The Kinkaid Falcon - Issue 3, Vol. 73

FALCON

THE

The Kinkaid School 201 Kinkaid School Dr. Houston, TX 77024

December 6, 2019 Volume 73, Issue 3 thefalcon.kinkaid.org

A decade of social media How America’s favorite pastime exploded into what it is today.

Story on page 10-11

INSIDE

P. 3 | PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE P. 7 | THE OVERUSE OF PLASTIC P. 13 | SUITS MEET SOCCER P. 18 | SENIOR SIGNINGS CEREMONY

2 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

NEWS

New Interim Classes

ARTS ⊲ The American Story ⊲ Art Exploration ⊲ Artistic Genius: Vincent Van Gogh ⊲ Jazz Band ⊲ Let’s Dance Around the World ⊲ Modern Dance: The Repertory of Anna Sokolow ⊲ Printmaking Workshop ⊲ Whisper Words of Music — 1970 in Music

PAJAMA PARTY Mrs. Betsy Durning, English teacher, poses with students in her 2019 interim term class, Sewing for Beginners, which will be offered again in 2020. Photo courtesy of David Shutts

Interim class to explore Chinatown

By Jaisal Kalapatapu

H

ouston’s Chinatown is almost a town of its own.

With street signs in Mandarin, countless restaurants representing all of Asia, and a culture that is totally separate from the rest of Houston, it can be seen as one of the most intriguing parts of the city.

One major part of Chinatown is the cuisine.

“The authenticity remains in these familiar flavors created to serve the community [because of] the need to serve Asian Americans the flavors that they grew up with,” said Ms. Paula Lin, Mandarin teacher and co-sponsor of Chomping Down in Chinatown, a new interim term class.

“That is why if you want authentic Asian food, you need to go to Chinatown,” she said.

Chomping Down in Chinatown aims to open up a realm of Houston that Kinkaid students may not have explored.

“From some of my experience teaching other interim courses, I have realized that many students have not experienced the rich diversity of foods, and many have never

been to Houston’s amazing Chinatown,” said Ms. Kate Lambert, English teacher and co-sponsor of the class. “This course invites students to step outside of their comfort zone to learn both more about Houston’s rich diversity and Asian traditions.”

Houston’s Chinatown is not a new area.

With the first businesses opening up in 1983, it spans over six square miles today, making it the largest automobile-centered Chinatown in the southern U.S. Ms. Lin said that this space was inspired by a need for the wave of Asian Americans who moved in to this area.

“This need can be that seasoning that they have used for generations, the sauce that is considered the secret ingredient in homemade dishes, or just the food that reminds them of the homeland they left behind,” she said. “A need from the Chinese community was the driver for many family-owned shops to be established in the new Chinatown on Bellaire Boulevard.”

The area really took off in the 1990s, when Asian Amer-

ican business owners moved their businesses from “Old Chinatown” in East downtown to this newer Chinatown.

And the area is stacked with great places to eat.

According to Katherine Shilcutt of the Houston Press, the restaurant density of Chinatown is “roughly equivalent to the population density of Vatican City.”

Chomping Down in Chinatown explores the best of these unique restaurants.

“Chinatown has developed into such a big and vibrant area that it is an entire city of its own,” Ms. Lin said. “These include authentic restaurants as well as new places where fusion flavors are happening. This can be confusing and intimidating when you first step into the area and have no clue where to start.

We will visit both the hidden gems where only cash is accepted as well as trendy spots so you don’t have Instagram envy anymore.”

But Chinatown is not just filled with Chinese culture.

Over the last few years, the area has been dubbed Asiatown because of the presence of

many Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Japan and Korea. Students will explore these cultures beyond their food.

Ms. Lambert said students will also explore the traditions of the different cultures as well as hear from guest speakers.

“I have always been fascinated by the Houston restaurant scene,” Ms. Lambert said.

“Having lived here most of my life, I have enjoyed watching the restaurant scene change as the diversity in our city has flourished. I am an adventurous eater and my husband and I have tried to expose our boys to a great variety of food as well, and we have loved learning more about our rich city by trying the variety of food in Houston.”

But above all, the purpose of the class is not to just enjoy good food but also to see a different side of what Houston is considered to be.

“Bottom line, we want to open our students’ eyes to a world beyond Kinkaid’s walls and to celebrate the Asian community, food, and traditions that help make Houston the most diverse city in the country,” Lambert said.

HISTORY & CULTURE ⊲ Chomping Down in Chinatown ⊲ Irish Culture and History ⊲ Gaming the Past ⊲ Go for the Gold! ⊲ Law and Pop Culture: Movies Everyone Interested in Justice, the Law, and the Legal System Must See ⊲ Mirrors on the World: Exploring Art and Identity in Houston ⊲ Sabores Latinos — Latin Flavors ⊲ Vegging Out ⊲ Viva L’Italia! — Introduction to Italian Language and Culture STEM ⊲ And the Winner Is… Exploring the Mathematics Behind Elections ⊲ Astrobiology, or Do Aliens Exist? ⊲ Being Human in an Algorithmic World ⊲ Climate Science ⊲ Dragons and Giant Killer Robots — An Introduction to Role Playing Games ⊲ Ebola Outbreak! ⊲ Has the Zombie Apocalypse Already Happened? ⊲ Introduction to Bioengineering: Building a New You ⊲ Telling the Story Inside of You: Novel Development ⊲ A World of Good ENGLISH & PHILOSOPHY ⊲ The Best of All Possible Worlds ⊲ Creative Writing ⊲ Curious People Gather Around ⊲ Girls, Girls, Girls! ⊲ Lonesome Dove ⊲ The Perks of Choice Reading OTHER ⊲ Animal Heroes ⊲ The Coddling of the American Mind ⊲ Sports Business

Upperclassmen offer freshmen advice as midterms approach

By Ethan Jett rior to Christmas break, Kinkaid teachers, like those at other high schools, give a midterm exam to test the amount of information students have retained throughout the first half of the school year.

The weeks leading up to midterms can be a very stressful time for students because while they have to try and retain new

P

INK INSIDE

KINKAID

information, they also need to start studying and memorizing the old information that they began learning in the beginning of the school year.

Community groups for Upper School teachers Dr. Kimetris Baltrip and Ms. Tatum Branaman came together to discuss different ways students can get ready for the exams.

Juniors Lindi Ruthven and

Check out the best of online.

To see more, visit our website at thefalcon.kinkaid.org or on the Student News Source app.

Laird Boone, students in Ms. Branaman’s group, advised freshmen in Dr. Baltrip’s class to begin organizing their binders with all their study materials during Thanksgiving break.

And after the holiday, they said students should begin studying for exams in the order that they will take them.

“The best way to study is spreading it out into multiple

days,” said junior Lindi Ruthven. “While studying I really like to take a 15- to 20-minute break to relax.

While freshmen are new to taking midterms in high school, many have had previous experience in middle school.

“Midterms in middle school were nice. They gave us a preview of what’s to come. In high school, while they were

BEACH DAY Marine biology students studied organisms at Galveston Bay. See photos of the outing here.

challenging, if you study and begin preparing early you will do well,” said freshman Miles Franklin.

“I usually like to go and just take a 15-minute nap to relax,” stated junior Charles Hawthorn.

Midterms can be a tiring time, but if managed correctly and proper rest, freshmen can be well prepared without being stressed out.

GIVING BACK The Star Wars Club set high goals for its annual Lego Drive. Read more about the donations here.

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | NEWS 3

Faculty partake in annual diversity conference

Unable to attend due to space, student leaders create plan to make up for absence

By Megha Neelapu

O

n Wednesday, Dec. 4, faculty from the Lower, Middle, and Upper School boarded a bus to the airport to fly to the 2019 People of Color Conference (PoCC) in Seattle.

PoCC is organized to have general sessions with speakers for all attendees, workshops to choose from, and affinity group and social time.

Started in 1986, the PoCC is run by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), of which Kinkaid is a member.

Its mission is to “provid[e] a sanctuary and networking opportunity for people of color and allies in independent schools as [to] build and sustain inclusive school communities.”

Despite its name, the conference has evolved to be about the inclusion of all marginalized groups, including workshops geared specifically toward women, LGBTQ+ people, and multiracial families.

Among the seventeen faculty members who are attending is Ms. Alex Spencer, Upper School (US) Assistant Division Head and English teacher.

This will be her first time at the conference.

“I hope to be able to better support faculty and students of color since that’s not an experience I’ve had personally,” she said.

The Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) is the student conference that

“

I hope to be able to better support faculty and students of color, since that's not an experience I've had personally.

- Ms. Alex Spencer, Upper School Assistant Division head and English Teacher

accompanies PoCC and occurs at the same time. Since 2015, Kinkaid has sent six students every year to SDLC, the maximum that is allowed for one school. However, the 1500 spots available were booked quickly, and Kinkaid students were not able to attend this year.

Kinkaid’s Student Diversity Leadership Board (SDLB) typically sends members to the conference, with students outside the board also have the opportunity to attend as well.

“The most impactful part for me has been the student piece,” said Interim Head of School Dr. Ed Trusty, who has been attending SDLC since 1996, and noted he was disappointed to miss out on hearing from Kinkaid students at the conference.

With the expansion of identity-related clubs at Kinkaid in recent years, such as the Girl Up Club, the Jewish Heritage Club, and the LGBTQ+ Awareness

MORNING START Upper School English teachers Casey Fleming and Christa Forster, along with Coach Desiree Elliott, prepare to start their day at the first general session at the 2019 People of Color Conference in Seattle, where more than 7,000 independent schools gathered this year. Photo courtesy of Dr. Kimetris Baltrip

Club, students were particularly looking forward to attending SDLC this year.

Still, students and faculty are taking steps to offset the lack of Kinkaid students at the conference.

“While I am disappointed no one from our club was able to go to the conference this year, I don’t think it’s too big of a worry,” said senior Spencer Powers, Student Diversity Leadership Board member and President of the LGBTQ+ Awareness Club.

“We have multiple members of the club who have either already gone or are on the SDLB and can connect with people who are going.”

The SDLB advisers—US History teacher Ms. Angela Wainright, US English teacher Ms. Casey Fleming, and US Visual Arts teacher Mr. Anthony Suber—are coordinating with student members. According to Ms. Wainright, they plan on attending workshop sessions related to what SDLB decided

to focus on this year: coordinating with younger students in the Lower and Middle School, LGBTQ+ awareness, and socioeconomic equity.

They also plan on attending other smaller conferences later in the year, hopefully bringing more students with them. These include the Radical Hope Diversity Conference at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in February and the Tearing Down the Walls Conference at Vanderbilt University in the summer.

Senior aims to promote sustainability step-by-step

By Jack Klosek

S

enior Sarah Stephens became passionate about the growing efforts of sustainability during the second semester of her junior year at Kinkaid.

While curbing her own use of plastic, she began working with then senior May Moorefield and then sophomore Lindi Ruthven to help promote sustainability.

Stephens met with both Mr. Peter Behr, Upper School Head, and Chef Mark Harris about her desire to spread awareness about the issue of sustainability and to get data on the amount of waste being created from single-use plastic items.

During this past summer, she went to the Ocean Heroes Boot Camp in Vancouver, British Columbia, to learn about climate issues the world faces and how she can make a difference.

“The Ocean Heroes BootCamp made me realize that there is a large community of young leaders who are working extremely hard to combat our world’s plastic consumption.

[Additionally], I learned that unlike at Kinkaid, many communities suffer the consequences of plastic pollution daily,” Stephens said.

When the Governing Council created the Sustainability Committee, Stephens was elected as its chair.

The Sustainability Committee is currently working on the complete elimination of plastic water bottles from the Kinkaid Dining and Learning Center.

The effort is primarily due to the waste that plastic water bottles create, as only 50% of the bottles are actually recycled; this is shown by Chef Harris’ data.

According to Chef Harris’ calculations, this adds up to about 604,800 plastic bottles per school year. This means that 6,000 garbage bags full of solely plastic bottles are sent to the landfill from Kinkaid’s Dining and Learning Center alone. The figure does not even include the to-go containers, straws, lids, and cups that are used frequently on the Kinkaid campus.

While the elimination of plastic bottles is the current project, the Sustainability Committee is hard at work trying to crunch numbers, propose budgets, smooth out logistics, and collect data.

“Eventually, the Sustainability Committee hopes to solve the dilemma of the to-go containers as well as replace plastic straws with a durable and eco-friendly alternative such as sippy cup lids or the successful pasta straw,” Stephens said.

In discussing the whole topic of sustainability at Kinkaid, Stephens asked that there be “open mindedness and respect for [their] efforts.”

“They are in the interest of everyone,” she said. “It is hard to accept that we can't please everyone no matter how much we try.”

Mr. Jason Johnson, the faculty chair of the Sustainability Committee, has worked

throughout his life to help conserve the environment.

After joining the Governing Council this year, he jumped at the opportunity to support the committee.

However, Mr. Johnson said he sees himself as simply a resource for the students.

“I want to see what the students do with it,” Mr. Johnson said. “This is a great learning opportunity for students to take what they believe in and achieve their goals. I want it to be student-led. I provide advice, but they get to fight the battle. I want to see them achieve their goal in the end.”

Mr. Johnson said he also hopes to solve the issue of waste on campus and see Kinkaid move to a more sustainable means. He discussed the importance of hearing all sides about the future of sustainability and not wanting to create new and bigger problems for Kinkaid.

“For example, if we are discussing switching from plastic to biodegradable to-go containers, we could go from spending 20,000 dollars to 60,000 dollars per school year,” he said. “I want readers to know that they should be participating in this process. Saying no is fine, but tell us what is better. Change led us to the to-go container and the bottle of water. As humans, we have to constantly deal with change, so we need to learn how to do it. This is bigger than one thing. This has to be looked at from a larger perspective. We cannot have anyone sit on the

GOING GREEN Sophomore Alex Lassoued does his part to contribute to Kinkaid's sustainability efforts. Photo by Jack Kloesk

sidelines.”

However, some students and faculty members are wary about the proposed changes. For example, Dr. Adam Capitano, Upper School science teacher, pointed out that while the idea of sustainability is important, it can be concerning when people start telling other people what to do rather than worrying about their own actions.

Dr. Capitano went on to provide an example of extreme plastic waste in other Kinkaid sponsored activities.

“In this year’s production of Metamorphoses, there was a large plastic tarp liner that was used in the construction of the

pool,” Dr. Capitano said. “If you calculate the amount of plastic it used compared to a drinking straw, it comes out to about 250,000 straws worth of plastic.

This is more than if every student at Kinkaid used a straw for the entire school year. Nothing was said about this which is quite concerning to me.”

Additionally, some students have expressed frustration with the proposed rules.

In response, Stephens said, “We need to find a middle ground. We cannot snap our fingers and get rid of all plastic at Kinkaid, but we can take it step-by-step to reach an ultimate goal.”

4 NEWS | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

Pair of juniors campaign to reopen the Commons

By Dylan Marcus

M

r. Josh Ramey, dean of students, announced the closure of the Commons to all Upper School students, effective Sept. 3, initiating the start to a 56-day shutdown of the area.

The Commons has served as a location for US students to have more space for studying and social interaction. However, faculty and staff began noticing behavioral issues being committed by students during last spring.

After numerous reports of this behavior, Mr. Ramey sent an email to US students on Feb. 3, telling them to “please find another location to socialize for now, and return to the Commons when and if the decision is made to allow your continued presence in the space.”

Food and beverages are strictly prohibited in the Commons, but many teachers reported seeing students with food and drinks along with loud and obnoxious behavior during tutorial, free periods and lunch.

Juniors Hunt Tower and Jon Jafarnia, two members of the Governing Council, began making efforts to reopen the Commons in early November.

The pair spent their time and energy discussing the availability of the study space for roughly two weeks and met with the Governing Council during multiple lunches to plead their case.

They prepared a presentation for the Governing Council, listing reasons the faculty and administrators can trust Upper School students to not misuse the Commons and why it is a beneficial space.

Although students have lost the privilege of using the Commons as a place to study and socialize on multiple occasions, these two believed that if they presented a clear, strict set of rules and conditions, Mr. Ramey and the Governing Council would be willing to give students one final chance. They believed that it was in the best interest of the student body.

“The library would be less crowded as a result of the reopening of the Commons,” Jafarnia said, echoing Tower’s view that students would have the privilege of having more

A sign outside the Commons reminding Upper School student that it is not closed and not permitted for use.

than one place to spend their time studying and socializing with their classmates.

After much discussion, the Governing Council agreed to reopen the Commons and on Nov. 13, Tower and Jafarnia were granted the privilege of announcing the Commons’ re-

“

Please just don’t be that guy.

- Jon Jafarnia, junior class president opening at the US assembly the following Tuesday.

During the assembly Jafarnia explained “the high-risk, low-reward decision that Mr. Ramey is making by opening the Commons.”

Mr. Ramey explained his opinion and outlook on the

Four highlights from emails by dean of students Mr. Ramey’s reminders were funny, but serious.

multiple Commons closures to Tower and Jafarnia, saying that “if someone trashes your living room, the last thing you want to do is invite them back to your house the next day.”

Jafarnia warned students that one more slip up would force Mr. Ramey to close the Commons to Upper School students for the remainder of the school year, and maybe even indefinitely.

“It would be a shame for one person to ruin the privilege for everyone, so don’t be that guy,” Jafarnia said.

The two repeatedly reminded US students how selfish and illogical it would be for somebody to bring any sort of food or water into the Commons after so many blunders and pleaded with students, asking them to use common sense and their best judgement.

Although many students who have previously received detentions for having food or drinks in the Commons claim that they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, the reality is that everyone is familiar with

the rules and has no reason not to break them.

Part of the agreement includes the discontinuation of disruptive and reckless behavior such as wrestling, water-bottle flipping, eating and yelling. First-person shooting video games have also been strictly prohibited in the past, just as they are across campus.

Students must be considerate of how they treat the Commons and realize that the same rules apply to them in that space as in other parts of the school.

The Commons is a shared space that belongs to more than just the US students. Sharing the Commons between students and faculty bring on a challenge of responsibility and accountability.

The faculty still uses the area for various functions and events occasionally, so students are not allowed to enter the area until the event is over and the notice sign is down.

Students have expressed their views about the reopening and how it has changed their daily routines.

Photo by Dylan Marcus

Junior Eliot Gottsegen said he feels that the Commons “are no longer a place for misbehavior and rough-housing, but for quiet and responsible work and conversation. It’s actually quite beautiful.”

Some feel that they hold a responsibility to prove to the faculty that they are capable of using the space in an appropriate manner. In order to do this, students have vocalized their willingness to take drastic measures to preserve the violation-free zone.

Junior Spencer Olsson said he that he has “no problem with policing the Commons, locating and extracting any risky and unnecessary behavior that may jeopardize the availability of the space.” He described himself as “a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight.”

Tower and Jafarnia said they can only hope that students will take advantage of this opportunity to leave the past in the past and make smart decisions during their time outside of the classroom and while they are using the Commons.

Banned activities

What not to say

Back in business

Closing Permanently

“You may not stand on the furniture, scream at the top of your lungs, bring food or drink into the commons, or rearrange the furniture in order to make room for WWE style wrestling matches. This is not your living room at home so you may not curl up on the couch with your slippers on under a warm comfy blanket..”

“It’s after the school day so I thought it was okay to eat in here.” As it turns out, the laws of physics still apply after 3:30pm. As you attempt to stuff your mouth full of Chile Cheese Fritos, it is still possible, and even probable in most cases that some or all of said Fritos will fall out of your mouth and on to the floor.”

“Against my better judgement, and contrary to the dictates of common sense and everything I have come to know and understand about student behavior throughout my years as an educator, I have decided to reopen the Commons to Upper School students beginning on Monday of next week.

The Commons is in fact closed. I thought it was important to issue this note of clarification, as there seems to be some confusion about the veracity of the signs in question, particularly to those students I found lying on the couch surrounded by half empty take-out boxes, the remnants of their breakfast tacos and hash browns spilling on to the floor beneath them.

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | NEWS 5

In brief

By Sam Pitts

SHOWCASE OFFERS STUDENTS EXPOSURE

CREATIVE WRITING WORK PRESENTED

New Faces 2019 is a new 9th and 10th grade showcase by the Visual and Performing Arts department.

“The showcase explores the work of Jerry Herman… who was a very famous composer from the multiple pieces he wrote,” said Mr. Scott Lambert, Head of Visual and Performing Arts. The showcase allows younger students to experience what musical theatre offers, especially since Kinkaid does not offer a musical theatre class.

In addition, the showcase will offer underclassmen roles in theatre that are typically filled by upperclassmen.

The creation of this showcase allows for better opportunities to be cast in the spring musical, gain new perspectives as to what musical theatre is, and allows for students to “grow and flourish as musical theatre artists,” Mr. Lambert said.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Ms. Angelique Jamail and her students hosted the annual fall creative writing readings.

The event took place in the Commons after school, paired with the gingerbread house making and children’s theatre play. To participate, students followed the theme this year: nonfiction narratives.

Some of the stories included recounted trips to Disneyland, creations of paper cranes during youth, and reconstruction.

Senior Alexandra Blake read a preview of her story in assembly on Tuesday Nov. 19, which she read in full the following day. It was a metaphorical piece about her road to recovery and reconstruction of her leg.

This event is an annual moment for creative writing students to show their writing abilities, as well as work on public speaking.

DECORATIONS For an entire afternoon highschool studenst decorated gingerbread hosues to show their Christmas spirit.

Photo by Megha Neelapu

and variants of flavored icing as well as sprinkles and candy to add great detail to their houses.

Their houses were displayed on a table with a winter wonderland theme. To make the event even more in line with the holiday spirit, cider and hot chocolate were served.

Faculty, staff, and students

attended the occasion to view the gingerbread houses and support the students.

“The Fine Arts Leadership Board did an amazing job organizing the event, and the students made beautiful gingerbread houses,” said senior and member of the Fine Arts Leadership board, Frankie Wimbish.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE TRAVELS IN TIME

MODEL UN STUDENTS GO TO STANFORD

The children’s theatre students performed their new play called “Time Warp Trio,” a production that was staged in memory of John Fontaine, who was a proud member of the children’s theatre group when he was a Kinkaid student.

This year’s play was about three fifth graders who used a book to time travel and experience the wonders, challenges and setbacks of life during different ages and decades.

Children’s theatre is made up of students who travel to underserved areas and perform for children.

The Model United Nations team traveled to the Stanford Model UN conference as part of one of its yearly trips.

With 11 students listening in and participating in their respective groups, Stanford is one of the largest conferences that Kinkiad students attend.

The majority of the time, students sat on committees, where they debated over topics that were assigned to them. Each day, students went to anywhere between four and five briefs and would debate and confer with each other.

While students didn’t receive the same success that they achieved in previous conferences, they were able to “get a great opportunity to understand the competition and campus of Stanford,” said participant Noah Rubinson, who is a senior.

In their free time, students walked around the campus and explored what it has to offer.

Throughout the week, students got to experience the life of the Stanford campus and the competitiveness of Model UN. The next trip for this year will be to Harvard “with around 20 students, and by far the most competitive one,” said Ms. Angela Wainwright, faculty sponsor for Model UN.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES ON DISPLAY IN KATZ In the Ogilvie Lobby, as part of the Big Sister Little Sister program, freshman and senior girls spent one afternoon decorating gingerbread houses with youth.

Students used several colors

PLAYS Three senior students dressed up to play their part in the Children’s theatre group play this year. Photo by Megha Neelapu

Journalism, creative writing students join in community service Classes collaborate with Writer’s Block, a local, grassroots nonprofit organization

By Eliza Griggs Roughly 30 creative writing and journalism students congregated at the Big Brother Big Sisters headquarters in downtown Houston for a day of service.

Kinkaid students buddied up with underprivileged, high school kids in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and the students were led through various writing exercises. The event was intended to give these children--who have faced great adversity--a productive outlet for their feelings.

Most of the high school students in the program are mentees, which means they have a part-time big brother or big sister who is their mentor.

However, two girls at the event have full-time big sisters.

One of the pairs, Jasmin and Adrian have been together for six years. “We spend a lot of time together. Sometimes we go out and get lunch and we’ve gone to the symphony but Jasmin didn’t like it very much,” Jasmin’s big sister, Adrian, said.

After Creative Writing and English teacher, Ms. Angélique Jamail, led an exercise in creative writing, students learned the difference between spoken word and slam poetry through listening to members of a Houston-based, nonprofit organization called Writer’s Block, which focuses on using writing and poetry as a mode of self-expression under the motto “the pen is stronger than the gun.”

“We’re kind of like the avengers,” said Mr. AJ McQueen, local hip-hop artist and founder of Writer’s Block.

McQueen has produced three albums, received recognition from the White House, and was even awarded a day in his name

by Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“I’m kind of a big deal out in these streets,” Mr. McQueen said.

After various members of Writer’s Block performed their poems, Dr. Kimetris Baltrip, Journalism and Yearbook teacher, began an interactive lesson in journalism by telling the story

Photo by Maggie Johnston

POETRY READING Kinkaid students and mentees from Big Brothers Big Sisters listen to a member of the Writer’s Block.

of how she became a writer for The New York Times and then a journalism teacher at Kinkaid and how it all started with a cup of buttery grits.

Last spring, Writer’s Block approached Big Brothers Big

Sisters about forming a partnership. They contacted senior Maggie Johnston and she kicked of the planning of the event by meeting with Ms. Jamail, Dr. Baltrip, and Mr. MQueen. “I was hoping to create an envi-

ronment where two groups of kids from completely different socio-economic communities could relate and share pieces of their lives with one another through the powerful tool of writing,” Johnston said.

6 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

OPINION

THE EDITORS’ STANCE

Social media users face growing risks

Addictive behavior, fake accounts among reasons for concern

A

common sight around the school is students on their mobile phones.

What seems to be a growing tradition in hallways is students conversing with friends electronically rather than in person. The lack of face-to-face interactions is concerning.

According to an Elon University study, more than half of the users selected were on their phone or tablet more than with one another.

While we may dismiss “boomers” who criticize students’ increasing use of phones, specifically social media apps, it is a problem.

According to the World Economic Forum, the telephone took 50 years to reach 50 million users, credit cards took 28 years, computers took 18 years, and the 2019 social media app, TikTok, needed just over three months.

Social media usage has clearly shot up like no other. Statistista reports almost half the world uses it.

And while growth has filled the financial accounts of Silicon Valley and Chinese corporations, there is no check on how they use our data and keep us addicted.

“

Social media apps are deliberately addicting to users.

- BBC 2018

The growth of the Chinese-owned company, TikTok, is especially remarkable.

Amounting over 1.5 billion users in just over a year, the corporation is under fire from the government for its disregard for youth privacy concerns.

Under the veil of Chinese lawmakers, TikTok is allowed to “collect contact details, content you create, and your location,” and censor issues the government would rather keep shut, such as

the Hong Kong riots, according to “Another App with Privacy Concerns: TikTok,” an article released on July 19, 2019 by USA Today.

But how did it grow into the behemoth it is today?

TikTok is a master at using artificial intelligence to customize content for the user.

While with other apps the user can choose the kind of content they receive, following certain accounts, and related content showing up, with TikTok the user has no choice.

Users see a feed, and depending on how long they stay on the video, or whether they share or scroll through it, it will adapt the content to fit what the artificial intelligence believes is what the user likes. This process makes the app even more addicting, as it is can produce exactly what the user wants.

According to a July 4, 2018, BBC article titled, “Social media apps are deliberately addicting to users,” optimizing content to the user is just the most recent maneuver to make apps even more addicting.

The infinite scroll used by major social media apps, along with the idea of likes or upvotes, were the two initial major steps in creating addictive platforms.

Using the same strategies that were generated as ideas for Vegas slot machines, corporations take advantage of our neurological deficiencies to keep us hooked on their apps, which is even more true for children who lack the impulse control to just turn it off.

For apps that don’t have a history of toxic environments, this isn’t as prev-

Letters can be sent to: The Kinkaid School 201 Kinkaid School Dr. Houston, TX 77024

alent of a problem. However, a recent Ditch the Label study showed that over 30% of teens on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook experience some sort of cyberbullying.

Additionally, all platforms struggle with deleting inappropriate or offensive accounts in a timely fashion, especially with the growth of fake accounts.Facebook recently reported that its company has already deleted over 5 billion accounts in the last year.

The last, likely most prevalent issue, with all these social media apps, is a lack of care when it comes to protecting the privacy of its users.

While TikTok is clear about its ability to collect the user’s data, Facebook has been under fire over the last year, with several trials and congressional statements from owner, Mark Zuckerburg.

When privacy and building a protective atmosphere are valued less than profits from growth in users and addiction, all social media users are at risk.

An unsigned staff editorial reflects the majority opinion of The Falcon newspaper’s editorial board, which comprises all newspaper editors. In no way does the opinion of the editorial board reflect that of The Kinkaid School’s administration, faculty, staff, student body or general community.

Madi Babine, Editor-in-Chief

Seeing the app change with time, and even the culture surrounding it, has forced me to see how much society has conformed to the social expectations of it, and how it influences our perceptions of the world around us. And this is not only with Instagram, but with almost all social media platforms.

That being said, our social media platforms are not completely a bad thing. It has made this world feel a lot smaller, helped us keep connections that we might have otherwise lost, and stay updated on the world in general.

It is all about balance and finding a

Please direct advertising inquires to frankie.wimbish@ kinkaid.org.

The opinions expressed in The Falcon belong solely to the writer and are not a reflection or representation of the opinions of the school or its administrators.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madi Babine DEPUTY EDITOR Megha Neelapu MANAGING EDITORS Maggie Johnston & Megan Riley DIGITAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sally Buck NEWS EDITOR Ayush Krishnamoorti OPINION EDITOR Eliza Griggs FEATURES EDITOR Mya Franklin LIFESTYLES EDITOR Nicole Fernandez SPORTS EDITORS Charles Garrison & Wilson Kelsey

A take on social media usage This Thanksgiving break, I found myself facing an ugly truth. Embarrassingly, I spent twenty hours on social media. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Tiktok stole the hours away from me, and I let them.

When I first got Instagram in 6th grade, I felt excited to be able to post my ~artsy photos. Trying to come up with the most creative bio, and making sure I had the coolest emoticons.

Little did I know it would end up consuming so much of my time even as I’ve gotten older.

The Falcon’s mission is to be an accurate and reliable source of information for the Kinkaid School community by informing readers about topics that are interesting, thoughtprovoking, and impactful for the school, Houston area and Texas, as well as other parts of the world.

Questions or comments?

We welcome your voice and feedback in the form of email, letters and guest articles. Please email student. publications@kinkaid.org or call (713) 243-6591 or use the contact form at thefalcon. kinkaid.org.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Dear Reader,

THE FALCON

happy medium.

Finding time to catch up and rekindle those connections, but also knowing when to put the phone down and enjoy the present.

I urge you to reflect your social media use and regulate yourself because no one will do it for you.

Sincerely, Madi Babine

Corrections The Falcon welcomes comments and suggestions. We seek to publish corrections and clarifications in the subsequent issue. Please email any corrections to student.publications@kinkaid.org.

PHOTO EDITOR Frankie Wimbish STAFF WRITERS Cooper Buck Trinity Curry Ethan Jett Jaisal Kalapatapu Jack Kloesk Dylan Marcus Sam Pitts William Scott Charlie Solé Chris Stallings Camila Vicens ADVISER Dr. Kimetris Baltrip The Falcon is published six times a school year. The paper is distributed to 613 Upper School students. There are 750 free print copies made available and 248 copies are mailed to subscribers. The Falcon is a member of CSPA and NSPA.

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | OPINION 7

Cynics, don’t rob my generation of hope The media perpetuates despair—here’s why we should be optimistic

By Danny Gilbane, guest writer

“I

Ethan Jett (9) and Jaisal Kalapatapu (9) enjoy their food and drink from plastic containers.

Photo by Cooper Buck

Eco-friendly changes differ in necessity Data reveal high rate of plastic waste in dining center

By Cooper Buck

B

ecoming more environmentally friendly will have a positive impact on the world, but many recent changes at Kinkaid are inefficient and unnecessary.

At the beginning of the year, diners had to sip their beverages from paper straws instead of plastic ones; however, the paper straws were a nuisance for people who wanted more than one drink.

Many students sent their complaints to Chef Mark Harris and came to the consensus that change was necessary.

However, freshman Walker Bruce said he likes plastic straws more because “paper straws kind of disintegrate” while they are being used.

Miles Franklin, who is also a freshman, agreed.

According to Chef Harris, the paper straws are provided by Sage.

“There are really good paper straws and there are some cheap ones, and these are in between,” Chef Harris stated. “We added plastic straws back because of the negative feedback.”

It is fine to offer a bio-friendly alternative for people who do not want a plastic straw but plastic is more

“

Kinkaid is definitely going more ecofriendly.

- Chef Mark Harris, Executive Chef and Food Service Director efficient than paper for the few people who want to use a straw multiple times.

Another challenge Chef Harris talked about was bottled drinks. He said Kinkaid goes through 150 cases of drinks in plastic bottles per week and he estimated that 15,000 trash bags are filled with those bottles every year. An easy fix to this waste is refilling plastic water bottles after their first use, using paper cups and

150

Cases of water used every week

15,000

Trash bags filled with plastic bottles

2,000

Plastic to-go boxes used every week

Your trash at work

filling them up with water or fountain drinks., or simply bringing your own reusable bottle.

However, straws or plastic bottles are not the only issues. The excessive use of plastic clam shell to-go boxes is another problem. Because it is so easy to grab one, eat in the dining center and throw it away, many people opt to use these instead of the ceramic plates. Considering how easy it is to drop your used plates and utensils off at the dish washing station, there should not be so many students using plastic boxes.

Upwards of 2,000 of the plastic clam shell to-go boxes are used every week, Chef Harris said. This is often completely unnecessary waste because many people use plastic to-go boxes even when they are not leaving the DLC. People want to throw away their containers and leave quickly, but they need to take into account the amount of plastic they use by doing this.

Kinkaid has done a good job with recycling and offering reusable containers, but something still needs to change to reduce the amount of plastic used at school each year.

50-1

The ratio of plastic straws to paper straws

604,800

Plastic bottles are used every year Facts Courtesy of Chef Mark Harris

s this the end?”

We read that a lot.

The prevailing attitude of the news and media is doom and gloom. According to Gallup Polls, only 35% of Americans are satisfied with the country compared to 71% in 1999. A general feeling of doom and dread overhangs a younger generation growing up in a prosperous country.

Sixty percent of Americans believe our country will be less important in the future.

Seventy-three percent believe the gap between rich and poor will grow. Sixty-five percent believe we will become more politically divided.

As the media becomes more negative, it also continues to be less and less trusted. Less than a third of Americans trust the media.

Rather than a hopeful young generation, the pessimism of the news cycle is creating an increasingly distrustful and cynical youth: only 40% of Generation Z believe the future will be better.

This pattern cannot continue if we want future generations to be confident and sure of their country. When we grow up constantly seeing the problems and issues facing the world, we are robbed of youthful optimism.

The current philosophy of America’s older generations seems to be confusion at the stress of the youth and ignorance of their part in the problems. We can’t expect people to be happy when we report on our nation like we are a third-world country.

It’s not fair for older generations to report doom and gloom to those who are growing up stressed about how we might tackle these problems. Yet people still debate where the phrase “OK Boomer” comes from.

So I implore all Americans to stop and think for just one second.

Who is doom and gloom helping? Do we believe we can’t face these problems?

We have inherited the greatest country on earth. A country that was one of the first to rise up and proclaim all men equal.

Our country invented the internet, the telephone, and big metal birds carrying people. Our country dug a canal across a continent to allow for easier trade.

We freed our fellow Americans from the chains of oppression, and united nations, fought tyranny, destroyed Nazi Germany, eliminated polio, invented nuclear physics, made highways, fought communism, protected wildlife, manufactured machine guns, movies, computers, railroads, and towers into the sky.

We created housing opportunities, expanded the free market, made mount Rushmore, and built a shining beacon of hope in a swamp between Maryland and Virginia.

We put Americans on the moon because we set our minds to it.

Our country has its problems, its part of democracy. The beauty of America is not the lack of problems but rather the hope in a future of opportunity and equality. When we encourage our youth, we come closer to achieving our goals.

We must not be remembered as Americans who lost their pride but rather as the Americans who restored our faith in our country.

In the immortal words of JFK “I look forward to a great future for America—a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose.”

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon 8

FEATURES Lily Crowe, senior

T

his year has been one of change and transition for the Kinkaid Dance Company, featuring new members, cast arrangements, auditions, and a completely redesigned show.

With a reimagined show, the cast performed a show alongside other creative arts students at Kinkaid.

This new school year also brought along side it the newest members of the cast include senior Jasmine Wright, junior Lexie Strauss, sophomore Tristan Riley, sophomore Taylor McMillen and freshman Alice Ma. The organization of the dance company also shifted, as the new position of apprentice was designed. Apprentices are advanced dancers, and performed in both ensemble dances for the first act of the Elements show, but are dedicated to learning and shadowing the other

dancers.

For the second act of the show, the apprentices acted

as “swings, said sophomore Tristan Riley.

Swings help dancers who did not attend a rehearsal, to catch up, and use this experience to learn each of the dances.

Riley enjoyed the position because she got to “know every person’s dance, which is a valuable skill to have.”

In both the “Water” and “Fire” pieces of the Elements Show had

freshman Taylor McMullen implemented her role as an apprentice to be featured as the swing.

The first act of the show was a series of different dance styles and artists. It featured five numbers, and showcased the dance company’s prowess.

The first act entitled “Just Who I Am” was to the song You Say by Lauren Daigle.

It was followed by “Shaking The Blues Away,” which featured a piano performance by Chip Colvin, and a vocal performance by senior Carlie Sachs. The third piece of the first act was choreographed

by Ms. Danyale Williams, Upper

Serena Thompson, sophomore

School dance teacher, and was a collaboration between intermediate dance students and the journalism staff. Journalism students wrote pieces about respect the core value of this academic year. Piece number four, titled “Waltz of the Flower,” had two separate casts: ballet and jazz.

The ballet cast had seniors demi soloists Lee Saunders and Sarah Stephens, while the jazz cast had a solo done by junior Ella Ducharme.

“Although it incorporated two different styles, the choreography skillfully wove the two genres

Sapphire Thompson, senior

air, water, fire and earth.

Behind each element’s respective piece, there was a work of art projected in the background behind the dancers.

This incorporation of art within musical numbers was distinct and unique to the dance show this particular year, and was heavily enjoyed by students in the audience. Students and faculty can still learn more about this project by enjoying the display in the Ogilvie lobby.

Seniors photography students Sofia Bajwa and Frankie Wimbish had their photos in the Ogilvie Lobby and in the Gallery on the balcony of the performing arts center.

The photos fea-

Dance Company undergoes a year of transition

By Camila Vicens

together,” said Saunders.

To end the first act, this show also featured a new style of dance for the group: flamenco with guest artist and lifelong modern flamenco dancer Omayra Amaya.The music used for the flamenco piece was danced to traditional flamenco music of the cante jondo category. It also featured bold traditional costumes.

The dancers donned black fabric dresses, lined with colorful red pom poms at the fringes that are reminiscent of traditional flamenco costumes. With the flamenco piece rounding off the first act, the show moved on to its second half. The second half featured a concrete theme in the second act for the first time in dance company history: the four elements.

With the incorporation of art pieces from a variety of Upper school art classes, the show highlighted

tured the dance company and intermediate dancers practicing for their upcoming show. They served as a recognition of the long hours put in by the cast to develop the performance.

Junior and intermediate dance company member Kevriana Scott and intermediate dance company said the show was “impressive” for the incorporation of other artistic mediums into the dances. enior Sarah Stephens appreciated the incorporation of other

arts, and said it was “a perfect synthesis of all the performing and creative arts.”

Wind, water, earth, and fire were all featured in their individual numbers. With vivid colors made with brush and pen strokes as the background, the dancers were able to create a cohesive atmosphere reflecting each element.

The “Wind” number featured a solo by freshman Alice Ma. As the youngest girl on the crew, she was included on five numbers. Although she has danced since the age of 3, she got to try new styles, and said she “really enjoyed performing a variety of dance genres that I haven’t experienced much before.”

The show continued with numbers on water, earth, and then fire. The “Fire” piece has a solo by junior Serena Thompson that “embodied the passion and fervor that fire has,” said senior Alex Nigro.

The dancers embodied the dynamic aspects of the four elements in their preparation and in their performance.

Megan Maclay, senior

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES

Art Car Parade seeks to unite entire school

9

By Alex Lassoued

T

he annual Lower School Art Car Parade will return to Kinkaid in the next upcoming months, but with a new twist: the Upper School will be participating in the parade this year for the first time.

They will be using a “Houston space city” themed pickup truck that both sculpture and mixed media classes have created together.

“The art car project is a great way to integrate various art classes at Kinkaid.” senior Haaris Dakri said.

Upper School students are novices to the art car project, but the Lower School is accustomed to assembling cars annually.

“This is the first time we’re doing an art car in this class, so the process is taking a little bit longer, but we’re doing well and the students are currently in their planning phase at the moment.” said Mr. Anthony Suber, Upper School art teacher.

The sculpture class students have created many individual works this year but the art car is very different from what they’re used to.

“An art car is a rolling installation and typically most of the students in these classes work on individual projects involving sculptures. There’s a lot of structural and engineering

A PAINTED CAR The Kinkaid art car sits outside the Lower School, ready to be showcased in the parade.

aspects that the car has to meet safety standards that we have to meet, so it’s important that they all work together,” Mr. Suber said.

The Lower School is already a step ahead, having already

started with their decoration for the car. They will be using a Jaguar donated by Houston art car artist Bonnie Blue, and the theme is “flowers and birdhouse.”

The Lower School hopes for

the best as they participate in the school parade, and additionally represent Kinkaid in the Houston Art Car Parade- an ongoing tradition that has occured for seven years thanks to Lower School art teacher Ms. Lauren

Photo by Alex Lassoued

Taylor.

Vehicle enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of designs that students have designed during the Houston Art Car Parade at 2-4 p.m.

Saturday on Apr. 18.

Living and Learning Teachers use class pets to educate, students band together

By Trinity Curry

U

pper School teachers are using live animals and plants in their lessons to promote students’ interest in learning.

One teacher who used animals in the classroom is Mrs. Angélique Jamail, Upper School English and creative writing teacher.

Several weeks ago, she brought in butterflies for her creative writing class.

The butterflies brought “luminosity” to the classroom, Mrs. Jamail recalled, as the students developed and raised the butterflies together.

“Since I have ninth through 12th graders in one classroom, it’s important for them to be brought together and the butterflies really helped with that,” Mrs. Jamail said.

She also mentioned that the butterflies helped with writing collaborations and trust among her students.

“I love my creative writing class and it was so fun to do with them,” senior Megan Altsuler said.

Altsuler added that the whole experience was “super fun.”

According to petsintheclassroom.org, an educational grant program that supports teachers who use small animals for instruction,

“enthusiasm” in students and improve their overall well being. This means that students are happier both within and outside the classroom when animals are It’s important for the brought into lessons. [students] to be brought Plants also can be beneficial for students together and the because they can improve butterflies really helped classroom performance and reduce anxiety. with that Ms. Sarah Shea, Upper School science teacher started teaching her students - Angélique Jamail, about different ways Upper School English to grow plants in her honors biology class. She and Creative Writing encouraged them to study teacher how to grow plants upside studies show that classroom animals spur creativity and

“

down, the different ways plants respond to touch, and different plant sleep cycles.

Instead of doing traditional lessons and presentations, Ms. Shea used a more hands-on approach to make lessons more interesting. The students do their own research and afterward, they get to design their own ways of testing the plants and recording the data.

The experiments also taught students about the importance of trial and error.

“The data is messy, which is good because, like in a real science lab, if you fail you can go back to the drawing board,” Ms. Shea said.

10 FEATURES | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

A Decade in the Digital Age

By Megan Riley & Mya Franklin

A s the de cade comes to a close, so cial me dia has transforme d and evolve d in more ways than one. Ever y so cial me dia pl at form, designe d to engage, interac t and enter tain, shap es a par ticul ar kind of digital star that captivates K inkaid te enage minds, sparking instant p opul arit y. Here are six so cial me dia pl at forms that have risen —and sometimes fallen — in our ever- changing digital univer se.

F

ounded by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams in 2006, Twitter has cemented itself as a news source in our ever changing digital world.

According to the American Press Institute, 86% of Twitter users say they use Twitter for news.

According to the Pew Research Institute, 40% of Twitter users said they use the platform to be alerted to breaking news. 39% said they use Twitter to be informed.

Twitter is, in other words, more than just a real-time service, but a way of staying in touch.

Twitter’s instantaneity has also become a breeding ground for student athletes to communicate with coaches to get recruited.

Senior and running back Jonah Thomas said Twitter is his ideal platform for recruitment.

“I post my highlights on [Twitter] and that’s how I talk to coaches and that’s how I get my name out there,” Thomas said.

T

he majority of social media is a breeding ground for instantaneity; major social media platforms have given users a platform to receive instant likes, instant followers, and instant updates.

In the midst of the rapidly increasing digital universe, Tumblr experienced a meteoric rise in 2014. According to Global Web Index, Tumblr became the fastest-growing social platform, with an increase of 120% of their active user base.

Although the rapid rise of our digital universe can sometimes push platforms into oblivion, Tumblr is still garnering popularity.

According to Our World in Data, in 2014, Tumblr had approximately 339 million users. In 2018, it had 624

million. landscape. In 2 When David Karp launched Tumblr users, and desp in 2006, the simple, easy to navigate political contro layout— text, photo, quote, link, chat, has not waned audio, video— was its primary appeal.

The reason The feature of “reblogging,” where manded the di users can post content from another ease is because Tumblr on their own blogs, as stated by graphics use th Tumblr Help Center, launched Tumblr the Pew Resea into digital stardom, slightly apart from of American y other social media platforms. Niche Facebook. communities about movies, TV shows, Not only do and book series formed, their avid fans gravitating to the blog format and liberating algorithm.

Senior Susan Baird uses Tumblr for a similar reason: to look at fanart and memes about her favorite anime “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.” “[I like] the good entertainment,” Baird said. “It’s a constant flow of new things.”

On Tumblr, amassing a large following and attaining viral fame on Tumblr meant engagement: - Elspeth Reeve, writer directly interacting for online magazine, with strangers and The New Republic posting content that resonates.

Baird said the Tumblr environment is different from other more mainstream platforms. “[It Facebook by s is] more intimate, a lot of little commufrom Aug. 21 t nities.” nstagram ince its creation by Mark Zuck2010 by M erberg in 2004, Facebook’s number one ph influence has permeated the digital its creativity a Investomedia.c stagram gave n the power to c ate professiona photography with a device as simple as

“

Each social me network creat particular kind teenage star.

S

I

2012, it reached one billion pite the platform’s recent oversies last year, its reign d. why Facebook has comigital universe with such e Americans of all demohe platform, according to arch Center. Eighty percent young adults aged 18-24 use

oes Facebook have a plethora of users, its users visit the platform frequently.

According to the Pew Research Center, 74% of American young adults aged 18-24 visit the site daily.

The social media giant has considerable control at Kinkaid, as well.

According to Mr. Joshua Godden, information technology manager, there were 3.3 million visits to students, faculty and staff to Nov. 22.

edia tes a d of

m, which was founded in Mike Krieger, became the hoto sharing app because of and simplicity, according to com. Innovice real

a smartphone according to co-founder Kevin Strysom.

In 2016, with the addition of Instagram stories— photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours — and a non chronological algorithm, the platform skyrocketed, boasting 550 million users, according to Our World Data.

For the music community, Instagram is an effective and organic conduit between the musician and the listener, according to Fast Company, a technology oriented magazine.

Junior Hudson Davis shares the same sentiment.

Since 2015, Davis has posted videos of him playing guitar to garner engagement, he said. “[Instagram] is the app that musicians use.”

Davis hailed the “super easy” algorithm, as well as the way hashtags promote user engagement.

However, the inability to “fast forward through a video” and the fact that the video can “only be 60 seconds,” is a downside.

This aspect has caused Davis to feel restricted and work within boundaries, which is counterintuitive to music’s free nature. “[Instagram] is the best social media app,” Davis said.

O

riginally established as a platform to share casual snapshots into people’s everyday lives, Vine was designed to be a visual counterpart to Twitter’s brief natured posts. It was purchased by Twitter in October 2012 and launched in 2013 by its founders, Dom Hofmann, Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll.

Vine was a social media app that was composed of seven-second videos made by the app’s users, or “Viners,” who began to compose brief, comedic skits that could get their point across in the short time span of a post. The seven second laughs served as an efficient way to scroll through a significant amount of content in a short period of time.

By 2015, the app exploded to ephemeral fame; it had over 200 million active users by

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 11

December 2015, according to Statista.

However, Vine’s demise was swift.

In 2017, Vine shut down, and the social media platform TikTok has attempted to fill its void.

Senior Matthew Riley reminisces about the comedic charm of Vine.

Because of the seven-second videos, Riley said, the videos were more “creative and funny,” because they had to navigate the time constraint.

T

he most recent social media platform to take the current adolescent generation by storm, is TikTok, an app known for its minute-or-less videos that feature dances, comedy skits, or songs.

It also has a feature called the “For You” page, where the app generates regular users’ posts and accumulates them into thousands of users across the world’s feed. This feature generates TikTok celebrities and viral videos that keep the app fresh and relevant while allowing users to see new faces and content.

Though it was founded two years ago, in November 2017 by the Chinese mega-company, ByteDance, TikTok did not experience relevance until 2019, when its active user community reached 500 million, according to Our World in Data.

The contagious fame has even captivated the attention of the Kinkaid community. According to Mr. Godden, there was a total of 72,00 visits by Kinkaid students, faculty and staff from Aug. 21 to Nov. 22.

Senior Shianne Hale first started using TikTok during the summer of 2019 “as a joke,” but she soon found herself “addicted,” she said.

Hale coined TikTok “the new Vine.”

“I like [TikTok] because it’s the closest thing we have to Vine,” she said.

12 FEATURES | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019 SATIRE

EXILED: the Chris Stallings story

How a competitive spirit and broken window cut short a promising career

By Frankie Wimbish

A

guttural scream tore through the quiet chatter and laughter of students working diligently. The sound of metal clashed against metal, as the door swung open at lightning speed, a maze of lines forming in the cracked glass.

It was like every other day in the Student Center, with ketchup bottles strewn around, seniors studying, freshmen hurrying to their dean’s office with eyes glued to the floor, seniors playing ping pong. Table tennis culture has infiltrated the senior class, with many students taking part in serious competition, bringing their own paddles to school, and storing extra balls in their locker—just in case.

The competitive nature of the sport had reached its apex when a whiteboard was utilized and a leaderboard drafted. Students moved up and down the power rankings as matches were played, but the board was quickly returned to its home outside Upper School Coordinator of Student Life Ms. Jennifer Kehler’s office. Ever since then, competition exists in individual matches, but the cutthroat spirit still burns brightly within many seniors.

This fervor for the game leads to many mishaps, and emotional outbursts. Players have screamed, smashed paddles to the ground in anger, and have even burst through a glass door. When pride is on the line, students will vehemently fight for victory.

And on that fateful day, senior Chris Stallings allowed the passion to take him too far, when a particularly crushing defeat caused him to explode in anger, and shatter the glass in the exit door. He since then has been banned from the Student Center.

Now, he spends his days wandering the space outside the student center

aimlessly. Forlorn, melancholic, heartbroken, ostracized, alone described Stalling’s mood, after his exile.

Stallings was defeated on the table by senior Michael Duncan, with a score of 12-10 in favor of Duncan.

“After the loss…you could say I was devastated, and filled with resentment towards my opponent,” said Stallings.

When the infamous incident occurred, students watched in horror as Stallings bounded towards the door.

“He ran out... and the whole room got silent,” said senior Adryana Minooe. “He had this confused look on his face and everybody didn’t know how to react.”.

“I think he just lost a ping pong game, got mad and pushed the door a bit too hard and broke the glass,” said senior Alex Skidmore, who was confused about what happened. “I wasn’t really paying attention.”

Others even experienced the event from within the dean’s office.

“I was in my dean meeting, and it’s normally really loud, and it went silent, and we knew something happened. said senior Molly Ribbeck.

“He didn’t even realize it was broken until everyone was completely silent and staring at him. It was really funny.”

Stallings illicitly returned to the student center some weeks later. He was caught by Mr. Josh Ramey, Dean of Students, while in another intense ping pong match against senior Ayush Krishnamoorti. Bystanders watched in horror as Stallings was escorted out, and reprimanded. He was further banned until the end of the first semester, said Stallings.

Seniors await for Stallings’ return.

A celebration might be in store for Stallings, and his return back to the center.

Stallings gave no comment about the fairness of his punishment.

DESOLATE AND DEJECTED Even when donning his most festive clothing—a sparkling gold vest—senior Chris Stallings must observe the exciting from afar. Photo by Frankie Wimbish

10 PERCENT OFF WITH STUDENT OR FACULTY ID’S

PIOLA 141

5 | HOUSTON | TX 77057 | T. (8 3 1 E T S .

D 32) 68 O SS R 8 543 V .

S 5 6

| ww

w.p i

ol a .it

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 13

12,540 days of Mr. Wey Mr. Tom Wey reflects on his time as the longest-standing faculty member.

By William Scott

M

r. Tom Wey, Upper School testing center coordinator, greets students as they walk in to finish or take an exam. His positive attitude takes the nerves away for many test takers as he creates a comfortable test-taking setting.

Although the testing center is where he spends most of the school day, he is all too familiar with many other faculty positions around the school as he holds a forty-four year long acclaimed career here at Kinkaid.

Mr. Wey’s love for the Kinkaid community is shown by his extended career and commitment to the school.

His time here has allowed him to observe the changes of Kinkaid and how the school has grown. His passion for the school was sealed just after his first year here.

Before coming to Kinkaid, Mr. Wey worked at St. Thomas as a teacher and Varsity baseball and Junior Varsity football coach for 10 years. Wey knew he wanted to come to Kinkaid after his tour of the campus. “As I walked around for the first time, I loved the small size of the class rooms and atmosphere of a co-ed school,” Mr. Wey added.

He began at Kinkaid during the 75-76 school year. Over his teaching career between St. Thomas and Kinkaid, Mr. Wey has taught many different math classes and different

levels.

“I think I’ve taught everything but calculus over my time here at Kinkaid and at St. Thomas,” Mr Wey said. “Mostly geometry.”

His love for coaching traveled with him from St. Thomas High School. Throughout his coaching career at Kinkaid, he has coached track, baseball, football and boys soccer.

Mr. Wey has seen the school change over his career here and has noticed several interesting changes when comparing his first several years to now.

“I think the number of times that we have changed the grading systems is pretty interesting,” Mr. Wey said.

“It makes one wonder after a while if there is a correct grading system.”

Mr. Wey loves the strength of academics and athletics that have grown over his time here; however, there are a few aspects to the way Kinkaid was when he began in 1975.

“I really liked the size of the school back then. We were smaller, and there are days when I want uniforms although there weren’t uniforms here when I began either.”

Photo by William Scott

LOOKING THROUGH THE STACKS. Mr. Wey takes a break from distrubuting tests to students to pose for a quick picture.

44

418

years worked at Kinkaid

months worked at Kinkaid

8,140 days worked at Kinkaid

65,120 hours worked at Kinkaid

Senior players spark new soccer tradition

By Maggie Johnston

A

thletes who waltz into school in a blue suit, or a short suit, accessorized with dress shoes, a belt and headphones might strike most students’ attention. A daunting idea for most, walking in to school in flashy suits never intimidated Zack Nicolaou and Haaris Dakri.

At Kinkaid, most sports teams wear relaxed matching attire on game days such as the football team wearing their jerseys and blue jeans.

However, in accordance with their bold characters, Nicolaou and Dakri decided to change the norm. As seniors this year, the team is following their example.

Before the Varsity soccer teams trip to Dallas during the 2018-2019 season, Coach Curt Brooks asked the team captains what they wanted to wear on the bus. Beckett Toussaint, Tate Toussiant and Antonio Castro decided that the team would wear their travel shirts. However, Nicolaou and Dakri decided to throw out the rule book, showing up in formal attire.

Due to their love for the game and their fearless nature, senior varsity players Zack Nicolaou and Haaris Dakri decided to commemorate soccer game days by dressing up for school on game days the past two seasons. Last

year, they kickstarted the season by coming to school dressed head to toe in blue suits.

This year, they decided to take it a step further, and up the stakes by purchasing matching short suits.

Inspired by a relatively new European tradition on British soccer fields, this symbol of honor and respect for the game of soccer was a movement they chose to bring to the U.S..

Looking up to his favorite his favorite team, Zack Nickolau decided to mimic the British soccer club Arsenal FC and bring a new legacy to the Kinkaid School.

“In a bid to maximise team spirit in his squad, Arsène Wenger recently decided to reestablish the tradition of wearing team suits - proper suits, not tracksuits - to games

Varsity players Zack Nicolaou and Haaris Dakri strut into school in their short suits on gameday for the match off against YES Prep North Central.

Photo by Maggie Johnston

on match days,” Luke Leitch, a writer for The Telegraph, reported.

Arsène Wenger, the manager of Arsenal Football Club based in London, made a decision in 2013 to get tailored suits for all members of the team. To match the proud team spirit, they collaborated with luxury brand Lavin.

Lanvin’s menswear designer, Lucas Ossendrijver, even provided the team with bow-ties. w In similar style, the boys Varsity soccer team struts in through the main highschool entrance on game day featuring designer brands. The flashy style however, is not meant to be a practical joke, or mock the team, it is to show their respect for the game.

For the pair, their decision was more than an act of team spirit; it was a sign of respect and passion.

“The suit is not only a sign of fashion and poise, but a greater symbol of integrity and respect for not only our opponents and ourselves, but the beautiful game,” Dakri said.

As senior players this year, Nicolaou and Dakri presented all varsity players with the opportunity to wear suits on game days. At the start the 2019-20 soccer season, 12 of 22 players wore suits on the bus ride to Dallas. A surprisng big change for the solo suit wearers last year.

“Just one year ago, Zack and Haaris were greatly criticized and harassed by teammates. They were the only two who consistently donned the suits prior to our matches. Nearly half of the team has embraced this fledgling tradition this year and the beginnings of a legacy are taking shape,” Varsity Boys soccer coach, Curt Brooks said.

“I wear the suit to honor the game that has given so much to me. It is not only a sign of respect, but it is a symbol of class and culture.

As a senior captain of the team it is my duty to lead the culture of the team. That culture can be described in three words: respect, class, and commitment,” said Nicolaou, who is one of the varsity captain.

14 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

LIFESTYLES

Clockwise from left to right: Carribean roll at Kata Robata, California sandwhich on a croissaint from French House, Lo Mein and chicken fried rice from Fu’s Garden, Taquitos Tronadores de Carnitas from Caracol.

A taste of the classics

Four restaraunts that aren’t going anywhere in the new decade

By Madi Babine and Sally Buck

Caracol

O

pening in 2013, Caracol, which means “snail” in Spanish, has become a staple restaurant in Houston’s Mexican cuisine scene.

With a mix of classic Mexican dishes like mole and taquitos de carnitas along with seafood entrees such as oysters and lobster, Caracol has an option for everyone.

An extensive menu, Caracol sources its ingredients from the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, providing guests with their own little ‘beach getaway.’ Most dishes are accompanied with a side of refried black bea ns and cotija cheese. Located on Post Oak, Caracol has earned many accolades such as a No. 5 spot on restaurant critic Alison Cook’s list of Top 100 Restaurants in Houston in 2016.

Be sure to also check out Caracol’s vegetarian menu, which has a wide range of delicious dishes.

Fu’s Garden

W

alking in, guests are greeted with a modest interior that understates the quality of the food that’s served at the restaurant. Usually a quiet scene, guests are sure to get quick service from a friendly staff.

Cult favorites include Fu’s chicken fried rice, sesame chicken and lo mein. Other loved dishes include hot and sour soup, egg rolls, and the garlic broccoli chicken.

With sharing portions, it is best to order many plates and share ‘family style.’ A fresh American-style Chinese, Fu’s Garden also delivers and offers to-go, which is a great option if guests are in a rush or would like to dine in the comfort of their homes. ince the restaurant is popular among students, it is a go-to for delicious Chinese cuisine. Located on San Felipe and Fountainview, Fu’s Garden is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner.

French House

F

rom the outside, this quaint restaurant appears to be nothing special.

But, upon entering, guests are transported into a french bistro.

Guests order at the register and are met with the friendly faces of the owner and staff. Notorious for its exquisite chicken salad, the restaurant offers options for customers to order it with a house salad, on a sandwich, or even in a pint.

The chicken salad makes for a great snack to keep in the fridge at home in the following days. Other popular menu items include the French onion soup, Californian sandwich, and waffles.

French house is conveniently situated at Fountainview and Westheimer, making it an easy spot for Kinkaidians to grab food after school.

Kata Robata

T

his Japanese sushi spot was recently named by the Houston Chronicle the top restaurant in the city, and with good reason. Located just off upper Kirby, the menu boasts a variety of options from flavorful rolls to eccentric desserts.

The Jalepeño Hamachi sashimi and Texas Hamachi roll are must-haves, boasting a refreshing citrus flavor. The miso black cod tops the menu; the fish literally will melt in your mouth as you take in its rich flavor.

After dinner, Kata Robata offers several dessert options. Top choices include the green tea souffle cheesecake and the banana creme brulee.

In addition to their set menu, the restaurant also offers a daily selection of fresh fish, rolls, and desserts.

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | LIFESTYLES 15

Pop Culture Chart

A Decade of Music Dive deep into the most acclaimed and popular music of the past ten years

By Megha Neelapu

Q: What is your biggest regret of the 2010s?

By Ayush Krishnamoorti & Frankie Wimbish

While “Need You Now” and “Hey Soul Sister” topped the charts, they were overshadowed by the release of Kanye West’s fifth studio album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” West needed to redeem himself publicly after his infamous confrontation with Taylor Swift. Dark Fantasy introduces the album with a dramatic reverberating choir and pounding bass. Followed by booming interludes in “All of the Lights” and “Monster,” the album arrives at its peak, “Runaway,” a melancholic, introspective dirge that encapsulates Kanye’s feelings. The record is a grand undertaking, filled with unforgettable features, extensive solos, and layers of masterful production.

10

Adele earned not only the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 100 with her breakout single “Rolling in the Deep,” but her album “21” still holds the record for the most-selling album of the 21st century, worldwide. With its fantastic vocal performances, emotional and simplistic instrumentals and numerous tracks finding immense success on the charts, Adele ruled 2011.

Angelic vocals, and remarkable songwriting coupled together make Frank Ocean one of the most gifted artists of the decade. “Channel Orange” delved into a myriad of subjects, all made important and relveant by Ocean’s masterful lyricism. He utilizes multiple genres split by analog interludes, harkening back to sampling that took place throughout the 90s, as well as classic rock from the 70s. The record culminates in the ten-minute recount of thousands of years “Pyramids.” Ocean is fiercely independent, and created a timeless album.

12 “Forgetting my Vine password.” - Adelaide Randall, senior

“I didn’t know Hannah Montana was Miley Cyrus until this week.”

- Corbin Kinder, junior

14 16

Pharell Willaims’ Happy from Despicable Me 2 earned the top spot on the Billboard 100, followed by the catchy hits of Dark Horse, Fancy, and Counting Stars. Once again, almost all these artists hit their peak this year, with fun choruses.

The top album was the self-titled album from St. Vincent.

Justin Bieber dominated the charts of 2016, with his songs “Sorry” and “Love Yourself” finishing as the No. 1 and No. 2 on the Billboard 100. With Drake establishing his place atop the rap game, Beyonce releasing the top critically acclaimed album of the year in “Lemonade,” and Frank Ocean dominating the charts with “Blonde,” 2016 saw the success of well-established artists.

“Being born. Wait...”

- Henry Hawthorn, freshman

“Shape of You” and “Despacito” (remix) were outliers in popularity, and defined the year of 2017 for pop music. The two songs are the two most-viewed videos on YouTube, and were No. 1 and No. 2 on Billboard. Kendrick Lamar saw his most commercially successful album the same year in “DAMN,” which was less critically acclaimed as his previous two albums, but was by far his most popular. The songs “HUMBLE.” and “DNA.” have catchy hooks, and “DUCKWORTH.” and “FEEL.” provide the power to the album.

The catchy nature of Imagine Dragons and Macklemore were the peaks of both artists. While Taylor Swift and Katy Perry were still able to maintain their place on the charts as dominating artists, Imagine Dragons sung at the New Years’ Parade, and were by far the most popular with two songs in the top 10. Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper, was the beginning of his storied career, and growth of pop-rap.

13

“Uptown Funk” garnered the top place with the fast-paced singing of Bruno Mars, and the energetic trumpet solos in the background.

The track is Mars’ magnum opus, solidifying his position as the pop king of the decade. While this year saw the rise of artists such as Charlie Puth and Tame Impala, the most notable album to be released was “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar.

15

17 “Not going to the Jonas Brothers concert both times.” - Victoria Gonzalez, sophomore

11

18

The sing-along nature of “God’s Plan” and “Havana” made rap commercially successful, and took over the charts of 2018. With the release of “Invasion of Privacy” and “Astroworld” solidifying rap’s role in pop music, and the growth of artists such as Post Malone, 2018 was dominated by redefined hip hop. Another notable album includes “Golden Hour” by Kacey Musgraves.

“Igor,” by Tyler. The Creator, was the standout album of the year. An innovative and unique exploration into neo-soul and hip-hop fusion, Tyler’s musicality soars. “IGOR’S THEME,” serves up a hard synth and layered lyricism that serves as a thesis for the journey of the album. “EARFQUAKE” acts as the album’s honeymoon period, with almost childlike verse about his love. As the album continues, the relationship turns, on “WHATS GOOD” and eventually comes to terms with the termination of the relationship on “GONE, GONE / THANK YOU.” A genre crossing record, it is likely one the greatest breakup albums of the decade.

19

16 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

SPORTS

Seniors sign letter of intent

Athletes set for next level of play at in, out-of-state colleges

By Chris Stallings

A

nnabel Skubisz be attending Northwestern University to continue her academic and field hockey career.

Playing in college has always been an option and a goal for her. After four years of being surrounded by a team that was filled with great dynamics, Skubisz’s decision to play at Northwestern came down to team culture.

She expressed her love for the Kinkaid Varsity Field Hockey team and emphasized their impact on her decision.

“When looking at schools this past year, I knew that a positive team culture was a must have,” she said. Skubisz is preparing in hopes of one day playing for the U.S. Olympic team and is working toward the opportunity to play for her country. Though Skubisz is nervous about performing to her full potential, she knows her support system will always be there: “Though I’ll be leaving my family in Texas, I’ll be gaining a new one come July,” she said.

E

ren Senyuva will be continuing his academic and soccer career at Northeastern University. His early love for the game led him to want to compete at the highest level possible. Although he was unaware of the opportunity to play in college until his freshman year, he knew he wanted to compete at the next level, as well as receive the best education possible. Senyuva connected with everything Northeastern offered, from an athletic standpoint, as well as an academic one. The coaches and team were instrumental in his decision. “It’s not the fanciest or most successful team, but the coaches made sure I was going to be an important part of the team early on,” Senyuva said. His competitive drive has led him to want to pursue a professional career in soccer, but he knows he’s going to have to improve and continue to grow as a player. Senyuva explained how trusting his abilities and accepting the role on his future team has allowed him to have no nerves at all. “With hard work, I don’t see a reason to be nervous,” he said.

H

aylie Sims will be pursuing her academic and lacrosse career at Fresno State University. Her love for lacrosse began in seventh grade when she first took the field. This love quickly turned into a passion to reach the next level. She said her desire to play in college was centered around the opportunity to play and compete with other girls whose love for the game matches hers. Sims expressed her excitement about the next four years.

“My future teammates are awesome and the coaches do a great job of fostering a positive team environment,” she said. Though Sims does not plan on playing professionally, she intends to continue to be involved in the lacrosse community after college. The nerves of being a freshman again, meeting high expectations, and entering the college environment are all things Sims knows will be challenging. However, with time and continuous support by her coaches, teammates, and family, she knows the process will be filled with great experiences.

C

harlie Brennig will continue his academic and swimming career at Texas Christian University. His desire to swim at the next level stemmed from his first moments in the pool. Brennig further explained his goal to swim at a Division One school, knowing this would give him the best chance at achieving his full potential. With that in mind, when the Horned Frogs made an offer, Brennig didn’t hesitate to accept. It was the team chemistry, the facilities, and the coaching staff that sold it for him. Even looking past college, Brennig said he hopes “to make the U.S. Olympic team trials before his swimming career is over.” He feels that TCU will give him the best chance in aiding with the process to reach his dream. With a true belief in his future coaching staff and the reassurance of his fellow recruits in the class of 2020, Brennig has complete confidence in his future at TCU.

R

egan Arkless will be attending the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to pursue her lacrosse career in the fall. Her early passion for sports brought about the competitive nature she displays when playing.

Although she didn’t start playing lacrosse until fourth grade, her mindset and drive sparked her goal to play at the next level. Her love for UC Davis began as soon as she stepped on campus. She loved every aspect of the school, from its athletics, academics, culture and student body. “UCD checked all the boxes...for everything I wanted in a college,” Arkless said, adding that despite the weight of expectations, a move to California, and the growing pains of college lacrosse, she knows her nerves will motivate her to be a better teammate and student.

T

rinity Curry will be attending Prairie View A&M to continue her academic and basketball career. She was introduced to the game in seventh grade, and quickly realized that basketball was her passion. Entering into her freshman year, Curry knew she wanted to play at the next level and began her journey to reach that goal. Her recruiting process went smooth because of everything the Panthers had to offer. Trinity explained the benefits Prairie View had to offer: a campus location that is “not too far from home, but not too close,’’ the positive influence of the program as well as the students on campus, and a great communications program. For Curry, the decision was easy. Following her collegiate career, she aspires to one day play in the WNBA or to venture overseas and play in a European league. She said the drastic change from high school to college scares her at times, but it’s for this same reason, a new experience and journey, that she is excited.

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | SPORTS 17

Decade in SPC sports

School’s athletic achievements over the years is picture of success

By Wilson Kelsey

BOYS TENNIS BOYS BASKETBALL GIRLS3 commits 8 commits VOLLEYBALL

SWIMMING & DIVING 1 commit

‘17,’18

BOYS TENNIS 5 commits ’12

WRESTLING 5 commits

BASEBALL

CHEERLEADING

12 commits

9 commits

‘15,’19

4 commits

32

GIRLS GOLF

FOOTBALL

SPC Championships

GIRLS LAX

BOYS TRACK & FIELD 3 commits

135

1 commit

’14,’16,’18

SOFTBALL

College Commits

1 commit

BOYS SOCCER 4 commits

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

FIELD HOCKEY 8 commits ‘17

8 commits

GIRLS XC

‘10,’11,’13,’15,’17,’18

1 commit

6 commits

’19

30 commits

BOYS XC

BOYS LAX

8 commits

5 commits

‘10,’12,’13,’14,’16,’17, ’18,’19

’19

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

BOYS GOLF

‘18,’19

GIRLS BASKETBALL 6 commits

GIRLS SOCCER 7 commits ’18

’12,’13,’17,’18

18 SPORTS | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

Memorial Park Reopens

The newly renovated course reviwed by some of Kinkaid’s top golfers.

By Charlie Sole

that golfers are expected to complete in five. All the greens were redone throughout the he Memorial Park Golf entire course.

Course, which Kinkaid’s “I have always liked the golf program utilizes frequently, course but with the renovations, reopened, on Nov. 4 after being it has become more tour shut down for 10 months to appropriate and enjoyable. The undergo renovations. greens are in much better shape The purpose of the then they were before,” Allyn renovation was to prepare the Stephens a sophomore on the course for the world’s best girl’s golf team. golfers when the city hosts the The transformations didn’t PGA Tour’s stop on the Houston Open course. The in October practice 2020. facilities also Previously, I have always liked changed. the Houston the course but with A second Open was story was added played at the the renovations, it to the driving Golf Club has become more range, a place of Houston in Humble, tour appropriate and where many Houstonians can but now the enjoyable. go and warm up tournament before a round, can be hosted - Jon Jafarnia, junior class or just practice at Memorial. president and work on It will be the their game. first time a The slope, and professional difficulty on event has been played inside Houston’s city limits since 1963, the chipping green changed too.

Now, many golfers can work on according to “Shell Houston their short game there, too. open winners and history,” a “The added top portion of 2017 article on golfblogger.com the range has provided much“The renovations are really needed space, and the chipping cool. It makes the course much green is in much better shape more challenging and there is a than it was before,” Stephens lot of room for tournaments to said. change the layout if they need The final change at Memorial to,” said Wilson Kelsey, a senior was the new irrigation system. on the Kinkaid boy’s golf team.

The point oft that system was to There were many changes help the drainage at the course throughout the course. On the and all around Memorial Park. first nine holes, they added an During winter term, extra par three and an extra par Kinkaid’s recreational golf team five. A par three is a shorter plays at Memorial. Then, both hole, so golfers are expected to of the school’s middle school finish the hole in three shots, golf teams practice there in while a par five is a longer hole

T

“

GOING FOR IT

Freshman Charlie Sole is trying to make a putt on the newly renovated greens.

Photo by Charlie Sole

spring. The Upper School girls teams have practiced there every Tuesday, and the varsity boy’s team plays there for tryouts.

Tom Doak, one of the most popular golf course architects, oversaw the project. Some of his courses include Ballyneal Golf Club, Tara Iti Golf Club

in Australia, The Renissance Club in Scotland and The Blue Course at Streamsong Resort.

The world’s current No. 1 golfer, four time major winner winner, and seven time PGA Tour winner Brooks Koepka, also assisted him.

Once a SPC Champion, now a National Champion?

The number one college football team through the eyes of Josh Williams

By Charles Garrison

A

thletes have a large presence on Kinkaid’s campus, as the number of college athletic commits have had a steadily rising number as the years have gone by. For reference, Kinkaid had 3 athletic commits in 2011, and 22 commits in 2019. Also, the most represented sport among athletes going on to play at the collegiate level is football, with 30 college commits.

One Falcon football player from last year has had the opportunity to be part of one of the top college football teams in the nation. Josh Williams, class of 2019, has moved from tearing it up in SPC to suiting up with likely the best team of the 2019 season.

Williams described the buildup and culture of the nation’s No.1 team.

“As a team. we believed in Coach Orgeron’s beliefs and attitudes towards being the hardest working team in the country,” Williams said. “The leadership of our team captains guide us each and every day in the right direction.”

It is clear that in order to become the best and dominate the competition, a team must not only have talent, but a team must unify under a coach’s leadership.

What LSU has done in the 2019 season is truly historic, and the season has been headlined by the stellar performance of heisman hopeful QB Joe Burrow.

Burrow is second in passing in college football, with 4,336 passing yards, which sets the record for not only the most passing yards in a season in LSU’s history, but also in the SEC’s conference history.

LSU also is currently second in the nation in both yards per game and points scored per game. This elite offense has led LSU to an undefeated 12-0 season, with multiple impactful wins over fierce competition such as Texas, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama.

Being a part of the offensive roster of what many consider the best offense in the nation, as well as having a locker room presence in likely Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow,

STAR ALUMNI Josh Williams stands in LSU locker room.

Williams has experienced a true change in scenery from his days playing at Segal Field.

But he said having one of the top players in the nation in the locker room doesn’t change the culture at all, describing his team as “one heartbeat.”

The life of a college athlete, let alone a Division I college athlete, is one of great rigor.

When comparing the life of a

Photo by Josh Williams

Kinkaid student athlete to an LSU student athlete, Williams said it requires discipline.

“It’s a lot more hours on the field in college than at Kinkaid,” he said. “Your teachers don’t help you or care like [they do] at Kinkaid.”

Further elaborating on his days at Kinkaid and how they compare to his experience so far at LSU, Williams compared the

rivalry games of EHS and St. John’s to the big rivalry games of LSU and Alabama.

“It’s a lot more people at the games in college, but the tradition and history behind the rivalries like St. John’s and EHS are so much more meaningful” he said. There has been no lack of preparation from Kinkaid as other athletes like Williams have transitioned to the next level. Whether through experience in multiple rivalry and SPC championship games in football, to the rigor in the classroom, life as a student athlete at Kinkaid prepares those striving to take the next step.

Williams said the most important qualities that Kinkaid instilled in him was “study skills and a hard work ethic.”

When discussing what advice he would give to his high school self or another athlete looking to accomplish what he has from Kinkaid, he talked about his daily grind.

“I would tell myself not to take any days off because it’s a grind every day in college with busy schedules,” he said.

December 6, 2019 | The Kinkaid Falcon | SPORTS 19

or

d

: 4 - 2

13 players

ns

ilki u co rte vid

a f D

o sy

Vs. Episcopal H.S. Jan. 17, 2020

s

Vs. Houston Christian H.S. Jan. 10, 2020

utt

Upcoming games:

Sh

player from the class of 2023

sW ca Lu

By Nicole Fernandez

1

of

points per game on average

college commits in the past decade

oto

65

8

Ph

Boy’s Basketball

Rec

20 BACK PAGE | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 6, 2019

Before You Go

ELEMENTALS DANCE The four elements of fire, air, water, and earth join for the dance in front of the Upper School during the dance assembly. Junior Serena Thomspon is at the top of the pile, and along with two seniors represented the fire element during their production.

CAMELOT AT KINKAID Senior Nick Dillon, dressed as Merlin from the medievel ages, leads three seniors, Shianne Hale, Katelyn Gamble and Maggie Johnston during their Children’s Theater production. They put on a show in front of lower schoolers, and other young kids alike, called the Time Warp Trio.

SHOOTING HIS SHOT Sophomore Jordan Williams steps back and lets the ball fly off his fingers. The team was practicing and warming up before a big game at Goose Creek. The team has a strong roster of young stars, including Williams, and sophomore Ben Shaper.

A DISPLAY OF POINSETTAS Yellow and red poinsettas are on display in the lobby, creating a Christmas like display for all students, faculty and visitors to see as they enter the main entrance. The poinsettas are annually sold by freshman advisories, and generally are held in competition-like style.

UPcoming

Events

December 8

December 11

US Theater Showcase 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Concert and Reception

December 13

December 13

Math Final, start of finals

Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer vs.

KIPP Connect @ Segal Field

December 20 - January 6

December 19

Winter Holidays Break; no school for all students.

Last day of finals; makeup days on Thursday, Friday

January 7

Interim Term begins