The Roar Vol. 28, Issue 1

cat-fight

There’s nothing quite like high school football in Texas. Across the state, the passion exhibited each Friday night is unlike anything else in the country. But for the past few years, College Station has been missing a key part of that

experience: a local rivalry. It’s the kind of game the community waits all year for and the kind of game kids across town grow up dreaming of playing in, and CSISD hasn’t had it. Until now.

In the last round of UIL district alignment, both of the city’s high schools had a large enough enrollment to be placed in 5A Division I for football.

That means for the first time since 2017, Consol and College Station High School will face each other on the field.

It’s no surprise to see that the Tigers are already passionate about the game.

“I'm excited to play against CSHS,” senior Mo Foketi said. “This game is to see who runs the 979.”

curtis & elena alaniz

editor

editor

PHOTO BY DHRITI KOLAR

Speech and debate place at first four tournaments

On September16, the Debate team traveled out of town for their first four tournaments of the year. At Pflugerville, seniors Claire Wang and Melinda Li were quarter-finalists in Public Forum, and sophomore Justin Palazzolo placed 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking. At Hendrickson, Wang and Li were finalists in Public Forum. Junior Kentaro Yamauchi was a semi-finalist and Palazzolo placed 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking. At Grapevine, Wang and Li were double octa finalists. Junior Andrew Li placed 8th, and Palazzolo placed 6th in in Public Forum. Junior Maya Quiroz was a semi-finalist for Info. At Elkins, Senior Bella Nolan and Yamauchi placed 4th and 7th in Congress, and senior Hannah Baetge placed 2nd in Point of Information.

Student body wears maroon to memorialize Uvalde shooting

September 6 was Uvalde CISD’s first day back at school in nearly four months, a big step since the Robb Elementary mass shooting. Schools across Texas, including Consol, wore maroon and black in support of their return.

Sub-varsity volleyball teams compete at SpikeFest tournament

Consol’s sub-varsity teams traveled to Houston on September 10 for a tournament. Freshmen White placed 2nd, and Freshmen Maroon placed 1st, both defeating CSHS. Following their win, the two teams beat CSHS for the second time on September 20.

The Roar News

PHOTO BY MAY SARIN

Sophomore Ben Moran performs with Tiger band at the Consol vs. Lufkin game on September 9.

PHOTO BY ELENA ALANIZ

Return of CSHS game to draw passion, support from College Station community

plan.

The Cougars are looking forward to the game just as much.

“I’m very excited,” CSHS senior Kolton Griswold said. “When I first saw the district alignment I was like, ‘Dang, I’m ready to smash somebody.’”

Preseason media predictions had the Cougars and Tigers first and second respectively in the district title race, making the Oct. 28 battle a showdown between two top teams.

“It’s going to be crazy,” Foketi said. “It’s going to come down to the wire. It’ll be back and forth until the game ends.”

The seniors in this game have not shared the field with their opponents since they were in middle school. For them, the stakes are even higher.

“It’ll be fun to finally play our friends,” senior Brock Slaydon said. “It’s bragging rights for the city and bragging rights over our friends. It’s everything if you lose and everything if you win.”

While the passion is clear, the same factors that build hype for the matchup lead to a major challenge for both coaching staffs.

“It’s going to be an emotionally charged game,” College Station head coach Stoney Pryor said. “All the players have friends—and probably some not-friends—on both teams. [We can’t] get caught up in the emotion of the whole thing and lose our training.”

Consol’s coaches have a similar

“Our guys are focused on our next opponent,” head coach Lee Fedora said. “It’s great to have that game back and we’re excited about playing an in-town rivalry, but we’re not worrying about it until we get to it.”

HISTORY

The Consol-CSHS series is not the original battle for BCS. That title belongs to the Crosstown Showdown, the long-standing rivalry between Consol and Bryan.

“That was always a big matchup,” Fedora said. “When we were playing, College Station and Bryan [only had] one high school. It didn’t matter if one team was ranked way higher than the other. It was always a close game.”

After CSHS opened in 2012, the Cougars became a natural rival to Consol. It was only a matter of time until the two would come face to face on the gridiron.

“People had things to prove,” Pryor said. “[We] knew that we would play Consol eventually. There was quite a bit of anticipation on both sides.”

The two schools finally met in 2014 with CSHS prevailing 34-31. The Cougars went on to dominate the series, winning all four of the games played so far. But a Tiger victory this season would shake up the series.

“It’ll change the dynamic a little,” senior Grayson Coker said. “I feel like we’re kind of a little brother.”

COMMUNITY

Over its short history, the Consol-CSHS game has cemented itself as a major event in the city.

“The community interest in this game is like no other,” Pryor said. “We’re all neighbors, we go to church together, all that stuff. Everybody cares about this game more because they know people on both teams.”

Not only will this game be a local attraction, but this year’s matchup will even draw eyes from beyond College Station.

“The whole Bryan-College Station community will be there,” Griswold said. “It’s going to be one of the most-watched games in Texas.”

And the excitement isn’t reserved just for players and fans.

“It’s a fun event,” Pryor said. “Whether it’s the band, or the cheerleaders, or the dance team, all of those different aspects of our school have an opportunity to be involved in that. It’s a Friday night event.”

Every game in the rivalry has had an electric atmosphere, thanks to both student bodies.

“The students are the ones who’ll get there early,” Pryor said. “The parents are there, but the students are the ones that are the most boisterous, the most vocal, and the most energetic. My kids know plenty of students who go to Consol, and the Consol kids have plenty of friends who go to our school. It’s a fun event for them to come and celebrate.”

THE FUTURE

A five-year hiatus has not dampened the passion for the game—it’s made it even stronger.

“The classes before us, they didn’t get the chance to play Consol,” Griswold said. “It means a lot to get to do it because they didn’t get the opportunity when the districts realigned.”

For Consol, it’s a chance to do what no Tiger has ever done before—and what no Tiger will ever forget.

“It’s going to determine who runs College Station,” Foketi said. “This school was here first. [CSHS] came in, and they placed their territory. It puts a chip on our shoulders.”

For the Cougars, it’s a matter of defending their record and defending their turf.

“[Consol] is going to bring the fight,” Griswold said. “But it’s the last home game. We don’t want to lose at home. We’re going to finish it out right.”

This UIL district will last for two years. Regardless of this year’s outcome and future realignment, there’s a 2023 matchup right around the corner.

“It’s good to bring it back, and it’s good to keep playing each other for a couple of years,” football captain and senior Wesley Watson said. “We’re both really good teams, and it’ll be exciting to watch.”

fixer upper

Students, teachers react to recent renovations, improvements

In the spring and summer of 2022, the three propositions approved as part of the CSISD bond were put in effect. These included building repairs, additions to the agriculture mechanics and metal technologies class, a building for a science facility and a barn, natatorium repairs, a performing arts center, and updated technology on campus.

Using the funds from the bond, the orchestra room will also be renovated and a performance arts building will be built. This would increase the space and multiple venues where intermediate, middle and high school orchestras can perform without any scheduling overlaps.

“I was really excited because it’s been a long time coming,” orchestra director Jane McCormick said. “When we get into testing in the spring, there’s only so many windows that are really good for performances with a limited number of spaces.”

As part of the bond, swim practice is about to change – for the better.

“The facility hasn’t gotten a lot of renovations or good equipment or just improvements in a long time,” junior Sammy Shankar said. “[Some improvements could be] fixing the plaster around the deck, and then also the ground might be replaced.”

In addition to the natatorium, the agriculture sciences

are revamping their overhang and the fencing around the ag mechanics shop. The bond will also support an ag science facility that will house livestock and classrooms.

“It’s really exciting for us, and I think it should be exciting for everybody too,” agriculture teacher Amber Jones said. “As our program grows, it allows us more opportunities to give to students that we may not have.”

In addition to these class-specific renovations, some improvements changed our school for the better. There are now soap dispensers, automatic flushing systems, and new bathroom stalls, and there are new Smart Panels and a new laptop issued for teachers.

“The bathrooms last year were quite dirty, filled with cracks, and missing a lot of soap dispensers,” sophomore Nic Castillo said. “I think the bathroom renovations are a huge upgrade to what we had last year. The teachers’ Smart Panels are a huge upgrade. They are much better and more responsive, and they allow you to move between presentations easily.”

The new renovations at Consol and in the district will give students new opportunities to shine.

“We are so grateful,” Shankar said. “It’s really nice to see that we’re finally getting this really big budget to help our [students and teachers].”

Want more information on the bond?

BY DEBKONYA

debkonya banerjee & atticus johnson | online editor & section editor

The recent renovations of the red bathrooms.

English teacher Michael Williams integrates the new smart boards into everyday lessons.

Comparison is normal and painfully human and, as a 16-yearold girl, pitifully unavoidable

TikTok, originally meant to be an outlet for entertainment and human connection, was instead a gallery embellished by my own worst insecurities. I fell a fool to heavily staged videos and pixelated fantasies, drowning in pools of hair and hips and fingers and legs and eyes and ribs that were not mine.

My feed was cluttered with superficial and mirrored content, craftily designed to get me hooked on mindless scrolling. Inevitably, it was fuel for a bubbling selfresentment driven by jealousy.

Laser-focused on my every fault, I adopted a bitter mindset of inferiority and carried a selfloathing attitude. I would never be pretty enough; how could I

be when every time I opened my phone I compared my worth, or lack thereof, to others?

The amount of time I was spending on social media was way beyond the means of selfdiscipline. On uneventful school evenings, driven by boredom, I frequented TikTok and scrolled until my brain racked from overstimulation and unwarranted envy. It seemed as if every moment of my free time was stolen by social media.

So, a week into summer I deleted both TikTok and Instagram, hopeful that it would heal my restless anxiety and green-eyed insecurities. And it did.

For years my self-determined beauty foolishly depended on my perceived beauty of others. My confidence contracted and

swelled in rapid fluctuations, heavily contingent on the amount and kind of content I absorbed.

But as the summer months waned and my time on TikTok subsided, I finally began to note a shift in my mindset and am now able to recognize that the beauty of others does not taint my own.

It took deleting social media to realize that beauty is not formulaic, nor is it defined by a particular body type or profile. Slowly, a mentality marked by a deep disliking for myself shed like snakeskin. I can appreciate myself now.

My eyes: a smoky green the color of unripe olives and murky water.

My hair: straight and brown, chopped to my collarbone.

My smile lines: curved and

logging off

junior reflects on burden of social media

profound, that deepen with laughter.

Once splintered under the judgment of my unfeasibly high standards of perfection, my sense of worth and beauty was repaired for the first time in too long.

masie johnson

I know a lot about a few things.

I may not know everything—this is my seventh time writing this column so bear with me— but here’s what I know about a topic I enjoy.

Let’s talk about astrology! Yes, the classic “what is your sun sign’’ makes sense (to me at least). What many people don’t understand about astrology is that it’s not just the sun and the moon or Mercury that is in retrograde (side note: retrograde means that the object is moving backwards). There’s a lot that goes into it. You have a whole birth chart that deals with where the planets were and what house the zodiacs were in at your

exact time of birth.

Now I don’t know everything about birth charts because I’m still learning about them, but I find them incredibly interesting. And no, birth charts don’t mean you can put people in boxes and label them as something or say they can’t act a certain way because of whatever reason.

I just like to think that the way the universe moves has some lasting impact on our lives.

Birth charts can have so much insight into our lives, our personalities, our pasts, our futures and even give some insight into who we are most compatible with. Whether you take that as romantic or platonic is completely up to you, I have no say.

However, these things make me

curious. For example, your sun sign, what many people mistake as defining your only redeeming qualities, is actually just a tiny part of you.

You have what is called your “big three” which refers to your sun, moon, and rising or ascendant sign. Your sun sign only represents your outward personality, while your moon sign deals with your emotions and how you handle them. Your rising sign deals with your future and even career path. Not to mention the fact that you have a sign for each planet with a different meaning and way they affect you.

While astrology shouldn’t be something that defines you, it’s fun to read about and learn more about how people operate. It’s not for everyone, but I enjoy it.

Will new school security rules be effective?

The Roar is produced by the Advanced Journalism class at A&M Consolidated High School, 1801 Harvey Mitchell Parkway S., College Station, Texas, 77840. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District.

Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of the editorin-chief, managing editor and opinions editor.

The Roar is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). The Roar is a winner of the CSPA Gold Crown, the 1997, 1998, 2000-2016 ILPC Award of Distinguished Merit, the CSPA Gold Medal Award, the NSPA All-American distinction and 2005, 2014,2016, 2021, and 2022 ILPC Bronze Star and 2007-2013, 2015, and 2018 Silver Star.

College Station Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services. Monica Jones, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. Molley Perry, Executive Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

On June 30, 2022, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the Required School Safety Action Steps This Summer, which requires all Texas local educational agencies (LEAs) to take certain actions to improve the safety and security at schools for staff, students, and visitors.

In accordance with the TEA, Consol has implemented rules such as keeping classroom doors closed and locked at all times, using an app for hall passes instead of the standard paper passes, and a thorough visitor check.

Though these measures are enforced to improve school security, we believe that not all actions are beneficial and are even somewhat unnecessary.

The implementation of the app, E-Hallpass, for one, is definitely a decision that may need more consideration. The intention is good: teachers can track a student’s whereabouts, as well as set a timer to make sure they don’t wander off for long.

However, the app has many faults; there are login errors, the app doesn’t sync to the teacher display, it is a slow process, and ultimately, it is just not as good as the standard old paper pass.

We appreciate the thought of the new security measures, and we think they can make schools more secure. There were many pre-existing issues in Texas school security, so we’re glad some of those have been fixed.

These new security rules did not come out

of nowhere; they were enacted after the school shooting of Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

But this is not the first time Texas has seen harsher enforcement of security policies after a school shooting.

In 2018, a 17-year-old student at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas opened fire, killing ten people. Following the shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders enacted a law “protecting” schools. Yet after this recent Uvalde shooting, issues of school security resurfaced yet again, and there was no sign that the previously enforced policies actually prevented any danger.

So the issue does not lie in schools’ security measures but in the problem itself: the guns.

As firearms have become more accessible in Texas, eight mass school shootings have occurred in the last 13 years.

We understand this is a problem uneasy to fix. On one hand, guns have deeply implemented themselves into people’s lives and cultures. On the other hand, they are also the sole cause of mass shootings and the death of innocent lives.

The government needs to come up with a solution because people’s lives are at stake here.

For now, the only thing the rest of us can do is follow these security guidelines and hope no danger comes to us.

“I feel like [the E-Hallpass app] is really inconvenient because [using it] takes a long time. This [app] is like a technological downfall of our school.”

-junior Hayoung Lee

“I think that the new school security measures were necessary due to the recurrence of school shootings in the United States. [They] allow students and teachers to feel slightly more secure when in school .”

-junior Yasmin Amadu

PHOTOS BY ELENA ALANIZ

PHOTOS BY MYLA CATHEY

PHOTO BY ELENA ALANIZ

friday, sept. 23, 2022

Childers, who has taught chemistry, was inspired by chemistry teacher John Tollett to hang moles from Mole Day and Buckyballs from the ceiling. This is the first year he is teaching astronomy exclusively, so no moles and Buckyballs will be added to the ceiling this year.

“They usually choose something that’s meaningful to them,” Zahn said. “My hope was that every time they looked up, they would discover a new thing around my room. It’s always fun when, in the middle of April, they say ‘I didn’t know you had dreamcatchers hanging there.’”

walls could talk

With his warmly lit classroom and wall-length posters, art, and more, astronomy teacher Samuel Childers wanted to create a space that he could enjoy throughout the school year.

“Some people have described this as like the best classroom that they’ve ever been in, and then some have described [it] as being the most chaotic room they’ve ever been in because there’s always something to look at,” Childers said. “Even though students are here 50 minutes a day, I’m here all day long, and so I wanted it to be a place that I would actually want to be in all day long.”

The room has gradually been filled with educational material, personal items, and student projects throughout Childers’ career.

“This has been the only classroom that I’ve been in,” Childers said. “I keep telling people that if they make me change classrooms, I’m just going to quit. I don’t want to move all this stuff, so that’ll be a difficult time, if that ever happens.”

Childers hung clocks from the workroom, plus the clocks from his house that he no longer needed.

“Time’s irrelevant,” Childers said. “They’re all set at different times. It’s funny because we’ll be in class and I’ll see people back there trying to figure out what time it is.

I’m like ‘No, don’t. You can’t. You’re here until the bell rings, that’s all you need to worry about.’”

From dreamy cloud fixtures to Funko Pops, PAAV and Graphic Design teacher Lee Graebner has tried not only to personalize her classroom, but to create a warm, welcoming “home away from home”, as she described it.

“I feel like so many students, at home and at school, don’t feel wholly welcome or like they fit in,” Graebner said. “A big part of my mission as a teacher is providing that safe, accepting place. It’s like, ‘Okay, I can come in here and be creative and feel accepted.’”

As the teacher of a creative arts class, she wants her room to not only reflect herself, but to showcase and celebrate her student’s talents.

by dottie marvin & may sarinsocial media editor & managing editorBACKGROUND ART BY DHRITI KOLAR

“A lot of times, you don’t see teachers as having personalities other than school,” Graebner said. “So, I like to showcase my personality with the stuff that I’m really interested in. I think [students] seeing their artwork, or me incorporating their stuff in the classroom, really helps them have ownership of the classroom as well.”

Displaying her favorite fandoms across her cabinets— everything from the hit Broadway play

“Hamilton” to the popular 2013 kid’s show

Nathaniel Buchner teaches anatomy and physiology along with environmental science at AMCHS. His classroomhas several fish tanks and skeletons which create a learning environment that is not stereotypical.

“The fish tanks were for functionality at first, making sure that I can use my classroom as I need to, but they’re also useful for looking at and

creating that kind of atmosphere that lets kids have a safe space to be themselves in,” Buchner said.

His pet turtles, Juice and Ralph, were added to his collection last year. “Someone used one as their emotional support animal for their test one year. They would just kind of hold it as they took the test and then would complain when it pooped and peed on them.”

“Gravity Falls”—has allowed her to form strong relationships with her students.

“I have a lot of varied interests, so I like the students to see something that they’re interested in too, so we make that connection,” Graebner said.

In Lindsey Zahn’s room, psychology and sociology students create felt pictures of modern day brands and icons. Their creations compete for a spot on the back wall for the rest of the year.

drumming up support

Drumline raises school spirit, energizes student body

set that not everyone else has.

emily chen & aliza jacob opinions editor & section editor

They’re at every football game, riling up the crowds. They’re thunder to Consol’s sky, sounding off declarations of pride. They lead the school with enthusiasm and spirit. They’re the one and only drumline.

Drumline members are a part of the band who specialize in percussion, specifically drums, and it is a massive commitment. Not only do the band members have early morning and after-school practices, but they also attend summer training that lasts for over 12 hours.

“I end up missing a lot of school, which means I end up spending my weekends stressing about make-up work,” sophomore Teddy Hatala said.

However, for junior Gavin Cavazos, giving up his weekends isn’t entirely a bad thing.

“It’s incredibly time-consuming, but that’s kind of why I love it,” Cavazos said. “I get to spend more time with my friends.”

Each section of the band is challenging in different ways, but being on the drumline requires a skill

“I think drumline is harder to do than the rest of the band,” Hatala said. “It may look easy to just grab some sticks and jam out, but there [are] so many tiny little details to truly master it.”

One challenge, Cavazos believes, is simply staying together while playing. Though it may not seem difficult, playing in unison is essential.

“Everyone has to be perfectly in time and connected. While it is a whole band thing, drumline also has challenging rhythms throughout most of our music,” Cavazos said.

Just as the drumline stays together in music, they’re tight as a family.

“We don’t just improve as musicians; we build amazingly strong and close bonds and learn lifelong skills,” Hatala said.

Their fellow band members are not the only reason performing and working together is enjoyable. The band directors also contribute to much of the experience.

“[The band directors] always want the best for us, and they understand us, having marched during their high school years as well, so they are able to sympathize, but also able to help us do things that

sometimes we don’t think we [can] do,” Cavazos said.

Not only is the bond between themselves strong, but so is the pride they have for their school.

“I think drumline provides a sort of spirit to the school body,” junior Harper Scott said. “We really enjoy playing for the school and hyping up the crowds at football games.”

Many of those in the drumline are proud of their section, and it’s understandable. The drumline plays an essential role in uplifting the school spirit.

“If it wasn’t drumline at football games and pep rallies, who would it be?” Cavazos said. “There’s no one like us, which is why I think we’re a big part of our school.”

Drumline has made a lasting impression on Hatala that he will surely remember forever.

“I can’t imagine a life without the friends I’ve made through [drumline] and the skills I’ve been able to build,” Hatala said.

As Scott assures, the future of drumline is truly bright.

“I am super proud of the drumline,” Scott said. “We’ve worked really hard so far this season, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

PHOTOS BY MAY SARIN

(from left to right)

Drumline members junior Jackson Zorn, sophomore Maddox Baxter, freshmen Sebastian Smith and sophomore Teddy Hatala perform at the varsity football game on Friday September 2.

The Talented Mr. Pratt

Assistant principal-turned-teacher discusses his eclectic role on campus

Social studies teacher Jason Pratt is like a chameleon.

He can be spotted in every corner of Consol— teaching in the classroom, typing in an administrative office, and even running energetically across the pep rally gym.

Pratt taught multiple levels of social studies before getting promoted to assistant principal in 2018. This year, he came full circle, returning to the classroom to teach AP Government for the first time in addition to his other classes.

As someone who likes trying new things and enjoys variety, the job of assistant principal piqued his interest.

and I found out real quick that I enjoy helping them. In the middle of that, I had really great history teachers at Texas A&M that made me go, ‘I love this subject.’”

Now, having worked as an AP and a teacher, he’s found that the two jobs demand a similar attitude.

PHOTO BY ATTICUS JOHNSON

“To me, it’s not a huge difference,” Pratt said. “I am who I am. I work really hard. I engage with kids positively. The biggest difference is that corrections are not my number one role. Corrections is a role I get to do, not a role I have to do. [As an] AP, you have to.”

Pratt’s role extends far beyond the classroom. He’s also the student

that were non-traditional. He was always trying to come up with out-of-the-box ideas just to make our campus [and] make our admin team stronger.”

Besides his varied engagement with students throughout his career—from the classroom to the admin office to the pep rally gym and more—Pratt has helped faculty in more places than one.

Those interests have gone a long way toward making the orange-personality educator a major part of the school.

“Normally if a breaker [goes out], you may have to call maintenance,” Elder said “‘Oh, no. Mr. Orange.’ He’s just a jack of all trades, well-versed in a lot of things, but he has a heart to serve.”

Even though Pratt was a helpful asset to the admin staff, they supported his decision to change jobs.

Pratt rigs up the projector to showcase a video advertising fall sports before the first pep rally of the year.

“I liked all the different [subjects] all at the same time,” Pratt said. “I also see that as a challenge, but I’ve always wanted to challenge my brain so that it makes me smarter. I get bored easily, so I just thought I would like to try this principal thing.”

After four years as an assistant principal, he was drawn back to teaching for health reasons and to impact students in a different capacity.

“One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to come back to teaching is when I went to Mr. Cryer’s funeral, and I saw the impact he had on kids,” Pratt said. “I missed that. From my respect for Mr. Cryer, I want to come up and fill that role again of somebody like Mr. Cryer.”

Despite working in education for over twenty years, Pratt started out on a completely different track. He planned to study engineering at Texas A&M University, but found working with teens and learning social studies much more rewarding.

“I hated high school,” Pratt said. “I thought high school was dumb. I did not go to college as an educator, but I happened to get tied in with a group called Young Life, so I got to engage with teenagers,

council sponsor and leads the Maroon Men at pep rallies, motivated by a passion that principal Gwen Elder finds unique.

“When I think of Jason, I think of a big kid in the candy store because he’s always so upbeat and full of energy,” Elder said. “When you’re around him, he exudes such positivity and the mindset of just trying to get better.”

A personality test the administration once did helped indicate Pratt’s unique character. The test labels faculty members with a color.

“Most educators are gold: structured, organized. [They] can go in, [they] already know what to expect,” Elder said. “However, Jason wasn’t gold: he was orange. Spur of the moment, he just wasn’t structured. He brought that unique part to our admin team, where he generated and shared a lot of ideas

PHOTO BY MAY SARIN

“Although he was no longer going to serve on our admin team, he was going to go back and serve in the classroom as an AP teacher, so it was a win-win,” Elder said.

“So many teachers are leaving the profession, so we were fortunate that he said, ‘You know what, I want to stay here.’ At the end of the day, we want what’s best for him, we want what’s best for our organization.”

Pratt paces through his class, helping his first period AP Government students complete a worksheet about federalism.

Pratt may no longer be a part of the admin team, but he’s still much more to the campus than just a teacher.

“We really miss him here in the administrative office, but at the same time, it’s still awesome that he is still on our campus, and we are still able to work with him, even though it’s in a teacher capacity,” assistant principal Keke Johnson said. “He still does a lot for our campus, so we just appreciate his willingness to keep stepping in and just make sure that our school and our students are in a good place.”

may sarin & atticus johnson managing editor & section editor

off

Student mascots explain their role, love for uniting student body

myla cathey & evy hairell

editor-in-chief & section editor

Underneath the cloth-covered eyes, gigantic paws, and fluffy tails of the Ty and Tina Tiger costumes are real students who dedicate their Friday nights and pep rally days to suiting up after time-consuming practices and rehearsals. Essentially school celebrities, the mascots are more than just hefty suits thrown on without preparation. Varsity mascot and senior Jackson Bobbitt became a mascot on a whim during his freshman year, and he is glad he seized the opportunity.

“It’s a recognizable figure, kind of like a school logo people tie back to the high school,” Bobbitt said. “If you’re at an event, that can help benefit the high school and ultimately benefit the students here. The other benefit is just engagement with students as well as football games, basketball games, volleyball games, pep rallies, signings, or whatever it may be adding another level of support to whatever sport, organization, or group.”

Junior varsity mascot and sophomore Arabella Loyd has also been a mascot since her freshman year and believes in the influence a mascot can have on school spirit.

“When you see a tiger representing whatever dressup date it is or just Consol merch, it’s very encouraging to want to be a part of that too,” Loyd said.

English teacher and head cheer coach Jodi Schlather oversees the mascots, approving skit ideas and handling logistics. She notices the different methods Bobbitt and

Loyd use to curate a great mascot program.

“For Jackson, it’s very important to know the dances,” Schlather said. “He goes up and does the dances with the Belles, or he’ll go hang out with the drummers occasionally. Arabella is more focused on interacting with the crowd, and that’s fun. As long as they’re both making it their own, it works really well.”

Hyping up an audience during school events is a job usually reserved for cheerleaders with their loud chants and precise movements, but cheerleading is not for everyone. Loyd found that becoming Tina Tiger was a fitting alternative for her.

“One thing keeping me doing this is how much I want to stay on the team,” Loyd said. “I’ve always wanted to be a cheerleader, but the more I tried out for cheerleading, it just wasn’t me, but this is. I’m a very awkward person, and I can do whatever I want in the suit. I don’t have a strict rule I have to follow.”

The tiger mascot may have been around for as long as the school, but it wasn’t always as prevalent or featured in many events.

“[In] my freshman year, Mr. Slaughter, who was the Maroon Men sponsor at the time, brought it up in a conversation and I did it at one of the games,” Bobbitt said. “I did that for about two or three games, and then it moved to me being a part of [Mrs. Schlather’s] team, and we grew the program from there.”

Bobbitt and Loyd may have their own way of portraying the tiger symbols, but it wasn’t always so.

“We kind of had a mascot as an afterthought,”

Schlather said. “It was to grab a Maroon Man, or grab somebody who’s not cheering tonight or something like that, to just play that role on the sideline. We brought [the new mascots] in and it has just continued to build.”

Now that the mascot is an official position, mascotin-training and junior Katy McCaskill reflects on the enjoyment of the job.

“I like watching the interaction of the mascot with the crowd and how they hype everyone up and how they get the crowd going,” McCaskill said. “I just like getting more involved in more school activities that could lead to more socializing.”

The mascot has an important role, not just for the student body, but also for the community as a whole.

“[I enjoy] being able to travel to different elementary schools and different community events and interacting with families, children and those fun sorts of things,” Bobbitt said. “[I enjoy] varsity football games and pep rallies [too].”

Entertainment is a career for many, but not always in the ways that we think. Mascots are international symbols for all kinds of teams that a great deal of people don’t think of as a future occupation. However, Loyd sees her years of mascoting as a new career path.

“That has opened new doors to mascoting in the future,” Loyd said. “It’s also opened new doors to figuring out my place in school. I definitely meet a lot of new people, whether it’s school-related or communityrelated.””

PHOTO BY MYLA CATHEY

PHOTO BY MYLA CATHEY

PHOTO BY DEBKONYA BANERJEE

Ty celebrates after dancing with the cheerleaders.

Tina the tiger cheers at the second pep rally.

the tiger enters on an ATV.

new face, same pace

New additions to cross country coaching staff lead to team bonding, other changes

myla cathey & masie johnson editor-in-chief & staff reporter

Coming off of the first state meet appearance for the boys team since 2014, and a boost in numbers, the cross country team encountered new change over the summer in the form of drastic coaching staff differences. The staff now consists of four new coaches, one volunteer coach, and two veteran coaches.

After the previous cross country head coach Peter Martin transferred to College Station High School, world geography teacher and assistant girls soccer coach Aaron Tomplait, formerly the head girls soccer coach at Needville High School, readily accepted the open position despite having no prior cross country experience.

“Our coaching staff has a great variety of experience in many different sports both as assistants and head coaches,” Tomplait said. “This experience is great for the program because it gives us different perspectives and approaches on how to handle the training of our athletes.”

Assistant coach Andrew Hanna, on the other hand, graduated from Texas A&M University a year ago and is an avid runner. He sets standards for the team and participates in practices, regularly leading pace at practice.

“He’ll do his own ten-mile run in the evening and then show up the next morning and run a workout with us,” boys cross country captain and senior Nathan Parulian said. “He’s able to really push us in workouts and really understands the rigors and stresses that a cross country runner experiences as he was one himself.”

Another part of the unique coaching dynamic is Spanish teacher Christian Grimaldo, who coaches at practices and meets despite having no official commitment to the team.

“Grimaldo volunteered to coach with us this year and brings experience as a head cross country coach from Del Valle High School,

which gives our coaching staff even more knowledge and experience,” Tomplait said.

This past summer, head junior varsity boys soccer coach Janson Soltis grew close with the cross country team before being asked to join as an assistant coach.

“I would help out with strength and conditioning with the cross country kids, even though I wasn’t technically in it, just because I enjoy being around them,” Soltis said. “They were a fun group of kids.”

A former football and track coach at A&M Consolidated Middle School, Soltis has an extensive background in coaching.

“He brings a lot of outside knowledge and consistency as a coach,” Parulian said. “When

changes to the team dynamic.

“This is probably the closest the team has been in my years at Consol,” Parulian said. “I think a lot of it has to do with Martin leaving— it brought us together more this summer as it was just us. And it’s not just guys, but between the guys and girls there’s been a lot more interaction, whereas two years ago we didn’t say a word to each other.”

Girls cross country captain senior Kat Fix agrees that the girls and boys teams have bonded and finds the coach-athlete interactions at practice beneficial.

“Tomplait brings his enthusiasm to work with each and every one of us, [and] he runs with us every day, which is really cool,” Fix said. “Coach Hanna brings his personal experience as a former cross country runner.”

The new coaching staff is actively working to form close relationships with the team.

“[We’re] just trying to find those moments, like at the beginning of practice or end of practice, [to] talk to [the] kids and get to know them and joke around with them,” Tomplait said.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALYSE WELCH

Martin left, we asked him to help us out and he did it [with] no hesitation. We couldn’t have held the team together without him there.”

Soltis acknowledges it may be difficult for the runners, especially for the juniors and seniors, to say goodbye to their old coach and welcome in four new ones—two of whom are new to the cross country scene.

“The big thing I had to learn when I was coaching [and teaching] high school is [that] there is such a trust relationship involved,” Soltis said. “That’s why the first two weeks of school are super awkward because you’re sitting there like, ‘Do I trust this teacher? Do I think they’re going to do a good job? Do I trust this coach?’”

Despite being only a few weeks into the season, students are already seeing positive

As for connecting with the athletes during practices, Tomplait instructs at least one coach to run or bike with the athletes and has a couple stay back to record stats and assess injuries. Hanna enjoys participating in practices in either way.

“I’ll typically do a warm-up with [the team], and then I’ll run the workout with them,” Hanna said. “I try to run with the guys some days [and] run with the girls some days.”

The coaches are in the early stages of organizing running clubs at the elementary and intermediate schools that feed into Consol. Their goal is to encourage younger kids to develop a passion for running so they are wellprepared for high school cross country.

“There’s this statistical likelihood that some of them will go to the next level, but for the vast majority of athletes, senior year is it, and so we want to develop a culture where you want to run and be involved in running culture for the rest of your life,” Soltis said.

The girls team gathers around coaches Aaron Tomplait (left) and Janson Soltis (right) before their race.

small-screen snubs the roar reviews: Emmy nominees

may sarin | managing editor

The competition for Outstanding Comedy Series packed a major punch this year, as “Ted Lasso” won (for the second time) against highly ranked and comparably hilarious dramas. Don’t get me wrong; the show is a heartwarming brand of funny with one of the most likable main characters I’ve ever seen. However, the voter award should’ve gone to another bright contender: “Abbott Elementary”.

Produced by and starring Quinta Brunson, this mockumentary explores *mostly* realistic issues at a low-income school in Philadelphia. While a few of its storylines wander into “suspended disbelief” territory — Would a principal really act like that? — it pokes fun at the silliness of normal classroom happenings, and also blatantly discusses pervasive issues like poor funding. It was captivating watching the teachers in the show monologue about the importance of their work and choosing their battles wisely — fight with administration, or help the students despite fewer resources?

“Ted Lasso” also covers the realistic issue of the main character’s mental health. Its premise, though, is taking one person and putting them in a completely ill-fitting situation (a football coach in charge of a soccer club). That method is inherently hilarious, but the way “Abbot Elementary” unsuspectingly made school seem funny is downright impressive. The show is realistic, even relatable, to a much higher degree, which I find very endearing.

“Ted Lasso” may have roped the win, but “Abbot Elementary’’ is an A+ show in its own right. The second season started airing Wednesday Sept. 21 on ABC. So, while it may have lost out this year, I’m excited to see its prospects at next year’s Emmys when it has multiple seasons to show for it!

ian curtis | executive editor

The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t exactly known for its tear-jerking emotional journeys – and for good reason. Most of it is generic action flicks with a few cheap one-liners thrown in. But the animated show “What If?” had a certain exception, and it absolutely got snubbed in the Outstanding Animated Program category at this year’s Emmys.

In “What if…Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead Of His Hands?” we see a man consumed by grief to the point of madness. The return of Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character may disguise the episode as just another MCU cash-grab, but it’s anything but. I won’t spoil anything, but the plot manages to seamlessly blend the lore of the MCU with a genuine emotional narrative. It’s more than just another superhero flick – it’s a window into what tragedy can do to the human psyche.

It’s dark, it’s sad, it’s depressing, it’s glorious, and it should have won an Emmy.

Why “Abbott Elementary” Should’ve Won Outstanding Comedy Series

Why “What If?” Should’ve Won Outstanding Animated Program

it’s a pizza work

the roar reviews: chain cheese pizzas

daniel sill | journalism student

Many foods are controversial when it comes to their appetizing appeal. Pizza Hut cheese pizza is not one of those foods. The cheese and crust go together perfectly, giving a crunchy and creamy sensation. Also, the tomato sauce provides a delicious aftertaste. The only con is the crust being slightly dry to the point that it was flaky and falling apart at certain places. Overall, I highly recommend Pizza Hut pizza as it will please any taste bud.

sasha deases | journalism student

Although the Dominos slices were kind of messy and the seasoning got stuck to my fingers, the pizza didn’t feel too heavy and had just the right amount of cheese. Normally when eating a plain cheese pizza it’s too stringy, or not stringy enough, but this one was nice as it fell in the middle. The crust was crunchy enough where it needed to be and as a plus it didn’t stick to my teeth when I got finished. All of this and the price makes it seem like a pretty good deal.

Domino’s

trinity craig | journalism student

Little Caesars: the infamous $5 pizza. They definitely strive for quantity over quality. When you first bite into a slice, you immediately get hit with an overwhelming amount of salt, and it is pretty much the only seasoning you can taste. The crust wasn’t anything special. Sure, it was fluffy, but there was no flavor to the bread, and it was very chewy. The first slice had a good amount of sauce: not too much, not too little. The cheese was melty and evenly spread throughout. Everything was fine until I got to the second slice. This time, I noticed the crust was more burnt, there was less sauce, and it was ultimately not as great as the first slice. The pizza is OK for the price. If you are starving and don’t want to spend a lot of money, Little Caesars pizza is a good alternative. Just don’t expect anything amazing. My advice is just go to Domino’s or Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut

Little Caesars

Bump in the road

Teen drivers contemplate importance of safe driving, its advantages

dhriti kolar and dottie marvin online editor & social media editor

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 258,000 teens were involved in motor vehicle crashes in 2019, of which almost 2,300 teens were killed. This is mostly due to inexperience and distracted driving. Getting in a crash not only affects the driver individually, but has a huge impact on everybody related both directly and indirectly, which is why it is safe to say that driving is much more than a privilege - it is a responsibility.

While driving safely and comfortably is a huge responsibility, it can also be a milestone in one’s life. Having a driver’s license often provides people a sense of independence.

“I found it very exciting and free [to be] able to finally make your own decisions, [and] go where you want when you want to instead of relying on your parents or friends,” junior Javier SilvermanLord said.

Even though driving makes one self-reliant, it can be quite challenging, and it comes with its own share of distractions, like being on phones and having passengers.

“I’ve been in the car with multiple friends, and it can be very [diverting] to have to listen to them [while] also focusing on the road,” Silverman-Lord said.

It is not enough for one person alone to drive safely. Everyone is responsible for each other’s safety on the road. As students who have been through an accident have expressed, regardless of who is at fault, drivers must be prepared to think and act quickly in the event of a car crash.

“It hit me straight away,” Silverman-Lord said. “I realized just how badly [I] messed up. You never think a [car] accident can happen to you until it does.”

Senior Haley

Bean made sure to prioritize her little brother in the dangerous situation. Other passengers should always be prioritized and their safety insured in the event of a car crash.

“He was sitting in the back, and there was shattered glass on his side. There was a piece of the car that shot through, and he was sitting right in the middle of it,” Bean said. “I was thankful that [he] was not hurt. I just made sure my brother was OK because that [was] the most important thing to me at the time.”

Traumatic experiences such as a crash can take a toll. However, Bean’s accident has left her more cautious while on the road.

“[It] has definitely given me a lot more anxiety,” Bean said. “But I’m definitely a lot safer. I keep more distance, and I brake whenever people are braking in front of me [and] always look in my rearview mirror.”

Sometimes the only way to become a better driver is to learn from your mistakes. Many students feel new drivers do not understand the implications of rash driving.

“I think a lot of drivers when they first start driving are very reckless and don’t really understand why you should be safe,” senior Hannah Stivers said. “They haven’t had anything to scare them, and I feel getting in accidents definitely puts a sense of safety.”

Students agree getting behind the wheel should be considered a new experience every time. There are always chances of experiencing a car crash, regardless of whether a person has previously been in a car crash or not.

“Always pay attention because you never know what’s going to happen,” Bean said. “You need to be able to think of every scenario that could possibly happen.”

Driving skills improve over time and with experience, but students believe it is always important to apply one’s judgment and knowledge while behind the wheel to prevent dangerous situations.

“Don’t let an accident affect your view on driving or yourself,” Silverman-Lord said. “Sadly [in] the society we live in, absolutely everybody needs a car, but only people that are properly trained have confidence [to drive] on the road.”

In case of injury, call 911