has made me realize that I really can make it to state and that anyone can really ‘make it’ if they put in hard work and dedication,” Owens said.

Freshman Chase Warden, 3rd in class 126.

Photos by Natalie Thompson, staff photographer

Freshman Micah Ribera competing against SA Johnson at DSHS qualified for state in the 113 class.

Freshman Micah Ribera also said state was a real eye-opening experience.

“I have personally improved a lot, because at the beginning of the year, I had only won in two matches, but my record got a lot better as the season went by,” Ribera said. “I am definitely going to try a lot harder next year and watch my weight more and have a better mindset going into matches. I needed to be more confident this year.”

Owens agreed that being able to wrestle at state made him hopeful for next season.

“I think state went great for us as a team, but for me personally, I’m wanting to do better next year and

Sophomore Clayton Jetton, 6th in class 195.

Junior Ryland Kinard qualified in the 160 class.

maybe place,” Owens said. “I think I have improved on all my moves this year and just learning them and being able to recognize the opportunities for the moves in a match.”

Also, there aren’t any seniors on the team this year that was so successful.

“We can only get better from here,” Quevedo said.

Owens said that the team needs to remember to have a certain attitude.

“Just work hard and don’t give up,” Owens said.

“This sport isn’t easy and you can’t stop working if you want to succeed.”

Junior Ben Owens qualified in the 132 class.

Anthony Bigley qualified in the 170 class.

April, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

15

Lady Tiger soccer in playoffs Camryn Horst Staff Writer

The Dripping Springs varsity girls soccer team won round one of playoffs against McCallum 2-0 on March 24 at the new Tiger stadium Sophomore Jessica Carmichael said it was an amazing feeling to make it to playoffs.

“Playoffs was what we had hoped for from the beginning of the season,” Carmichael said, “and it was the hard work and teamwork that got us there.”

Carmichael said nerves were definitely in play when the game started, but as the game went on, Dripping got more comfortable and played sufficiently as a team.

“The game was pretty tough in the beginning because we didn’t have a rhythm in our passes and we were kind of nervous which made it tougher,” Carmichael said.

“Towards the end of the first and definitely in the second half, we played very well together and had

more of a rhythm going.”

Freshman on varsity Emma Jones agreed that the game had to be taken seriously.

“When I found out we made it to the playoffs, I was extremely happy but I knew I couldn’t take it lightly because the game might be tough,” Jones said. “Overall, the game against McCallum wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. We played pretty good and I believe we wanted to win more than they did. We fought hard the entire game.”

Since Tiger soccer hasn’t made it to playoffs in a couple years, the team was relieved at the successful outcome of round one.

“When the game ended it was almost like a weight was lifted off my shoulders because we make it through the first round,” Jones said. “Honestly, winning in round one gave me more hope. Overall, winning that game was amazing and our fans were awesome.”

Carmichael says that round two is going to be nerve-racking for her.

“I’ve never been in playoffs before, and I don’t know much about the team we are playing so anything is possible for us at this point,” Carmichael said.

“We hope to go into the game ready to destroy them and move on successfully to round three.”

Carmichael said that overall this season has been a fantastic experience for her, as well as the team.

“I love the team and the environment we have going,” Carmichael said. “We all love each other and work well together, and I’ve learned that when we play to our potential we can overcome anything.”

Round two of playoffs was on Friday, March 31 at Alamo Stadium against San Antonio Highlands.

“I say we pack the stadium and BE LOUD,” Carmichael said. “It was so loud at the last game, and I want it to be just like that. It was absolutely awesome.”

Photo by Alex Lunn, Staff Photographer

The Dripping Springs Tigers girls soccer team won Friday’s home playoff game against McCallum by a score of 2-0.

The team played on the new turf stadium field.

Photo by Alex Lunn, Staff Photographer

Sophomore Jessica Carmichael settles the ball as senior Hailey Hodsden and freshman Caroline Luttrull support.

Photo by Alex Lunn, Staff Photographer

Senior Hailey Hodsden kicks ball towards the goal. The team then played Highlands High School Friday, March 31 at Alamo Stadium after beating McCallum 2-0.

16 MYDSHSNEWS

April, 2017

UP TO THE MINUTE SPORTS NEWS >> Follow @myDSHSsports on Twitter.

Lindsay Koppel putts for the gold Giselle Galletti

so that makes decision making pretty tricky. Because of this, golf allows you to be pretty creative with all of the different options and routes you can play.”

This mindset has really paid off for Koppel and her teammates this year, as the girls golf teams are currently having one of their best seasons to date.

If you think that Koppel plans to stop there, then you’re quite Staff Writer mistaken.

Golf is a game enjoyed all over “Regarding my future, I plan the world by both players and to continue to play in college and fans. It’s a sport that requires continue improving,” Koppel said. concentration and precision, and “If my game is where it needs to it’s enjoyed by professional athbe, my dream would be to try to letes and amateurs, both of whom play some mini tours, and in the compete throughout the year end, play professionally. However, for titles and prizes. if my golf career Many people consider stops after college, golf an easy game to I plan to continlearn, but not everyue playing recreone is actually good ationally and use at golf. my golfing abilities Senior Lindsay to my advantage Koppel, now she’s in whatever progood at golf. A DSHS fession I choose. I varsity golf competwould love to work itor since freshman for Nike or Titleist year, Koppel has and continue my earned her spot day golf career in that in and day out. She way.” plans on continuing The veteran her golfing career certainly has the after high school by drive and the talPhoto by Marcel Acosta, staff photographer committing to play ent to accomplish Koppel improves swing at range to prepare for college golf at Gardner Division 1 at Gardner Webb University this coming fall. what she wants to Webb University in do, and the world “The team’s doing really well; of golf has helped her to become North Carolina this coming fall.

“I started playing in 8th grade we’ve really progressed since the person she is today. Golf is the because I had just quit gymnas- my freshman year,” Koppel said. sport of choice for the business tics, and my dad introduced me to “And we’re hoping to go to state world, so even if she doesn’t make the game,” Koppel said. “I ended this year, which is actually a real- a career out of it, she’s still ahead ly big possibility, so we’re excited.” of the game in many other ways. up just really liking it.”

With state competition just in Much like gymnastics, golf is “I think everyone should try almost entirely about improving sight, Koppel has also gotten and it. In life it’s good to know how yourself and bringing that score accepted the opportunity to play to play golf,” Koppel said. “Even golf in college. A goal she had al- if you don’t want to play competdown each and every time.

“It’s an individual sport, so I ways hoped to accomplish, Gard- itively, just go out and have fun. can work and push myself to be ner Webb University will be back- I love how golf has taught me to better instead of comparing my- ing her up for the next four years. trust myself on and off the course.

“I’m really excited to be playing I have learned that if you believe self to other people,” Koppel said.

“My favorite part about golf is against better people [and] just you can do something, you can.” probably the challenges that come seeing all the different talent that with it. Every shot is different; the there is and all of the competiconditions are always changing, tion,” Koppel said.

SPORTS Matt Hemphill 5th at state powerlifting Jillian Shepperd Sports Editor

Junior Matthew Hemphill places 5th at the state powerlifting meet. Lifting a total of 1435lbs, you could say that it’s not easy for the average person to do.

“Being able to go to state was a huge opportunity to show the work I’ve been putting in for a long time,” Hemphill said. “Being able to see it pay off was a great feeling.”

Hemphill plans to achieve higher next year.

“My plans for next year won’t change that much. I will work out 2-3 times a day and continue to eat right and maintain my weight,” Hemphill said. “It will be similar to this year’s plan.”

Hemphill felt a great deal of success, and it has allowed him to reflect on preparation and practice for his senior year.

Photo provided by @sandersonblaine Hemphill smiles for the camera for his accomplishment of placing fifth at state in powerlifting.