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1801 HARVEY MITCHELL PKWY. S., COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840 | FRIDAY, FEB. 1!, 2022 | VOL. 27 NO. 4 | THEROARNEWS.COM
Teachers Wanted
COVID complications lead to nationwide, local teacher, substitute shortages ellie hague & atticus johnson opinions editor & staff reporter A major culture change surrounding teaching has led to a massive teacher shortage both in CSISD and across the country. Although teacher absences and substitute teacher shortages have been aggravated by the pandemic, the growth in the student population has made the teacher shortage an even bigger issue. “The state of Texas, if you look at the
inthisissue
news pages 1,3,4
population, has grown.” principal Gwen Elder said. “So more [students] means more schools have opened up.” The number of applicants for teaching positions has been on the decline, but the more pressing problem has been the lack of qualified candidates for teaching positions in the district. Jedlicka has noticed a difference between people who are applying for teaching positions currently and people who applied for teaching positions when she applied for her job of AP physics teacher
opinions pages 5-6
feature pages 7-11, 16
15 years ago. “I have a degree in physics. I've been teaching for years and had been teaching AP Physics for two of those years,” Jedlicka said. “With all of that, I genuinely did not think it was going to be worth my time to fill out the application [for my current position] because I didn't think I had a chance at the job. We might see one or two applicants a year now that look like that on paper.”
“shortage” continued on page
sports pages 12-13
comics page 14
reviews page 15
UPCOMING
NEWS friday, feb. 11, 2022
2 | in brief | the roar
Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day Feb. 18 Student Holiday Feb. 18-19 Swim State Meet in Austin Feb. 21 Student Holiday Feb. 26 Kidz Fest Mar. 14-18 Spring Break Mar. 26 UIL Districts
IN THE
Men’s gymnasitcs places in the top ten at recent meet
Senior Garrett Cryer particpated in a gymnastics meet on January 27, competing against teams from Dallas in vault, rings, and floor excerise. Cryer placed in the top ten in all events
Consol wins $2000 in TxDOT PSA competition
PAAV sophomore Madison Rutledge won first place in TxDOT’s 2021 Project Celebration competition, Bryan District, by creating a public service announcement concerning the dangers of distracted driving. The $2000 prize money will go toward the After Prom Bash.
BPA competes in Regionals in Pflugerville, 25 advance to state
Sophmore Maddy Knoop and senior Leanne Ji perform in Consol’s rendition of The Addams Family. PHOTO BY MYLA CATHEY
Business Professionals of America members freshmen Karina Ji and Evelin Cruz, sophomores Amy Chae, Emily Chen, Wyatt Cox, Joseph Ha, Rachel Kumar, Nico Ladendorf, Hayoung Lee, Katie McCaskill, Gideon Ong, Hannah Sanchez-Owsik, Kayley Sze, and Abigail Yao, juniors Sophia Aregullin, Ally Duan, Forest Lu, Adarsh Samnani, and Will Wang, and seniors Rebecca Kumar, Alina Maknojia, Aliza Maknojia, Raisa Prasla, Adarsh Samnani, Abigail Wilson, and Fariha Zahid will attend the state competition in Dallas.
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Juniors Chris Ross and Nathan Parulian compete in the dual meet against CSHS track. PHOTO BY EMILY CHEN
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friday, feb. 11, 2022
Health risks, not pay, seen as greatest concern when hiring substitute teachers “shortage“ continued from page 1 THE PROBLEM Staffing shortages combined with a student population growth has led to a disproportionate amount of teachers to students. “The staffing is the same as it was last year, but the number of students is not the same,” science department head Michelle Jedlicka said. “Every teacher is having to teach more students, and more teachers [are] teaching six periods a day instead of five periods a day.” Landrie Jordan, a student teacher from A&M University in the AggieTEACH program, has noticed a stark contrast between the different types of people who are pursuing a teaching career. “[College students are] either on one end of the spectrum or the other,” Jordan said. “They either really want to be a teacher. They’ve always wanted to do that. Or they just look at [teaching] as a backup option. They have job security because you can always find a job teaching.” OUTREACH To encourage people to pursue a teaching career, Jedlicka encourages teachers in her department to host student teachers to observe and student teach. “This morning, I was talking to someone that subbed for us and he [was] going to start working on [his] teacher certification,”Jedlicka said. “I [offered] to let him do observations, come into our science rooms, and make sure he is set. We do our own personal versions of reaching out to future teachers.” Many of the students Jedlicka hosts are from the AggieTEACH program. The AggieTEACH program is unique in that it allows for college students
to pursue their interest while also learning how to teach. “I am majoring in biology, but then I’ll get a secondary education minor,” Jordan said. “I get my teaching certification through the program.” FINDING HELP Along with the full-time teacher shortage, there has also been a substitute teacher shortage. CSISD requires substitutes to either have a college degree or, if they are education majors, almost be done with their degrees. “[The requirements help] to ensure that there’s more quality subs, but it’s also leading to the shortage,” substitute teacher Debbie Martin said. “A lot of people with college degrees are choosing to do other things instead of substitute teaching.” The substitute teacher and teacher shortage is partially caused by medical concerns. “Many people are concerned about their health,” Elder said. “Some of the older teachers that have pre-existing health conditions, or someone at home, or maybe worried about their own health, don’t want to be around a lot of people.” Despite a recent 6.25% raise for substitute teachers, CSISD has still been significantly short on subs, resulting in many teachers having to take on classrooms during their off periods. “I don’t think raising the income was a solution because we don’t have any more subs than we had before the raise,” Martin said. “So the money aspect isn’t a factor. People who are really concerned about their safety, who don’t want to come into the schools, aren’t going to do it for more money because they just don’t want to have [to] social distance and be asked to wear the mask.”
COMPLICATIONS Because of the shortage, many teachers don’t get off periods. An off period is a critical time for lesson planning, grading, and resting between classes. “Some of the teachers are taking work home, which has created teacher burnout and stress,” Elder said. “When I visit with teachers, they tell me about how the workload has increased since COVID, and the pay hasn’t kept up with the increase in workload.” However, the teaching shortage is not isolated to CSISD; it is a problem everywhere. “Teachers are not viewed as professionals, they’re not treated as professionals, and they’re not paid as professionals,” Jedlicka said. “For example, I have two degrees in physics and could do a million other things, making a whole lot more money. But this is what I love.” Ultimately, for the population of
qualified teachers to change, the entire culture surrounding teaching needs to change first. “If people aren’t in the world of teaching, they view it kind of like a daycare,” Jordan said. “People who aren’t in it don’t understand how hard it is.” PASSION In times of hardship, Jedlicka insists that passion for the profession of teaching keeps her going, and she tries not to let staffing shortages affect the quality of education provided to students. “The teachers that are in this building every day always put the best interest of kids first, so no matter what, we will always do what we need to take care of our kids,” Jedlicka said. “It’s just getting harder to do that, so I feel like there’s a lot of negativity and not noticing any of the positives.”
4 | news | the roar
friday, feb. 11, 2022
there to help Local pregnancy centers spread awareness of teenage outreach programs emmeline duhon & elena alaniz | feature editor & staff reporter In the early 2000’s, MTV took over the perception of teen parenting. Following the wake of shows such as “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant”, the reality of teen pregnancy was overshadowed. Realistically, it is far more difficult, explains CTE teacher Tiffany Thorne, who helps students throughout the various stages of pregnancy and parenting. “I work with community outreach services to help get students plugged in to help their needs,” Thorne said. “And that’s on a need-by-need basis.” The majority of Thorne’s job is to monitor and check in with these students, everything else is left to the individual. “Students are the ones who are responsible to get themselves to care, as well as make the [doctor] appointments.” Thorne said. Finding resources to aid in pregnancy is often a tough first step. Hope Pregnancy is designed to help ease the process, explains outreach director Cameron Wells. “We offer free pregnancy tests, option consultations, and adoption [information],” Wells said. “We have free ultrasounds, and we also do pregnancy loss support if that’s something someone is in need of.” The pregnancy center offers services under protection that some students might find helpful in the first stages. “Teens want to come here first because we’re a free service, and it’s confidential,” Wells said. “It’s not going to go on their insurance record.” In addition, Hope helps to guide individuals through the first wave of parenthood. “We have a parenting class here that can help people learn how to take care of a baby, and how to have a healthy pregnancy,” Wells said. “Then [we] assist with the things they need like baby clothes and diapers.” After pregnancy, the district houses an array of options for children and students in the community, assistant principal Anne Scott says.
“We have Chrissy’s Closet, which offers clothing, available for all students. And Early Head Start,” Scott said. Early Head Start offers opportunities for children before entering the school system. “At the age of 3, the child will have the availability to enter into the Head Start program, Thorne said. Working alongside Head Start, the Barbara Bush Center also provides parenting classes to the public. “They help parents to make better decisions for guidance, and prepare meals,” Thorne said. “It’s for them to become better educated parents.” Although there are many options available, the reality of teen pregnancy and parenting is still scary and uncertain, and often overwhelming. “Most teen parents don’t realize all the parts of raising a child,” Scott said. “If they’re in school they have other things they are looking at too.” Support is often the most beneficial thing to offer in these circumstances. “Most teens I would say did not expect this, it wasn’t part of their life plan,” Wells said. “We want to help them see how this can be a good thing and that it will be a good thing in the end.” The end goal is to have students continue on with their education and to have a family thrive while pursuing and achieving personal goals. “[We want] to help them to achieve success, and encourage them to graduate,” Thorne said. “To help them to pursue their career goals.” For Thorne, the end results are what is important. “I get to see young parents learn how to enjoy their children, juggle life, and make decisions even though it’s earlier,” Thorne said. “They are making decisions so that they will be successful for their child, and for themselves. I get to see life.”
Pregnancy Centers Hope Pregnancy 205 Brentwood Dr E, College Station, TX 77840 (979) 695-9193 The Prenatal Clinic 3370 Texas Ave G, Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 595-1780 Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach 410 Harvey Rd #300, College Station, TX 77840 (979) 764-6636 HealthPoint 3370 S Texas Ave Suite B, Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 595-1700 Health for All 3030 East 29th Street, Suite 111 Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 774-4176
friday, feb. 11, 2022
the roar| | opinions | 5
On February 7, the Ivy league ruled that swimmer Lia Thomas is eligible to compete at their conference championships. Thomas has shattered Penn’s school records, and is close to setting national marks.
trials and tribulations
division. This would include men, trans women, and any other women who choose to take on the challenge. Changing the divisions is the solution student proposes changes to sports divisions that causes the least harm. In 2019, Thomas was ranked as the 462nd other transition methods cannot ian curtis Nobody is being barred best collegiate male swimmer in the nation. Then fully prevent that. from competing, and she announced her transition. Thomas took sports editor That is in no way the fault nobody is having their testosterone suppression for roughly two-and-aof Thomas and other athletes chances of success half years, complied with all guidelines from the themselves. Why should they bend a part of their spoiled by others’ NCAA (until they were changed due to her case identity to the whims of sporting associations, advantages. specifically), and is now the top-ranked female coaches, and fans? I’m not dumb enough to swimmer. think that this a flawless and foolproof plan that will There’s two sides and no clear answer. It’s evolved Her performances have been polarizing. Her own go over well. But what other choice is there? These into far more than just an issue of sports. The teammates penned a letter asking Penn and the problems are not simply going to vanish. Even when conflict has been given extensive media attention Ivy League to not file litigation that would allow trans women athletes like Thomas aren’t in the news, every time someone does well enough for people to her to compete at the national championships, they are still living their lives. These are real people notice that they’re trans. Even the politicians have saying that her performances are due to an unfair who deserve an opportunity to compete without gotten involved, with South Dakota now banning advantage and have come at the cost of their own becoming the subject of constant scrutiny. trans girls from competing on girls’ sports teams. opportunities. And those 16 Penn swimmers who said they didn’t But at its core, this remains an issue of sport. If This situation is controversial and messy, and want to compete against Thomas? They deserve their gender is a social construct and not a biological it’s the latest in a long line of cases in which the fair shot too. reality, then sports shouldn’t be divided by it. Who competitive advantages that come with being a As it stands now, we as a culture are trying to apply cares how athletes choose to express themselves trans woman athlete come into conflict with those new ideas about gender into an old system. Those and their gender? That shouldn’t matter. same athlete’s right to express themselves fully and ideas can’t be changed. The people affected by this The solution? Instead of men’s and women’s authentically. every single day can’t divisions for sports, turn the “men’s division” into magically be changed. We There is a clear and indisputable advantage an “open” division and keep a division for women, have to change the system. for trans women athletes who compete against as it is now. Let anyone compete in this new open We have no choice. biological women. Testosterone suppression and
penny for your thoughts student contemplates friendships emily chen section editor One of the largest things I rely on are my friends. They keep me from going nuts from boredom in classes. They accompany me to the lunch line and keep me entertained with daily gossip and lunch talk at the table we always sit at. They help me with any hard assignment or homework that I feel too lazy to work out myself. They keep me happy. Take away all that, however, and I wouldn’t
even know how to function. I have become so dependent on others, it has become the way I live now. Now that I think about it, it almost seems as if I am using my friends for my own benefit. I hate that I have made all my friendships into a market economy; everything is purely for my own selfish reasons. It feels like they are just there for the social image, or maybe they’re just there so that I don’t look like a loner, or maybe they’re there so that I wouldn’t be as lost in my classes. Whatever it is, it’s not good. For the past year, I have been struggling to see my friends for who they really are, not some vending machine, or a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon.
Oftentimes, I have purposely isolated myself from my friends, trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong. What’s going on? Why can’t I just treat my friends the normal way? Many nights I lay awake in my bed, facing the ceiling, feeling guilty towards my friends. I count each one out, recalling all the ways I have done them wrong. Do I even deserve any friends, seeing how I treat them all like products on a shelf? Recently I came to this conclusion: I am extremely lucky to at least have people who are willing to talk to me, and I need to cherish that fact. So make sure to appreciate your people for all they do. Good friends are hard to come by.
Should AP and Advanced classes be weighted the same?
6 | viewpoints | the roar
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 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.
The Roar 2020-2021 Staff Claire Grace Franklin Medha Sarin Piper Hitchcock Ellie Hague Emmeline Duhon Allison Segers Ian Curtis Myla Cathey Emily Chen Elena Alaniz Debkonya Banerjee Alex Gentry Evelyn Hairell Aliza Jacob Atticus Johnson Dorothy Marvin Evelyn Hairell Comic Artist Mo Rye Faculty Adviser Michael Williams Assistant Adviser Chauncey Lindner
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Opinions Editor Feature Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor News Editor Section Editor Staff Reporter
The Roar Editorial Board Claire Grace Franklin • Ellie Hague Medha Sarin
friday, feb. 11, 2022
The grading system at CSISD and the weight of Advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) courses has long been debated by students, parents, teachers, and staff. To answer this need, the CSISD Academic Achievement and Class Rank Committee was created to determine if any changes needed to be made to the grade system at CSISD. The board has discussed many changes, but the biggest change would be the change in weight to AP classes and Advanced classes: all AP classes would be worth a 6.0 credit, Advanced and dual credit classes would be worth a 5.5 credit, and all other classes would be worth 5.0 credit. This would be a deviation from the current system, where AP classes and Advanced classes are weighted equally. Any changes that will be made to the district grade weight policy would not take effect for any current high school students, but would only affect incoming freshmen classes. Before any decisions by the Academic Achievement Committee are finalized and take effect, however, the school board must approve the decisions. The grading policy needs to be updated to match other schools, and classes should be weighted in regards to their rigor. Thus, the school board should approve these decisions to weigh AP courses and Advanced courses differently. For one, CSISD is one of the few schools that have both Advanced and AP courses, yet still choose to weigh them equally. In Bryan ISD, the AP, IB, and Dual credit courses are on a 6.0 scale, with honors (the equivalent to Advanced classes) and Pre-AP classes on a 5.0 scale, and regular and on level classes are on a 4.0 scale. Many school districts in the state of Texas either give a similar weight to all courses, or at least have some point difference in between taking any Honors/ Advanced class and an AP class. Not having CSISD’s grading system match that of other school districts in the state of Texas puts CSISD students at a disadvantage when it comes to college admissions. A student in Bryan can be taking an AP course, earning a 6.0 credit, putting them at an advantage over students who take the honors section of that class. Whereas, a student in CSISD, taking that exact same AP class as the student in Bryan, is put at a disadvantage, taking a harder course for the same amount of points as the student who takes an easier course. Additionally, students should be rewarded for the amount of work that they put into a class. An AP level class is supposed to be more difficult and rigorous than an Advanced class, and Advanced classes should be more difficult than regular classes. So why is it that Advanced classes are rewarded more points for being more difficult than a regular class, but AP classes are not? The solution is either to make all classes worth the same amount of points, which does not seem to be the direction that the Academic Achievement Board, students or parents want to go, or to make AP classes weighted higher than Advanced classes. Some may raise concerns that this change
may encourage students who are not prepared to take AP classes, may push unprepared students to take AP classes, as well as put more of a burden on teachers teaching AP classes because of the inflation of numbers, and reduce enrollment in Advanced classes. Sure, in the beginning one may see this type of scenario, but this encourages teachers to keep up the rigor of AP classes, resulting in students taking AP classes only if they are academically prepared to do so.
“Its a very polarizing issue. People in AP classes will want them to be weighted differently and people who take honors will want them to be weighted the same. I take more AP clasees so I want them to be weighted differently.” -junior Kyler Larsen
“They should be weighted the same. Both are harder than regular classes, and the reason people take AP is because they want college credit.” -junior Miles McGuire
the roar | snapshots | 7
friday, feb. 11, 2021
high society Students, teacher wear “The Great Gatsby” inspired outfits to party
“My outfit wasn’t inspired by any one person,” English teacher Stephanie Sword said. “It’s a combination of many inspiring characters from history, literature, and my own life. It’s a combination of me.”
photo by ian curtis
“I wanted to look classy,” junior Bella Nolan said. “My hair fit the 1920s vibe and the jacket added a fun flair.”
photo by dottie marvin
photo by dottie marvin
photo by ian curtis
ian curtis & dottie marvin sports editor & staff reporter
photo by dottie marvin
“I used pieces from around my house,” junior Emily Brumbelow said. “It’s original and homemade but still historically accurate.”
18 | centerspread | the roar
the roar | centerspread | 9
friday, feb. 11 2021
here for the long term
LINDSEY ZAHN How long have you been working at Consol? I will be going into my 20th year
teachers, staff with at least ten years experience at Consol reflect on changes, memories How long have you been working at Consol?
AMIEE PARSONS
claire grace franklin & evy harrell editor in cheif & staff reporter
I’ve been here since the fall of 2002. I taught Speech and Debate and then moved into the Counseling Office in the fall of 2009. What has been the biggest change in the past decade of you working at Consol? The biggest change I see at AMCHS is the increased diversity, which I love! What is your favorite memory of
working at Consol? My favorite thing about working at Consol is this never feels like a job because it’s such a big family. It doesn’t get much better than hanging out with amazing students and co-workers all day! My favorite specific memory is of all of the kids who I spent years traveling to speech and debate tournaments with, successfully representing Consol at District, State and Local tournaments!
JUSTIN MCKOWN
How long have you been working at Consol? This is my 14th year! What has been the biggest change in the past decade of you working at Consol? The biggest change happened when a new high school was added to the district. Prior to that, Consol had 2,800 students, and it went down to close to 1,400. However, it has steadily grown again and is now back up to close to what it was at its largest--we are at over 2,200 now. This change had a significant impact on the culture at Consol and on the community. It was a difficult time for both, but I think Consol has become stronger and more spirited overall because of the growing pains we have endured as a school and as a district.
What is your favorite memory of working at Consol? Well, as a parent, it was pretty special when both of my children graduated from Consol--Tori in 2015, and Burl in 2017, but as a teacher, my favorite memory is actually a collection of moments that involve two things: 1) At the end of each year seniors are chosen as members of the Senior Hall of Fame, and they are allowed to choose an educator who has been an influence on them, and the times I have been chosen for this honor are among my most favorite memories! 2) At the end of each year, senior English classes write letters to chosen teachers who have had an impact on them, and the letters I have received over the years are such a blessing!
How long have you been working at 15 years
What has been the biggest change in the past decade of you working at Consol? The amount of technology available for teachers and students to utilize. Teachers can make lessons interactive and walk around the room while writing on the PowerPoints. Students can have access to most notes, classwork, etc. when they are not in the classroom. When Schoology was first introduced, none of us realized how much we would need it, but now it is something that has made teaching and learning easier for everyone!
What is your favorite memory of working at Consol? There really isn’t one particular, but I simply feel like Consol is constant in my life…and I have changed/aged along with it. I started as a newlywed and now I’m a mother of two sons… and the oldest will be at Consol in a little over two years. I actually began as a substitute, then became a Chemistry teacher and am now a counselor. Bottom line, I love Consol…and the joy-filled memories I have made here are abundant and priceless.
KATHY FISHER
Consol?
What is your favorite memory of working at Consol? It happens every year, but the hug line at graduation is my favorite. I also loved taking the Belles to Florida for nationals. We had a lot of fun.
How long have you been working at Consol? This makes year 22. Only place I’ve ever taught.
JILL FAITH
FREDA CARRAWAY
What has been the biggest change in the past decade of you working at Consol? A positive change that I am personally excited about is the recognition and focus on our student and staff ’s mental health.
What has been the biggest change in the past decade of you working at Consol? -The evolution of social media and students involvement with social media. What is your favorite memory of working at Consol? The relationships that have been built and fostered through the years with students, former students, and colleagues. Relationships are the reason I love my job.
How long have you been working at Consol? This is my 25th year here at Consol. What has been the biggest change in the past decade of you working at Consol? Since the years start running together, that’s kind of hard to recall. I know the absolute biggest change has been the different phases of construction to the building/campus, but that had already begun when I first started, which was in 1997. But even the front foyer/entrance has been a dramatic change. Another change, that isn’t quite so physically apparent, is the change in mindset. When I first started, I was told that the majority of our students were planning on attending college, so that’s what we taught to. Great. But 25 years later, that’s not necessarily the case. While a large percentage does plan on
attending college, we, as teachers, can’t assume that and can’t necessarily teach to that concept. There are MANY students who graduate that are not going to a 4-year university, but, rather, joining the workforce, taking a gap-year, attending a junior college. And all of that is GREAT! I’m glad that we aren’t assuming everyone is taking the same track anymore. Students need to do what’s best for them individually! What is your favorite memory of working at Consol? Lots of memories. But I’d say the best ones come from being a BPA sponsor and traveling with students and fellow teachers to different places around the U.S. Tons of memories there...from getting lost in NYC to facing roller coaster fears at Universal Studios. Very fond memories.
10 | feature | the roar
the mom squad
friday, feb. 11, 2022
Parent organization supports students, teachers through unique platform Most people are aware of the work done by the school’s most prominent volunteer group, student council. However, the parents involved in the ParentTeacher Organization are lesser known workers who, like faculty and staff, provide their time to better the school. These planning superstars are responsible for most of the fundraising and organizing that goes into some of the privileges students and teachers have. PTO president Jennifer White explains the importance of the organization, and how they support the school from the outside. “[My responsibilities are] making sure we are meeting the needs of the school overall, that the PTO committees feel supported and are taking care of their designated jobs, and leading the PTO meetings,” White said. Tracy Sanders has been in the organization for three years and contributes by serving breakfast to teachers on certain in-service days. “ [ I wanted to be on the PTO] just to be able to support the teachers and give back to the school, and the monthly meetings are a good way to find out what’s going on at the school,”
CTE teacher Danny Rogers and resource officer Keith Williams (top left) picked free deserts in Goodies for Giving. The PTO collected food donations for the event in November.
myla cathey news editor Sanders said. According to treasurer Amy Parrent, some of the PTO’s duties are parking spot sales, staffing the workroom, fundraising for the after-Prom bash, giving out scholarships to seniors, and providing snacks and lunches to teachers. “We support the teachers,” Parrent said. “I just wanted to have time to give back to the community, and I think school is important.” White says that parking spot sales saved the PTO from financial troubles when the organization was struggling about seven years ago, and it is now their main fundraiser. “I hear comments all the time about how cool our [parking] lot looks,” White said. “We are very grateful for the student and parent support with this fundraiser as it fuels almost everything we do as a PTO.” In a high school environment, parents interact less with the staff, so PTO is a good way to connect with them. “If we have any questions about any issues or anything going on, [principal Gwen Elder is] really upfront and honest with us,” Sanders said. “I like that because there’s really not another time you would get to talk with her.” Administrative assistant to Elder and PTO teacher liaison Jennifer L’Herault attends all the monthly hour-long meetings and enjoys being part of the behind-the-scenes work of the organization. “[Elder] goes over current student achievements, current athlete information, any tests
PHOTOS BY MEDHA SARIN
like SATs coming up, enrollment, and just general Consol information with the PTO to keep them updated,” L’Herault said. The PTO makes sure to let other parents into the know about the recent news from the monthly meetings. “I take minutes at the monthly meetings, and just make sure that they are emailed out so that they’re available for other parents to read,” Parrent said. L’Herault feels that PTO is a rather major time commitment, but any parents are welcome to help out in smaller, equally important, ways. “They just go through the process at our HR department to be fingerprinted so they can be on campus,” L’Herault said. “They can always volunteer in our teacher workroom.” Overall, the PTO is an organization aimed at serving the school’s c o m m u n i t y t h r o u g h helping out and participating in events. “I want to make someone else’s job easier and make sure they know we are here to help wherever needed,” White said.
Covering the student lot with flowers, junior Ashtyn Vollentine (top right) was one of many students who purchased and painted a parking spot last summer in the event hosted by PTO.
friday, feb. 11, 2022
that ’s debatable
the roar | feature | 11
Debate team develops skills, prepares speeches for upcoming competition season emily chen & dhitri kolar section editor & staff reporter Say the word “debate”and talking heads on television throwing insults at each other while convincing no one might come to mind. The Debate club and class, however, allows students to come together and participate in rigorous competitions and prepare young minds for the future of tomorrow. With the competition season starting in August and ending in June, the students must prepare their speeches and skills throughout the year. Being a part of the team means a massive time commitment, and having utmost devotion and passion. Students attend meetings twice a week to prepare for upcoming tournaments. “The meetings are more of just a way for us to get out information,” junior Hannah Baetge said. “Most of the work happens outside of the meetings, whether at home or you come in [during] your advisory, your off period, or whenever you’re in the class.” During the meetings, the students learn and practice different drills to make them better prepared for tournaments. A former Consol debate student, Srikar Satish helps the advanced members. “People will come to me when they need help,
Junior Melinda Li (left) and freshman Karina Ji (right) prepare arguements to use in the practice rounds. Photo by Emily Chen
and I’ll give them some tips and tricks on how to move forward on preparation, but also help them work on skills through practice,” Satish said. “Many of the debaters have such a drive to become better, and being able to help them work over their walls, walls that I might have had in my day, feels really great.” Debate coach Brian Alford plays a huge role in the team’s success, which comes with many responsibilities, but also gives him the joy of witnessing his students’ accomplishments. “I love [seeing my students qualifying and competing] because it makes them happy,” Alford said. “They keep me busy and that’s good [because it] shows that they’re successful.” The members of the team keep up with travel and event schedules while simultaneously managing their coursework at school. “Time management is definitely difficult,” sophomore Jenny Jeong said. “There’s a lot of work that goes in, not only preparing, but doing the actual tournaments themselves, [which] usually last several days. It’s a lot of school I need to miss out on, but it’s definitely worth the sacrifice.” The students have also been affected by another hardship: COVID-19. Due to the pandemic all tournaments were made virtual, resulting in reduced travel and event times so students could participate in more tournaments over a shorter period of time. “We did a ton of virtual tournaments [then], and I was able to really pack in,” senior Sarah Barrow said. “I did six tournaments in three weeks, because it was just really simple to do it virtually, but doing it in person, it’s a little harder with schedule.” Although online tournaments were more timeefficient, members were unable to experience the social aspect of a competition. “I definitely prefer the in-person tournaments, mostly because you just get to actually connect with people,” Baetge said. “It’s a lot harder for people
to compete online, and COVID has definitely impacted it. But I do think that [debate] is a really impactful activity and is kind of a shame to see the attendance and attention decreasing recently.” Despite facing many challenges, the students have learned many key skills that would benefit them for life. “Debate has helped me advocate for myself, [as well as] growing confidence,” junior Bella Nolan said. “Debate helps me with my competence a lot [and] with presentation and speaking skills.” In order to be successful in Speech and Debate, knowledge of current events is a must. While topics and prompts may be random, most include political views and ideas. “I think [Speech and Debate] has forced me to be more knowledgeable about the world around me,” Baetge said. I used to think it was a point of pride that I didn’t watch the news and had no idea what was going on. It’s your duty to know what’s going on around you.” With students constantly preparing for events, and learning new tactics, the Speech and Debate team continues to qualify for state and many big tournaments year after year. “The current team at Consol has a ton of potential, and already has substantial accomplishments on the national level,” Satish said. “I’m very proud of the direction this team is taking.”
Junior Claire Wang (right) and sophomore Andrew Li (back, right) practice rounds as opposing team members to prepare for upcoming competitions. Photo by Emily Chen
12 | sports | the roar
friday, feb. 11, 2022
ice ice baby Figure skating, ice hockey athletes explain unique qualities of their sports medha sarin & debkonya banerjee managing editor & staff reporter Ice hockey and figure skating are some of the most popular sports during the Winter Olympics. The goals seem unimaginably powerful. The skating is nothing but effortless. But student athletes who compete in these sports know the true work that goes into the glamorous Olympic games and performances. “[Figure skating is] about having a lot of power and a lot of muscle, but having to make it look like there’s nothing going on,” junior Divya Srinivasa said. “It requires a lot of energy and a go-for-it kind of personality and precision.” The need for strength, drive, and energy is one of many challenges ice skating has. Srinivasa feels falling on the ice is another major hurdle. “The biggest [challenge] is fear because of falling and getting hurt,” Srinivasa said. “You can’t be scared when you’re jumping because then your body will chicken out of itself, so it won’t actually go through the jump.” Unlike some sports that require
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAMES GIMBERT
scoring goals or having the fastest speed, skating is more artistic and therefore subjective, senior Kelly He says. “Skating is a very subjective sport because it’s like dance, it’s not like a checklist,” He said. “What the judges think might be different than what you and your coach think.” The artistry of figure skating is founded upon technical skills, like stroking, where athletes learn how to “walk” on the ice. Technical skills are an important part of a typical figure skating practice, even though they aren’t as popular as exciting maneuvers like triple axles and toe jumps. “I probably would spend the first ten minutes warming up,” He said. “Then I do more technical or elemental stuff. Sometimes I’ll move on to jumps and spins, which is more of what the average person immediately thinks skating is.” As for hockey, learning to navigate the ice is a unique skill that sets the sport apart. “There’s not really another sport where it’s like relearning how to walk basically,” sophomore James Gimbert said. “Like, with soccer, it’s pretty easy to get into because it’s a bunch of motor skills you already have [and] improve on. When you start hockey, people
are all over the place. It’s hard to get into, but once you get into it, it’s really worth it.” Fortunately, the creation of the high school hockey team this year has been one step in growing its community. Gimbert appreciates this, but also likes the current small community. “Even in Houston, I know every single [hockey] player in town,” Gimbert said. “It would be really nice for the sport to grow here. It’s nice to see new kids starting to play.” Sophomore Matthew Daniels agrees that hockey is not well known in Texas, but is hopeful about the sport’s future. “Not many people know that we have a hockey team,” Daniels said. “We invite people to [local games], but [at] away games, it’s just parents or family members. I’m pretty sure we’re going to get a lot more people [coming] to the games in years to come.” Despite the lack of popularity locally, ice sports have their charm, and there is beauty in skating. “The choreography, routines, gracefulness and contemporary side of skating is really fascinating because you’re able to let your mind go on the ice and express yourself artistically,” He said.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY KELLY HE
the roar | sports | 13
friday, feb. 11, 2022
hometown hoops Former local basketball players turned coaches share journey of coaching in hometown
ian curtis & allison segers sports editor & entertainment editor From its founding, A&M Consolidated High School has been inseparable from Texas A&M University. That connection is especially evident in the careers of three local girls basketball head coaches, all former players at Texas A&M: Rudder’s Karla Calhoun, College Station Middle School’s Adrienne Pratcher, and Consol’s own Wendy Hines. Hines has served as Consol’s head coach since 2016, and began her coaching career long before that. But after her playing career at A&M ended, she didn’t see herself coaching for the next few decades. “When I first finished playing, I was kind of fed up with basketball,” Hines said. “But it only took about three months and I was like, ‘I got to get back into basketball’. I think once you do something that long in your life, you just have that passion for it.” Karla Calhoun, then known as Karla Gilbert, was a star for both Consol and Texas A&M. An All-American at Consol, she would sign with Texas A&M in 2010 and end up playing college basketball just across town from AMCHS. “It was like [I was] at home,” Calhoun said. “[Texas A&M] was just a bigger stage. I had the luxury of having [my] family and my high school classmates 10 minutes up the road. Having that extra support was awesome.” Calhoun saw coaching as a natural progression from her playing career. The experience she gained on the court at Consol, Texas A&M, and in the professional ranks has benefitted both her and her players. “I recognize how it feels to be in their shoes,”
Calhoun said. “A lot of kids like to say ‘Well, have you done this?’ or ‘You can’t do that.’ And so you can not only have the knowledge from yourself, but you can reason with the kids and I have a greater understanding.” While at A&M, Calhoun was teammates with Adrienne Pratcher. Pratcher’s time at A&M would have profound effects on her life and career. “The Aggie network and Aggie family have been such an influential part of why I am the person I am today,” Pratcher said. “Going through the athletic program over there, you meet a lot of different people, coaches, teammates, and boosters. Being a part of that connection and family helped mold me into the leader, coach, and person that I am.” It was those connections that led to her start in coaching. Hines and Pratcher met one another while Hines was running camps for Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. Pratcher wasn’t sure where to go after her playing days were over, so Hines offered her a job as an assistant at Consol. “[Pratcher] was quiet,” Hines said. “But once she got here at Consol, she grew. The quietness is gone. She’s really good with the kids, she knows the game and she’s loyal.” After eight years as an assistant at Consol, Pratcher felt she needed a change of pace. She found it just two short miles down the road at College Station Middle School. “At the middle school level, you realize that those kids have never touched a basketball before,” Pratcher said. “To see a kid start from zero and then to see what your inspiration and what your coaching has done to that kid, is what I’ll enjoy the most about that level.” Meanwhile, Hines’ calling has always been clear to her. She worked her way up the ladder as a middle school coach, JV coach, and varsity
assistant before being named head coach in 2016. “My whole goal was always to be the head coach at Consol,” Hines said. “I think it’s a great school. When I was at the junior high, I talked with [former head coach Sue Betts] and I said, ‘I want to be at the high school. I’ll put in my time to get there.’” Calhoun can attest to the drive that led to Hines’ promotion. “She held [her players] responsible,” Calhoun said. “The main memory I have is when we had 22 turnovers, and coach Hines wasn’t playing with us. She was sick of it. She had us run 22 times. You were able to know that you were going to be held accountable, but at the same time you knew she was going to lift you up in spirit.” All three coaches can credit their careers to both Consol and Texas A&M. But more than that, they all have depended on each other. “I’ll always be friends with those two for sure,” Hines said. “[I have] total respect for both of them. They’ve done a lot for the Consol program and continue to do so.” Pratcher may not have grown up anywhere near Consol, but she still remembers the school and people that first gave her a chance. “Without Consol, I would have never started my career,” Pratcher said. “Working alongside Wendy Hines was a position in which I could grow and become better. I’ll always hold a special place for Consol.” Even as she coaches against the Tigers, Calhoun has never forgotten where her journey began. “It’s my roots,” Calhoun said. “A lot of [my] family went there. It’s where I graduated from and it’s where I started from. Consol is about family, and Consol is home.”
14 | comics | the roar
friday, feb. 11, 2022
friday, feb. 11, 2022
tuned in
the roar | reviews | 15
the roar reviews: recent albums myla cathey | news editor In a diverse album touching on various themes of divorce, parenthood, insecurity, self-realization, and the reality of love, Adele left people speechless with her twelve new songs on “Adele 30.” The album includes a variety of styles and tempos that either make you feel like crying or dancing. I have not lived through the events that Adele describes in her songs, but she manages to make all the sorrows of adulthood relatable to me). She shares touching stories about her recent divorce and the struggles of parenting a child. It does not depict the lavish life most famous people are portrayed to have or the middle school-esque drama of some celebrity relationships. Not only did the singer include songs titled “Cry Your Heart Out” and “Love is a Game”, but she also includes songs on the opposite spectrum of emotions that makes the listener feel joy. She sings about women empowerment and even drinking wine. Adele could not have had a better comeback from her six year hiatus.
evy hairell | staff reporter The “Brightside” by The Lumineers, is an alternative, indie album released January 14th of this year. The album features nine tracks including the singles; ”Brightside”, “AM Radio”, and “Big Shot”. Throughout the album the essensence of heartbreak and a failing relationship is painfully obvious, with songs like “Where We Are”, “Never Really Mine” and “Rollercoaster” express the amount of hurt the singer is going through. The repetitive lyrics of: “hey, don’t you fade, don’t you fade away…” and “Love was not designed for time/you were never really mine” feels like the narrator is spiraling while giving up on the relationship. All and all the “Brightside” could not have been a better album about heartbreak and loss.
16 | news | the roar
friday, feb. 11, 2022
lights out Anatomy, psychology teachers reflect on the long-term effects of sleep deprivation piper hitchcock & aliza jacob executive editor & staff reporter Sleep deprivation has dramatically increased as school work and household responsibilities have simultaneously risen. The necessary amount of sleep for teenagers is nine hours and fifteen minutes, although the national average is reported at seven and a half hours. The dramatic gap in healthy sleep versus the amount teenagers are receiving have enormous impacts on behavior, as well as academic performance. Teachers recognize sleep deprivation as an issue that has plagued their students. “Sleep is directly related to how we perform as individuals,” anatomy teacher Nathaniel Buchner said. “When we procrastinate till the last minute to do things, we don’t have enough time to sleep.” The impacts of sleep deprivation vary depending on the person and their usual habits, but a universal effect is on mental clarity, psychology teacher Lindsey Zahn says. “Sometimes we feel like we can get through the day with little sleep, but it really is affecting everything from attention span to stamina of getting through seven classes in one day, and mental clarity,” Zahn said. “If you don’t get sleep, then you see anything from little things like your attention span being shortened, to larger things like major car wrecks because your reaction time is not the same as it would have been had you gotten a good night’s sleep.” For students specifically, academic performance is directly related to the quality of sleep
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they receive every night, Buchner said. “They’re coming to class late,” Buchner said. “They’re hangry because they might have skipped breakfast in a rush to get to school. They’re a little bit more snippy when it comes to answering questions. The
more sleep that we get, the happier people that we are.” Distractions late at night are a large factor taking away from enough sleep. Many of these include homework and personal responsibilities, but a major one is the blue light emitted from technology. “Blue light doesn’t allow your brain to start shutting down the way it needs to by releasing the melatonin,” Zahn said. “Your mind needs that dark signal from the environment for the hypothalamus to
Meditation Methods: Meditating for only ten minutes before bed activates the parasympathetic nerwvous system, which prepares the body for rest.
Consumption Cautionaries: Alcohol, nicotine, and cafeinne stimulate the body before bed. Heavy foods two hours before you sleep may also cause discomfort.
start breaking down the body and putting it into sleep mode.” Another mental function that occurs while we sleep is the brain processing information from the day, Buchner says. “When you don’t sleep, your brain can’t take information and make it concrete,” Buchner said. “The ability to sleep is your brain allowing chemicals and fluids to wash over your brain and clear away toxins, to recuperate from all the stimuli it’s taking in, to decompress, both physically and mentally so that you can literally start the day new again.” There are four stages of sleeping, three of which the body has to go through to get to the last and most beneficial stage of sleep called REM (rapid eye movement). “REM is the paradoxical sleep because your body and brain waves are very active,” Zahn said. “It is the most restful sleep and you have to have it to feel rested. If you don’t get REM sleep, then you’re not going to feel rested at all.” In order for students to get a proper amount of sleep, which is nine hours and fifteen minutes, they need to learn how to prioritize their time, Zahn says. But for teenagers who work, this poses a problem. “Sometimes students don’t get home from work until ten or eleven at night,” Zahn said. “Finding a balance for students is important so they can create a good sleep schedule. Unfortunately, school work is the biggest culprit of sleep. But teachers also need to reflect on what is truly helpful and worth the student’s time outside of school, and only assign things that need to be done.”
Technology Tips: Blue light emitted by technology blocks the sleep hormone melatonin from being produced. Stay away from screens an hour before bed, or wear blue light glasses.
ASMR Benefits: Watching ASMR lowers heart rate and calms the body. It can also help the viewer feel less anxious and more comforted. Information from https://www. sleepfoundation.org/sleephygiene/healthy-sleep-tips