The Kinkaid Falcon - Issue 3, Vol. 72 by The Falcon

FALCON

THE

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

COM·MUN·ITY /kəˈmyoonədē/ noun 2. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals. ex. “The holidays bring a sense of family, community and love.”

INSIDE

December 7, 2018 Volume 72, Issue 3

NEWS

2 | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

News In Brief

Winter teams off to hot starts after fall victories

Basketball, soccer, swimming and diving, and wrestling all kicked their seasons off in the last couple of weeks. Boys basketball is off to a rough start, going 1-6 in their ﬁrst seven games. Girls basketball, on the other hand, has started their season on a seven-game winning streak, including a 69-19 blowout win over St. Pius on Nov. 27. Boys soccer has had great

success so far, winning two games this past weekend. Girls soccer is 2-1 in their ﬁrst three games. Wrestling has started their season off with three fantastic performances in their ﬁrst few events. The swimming team had a great start to its season; the girls earned third and the boys, 13th, at the Tomball Big Cat Invitational.

African-American THE KINKAID heritage celebration coming up in February

FALCON

When Dr. Ed Trusty, interim headmaster, came to Kinkaid four years ago, he started the annual tradition of the “Celebration of African American Heritage,” which coincides with Black History Month. This is a program that celebrates and displays the noteworthy accomplishments and the impact of AfricanAmerican culture. This year’s celebration will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Students, faculty, staff and friends of the school are welcome to come and celebrate. Every year the program invites a guest speaker; this year’s speaker is Mr. Rodney Brisco, one of the ﬁrst African-American students to graduate from the Kinkaid School in the 70s. The celebration will also include a panel that has representation from the Kinkaid Lower, Middle and Upper schools, as well as faculty, staff and alumni.

Upcoming Dates and Events Sunday, December 9. Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Concert & Reception Thursday, December 13. Reading Day The football team, one of two fall SPC champions, celebrates its 41-21 win over Episcopal in the Fall SPC Championship. Hopefully, winter teams can have similar success. (Photo by David Schutts)

Photography students’ work selected to be displayed at Arts museum Four Kinkaid photography students – Soﬁa Bajwa (11), Callie Rosenthal (12), Madison Siff (12), and Michael Warren (12) – have been selected to have their photographs on display at the Contemporary Arts

Museum Houston (CAMH) in the upcoming Teen Council curated exhibition called “Shapeshifters.” The exhibition will be on display at the museum from March 2, 2019 until June 16, 2019.

Friday, December 14. Science Exams Monday, December 17. World Language Exams Tuesday, December 18. English Exams Wednesday, December 19. Mathematics Exams Thursday, December 20. (1 p.m.) History Exams and Makeup/Conflicts Friday, December 21. Makeup/Conflicts/Winter Break Begins Monday, January 7. Interim Term Begins Monday, January 21. MLK Day No School

Madison Siff Michael Warren

Callie Rosenthal Sofia Bajwa

February 14-16. Winter SPC Championships Friday, February 15. Faculty Professional Development Day, No School for students Tuesday, February 26. Kinkaid’s African-American Heritage Celebration

Compiled by Wilson Kelsey

staff

The Kinkaid Falcon’s mission is to be an accurate and reliable source of information for the Kinkaid community by informing readers about topics that are interesting, thought-provoking, and impactful from the school, local 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 use the contact form at thefalcon.kinkaid.org. Letters can be sent to: The Kinkaid School 201 Kinkaid School Dr. Houston, TX 77024 Corrections will be addressed on our website and published in the subsequent issue. Please direct advertising inquiries to nicole. fernandez@kinkaid.org. The opinions expressed in The Kinkaid 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 Emma Stout ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Kate Padon & Emma Gilliam ASSISTANT EDITOR Megha Neelapu NEWS EDITOR Ayush Krishnamoorti ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Megan Riley FEATURES EDITOR Madi Babine ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Olivia Marrus OPINION EDITORS Eliza Griggs & Maggie Johnston SPORTS EDITORS Sterling Elias & Jordan Jafarnia PHOTO EDITORS Sally Buck & Frankie Wimbish STAFF WRITERS Connor Blake Brady Brazda Sally Buck Sloan Colt Nicole Fernandez Mya Franklin Charles Garrison Lily Gunn Jordan Guy Kyla Henderson Wilson Kelsey Jack Klosek Allison Le Vedul Palavajjhala William Scott Chris Stallings Camila Vicens Ali Yousuf ADVISER Dr. Kimetris Baltrip

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 or megha.neelapu@kinkaid.org. Corrections in Issue 2, published Nov. 2, 2018: pg. 3: “Snapshots capture student involvement” Priscilla Mach (11) is not the not the president of the Student Leadership Diversity Board (SLDB); there is no president of officer positions on SLDB.

The Falcon is published six times a school year. Eight hundred free print copies are distributed to 613 Upper School students and 94 faculty members, and 235 copies are mailed to subscribers. The Kinkaid Falcon is a member of the CSPA and NSPA.

NEWS | December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon

Snapshots capture student involvement BY FRANKIE WIMBISH

Arusha Mehta (10) belt her heart out in one of the many performances of this year's coffee house. Many students sang accompanied by instrumentals, while others performed on instruments ranging from guitar, cello, flute and even an empty water jugs. 1

Photo by Frankie Wimbish

India Club celebrated a movie night with traditional Indian food and the movie, "The Namesake." India club members also held a seminar on Thursday, Dec. 6. The movie was a hit with many viewers, as it provided an insight into Indian culture that they previously had not seen. 2

Photo by Frankie Wimbish

Kinkaid art classes had the privilege of working with artist in residence Augirre Waddell. Ms. Megan Martin, art teacher, explained that students benefit much more from artists who work with students rather than a guest. The artist and students are able to create something unique together. 3

Photo by Ms. Megan Martin 4

Marilyn Nwora (12) joined other students to decorate gingerbread houses as a part of the Holiday Village, a first time event that the Fine Arts Leadership Board organized to accompany the creative writing readings and to open the holiday season. Photo by Dr. Kimetris Baltrip

Mission complete: Bush's legacy of devotion lives on 4

BY MAGGIE JOHNSTON “He was a token of perfection and we all wish that we could live up to a percentage of what he was,” Lauren Farish Chadwick said, reﬂecting on her godfather, the late President George Herbert Walker Bush. Along with his family, the U.S. has entered a period of mourning over the loss of President Bush on Nov. 30. The 41st president leaves behind loving family members, many of whom are a part of the Kinkaid family. He and his late wife, Mrs. Barbara Bush, had children who attended Kinkaid and three of their grandchildren are Kinkaid alumni.

“He was the human embodiment of love and now that love is with its original Source.” - Pierce Bush The 43rd U.S. president, George W. Bush, attended Kinkaid in eighth and ninth grade before ﬁnishing high school in Andover, Massachusetts, at the Phillips Academy Boarding School - the same school from which his father graduated. President Bush served as vice president of his freshmen class. Mr. Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, attended Kinkaid from ﬁfth to ninth grade, playing football and basketball his freshman year. He also went on to receive his high school diplo-

ma from the Phillips Academy Boarding School. Due to their family’s move to Washington D.C., the younger Bush sons, Marvin and Neil, left Kinkaid in middle school. While none of the Bush children received a high school diploma from Kinkaid, three of their grandchildren ultimately went on to become alumni: Lauren Pierce Bush in 2002, Pierce G.M. Bush in 2004 and Ashley Walker Bush in 2007. Ms. Lauren Pierce Bush, Neil Bush’s daughter, entered Kinkaid in second grade and throughout her high school experience she participated in a wide variety of activities, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis and dance. She was also a member of Governing Council, Spirit of Kinkaid, Spanish club and photography. Starting Kinkaid in Green Door, Ashley Bush excelled in academics, arts and athletics during her time in high school. Starting as class president her freshman year, she continued as a leader as President of Young Republicans Club and President of Community of Concern her senior year. She exhibited talent on the tennis courts, in the photography lab and on the stage of the Brown in her sophomore, junior and senior years. In Mr. Pierce Bush’s 12 years at Kinkaid, he founded the Republican Club, served as the student affairs chairman and was the Governing Council vice president his senior year. Additionally, he played volleyball, soccer and tennis, and wrote for The Falcon. Following in his grandparents footsteps, Pierce went on

Before curtain for the opening night of Kinkaid’s performance of “Brigadoon” in 1995, President George H. W. Bush sat for a photo with the show’s directors, Mr. Scott Lambert and Ms. Patty Edwards (sitting), and its assistant director, Ms. Elisabeth Beck (back right). “President Bush made a cameo appearance in the show,” explained Mr. Lambert, who is now director of Visual and Performing Arts. “He walked on stage at the beginning of the musical with his golf clubs and said something to the effect of 'Can someone point me towards St. Andrews?’” (The play takes place in a mythical Scottish Village.)

to dedicate his life to bettering the city of Houston as he serves as the chief executive ofﬁcer of nonproﬁt Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. Mr. Pierce Bush shared a message about how close he was to his “Gampy” in a post on Instagram. “He was always the best grandfather a kid could ask for. Fun and always inclusive of everyone. Never mean or angry. Always kind and thoughtful and loving,” he wrote. “As long as I shall live, my heart will always beat with the love Gampy poured into me. He was the

human embodiment of love and now that love is with its original Source.” President George H.W. Bush was a man of honor, character and love. “No matter who you talked to they would say that he made them feel like such an important person,” said his goddaughter Farish Chadwick. “He was an incredibly loyal man who made time for everyone. I do not believe anyone in the world to say something negative about him.” His devotion to the country that he spent his life serving began at age 18 when he enlisted

in the U.S. Navy Reserve. His bravery while serving as the youngest pilot during World War II and his perseverance after being shot down over the Pacific earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. Starting as the chairman of the Republican Party of Harris County in 1964, Bush’s political service to the nation lasted over 30 years. Before becoming president, he worked as an ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee, chief of the Liaison Office in China, and the director of Central Intelligence. His bridge to the presidency was marked by his election as vice president under President Ronald Reagan. Bush was elected to the nation’s highest office in November 1988. After his retirement from politics, President Bush and his wife Barbara focused on their loved ones and devoted their time and energy to supporting both literacy and cancer research, managing to raise more than $1 billion for charity after leaving the White House. While the nation mourns for President George H.W. Bush, his family is certain that he was ready to reunite with his beloved wife Barbara who passed in April 2018, and his daughter, Robin, who died of leukemia at age 3. The president and his wife had been married for 73 years at the time of her passing. He will be buried alongside Barbara and Robin at the presidential library in College Station, Texas.

4 NEWS | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

Teacher shawdowing program

Governing Council focuses on ways to improve the homework load BY BRADY BRAZDA

The Governing Council started a program last year that focused on students and their daily schedules, allowing faculty to become more aware of their busy schedules. The Teacher-Shadowing Program has helped kickstart the discussion between students and teachers to make improvements on pressing topics involving a student life a Kinkaid. May Moorﬁeld (12) serves as this year’s curriculum committee chair for the Governing Council and has focused the council’s efforts on expanding the teacher-shadowing program with this year’s focus: the homework load. This Teacher-Student Shadowing Program helps bridge the gap between teachers and students to help improve various aspects of a Kinkaid student’s day. The program is in its second year, but its leaders are looking to expand it and encourage students and teachers alike to serve as volunteers. “The program serves as an empathy exercise between students and teachers by creating a greater awareness of student life at Kinkaid,” Mooreﬁeld said. Any student can participate in it and the program’s leaders like to have a wide variety of students to match with teachers.

The council wants to have a diverse group of students to get better results for this program. This means that some of the students who will participate will take all AP classes, some will be more focused on athletics, and some will be somewhere in between. A teacher is matched with a student from each grade level and shadows the student throughout the day. Homework load is always a hot topic at Kinkaid and the program this year hopes to address and relieve some of the issues surrounding homework such as workload and difficulty. Teachers and students alike will come to a better understanding of the homework system after this year’s shadowing day is completed. After the shadowing day, the students and teachers who participated in the exercise will be asked to fill out a survey reflecting on the day. Some of the questions on the survey this year will be: “How many hours of homework does your shadow student have on average?” and “What teaching style keeps you most engaged?” With this feedback, the Governing Council will then discuss meaningful changes that will help students get their homework done and still have time to participate in athletics and arts at Kinkaid. It also serves

as a good way to gauge just how much effort teachers and students alike put into certain areas involving the classroom. Addressing these topics will help improve the Kinkaid Upper School so that the students and teachers alike can beneﬁt more.

For history, Belle Martire led the way with this program last year, which was meant to address the same concerns that students have currently. Many of the students, such as Molly Ribbeck (11), cited that the program was “a delight to

be a part of, especially because I knew I was providing guidance for others in the future.” She followed up her statement by saying that “hopefully, my experience can be instrumental in the future and many can beneﬁt from it.”

“This program serves as an empathy exercise between students and teachers by creating a greater awareness of student life at Kinkaid,” Moorefield said. Photo by Emma Stout

The continuous growing cost of education As tuition rises, many wonder where the money goes BY MADI BABINE

As of 2018, the approximate cost for one student to go through 12 years of school at Kinkaid is $355,750. That’s an estimated 28 percent increase over the cost of tuition five years ago. And each year, the tuition continues to rise. The Upper School has reached almost $28,000 for the 2018-19 school year. According to the Private School Review, the average tuition for a private school in Texas is $10,413. That said, in the past 10 years, “50 percent of schools increased tuition 30 percent or more in real dollars,” said William Daughtrey in a report on “Tuition Trends in Independent Day Schools.” As a result of this, how are Kinkaid’s rising costs being used? Mrs. Joanne Margraves, chief financial officer, said Kinkaid must keep up with new technology and maintenance as well as “efforts to enhance and improve the experience of the students.” According to the 2018 Kinkaid Spring Magazine, Kinkaid made

$37.1 million in tuition in the 2017-18 school year, along with another $3 million in donations. However, about 67 percent of this tuition money, nearly 30 million dollars, was spent on Kinkaid’s operating budget, which provides for salaries and security, expansion of the facility, and maintenance of the land. But where is the other third of the money going? Mrs. Margraves stated that

a majority of the money goes toward new technology devices, as well as the general upkeep of them. With the cost of tuition, Kinkaid is able to provide each middle schooler with a laptop, as well as dozens of desktops in classrooms available for students to use. Mrs. Margraves said in addition to technology funds, over 12 percent of students are given financial aid, which amounts to over $4 million of Kinkaid’s annual budget. Regarding the percentage of students provided with financial aid, Kinkaid falls behind by about 3 percent as compared to others in the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). Although “[the financial aid] increases proportionally with tuition…

[Kinkaid’s endowment of over $100 million] generates income every year… which includes endowments specifically for financial aid to provide support to students who wouldn’t be able to attend Kinkaid otherwise,” Mrs. Margraves said. According to the 2018 Kinkaid Spring Magazine, The Kinkaid School Endowment was established in 1958. Its bylaws state that the endowment is used “primarily, [to] assist the school in obtaining the services of and in continuing to employ the best-qualified teachers, in maintaining high academic standard, and in offering exceptional educational opportunities to its students; second, [to] provide financial assistance to deserving students who might not otherwise attend the school; and third, [to] promote in any and all other ways the educational purposes and general welfare of the school.” Through its 60 years, the endowment has added up to over $107.4 million, providing Kinkaid with over $33 million in support. About 10 percent of Kinkaid’s budget is used for distribution from the endowment to the school year. Despite receiving about $44.6 million in total income in the 2017-18 school year, Mrs. Margraves explained how the net income of about $21,000 goes into the capital reserve; however, a lot of the time, there

is no leftover money. The capital reserve is used to maintain the campus and Kinkaid saves money mostly every year to complete and replace large projects such as the turf on the football ﬁeld. The capital reserve also enables Kinkaid to be prepared to handle the costs - general maintenance - if there are no donations. For the upcoming school years, Mrs. Margraves explained that tuition will most likely continue to rise, adding that for every year of the 26 she has worked at Kinkaid, there has been an increase because the school’s annual budget comprises salary and beneﬁts for teachers and staff. The school aims keep salaries appropriately aligned and competitive so that it can continue to attract the best faculty for its students. Despite rising costs, Kinkaid shies away from charging full tuition. “The endowment (and donations) has allowed us to keep our tuition lower and not charge the full cost of Kinkaid,” Mrs. Margraves said. She noted that the tuition is very competitive when compared to other independent schools. “We are very blessed to have such a large endowment and community that is very generous with their donations,” Mrs. Margraves said.

ARTS & CULTURE

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon

Escaping the chilly weather with city’s best hot chocolate BY MEGAN RILEY & MAGGIE JOHNSTON Toasty hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies and peppermint-flavored everything. The holiday season is surrounded by distinct flavors and desserts. Last holiday season, the hot cocoa and hot chocolate production reached a record-breaking high of $893 million in revenue, according to IBISWorld. Over the past five years, the industry and the number of employ-

ees in the business has rapidly grown by 2.3 percent. From silky, peppermint hot chocolate to a rich, hazelnut flavor, there’s an abundance of these delicious drinks to choose from. This season, we traveled around Houston to try to find the best hidden delicacy. The first place we visited was Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, in Town & Country Village. From the moment we walked in, the place was bustling with customers craving the delicious items on the restaurant’s menu. Kindly greeted by our

The hot chocolate at CoCo Crepes, Waffles & Coffee is topped off by a tasty layer of foam. Photo by Maggie Johnston.

server, we were informed that the “Snooze Hot Chocolate” was a house specialty. The hot chocolate was creamy and had a hint of cinnamon for an elevated, spiced flavor. Topped with their homemade whipped cream and sprinkled with cocoa powder, there was no doubt why this beverage was such a fan favorite. Much recommended, this mug of toasty hot chocolate was $3. The second venue we visited was the acclaimed creperie, Sweet Paris. Most customers come here to enjoy their heavenly crepes, but often overlook the hot chocolate menu. Upon arriving, we were recommended to try the “Nutella Hot Chocolate.” Curated in a latte mug, this beverage definitely had an “Instagrammable aspect.” The taste was rich and velvety with each sip; the warm hazelnut flavor added the perfect kick for a not-your-average hot chocolate. Topped with foam and whipped cream, this drink is recommended for someone who is looking for a super strong chocolatey flavor. This lovely cup of joy costs $3.95. The venue we were most excited about was one we had never heard of – CoCo: Crepes, Waffles and Coffee. This chain restaurant has nine locations in

the greater Houston area, therefore, we figured we had to give it a try. We went to the location closest to school, off Washington Avenue. We were ecstatic about the idea of having yummy crepes and hot chocolate for breakfast. Their hot chocolate is made from dark chocolate, served with no whip cream. Typically not a dark chocolate fan, we really enjoyed this hot chocolate; the flavors were classic and creamy. We recommend CoCo: Crepes, Waffles and Coffee for hot chocolate, but not for a meal. The idea of a crepe accompanying a nice cup of hot chocolate was fanciful, but the outcome was not. Both of our meals were quite the opposite of enjoyable, but we both enjoyed the hot chocolate tremendously. Our last location was Bouchée Pâtisserie, the bakery within the Post Oak Hotel that specializes in gourmet pastries and coffee. Upon entering, we were both in awe of the ambiance, it felt as though we had

Snooze an A.M. Eatery serves up a tall glass of hot chocolate with a thick layer of whipped cream on top. Photo by Maggie Johnston.

entered a Christmas wonderland. The Christmas music; the accommodating, kind servers; and the bright pops of color in every corner all provided an incredible atmosphere that immediately swept us into the holiday spirit. The hot chocolate had a delicate milk chocolate ﬂavor and was topped with cocoa covered whipped cream, giving it a mouthwatering appearance. Visitors here can joy a macaroon, a scoop of gelato or a quiche with their mug of delectable hot chocolate. This tasty cup of hot chocolate was $3.50. This was by far the most festive holiday hot chocolate.

Something sweet for Santa, but it’s not cookies

BY ALLISON LE

The holidays aren’t complete without a little treat either made at home or bought from a store. Friends and family can come together and bond over baking these three recipes.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Simply the Best from Barbara McKay.

Toffee Photo and recipe courtesy of Like Mother Like Daughter.

Peppermint Fudge 1. Unwrap and crush 2 cups of candy canes or peppermints. The smaller the pieces, the better. 2. Line a 9x9 or 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or foil. Keep in mind that a 9x9 pan will make 1 ½ inch pieces. Overlap the sides so that they are easy to take out later. 3. Melt 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips and one 14-ounce can of condensed milk in a very large microwavable bowl, in 15-second increments (around 1 minute total), stirring frequently with a spatula until melted. 4. Quickly stir in 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract with a spatula. Adding ¼ teaspoon of sea salt in this step or the next is optional. 5. Spread out into the pan and sprinkle the crushed candy canes or peppermints and press them into the fudge. If sea salt was not used in the previous step, it can be sprinkled over the fudge in this step. 6. Place in refrigerator for about one hour or until firm. 7. Cut and store in a covered container at room temperature

Photo by Emma Stout; recipe courtesy of Le Creme de la Crumb.

Peppermint Bark

English Toffee

1. Crush 2 cups of candy canes or peppermints. The smaller the pieces, the better. 2. Line a 9x13 or 9x12 pan with parchment paper so it fits inside the longer side of the pan. Make sure the paper overlaps this side of the pan, so it’s easy to remove afterward. A 9x13 pan will make thinner peppermint bark, while a 9x12 one will ensure that all of the corners are covered and heavily layered. 3. Melt 1 ½ cups of dark chocolate chips in a large microwaveable bowl. Microwave the bowl in 30-second increments, stir with a small spoon or rubber spatula and repeat until there is smooth consistency. 4. Pour the melted dark chocolate on the parchment paper, spread the chocolate with the small spoon or spatula, so that it is covering as much as the pan as possible. 5. Melt 1 cup of white chocolate chips with the same steps used to melt the dark chocolate chips. After the chocolate is smooth, pour it on top of the dark chocolate. Smooth it out with a new spoon or rubber spatula. It’s best to do this step while the white chocolate is still very soft. 6. Quickly sprinkle the peppermint pieces over the pan and press into the mixture with a rubber spoon 7. Let the peppermint bark harden in the refrigerator for two to three hours, then break the candy into pieces. Store the bark in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

1. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper so it fits along the length of the pan. Make sure the paper overlaps this side of the pan so it’s easy to remove afterward. 2. Mix ¾ cup of whole raw almonds and ⅔ cup of chopped pecans in the bottom of the pan. Toasting the almonds in a separate pan before is optional. Do not toast the pecans; they will burn! 3. Melt 1 cup of cubed unsalted butter, 1 cup of granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a tall heavy-bottom saucepan on medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon. After the butter melts completely, turn the heat to medium-high and stir for 9-15 minutes until the mixture turns a golden brown color. 4. Pour it out into the pan and spread it with a spoon to cover as much of the pan as possible. Tilt the pan at multiple angles to spread out the caramel as much as possible if necessary. 5. Quickly sprinkle 1 cup of milk chocolate chips into the pan and lightly press down with a rubber spatula and repeat with 1 cup of milk chocolate chips so the chocolate melts evenly. 6. Wait 1-2 minutes before spreading out the chocolate with the spatula and sprinkling ¼ cup of almonds and ⅓ cup of pecans over the chocolate and lightly pressing them down into the chocolate. 7. Cool in the fridge for two to three hours, then break and store it in a container.

6 ARTS & CULTURE | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

Holiday Happenings

Light-wrapped palm trees outline Highland Village; holly leaves climb up the sides of Starbucks holiday cups; it’s stirringly brisk. December is a time of anticipation, a time of cheer, community and love. How, however, are we supposed to have holiday cheer while struggling to finalize college applications, complete overdue homework, pay credit bills, finalize preparations for the new year, purchase Christmas gifts, buy, send, pick up, call…. Here are four cheap, easy holiday activities that can fit between daily tasks without stealing the joy of the few final weeks before the holidays.

BY EMMA STOUT

A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theater

Photo courtesy of The Alley Theater

Outdoor Movie at The Square

This season, the Alley Theater in downtown Houston will be retelling the classic Charles Dickens story, “A Christmas Carol.” The tale follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with three ghostly spirits who visit him on Christmas Eve in London in 1843 and show him the true magic of Christmas. “[It] instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season,” says the Alley Theater. The play’s showings began Nov. 16 and will end on Dec. 30. For students, tickets are $16 with a student ID for non-prime nights. (Prime performances are Friday and Saturday night, as well as Sunday matinees.) Additionally, the Alley Theater will be offering $10 tickets for theatergoers who bring a new or gently used book, which will be donated to Literacy Advance of Houston.

tesy cour Photo

e.org of Fe

Iceskating at Discovery Green

Christmas lights in River Oaks River Oaks Boulevard’s name is quite apropos. The street is lined with rows of towering oaks and a uniform dispural of brick, limestone and slate mansions tucked away in the bushes. This makes it the perfect destination for Christmas light touring. In mid-November, the houses start hanging their cascading lights, delicately placing wreaths, and blowing up giant Christmas-characters. If you don’t have time during the night, the houses themself make for great spectacles during the day with their garlands and wreaths. The street extends from the River Oaks Country Club to Westheimer; however, any of the streets in the surrounding area are sure to have spectacular light sights. And, it’s completely free!

Grab a mug of hot chocolate, a bag of popcorn, a couple of friends, and plenty of fuzzy blankets to enjoy an outdoor movie showing at Memorial City Mall for free. Film showings are every Friday night at 7 at the Square on a large 24’ x 14’ HDTV screen. The Square is located outside across from the indoor Ice Rink at Memorial City Mall. It includes pillows and chairs in addition to a large, decorated Christmas tree. In the past, they have shown popular films including “Elf,” “The Polar Express,” and “Love Actually.” Upcoming films are scheduled: “Arthur Christmas” on Dec. 7, “The Santa Clause” on Dec. 14, and “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 21.

mma

by E Photo

Stout

Photo courtesy of youtube.com

This is another great cheap option, sure to get you in the holiday and winter spirit. General admission tickets for ICE and discovery green are $11 and an additional $4 for skate rental. The rink is open from Nov. 16, 2018 until Jan. 27, 2019, so there is plenty of time to go during the new year as well. Discovery Green is a great alternative to skating at the Galleria or Memorial City Mall because it is the only outdoor rink in Houston, an event that is never available during the warm Houston months. Additionally, the rink is surrounded by a multitude of colored lights and Christmas decorations. After you have finished skating, you can also enjoy the rest of the 12-acre park with free admission, which includes various art installations and outdoor seating areas. It is located just off of Highway 59 across from the George R. Brown Convention center. You can park at any of the the surrounding garages or metered space in the downtown area, or at the Avenida Central Garage located in Discovery Green, with a brief walk to the Ice Rink, which is only $5 parking for two hours.

Writer’s BLOCK

Not until I looked closer did I notice my love’s imperfections.

Lupine BY GUEST WRITER, NICHOLAS MEDINA (12)

Her beautiful pale skin,

Reckless, lonely anger twisted my form

not smooth

into that of a monster.

but riddled with blemishes of various sizes.

My skin, covered in the hair of a beast.

Her hypnotic gaze

My skull, contorted like that of a dog’s.

an illusion,

My stature, hunched and grotesque.

a reflection of someone she sought to flatter. Conscious of my cruelty. Betrayed and furious,

my neglect of the heavenly body I once loved,

I pushed her away.

I begged for her return.

She sought a new life up above,

Yet my incessant howls did nothing

leaving me to sulk the earth.

to dissuade her return.

OPINION

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | OPINION 7

Helic

pter parents

Overbearing parents may be a threat to the success of a generation BY ELIZA GRIGGS

texting and calling is admittedly just an innocent gesture When high schoolers’ coming from a concerned parents were children their parent. parents may have said “go out What becomes concerning is and play and be back by dinner when parents resort to reading time.” Most children were their child’s text messages allowed to go outside to play or physically tracking their and wander the neighborhood children from their phone with and most teenagers stayed out for unspeciﬁed hours with their apps such as “Life360” or “Find my iPhone.” These availfriends. able apps are free and allow But many Kinkaid students parents to track their child at can agree that parents nowaall times through their phone. days are overprotective and Young children, of course, track teenager’s every move. require a large amount of 2018 is a different time. supervision from their parents People no longer feel combecause they are too young to fortable letting their kids make wise decisions on their roam outside. However, this own. However, teenage years is arguably misguided. The warrant a certain amount of world has never and will never independence. The role of be completely safe, but that parents to teenagers should be does not mean that parents should keep their children from to make sure their teenager is healthy and happy. However, experiencing it. Technology is helicopter parents make it their a signiﬁcant factor in the apresponsibility to make crucial parent change between parents decisions for their teenager and then and parents now. Because never let him or her out of their parents have a better grasp on sight. If children are barred their child’s whereabouts, they from making any bad decisions feel as though they can control as teenagers, then they will them. enter adulthood without havIn the “good old days” when ing learned valuable lessons parents did not have a way to through making mistakes at a reach their children when they young age. were out, they had no choice “We want so badly to help but to trust that their child was safe. Now, parents can text and them by shepherding them from milestone to milestone call to interrogate their chiland by shielding them from dren: Where are you? Who are failure and pain. But overyou with? When will you be helping causes harm. It can home? Are you with a member leave young adults without of the opposite sex? Have you the strengths of skill, will and been drinking? However, the

of the opportunity of self disfriends in school.” Because covery at a young age. overprotected children tend to In addition, a study at the be socially awkward, they are Center for Collegiate Mental also easy targets to bullies. In Health at Penn State University, addition, researchers from the based on a survey of more than University College London 100,000 students, suggests that found that people who said that, significant source of anxiety during childhood, their parents and depression in college had intruded their privacy and students is overprotective encouraged dependence were, or “helicopter” parents. It has as adults, more likely to have been suggested that children low scores in surveys of hapwho were sheltered by their piness and general well being. parents grow into adults who A Pew Research survey further possess a low tolerance to found that “40 percent of 18adversity, poor social skills, a to 24-year-olds currently live lack of independence, and a with their parents, and the vast difficulty making decisions for majority of them say they did themselves. These children are not move back home because character that are needed to also very uncomfortable in the of economic conditions.” know themselves and to craft face of change and unfamiliar It is true that maybe not all a life,” argued Julie Lythsituations. high schoolers experience this, cott-Haims in her book, “How Overprotective parents but some find themselves holed to Raise an Adult: Break Free undermine a child’s deciaway at home on a Friday of the Overparenting Trap and night, not because they don’t Prepare Your Kid for Success.” sion-making abilities and damage their confidence by have something to do but beParents have their child’s making many of their child’s cause their parents don’t allow best interest in mind, but high decisions for them and leading them out past 8:30. schoolers are teenagers who them to believe that they are Additionally, some stuwill soon be going off to coldents spend all their free time lege and helicopter parents may incompetent and unable to achieve anything on their own. studying because the pressure be hindering their ability to to succeed is too great and make wise decisions when they Research by the American sometimes it is the same are unsupervised and no longer Psychological Association shows that “children with children who find themselves have their parents around to helicopter parents may be less incredibly uncomfortable in tell them what to do. able to deal with challenging social situations. Teenage years are vital demands of growing up,” said People learn from expefor self discovery. Teenagers Nicole B. Perry, leader of the rience, and if parents shield should be able to experience teenagers from gaining expenew things and learn what they study. She also concluded that riences and making mistakes love and what they don’t love. “children who cannot regulate their emotions and behavior as children, then they will be However, overbearing parents effectively are more likely to unprepared and unequipped to often take these life changinghandle adversities that might decisions into their own hands; act out in the classroom, to have a harder time making be thrown at them as adults. therefore, depriving their child

Parents try so hard to make sure that their children succeed, but the success of a child is something that needs to be achieved by the child.

Letter from the editor

As we’ve historically seen, for a concept to be implemented into society there must be more than simply legislature or mandates to actualize it. Dialectically speaking, a thesis is proposed, an antithesis counteracts it, and a synthesis is reached between the two. Take the Civil Rights movement in America as an example – whites and blacks are separate but equal; whites and blacks are equal; segregation is not lawfully permitted. OK, let’s try another. Homosexuals are inferior to heterosexuals; homosexuals are equal to heterosexuals; gay marriage is legal. All of this legislature is a

great step against discrimination; however, do we actually see this being implemented in our society? In our schools? I so often hear the phrase, “That’s gay” throughout our hallways in reference to things that are not even related, and I see microaggressive forms of discrimination in modern politics. For our culture to actually adopt and welcome change, people must embrace it themselves. Simply verbally supporting the legalization of gay marriage, for instance, is not sufﬁcient enough to implement these values in our culture. Saying “I support gay marriage” at the dinner table while saying “that’s gay” to your friends seems to be contradictory statements in theory. The purpose of the legislature is to equalize the two; however, how can this be attained if we are constantly othering them behind scenes? To put a magnifying glass on this, three large high schools that Kinkaid has relations with – St. John’s, Memori-

al and Lamar – have GSA (gay-straight-alliance) clubs. Why does this not exist at Kinkaid? I assume that it is not because there are no LGBTQ at our school or because people are homophobic. So, does this imply that being LGBTQ is taboo at our school? Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it does. If so, then why is this still the case when it is a prevalent-enough topic and there is no legislation that directly discriminates against LGBTQ? Now, this doesn’t imply that if a concept goes against your religious or personal beliefs that your own moral codes should be changed to ﬁt those of the majority; however, one’s beliefs should not overshadow those of others. There is more to acceptance than simply naming or recognizing something. For a synthesis to be fulﬁlled, the people, the citizens, must welcome it. Sincerely, Emma Stout

Got Opinions? Write for The Falcon.

Email maggie.johnston@kinkaid.org, eliza.griggs@kinkaid.org or student.publications@kinkaid.org.

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Submit it to our website.

Email emma.stout@kinkaid.org or student. publications@kinkaid.org to have your media, print, visual, or film art uploaded to our website.

8 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

The Split: Celebrating is a matter of timing BY STERLING ELIAS It’s mid-October and I can’t even drive down my Tanglewood cul-de-sac without being held up for three full minutes by the workers at my neighbor’s house blocking the street to hang Christmas lights in the oak tree in their front lawn. I walk through the Kinkaid hallway during the ﬁrst week of November and I hear Christmas music blasting from the speakers of students sitting in the Senior Cove. I can’t even watch 10 minutes of television without being bombarded by Christmas commercials when it is not even yet Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong; I love Christmas. The music, the food, the weather, and the holiday cheer shared by everyone makes it one of the most magical times of the year. The issue is that when some or all those aspects encroach on other parts of the year, it detracts from the spirit that comes around during Christmas time. It’s like ice cream: People love ice cream. But if they eat it every single day of the year, they’re going to gain a lot of weight, feel sick all the time, and probably have some serious health issues. Just like holiday music isn’t good when it’s 90 degrees outside, candy canes don’t taste good when they’re melted in the summer, and the scent of Christmas trees makes you nauseous

when it’s the only thing you smell all year long. Perhaps the biggest reason that the “Christmas Creep” starts sooner every year is the commercialization of the holidays: companies exploit the giving nature of the holidays by advertising all their products as holiday essentials throughout the entire last quarter of the year, and often even the third quarter as well. The early start to the holiday season combined with big companies’ exploitation of the season fosters a dynamic in which people can’t enjoy the holidays and instead are flooded with thoughts of stress and money. As the season lasts even longer every year and these feelings last longer, the holiday season, once filled with joy, now brings about dread more than anything else every year. The holidays should last three weeks. Four max. Keeping it short and sweet enables us to enjoy the time when family comes in from out of town, when holiday music fills the air and bright lights illuminate every neighborhood in Houston. It should be a time when just driving around River Oaks and looking at lights counts as an evening activity because that in itself is enough fun for an entire night.

BY NICOLE FERNANDEZ Decorations of wreaths and shiny ornaments ﬁll store windows and street lights topped off with a spectacular array of white, red and green, and blinking lights signal that Christmas is here. As one of the most popular holidays, Christmas should start to be celebrated early to take in the full effect of the holiday season. The wonderful atmosphere that the holidays provide come around once a year and revelers should make it last as long as they can, to admire the lights and decorations, eat special holiday treats and hear favorite seasonal songs. This wonderful time of the year would be incomplete without the things that make it so joyus and full of cheer. One of the most popular Christmas decorators for the stars is Jeff Leatham, who is based in Los Angeles Leatham began displaying his Christmas installments all over the world on Nov. 4. Last year, singer Nick Jonas released his Christmas music the ﬁrst week of November. Holiday music begins playing on radio stations and Hallmark Christmas movies begin airing in late October. On a local level, many shopping centers and stores put out decorations in

late October or early November. They bring the holidays in with bright, sparkly lights and laughter. Highland Village, for instance, places its big red bows on top of stores and hangs lights upon all the surrounding palm trees as well as provides 20 percent off many of the stores for the Holiday Shopping Card. The Holiday Shopping Card began Oct. 18 and it’s all about getting people to start Christmas shopping. A major Christmas shopping event in Houston, The Nutcracker Market, was in mid-November. The holiday season is welcomed by events, parties and promotions in October and November, and that holiday spirit should be carried on until Christmas day. People should join in on the early celebration. The holiday season ofﬁcially begins at the end of Halloween and continues to New Year’s Day. Limiting the holiday season and all that comes with it is preposterous. We must encourage everyone to embrace the joyous holiday spirit. The holiday spirit should not be silenced. Holidays are times that are meant to be cherished because they come at a time of the year when people everywhere celebrate the virtues of kindness, compassion and allaround cheer.

Illustration by Priscilla Mach

Rehearsing plays and running plays at the same time can make athletes and artists collide.

he more you read, the worse it gets. In the past year, there have been multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against three of 31 Texas state senators. Most recently, the Georgetown Republican Sen. Charles Schwertner was accused of sending lewd texts to a graduate student at the University of Texas-Austin. According to UT ofﬁcials who spoke to the Austin American-Statesman without authorization, after meeting at an on-campus event, Sen. Schwertner and the student began messaging each other about networking and career advice when the senator without warning wrote an inappropiate comment and sent an image that was seemingly a picture he had taken in the shower. The student reported the incident to the university, which started an investigation into the matter. Sen. Schwertner “categorically denies any knowledge of the accusations leveled against him,” said his campaign spokesman Mr. Tom Holloway in a statement. When asked to comment by the Texas Tribune, the few of Sen. Schwertner’s colleagues who responded largely echoed the sentiments of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who employed a waitand-see approach. The two other men, Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, and former Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio (who resigned on unrelated charges of fraud) were also accused of sexual misconduct. In a staggering number of incidents that the Daily Beast reported on, female interns, staffers, lobbyists and political consultants have experienced sexual harassment. Sen. Miles was accused of repeatedly calling women derogatory names, catcalling them, touching them inappropriately, and forcibly kissing them. In one story, an anonymous journalist who talked to the Daily Beast spoke about how in 2011, Miles forcibly kissed her and then laughed afterwards. He pursued her multiple times, even escalating to following her around the House ﬂoor, according to her editor at the time who corroborated her story. He has gained a reputation for violent behavior in the past years as a representative in the house and as a senator. Stories include the senator pulling out his gun, threatening to physically harm people, and many times both.

The most shocking open sexism in the Capitol While sexual harassment is often swept under the rug, there is no shortage of public sexist comments to choose

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon |OPINION 9 An anonymous Democratic state representative (who is in a different district than Sen. Miles and has never run against him) said to the Daily Beast that he was “physically afraid” of the senator. Others who worked in the Capitol have corroborated his portrayal of him. Although Sen. Miles did not respond to The Daily Beast when they asked for comment, he released a statement the day after the article was published denying the accusations and calling for action on developing sexual harassment policies in the Texas legislature. One anonymous political consultant spoke to the Daily Beast about not only how Sen. Miles touched her inappropriately but also about sexual harassment from former Sen. Uresti. “[Mr. Uresti] was one of the worst,” she said. “He would check me out all the time… He gave me inappropriate hugs. He put his hands on me, he ogled me. I would not get in an elevator with him. If members were having dinner and he was going to be there, I stopped going.” Multiple other sources told the Daily Beast that Mr. Uresti harassed female staffers and journalists on a consistent basis. The former senator told the Daily Beast that these allegations were false, and like Sen. Miles, called for a revision of sexual harassment policy in the Texas senate. The responses that other senators gave to the allegations toward Sen. Miles and Mr. Uresti did not differ much in their response to Sen. Schwertner. Yet, these three senators are only the beginning. As one anonymous former staffer told the Tribune, sexual harassment in the Capitol is “as common as hello.” Women who worked in the Capitol — journalists, staffers, lawmakers — survived through a whisper community, warning each other of men to be wary of. In 2016, one of these women created a “Burn Book of Bad Men.” The spreadsheet listed the names of 38 men which were contributed by an unknown number of anonymous women, ranging from more recent allegations to those that occurred 20 years ago. Ms. Olivia Messer, currently a writer for the Daily Beast, wrote an article in the Texas Observer about sexism in the Texas Legislature in 2013. She alleged that she “en-

2009

Former Republican Sen. Troy Fraser tells former Sen. Wendy Davis that he “has trouble hearing women’s voices.”

2013

Republicans Rep. Jodie Laubenberg and former Rep. Vicki Truitt, faced literal catcalls in a debate about payday lending. Yes, legislators actually shrieked “meow”—but instead of calling out the male lawmakers, the chairman admonished the two women, saying, “Ladies, please keep this civil.”

RAMPANT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN TEXAS LEGISLATURE The sheer amount of sexual misconduct is horrifying and it’s not being fixed fast enough BY MEGHA NEELAPU countered a string of subtle but demeaning comments” and “was often fending off advances like [she] was in a bar.” “What surprised me was how many women who work in the Capitol — legislators, staffers, lobbyists, other reporters —felt the same way. Everyone, it seemed, had a story or anecdote about being objectified or patronized,” she wrote. Ms. Messer’s interviews with Democrat and Republican female lawmakers revealed vulgar antics from male lawmakers, including “ogling women on the Senate floor,” “watching porn on iPads and on stateowned computers,” “hitting on female staffers or using them to help them meet women,” and the “hundreds of little comments in public and private that women had to brush off.” After stories from the Daily Beast and the Tribune broke, both the House and the Senate revised their sexual harassment policies. The new House policy,

2011

created by members of the House Administration Committee, explicitly outlines sexual harassment, includes multiple internal and external complaint options for victims, and dedicates a section to condemning retaliation against victims of sexual harassment, among other things. Perhaps most notably, the policy also has training for staff and lawmakers. But there are significant issues as well. First is Rep. Charlie Geren, the Chair of the House Administration Committee (which only has two women on the committee, neither of which are leaders of it). When asked by the Tribune how his committee manages sexual harassment complaints, he said, “There’s nothing to talk about because we don’t have any,” Rep. Geren said. “I don’t deal in ifs. When there’s one I’ll handle it. And that’s it.” Later he said that there had been “a few” sexual harassment complaints to him, countering his original seemingly flippant statement. The Chair of the House Administration Committee is recommended as the first internal resource for victims to report an allegation of sexual harassment by a member of the House. Second, the House’s sexual harassment training is laughably insufficient. The Texas Observer obtained and then published the less than 18-minute video, which is a PowerPoint presentation with a voiceover and begins explaining what constitutes sexual harassment in the first minute with a clip from the popular TV show “The Office” in a vain attempt at humor. Experts say that effective trainings should involve face-toface interaction and be several hours long. The Senate similarly creat-

mandates online training for new employees within their first 30 days. Moreover, the new policy pointedly indicates that senators will not involve themselves in investigations of other senators. Instead investigations will be carried out by the human resources department and “impartial attorneys.” Still, with both chamber policies, multiple glaring issues remain. Training can’t be required of individual lawmakers, so those like Sen. Miles may not participate in the training at all. Even worse, in the rare cases that sexual harassment complaints are filed, they are destroyed in the House after just five years after and in the Senate seven years after, so it’s difficult to show patterns of repeated behavior as is prevalent in the Capitol. And what is most bleak is that legislators can’t really face consequences for their behavior. Unlike, for example, former Sen. Al Franken who faced public pressures to resign, state representatives are rarely held accountable. Sen. Charles Schwertner won re-election this year. Mr. Uresti probably would’ve won too. Sen. Miles was re-elected in 2016, and popular Democrats in the state have supported him, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S. House Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and former U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke. Voters don’t pay attention and continue to elect the same deplorable, complicit, and complacent people into office. Nothing changes. During the time that the sexual misconduct occurred for these women, many of them chose not to report it because they feared that it would put their careers in jeopardy. Even during the current Me Too Movement: most of the women interviewed by the Daily Beast and the Tribune chose to Voters don’t pay remain anonymous because they attention and were scared of retaliation. continue to elect the Under the pink dome of the Capitol, less than one-fourth of same deplorable, lawmakers are women. complicit, and Even after the 2018 midterm complacent people elections, when a record number into office. Nothing of women ran and were elected to U.S. Congress, just 23 perchanges. cent of lawmakers are women. One former female chief-ofstaff said to the Tribune, “The ed a new policy, considerably expanding what was a mere one- sexual harassment at the Capitol page document written in 1995. is not just, ‘Hey, you’re cute’— The policy seems better than it’s about power.” Well, it’s about time that we the House’s: it offers in-person take back that power. training every two years and

When Rep. Senfronia Thompson introduced a bill, the conservative legal reform nonprofit organization the Texas Civil Justice League circled a flyer that said that bill would make Texas a “Nanny State” and had a picture of a woman’s breast (the organization apologized and said they fired the lobbyist who was responsible). The bill was about contractor insurance; it had nothing to do with anything related to childcare.

2011

Former Rep. Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton infamously asked former Rep. Marisa Márquez if her breasts were real or fake using a euphemism: “Young lady, would you please tell us why your mountains are better than any of our mountains and are they man-made or are they real mountains?”

2015

In reference to criticism of abortion restrictions that he introduced, Rep. Matt Schaefer said that pain and suffering were “part of the human condition.”

10 | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

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FEATURES

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 11

A glimspe into Grammy’s world

A lover of all things cats, cupcakes, and pies grows small business from hobby BY SALLY BUCK Pumpkin pie, banana cupcakes, potato chip cookies – every imaginable dessert (and then some) – can be whipped up by Mrs. Wanda Brock, known as “Grammy” to her loved ones. Mrs. Brock’s treats and joy of cooking, generated years ago from tips and tricks she learned from her mother-in-law, have turned her favorite hobby into a small, out-of-kitchen business named “Grammy’s Pies.” When a Kinkaid parent approached her in fall 2017 to buy one of her pies, Mrs. Brock never predicted what was to come once word got out about Grammy’s pies. In fact, she had no desire to start a business of any sort originally. “I did not start this pie business, Deese and Avery started this pie business,” Mrs. Brock explained. But with the help of Kinkaid Coach Greg Deese, and her grand-

daughter Avery Looser (12), that first pie order was followed by many more. “By Christmas I had a nice little pie business going,” said Mrs. Brock. Despite her success, Mrs. Brock likes her business small and has no plans to expand in the future. “I’m 81 years old. I’m not going into any big business. I don’t plan to grow… it’s more of a fun hobby I like to do,” she said. Cooking a seemingly endless amount of pies during the holiday season in a short amount of time may seem like an impossible task, but Mrs. Brock will bake until she can’t anymore. “I will keep cooking as long as the good Lord lets me,” she said. Affectionately called “Grammy” to her grandchildren, Mrs. Brock has enjoyed making her treats for them throughout the years. Her granddaughter, Avery Looser (12), said her

grandmother’s banana muffins are her personal favorite. “Growing up [Grammy] would always make them for me for breakfast and still does to this day,” Looser said. Mrs. Brock has created a recipe box for each of her grandchildren. “It started with my son…I had a recipe box for him at home and my grandkids wanted one too,” she said.

“I’m 81 years old. I’m not going into any big business. I don’t plan to grow… it’s more of a fun hobby I like to do,” Mrs. Brock said. Just as each of her grandchildren differ from each other, no two of her recipe boxes are the same, especially since the original one was bought for her son when he was a child.

Looser has inherited Grammy’s love for cooking. “I collected recipes over the years and even thought that I would go to culinary school for a while,” she said. Mrs. Brock said Looser does enjoy cooking, but she doesn’t expect her to make it a business. “She loves to cook,” Mrs. Brock said, “I hope she will pass [the recipes] on and make them for her children some day.” From her cats to her customers, Grammy’s contagious smile brings joy to those around her. Her kind heart makes her an inspiration to not only her children and grandchildren, but to everyone she meets. “My favorite thing about my grandmother is her humor, smile and hard work ethic. She has created this business... with a positive attitude, smile and a way to spread joy to others the best way she can/knows how. And for that, I admire her character so much,” Looser said.

Photo by Allison Le

Photo by Frankie Wimbish

Mrs. Wanda Brock, known as “Grammy,” discusses her business “Grammy’s Pies.” Her small, home-based business is run from her kitchen that includes her keepsakes, trinkets, recipes and often a plate of banana muffins. Photo by Allison Le

12 FEATURES | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

Born in my Heart BY MEGAN RILEY & MAGGIE JOHNSTON Family is often at the top of people’s minds during the holiday season. The traditions, the memories, the simple idea of being together elicit the true meaning of the holidays. In the Kinkaid community, several staff members have formed their families through the blessing of adoption. These people bring greater awareness to one of the beautiful ways to begin a family and reinforce the values that make one. Their bonds are tied together through the love they share, rather than common blood.

rs. Debbie Robinson, administrative assistant to the interim head of school, recognized that her ultimate objective was to become a mother, not to become pregnant. After years of struggling with infertility, she and her husband, Rocky, began discussing adoption. They realized that pursuing adoption would lead to their desired outcome, and their mindset changed to one of optimism for the family they were going to build. “We are so grateful for the loving decision that both of our daughters’ birth mothers made that we were the right parents to raise their children,” Mrs. Robinson said. The Robinsons contacted the Gladney Center for Adoption, an agency whose mission is to give children a “loving and caring family.” Their adoption process through Gladney took about two years from their initial application and paperwork to the time Mrs. Robinson got the call from the agency and her shaky hands held a legal pad with every detail about her new daughter and her birth mother. With 24-hour notice, the Robinsons purchased all the necessities – diapers, bottles, formula, wipes – and took the next flight from Houston to Fort Worth. At 11:30 the next morning, their baby girl was placed in Mrs. Robinson’s arms. “We had been waiting a long time, but still never had the time to mentally prepare, but when they put Haley in my arms, I felt like I had known her forever,” she said. On June 15, 1987, the Robinsons brought their daughter Haley back to their home in Houston. When Haley turned 2, the Robinsons were able to apply for a second child – another daughter. Adopting Jordan, their second daughter, was a family celebration joined by both Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s mothers. The case worker helped Haley, who had just turned 4, carry her little sister, Jordan, in to meet her new parents. Taking Haley home, the Robinsons believed their family was complete. “God had a plan for our family, and we just needed to allow that plan to unfold. It was not the plan we had originally prayed for, but it was so obvious that these two precious children were meant to be ours,” Mrs. Robinson said. But 18 months after adopting their two daughters, the Robinsons were blessed with a biological son of their own. “When I found out I was pregnant with our son, it was so surreal because I had given up hope and focused on adoption, and the idea that was how we would form our family,” Mrs. Robinson said. Outsiders would never know Haley, Jordan and Duncan, the Robinson’s son, were not blood-related. “If you look at our children, my oldest

looks a lot like my mother and my brother with darker hair and our youngest daughter and son really look a lot alike.” Mrs. Robinson said. From the very beginning of their journey as parents, the Robinsons have been very open with their children about adoption, being purposeful in making all three of their children feel equally loved and special. “You love your children no matter how they come into your family,” Mrs. Robinson said.

t was Super Bowl Sunday in 1997 when Molly Higby, assistant director of physical education, and her husband Kirk Higby learned their soonto-be son was born. “Our adoption happened very quickly. We hadn’t even finished the whole process yet when we got a phone call from Gladney, our adoption agency,” said Coach Higby, revealing the entire process took a total of five months compared to the typical two-to-threeyear process. Higby recalled the exact moment she received a call from the agency. After informing her that a baby was born in Fort Worth, the agency representative asked if the Higbys were interested in adopting the child. “I said, ‘Yes, why wouldn’t I be? And they said, ‘Well, he’s biracial’ and I said, ‘Definitely,’ ” Coach Higby said. She was able to hold her baby, whom she’d named Tyler, days after his birth. “For us it was very emotional because his birth mother handed him to us when he was 5 days old,” Coach Higby said. “From the very moment he was in my arms I felt like he was mine. There was no doubt, and it was like I had naturally given birth to him.” Even though Coach Higby and her husband told their son early about his adoption, it wasn’t until kindergarten that Tyler experienced anything regarding the contrast in appearance between his parents and him. During school one day, Tyler said “Hi Mom” instead of “Coach Higby” like the rest of his classmates, which prompted one classmate to tell Tyler she was not his mom because she is white and he is black. Coach Higby said she knew the child was just being curious and trying to figure out the dynamics of a family. “The harder part is when adults don’t understand,” she said. She said she and her husband have an open adoption to the degree that they met her son’s birth mother and would send photos every month through the agency when Tyler was little. Those early years still play back. “We were fortunate because we could carpool every day an hour to school and an hour home together and there were times where I would just start crying,” Coach Higby said. “It was just pure joy because I had him as my son.” From just as soon as he could walk, Tyler’s parents would throw him football patterns or play basketball with him. After graduating from Kinkaid, Tyler joined the Michigan State Spartans’ offensive line. He hopes to play professionally.

“We are just proud of who he is, and that’s all God,” Coach Higby said.

eventh- and eighth-grade history teacher, Alexis Reyes was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2010 and that’s when she and her husband, Mr. Jose Reyes, first pondered the idea of adoption. After beating cancer, the Reyes’ decided to begin the adoption process in 2014. “It’s a lot of work; it’s a huge process,” Mrs. Reyes said, explaining the steps she took for her adoption. She and her husband attended courses, had FBI background checks, and sat through interviews during home studies - only the beginning stage of qualifying as an adoptive couple. The couple did not finalize their process until 2016. “Then, you wait,” Mrs. Reyes said. In Texas, birth mothers have the right to choose the adoptive family for their child. “Lots of times, you will get called by a birth mother on the phone and you won’t get chosen,” Mrs. Reyes said. In some instances, they were approached by a birth mother and passed because it didn’t feel like the right decision. That was until she received a phone call during advisory period on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. Typically, a family is informed that it’s been selected for a child up to three months in advance. This gives the family time to mentally prepare, set up a nursery, and have everything ready for when

they bring the baby home. The Reyes’ experience, however, was a little different. “When they called us, they said a baby has been born in El Paso, 10 weeks premature. He’s completely healthy but will need to remain in the NICU for a few weeks, when can you guys get here?’” The Reyes’ said that night they did a load of laundry, packed up their bags and arrived in El Paso the next day. When they arrived, the nurses had decorated signs and took them into the room to meet their son. “They handed him to me first and I just melted,” Mr. Reyes said, “and from that moment, it just felt 100 percent like he was ours.” Two years later, the Reyes’ son Luke, almost 3, gained a baby brother, Daniel. The Reyes’ conceived Daniel in May 2018. Luke and Daniel are “best friends and it’s incredible to watch them grow together,” Mrs. Reyes said. “Luke is still so little, and it’s hard for him to understand adoption,” she said. “When I was pregnant with Daniel, we used it as an opportunity to explain to Luke about the process of adoption, but he is still trying to understand.” She said she and her husband share a goal as parents to teach their kids that adoption is “normal and OK.” “For Luke, we’re his family and there is no question for him at this point,” she said.

fter Ms. Casey Fleming, an English teacher in the Upper School, experienced a

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 13

Faculty share how their families grew through adoption very emotional and physically straining conception and pregnancy with Graham, her first child, she and her husband Mr. Trip Galleher discussed alternative options for their much-desired second child. “The idea of adoption has been in the back of my head for a long time. I always wanted to adopt,” Ms. Fleming said. The couple underwent extensive fertility treatment, which included two surgeries before they conceived Graham, who was their miracle baby. Not wanting to experience the emotional or physical pain that could come with attempts for another pregnancy but desiring another child, they decided to pursue adoption. “Because I had this desire before, I think it was easier for me to come to than my husband. He took a little convincing, but we had several friends who had adopted, one being the department chair at my husband’s school who led us to the agency we chose.” Ms. Fleming and Mr. Galleher began their private open adoption with Family to Family Adoption Agency. Their experience could be considered atypical in comparison to other adoptive parents. They were chosen by a birth mother and father five months into the pregnancy, leaving four months of doctors appointments and much-needed support as the two couples came together. Ms. Fleming sat in on every sonogram and even showed up the few times the birth mother had pregnancy complications that landed her in a hospital – she was truly there every step of the way. The time the four of them spent together led to a strong relationship between the two couples. On Jan. 31, 2017, Ms. Fleming and Mr. Galleher witnessed the birth of their baby boy. Baby Wendell was placed in his adoptive mother’s arms first. For 48 hours, Ms. Fleming and Mr. Galleher stayed in the hospital with their newborn waiting for the adoption to be completed. In the weeks following Wendell's birth, there were ups and downs that came from the peculiarity of the relationship between the two couples. “The upside is that I really feel like I can tell Wendell that two women and two men did this together, working to bring him into the world,” Ms. Fleming said. On the other side, the adoption was difficult for her. “It was hard to see him as mine because I had an idea of who his mother was and knew her very well and she did not look like me,” Ms. Fleming said. “There was some real grief for me at the beginning as I did not feel an immediate attachment to Wendell as I did to my first son, which took me by surprise. But, it was because I had to grieve losing my relationship to her first.” Ms. Fleming and Mr. Galleher made many adjustments to the life they had known in preparation for the gift of their youngest son. Wanting Wendell to receive a geographical and family history, they decided to move to Third Ward, the area of Houston where both of Wendell’s birth parents live. Although this adjustment and leaving their friends behind was hard, it proved to be a great decision that has taught them so much. “Both of us thought we were pretty open-minded, racially aware people before and we had no idea how much more work we had to do actually,” said Ms. Fleming, reflecting on what they have

learned in the past two years. “He was truly a gift to us in that way as we have had to wrestle with our own internalized racism and our own stereotypes.” From the very beginning, Wendell and Graham bonded. “Wendell adores Graham. He thinks he is the best thing ever. He wants to do everything he is doing. He wants to be near him all the time,” Ms. Fleming said. She said they inspire her. “I am often instructed by them in how to be in the world. It is amazing to me what they do as opposed to how adults behave,” Ms. Fleming said.

n Thursday, Nov. 22, Dr. Mark Humphries, Upper School French teacher, and his wife, Jennifer Sabin, were blessed with their baby boy Théo. They began their process years ago with an adoption consultant who helped and challenged them in their decision making process. After tough conversations and lots of research, they ended up partnering with Life Tree Adoption Services, a Christian adoption agency out of Dallas, Texas. Upon receiving a phone call one week prior to the baby’s birth, Dr. Humphries and Ms. Sabin had his brother, an airline pilot, fly them to Dallas the next morning. Upon arriving in Dallas, Dr. Humphries and his wife spent the day with Théo’s birth mother, her two other children, and her cousin to get to know the family days before the birth. The time they spent together is one quality that makes their adoption relationship unique from some. “Meeting her kids proved to us that she was obviously a loving mother,” Dr. Humphries said. The natural bond between the two families led to an “open adoption” with possible annual visits from the birth mother. Leaving the visit with the birth mother, their case worker told Dr. Humphries and Ms. Sabin, “I can tell that everyone here has got a really good vibe, but you know this is a really big decision so everyone take the night and sleep on it.’” They responded by informing her that they need-

ed no time; they were ready for this baby boy. “I alerted the administration about all of this happening and they told me to take the call when it came. The next day, I got a phone call in here during class, so I took the call, and our caseworker said ‘she picked you. I came back immediately got tears into my eyes,” Dr. Humphries said. He and his wife were ecstatic. Their baby boy, Théo Humphries was born at 11:20 a.m. with elevated breathing, requiring him to stay in intensive care for 48 hours. Dr. Humphries and Ms. Saben were able to stay with Théo. “Throughout this entire process, the birth mother was absolutely fantastic. We didn't have any legal rights yet when she instructed the nursing staff to allow us in the NICU and have time with him. She also deferred to us on medical decisions regarding Théo,” Dr. Humphries said.

After leaving the hospital, they were asked if they would be OK with annual visits. “I don't know yet if we are going to adopt another child and I don’t want my son growing up not knowing his brother and sister,” Dr. Humphries said, reflecting on he and his wife's decision to be open to annual visits. The last seven days of parenthood have included everything from learning how to change diapers to long sleepless nights and an outpouring of love from both family and co-workers. “We are just over the moon right now, a little tired,” Dr. Humphries said. When sharing their news of their adoption, he and his wife learned about many misconceptions about adoption. “One thing we have come across is that a lot of people regard adoption as an act of charity, that this is a noble thing we are doing, and I say no it’s not. It’s a noble thing the birth mothers are doing; what we are doing is a little bit selfish. It is a need that comes from a place of love, but it is not an act of selflessness,” he said. Wendell and Graham (opposite page) are close-knit brothers. Wendell was adopted by Ms. Casey Fleming, an English teacher in the Upper School, and her husband, Mr. Trip Galleher. Ms. Flemming said she is "instructed by them in how to be in the world," referring to her sons, Graham and Wendell. Dr. Mark Humphries, French teacher, adopted his newborn Théo late last month after taking time to bond with the baby's family.

14 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

A glimpse at why it takes so long to turn left into Kinkaid BY FRANKIE WIMBISH & AYUSH KRISHNAMOORTI You enter the left turn line, which has now just approached the bridge. With just ten minutes to spare, you wonder if you will make this turn. You don’t, and only move five cars up in line. Frustrated, you contemplate making the U-turn near Memorial, or taking any of the five other routes you know how to get on campus. However, the line moves again, five cars, so you don’t move. As you approach the light, it turns red once again. Enraged, you wait because if you leave the line, it still isn’t beneficial to you. Finally, the line starts moving again, but as you approach the light a fast red Tesla cuts you off in line. As the car approaches the garage, you realize it is a parent bringing their kid to school with two minutes until class. You resign to your fate of being late to school, completely frustrated with the system to enter campus. If you think that the system is flawed, and that it is targeted against you, think again. Traffic flow entering the campus is more complicated than you think, and every member of the school’s needs are attempted to be met. The left hand turn light into Kinkaid (which frustrates us all early in the morning) is manipulated to try and speed up the system. While it may not feel like it, the light turns red for a reason. Traffic officers are communicating using radios and deciding when the turn towards the lowerschool is full, so it would be pointless to keep the light green. This allows the traffic to thin to make room for

the next wave of cars turning into Kinkaid. While most high-schoolers turn into the right hand lane in order to park in the garage or be dropped off at senior or freshman hall, all lower-school parents have to turn into the left lane. If the length of the light wasn’t properly managed, cars would pile up, and block the intersection for cars coming from memorial. This long-winded example is only a microcosm as to the situations the traffic officers at Kinkaid have to deal with, and it provides a whole new perspective to why that line gets so long. As Ken Malone, head of securities team that controls the entire system put it, “The whole system is far more intricate than it looks. With the massive influx of middle and lower schoolers near 7:45, and the long time it takes to unload the kids, the line gets very long on San Felipe. Generally, the line that backs up is for the middle school, because upper school generally is more spread out over the one and a half hour period. Clearly, there has to be a solution with the timing of the opening of the lower and upper schools. Howeverm this is not the case. Officer Cevarios, one of the many security personnel that are essential to the system, spoke about his power at the light. “The entire light can be controlled with a button, where I can lengthen the time for one portion of the light. When the left turn light lengthens, I try to move as many people through as possible, but the line backs up on campus which makes it hard.” As many Kinkaidians drive into the campus, they witness

the many officers and personnel that make the whole system possible. While many are frustrated with the system, and the people controlling it, there are few solutions in sight. One is the faster unloading of middle and lower schoolers in the morning, because the time taken to get out of the car is one of the largest time-consuming factors. The system is a give and take, with tough decisions being made in order to improve traffic flow for all entering the school. While it may seem slow, in terms of its management, not much besides physical changes to the property can be made to improve the time it takes to sit through the line. So what can students do to get to school with less hassle? The answer is one that most high school students, including myself, don’t want to hear. “Wake up earlier”, Malone said. While this simple answer can’t solve all your problems, it can cut your time in line by nearly ten minutes. The time a driver will spend in the line at 7:20 is drastically different from the length of the line at 7:30. The shocking rise in traffic from 7:20 to 7:30 should concern many students who are waiting to enter the line. Another suggestion is to choose a different route depending on your destination. If an upper schooler arrives into the line between 7:35 and 7:55, the fastest way to enter the campus is a U-turn at Memorial, and entrance towards the garage through the right turn lane. The several different ways to enter the campus provide a nice alternate to the long left turn lane.

466

The number of cars that turned left on Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 7:00 a.m.to 8:30 a.m.

There were two peaks in the amount of cars turning in the morning, one at 7:30, and one at 8:20.

65 cars arrived from 7:25-7:30

9 cars arrived from 8:10-8:15

7:22 7:41 7:52 The average time when a car enters campus if they get in line at 7:20

850

The average time when a car enters campus if they get in line at 7:30

The average time when a car enters campus if they get in line at 7:40

The estimated total number of cars entering the Kinkaid campus each morning

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Cars turn into the campus during peak hours in the morning. Photos by Ayush Krishnamoorti and Frankie Wimbish

November 2, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 15 NEW FACULTY SERIES

Kinkaid welcomes new faces BY SARAH KATE PADON

Mr. Mauricio

Oliveros

Mr. Mauricio Oliveros has been at Kinkaid since 2009 as a private strings teacher, but this year he made a transition into the position of Part-time Orchestra Assistant. Mr. Oliveros does not limit his involvement with orchestra to Kinkaid. Outside of schoool, he works as the co-founder of the Terra Nostra Ensemble. As someone who grew up in Cali, Colombia, he is dedicated to the group because of its focus on Latin-American music. “We are dedicated to the performance, promotion, and preservation of the music by Latin-American and Iberian composers.” Mr. Oliveros said.

Ms. Alex

Spencer

Ms. Alex Spencer is the ﬁrst Assistant Head of Upper School for Kinkaid. Ms. Spencer came to Kinkaid after working at Incarnate Word Academy, an all-girls’ high school in downtown Houston. “I chose to come to work with the dedicated and accomplished faculty and driven students. I think we all become better people and better professionals when we surround ourselves with interesting, caring and innovative people. I’m doing just that at Kinkaid.” Ms. Spencer said. She is looking forward to the “unique opportunity” for students during Interim term.

Ms. Danyale

Ms. Christine

Williams Cepeda

Ms. Danyale Williams joins the Kinkaid faculty as an Upper School Dance teacher with previous experience as a dance instructor at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. However, Ms. Williams is a native Houstonion. “I am so glad to be back.” Ms. Williams remarked. She spent the past year and half as a stay at home mom taking care of her daughter Leeyah. Now she is ready to teach again. “I am mostly excited to be teaching dance again, and to have the opportunity to be here at Kinkaid.” Ms. Williams said.

Ms. Christine Cepeda, joins the community after teaching at Episcopal High School for 12 years. She said she is excited to get to know the community better by going to school events. Ms. Cepeda is a native Houstonian, and she spoke of her love for Houston. “I’m a cheerleader for all things Houston.” Ms. Cepeda said. Also, be on the lookout this spring for her March Madness bracket. “I love March Madness and always display my bracket in the classroom.” Ms. Cepeda said.

Mr. John

Rovell

Mr. John Rovell joins Kinkaid as the new Upper School Librarian and Archivist, but he is no stranger to Kinkaid. In the past while working at Barnes and Noble, he worked directly with Kinkaid to plan Bookfair. As someone who has worked with books most of his life, reading and books are a passion of Mr. Rovell’s that he has managed to combine with other interests. “I absolutely love reading about cooking and food, however I cannot cook at all!” Mr. Rovell said.In addition to his passion for reading about food, it is part of the culture of Houston that Mr. Rovell admires.

Model UN experience among ‘most cherished’ BY CAMILA VICENS I ran up to the towering mahogany doors, nervous about what was behind them. The one I opened creaked and everyone inside looked toward me. Rushing to my seat, I explained that my plane had landed late. My voice croaked when I spoke. Not only was I late, but I also had a cold. This was the beginning of my ﬁrst experience at Model United Nations, also known as Model UN, or just MUN. Model UN is a simulation event that requires high school students to discuss world policy, issues and diplomacy; it is a conference with a mix of fun and education. Model UN may seem scary and uninviting, but in reality, what was behind those doors was an experience I will never forget. My ﬁrst-ever committee for Model UN was the NFL Chair Committee, where each NFL team’s owner meets to talk

about policy decisions for their team. I was the Texan’s late owner Bob McNair. Although I was nervous initially because the room was filled with senior guys and I was a freshman girl, the more I spoke the more confidence I gained. Model UN became one of my most cherished experiences. Model UN works in a pretty simple format. At each conference, which is where MUN participants meet, participants are part of a committee. These groups could be from 10 to over 100 students, depending on whether students select a special specific committee or choose to be in a general assembly about bigger world issues. There are a plethora of choices when it comes to committees. I participated in everything from agricultural committees to the one about football. Within a committee, members discuss issues that are presented to them before the conference so they have plenty time

Our MUN group that traveled through Vienna. Left to right: Avery Ham (10), Emma Stout (12), Brian Shortt (11), Camila Vicens (11), & Ethan Pintar (10). Photo by Camila Vicens.

to prepare. Committee members are assigned a position. Perhaps, they could be someone in the U.S. Senate and play their role under the direction of a chair, which tends to be a college student. There is some stigma around Model UN because it is a fundamentally academic activity: To put it bluntly, people think it’s nerdy. While some people do choose to get really into character and do tons of research beforehand, Kinkaid’s Model UN sponsors who are both history teachers, Ms. Angela Wain-

2 4

1 - Austin, TX 2 - New York, New York

wright and Ms. Tamasine Ellis, let the school’s participants be as involved as they chose to be. Ms. Wainwright and Ms. Ellis travel to all the conferences and guide students through the process of writing a position paper, a one- or two-page document that answers questions presented by the chair. The position paper is the most basic requirement to participate in the conference and it is all Kinkaid requires. I encourage students to ignore the idea that Model UN is a ton of work and instead focus on the opportunity. Just this year, I attended

a conference in Budapest, Hungary, where I toured three major European cities in three different countries with a group of people who became friends after the trip. While hauling our suitcases from Houston to Paris, from Paris to Prague, students from different grades and backgrounds came together for a whole week to tour Europe and attend the 2018 Yale Model Government Conference. Few clubs offer students an opportunity to travel abroad like Model UN does.

3 - Boston, Massachusetts 4 - Baltimore, Maryland

5 - Madrid, Spain 6 - Vienna, Austria

16 FEATURES | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

Looking back on the midterm elections Democrats gained big, but Republicans remain optimistic

Percentage of voters who casted ballots for Democrats for the House

48% 100+

Rep. Nancy Pelosi will likely be elected Speaker of the House, now that the Democrats have taken control of the chamber.

256 women ran for Congress,

The percent increase of voter turnout among 18 to 29 year olds

WOMEN WON, a record number

Republicans grew their majority in the Senate with the help of presidential support in key races like Florida, North Dakota, and Indiana.

BY MEGHA NEELAPU

In Texas, 7th Congressional District, Ms. Lizzie Fletcher beat out Rep. John Culberson in one of the most competitive toss-up House races in the country.

Number of governships lost by Republicans to Democrats

President Donald Trump tweeted multiple times about Republican wins in the midterms and attacked the media.

Mr. Brian Kemp is facing accusations of voter suppression as he was secretary of state at the time he ran for governorship of Georgia.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn won the senate seat in Tennessee race, becoming the state’s first female senator.

A Day in the Life with

Dr. Wheeler

BY EMMA GILLIAM

Dr. Susan Wheeler, known to many students “Doc,” has taught Upper School math at Kinkaid for almost six years. Here’s a look into a typical day in the life of one of Kinkaid’s most prized teachers.

4:30 A.M. Doc begins her day by taking her four dogs, Mia, Dixie, Raegan, and Lacy, outside. Then, she checks her emails and reviews her plans for the day. Doc gets around 12 emails a day, but her students know how much she values face-to-face conversation instead. “Sometimes I think [my students] like to use emails to tell me things like they’re not going to be in class today because they are too scared to tell me in person,” said Doc. “If I don’t email back I’m going to give you a personalized response in class.”

6:45 A.M. After about a 25 minute drive from home in Katy, Doc pulls up to school in her Ford Expedition. “I would take a Ford Expedition or a pickup truck over a Ferrari anyday,” she said. Once at school, she makes copies and catches up with her Math department team.

Throughout the day Doc teaches four AB Calculus classes and one Algebra 2 class. Once lunchtime hits, Doc avoids the cafeteria noise and heads over to sophomore hallway to chat with fellow Math team members, Mrs. Letty Reza and Ms. Sybil Obiri.

3:00 P.M.

Depending on the day and whether or not there’s a test, Doc sees up to 20 students in tutorial. “I love Doc’s tutorials,’” said Laine Jacobe (12). “I can always count on Doc to keep me on my toes.”

“I’m usually at school at least 30 minutes after class ends, sometimes a couple of hours if I want to make copies,” said Doc. Once she gets home Doc likes to spend her time feeding her dogs and going out to her barn where she checks on her four horses, eight goats, and a cow. On the weekends, Doc also manages a ranching operation in Grimes County.

Q&A with Doc Do you have a favorite class? I don’t feel that way this year. Each class has their own personality and their set of challenges. I would much rather have lively and interactive classes than ones that are totally quiet. Turns out my classes don’t ever seem totally quiet and I’m not sure why.

What’s the difference between teaching Algebra and Calculus? I like them both but there’s a big difference between sophomores and seniors because sophomores aren’t thinking of the end of the school year as their primary focus.

What’s a funny moment you’ve had from teaching? So I didn’t realize that I had so many quirky things I do, but a couple of students at the end of the year last year started saying “Bingo” in class and I didn’t realize that they had made an electronic bingo with every quirky thing I say.

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 17

Conversation Starters with

Sophie Lipman

BY EMMA GILLIAM

1) If you had to change your name, what would it be?

1) Daffodil. Or Chrysanthemum. That was my favorite book as a kid. Or Karen.

2) What’s something that really annoys you but doesn’t bother most people?

2) When I’m at a sleepover and the person falls asleep before me and I can hear them breathing.

3) Do you see the glass half full or half empty?

3) Half empty. Eh can I just say half?

4) What’s your coffee order?

4) Grande iced latte with whole milk from Starbucks. If I’m at home I go to the Starbucks at Echo Lane, but after school I go to the one on Voss. The one on Voss is better because the people at Echo are incompetent fools.

5) Have you ever enjoyed the required readings? Which one?

5) Yes. I really like the one I’m reading right now. It’s called No Country for Old Men. Shoutout to Dr. Scott. You are the greatest teacher and coach. I have learned how to become a better player and student because of you. Thank you.

6) What the worst you’ve ever done on a test or paper?

6) Sophomore year I did really badly on my WHAP paper. I got an 84 but everyone else was getting A pluses. I wrote it the night before on medieveal weaponry and I had my mom read it the day of. She tried to be nice, but looking back every time we bring it up she says that’s the worst paper I’ve ever written. Sorry Mrs. Wainright, but thank you for the decent grade anyway.

7) What’s your favorite podcast?

7) I listened to a podcast about Kony 2012. It’s called “Kony 2012: My Breakdown After Viral Fame.” Best 23 min-

8) What’s your favorite spot on campus?

8) I really love the walk to the garage. It’s just like a time you can spend with yourself and collect your thoughts.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FALCON Write a check of $20 addressed to “The Kinkaid School”

ENTERTAINMENT

18 The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

Hot or Not

The Falcon staﬀ tells you what’s cool so that you don’t have to guess BY EMMA GILLIAM & OLIVIA MARRUS

Going back-to-back

Baby Powder

Soulja Boy

Alex Bregman

Being kind and respectful to your parents

Being dehydrated in assembly

Bake Sales

The six sport credit requirement

Mr. Ramey’s emails Gurple

Cardi B and Offset’s breakup

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Bullying Pete Davidson

thank u, next music video

2018 Holiday Gift Guide BY LILY GUNN

1. 2.

6. 7.

5. 9.

1. Anker Soundcore Speaker 2 ($29.99 on Amazon.com)

4. Apple Air Pods ($159 on Apple.com)

2. What Do You Meme? ($29.97 on Amazon.com)

5. Men’s Ugg Olsen Slipper ($110 on ugg.com)

3. Yeti Rambler 20 OZ Tumbler ($29.99 on yeti.com)

6. Smathers and Branson Key Fob ($32 on smathersandbranson.com)

7. Large Teleties Hair Bands ($9.99 on Teleties.com) 8. Poweradd Portable Charger ($25.99 on Amazon.com) 9. LuLu Lemon Gift Card

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | ENTERTAINMENT 19

BY JORDAN JAFARNIA & OLIVIA MARRUS

Who do you want to find under the mistletoe?

“Jacob Magelssen.” - Kayla Davidson (9)

“Your mom.” - Dub Reckling (10)

“Odell Beckham Jr.” -Katelyn Gamble (11)

“My handsome King Charles Spaniel, Punkin.” - Gleith Cozby (12)

How do you see yourself celebrating the holidays in 20 years?

“Hopefully not with my kids.” - Cade Brown (9)

“Backstage at Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Comeback Holiday Concert.” - Walker Marrus (10)

“Teaching my 13 kids the harmonies to Santa Baby for the Annual Zarr Holiday Sing-Along.” -Strater Zarr (11)

“Making my kids and Labrador Retrievers wear matching Christmas PJ’s.” - Sarah Vandiver (12)

Who has the most holiday spirit at Kinkaid?

“Sam Pitts because he wears uggs.” - Carter Kelsey (9)

“Dalton Nevins because “Lao shi.” - Jon Jafarnia (10) he is such a jolly kid.” - Bo Hopson (11)

“Ameer, duh.” - Grace Breeding (12)

What is your biggest regret of 2018?

“Going to Homecoming instead of the Taylor Swift concert.” - Brooke Jacobe (9)

“Going to see The Emoji Movie.” - Eliot Gottsegen (10)

“Spending all my money on food.” - Nakeeya McCardell (11)

“Failing to secure a ‘Go Kinkaid’ video from Raini Rodriguez.” - Eli Bakht (12)

20 ENTERTAINMENT | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018 f

Incredibles 2 reaches record box-office profits The much awaited Incredibles 2 hit movie theaters on June 15, reaching a record $1.2 billion in box office. This achievement made the movie the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time

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The Boston Red Sox win the World Series The Boston Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, achieving their ninth win in franchise history, the first being in 1903. The Red Sox won against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-1 series. Their overall record was 108 wins and 54 loses. Steve Pearce won the MVP award for the Red Sox. ag

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding American actress, Meghan Markle married Prince Harry tied the knot on May 19 in St. George’s Chapel at the Windsor Castle in the U.K.

Lady Gaga debuts in her first film, “A Star is Born” Pop star Lady Gaga debuts in her first film, “A Star is Born” starring Bradley Cooper. The box office reached $362 million and recieved many nominations for a Golden Globe.

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A&M and LSU Game reaches 7OT The A&M vs. LSU game became the highest scoring college game in FBS history in a Division I game after 7OT. The game ended with a win for A&M; the final score was 74-72

BY MADI BABINE & SALLY BUCK

TOP 10

2018

2018 was full of uncertainties: pop icon Lady Gaga made her first movie debut, an American actress married European royalty—a first since Grace Kelly—, and Adam Rippon became the first openly gay figure skater from the U.S. to medal at the Winter Olympics.

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Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson break up Shortly after her break-up with the late Mac Miller, Ariana Grande announced her engagement to Pete Davidson. However, the relationship was short-lived: Grande broke things off four months later.

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Winter Olympics Adam Rippon becomes the first openly gay figure skater from the U.S. to medal at the Winter Olympics. Along with his outstanding performance, Rippon has become not only a national sensation, but a global inspiration to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Other U.S. wins include Jessica Diggins for cross country skiing, and Chloe Kim, the youngest women to win an Olympic snowboarding medal.

The Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl LII game. The final score of the game was 41-33, giving the Eagles their first win in franchise history. Quarterback for the Eagles, Nick Foles won the MVP award.

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Kylie Jenner gives birth to her first daughter, Stormi On Feb. 1, Stormi Webster was born to parents Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott. Jenner’s controversial pregnancy brought much attention to the birth, as she hid her pregnancy to keep herself and her family out of the limelight. After giving birth, Jenner and Scott released a video montage including footage from her pregnancy journey and interviews from friends and family. Travis Scott also released his album “Astroworld” in which he mentions Jenner and Stormi.

Marvel’s Black Panther smashes records “Black Panther” hit the box offices this February. The movie introduced a cast with an incredible amount of black representation and gave a rare vision of Afro-futurism. Following the success in the box office, “Black Panther” received and was nominated for several awards, including three Golden Globe nominations. The movie starred Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and many other talented actors and actresses.

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | ENTERTAINMENT 21

Y E A R 20 18 I N C M U S I C From the emergence of large pop artists such as Khalid and Billie Eilish, to one hit wonders like Sheck Wes and Juice Wrld, 2018 was a year to remember in music.

Kanye West

He topped his hit albums “Dreams and Nightmares” with one that many called his finest work yet.

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Meek Mill

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Early this summer, Kanye didn’t waste any time in dropping his album as well as “KIDS SEE GHOSTS” with Kid Cudi.

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For all of us in Houston, Astroworld is an album that was unrivaled in buildup. After a long wait, Travis Scott proved that the hype was worth it.

The album was heavily anticipated by those fond of Lil Wayne, having not dropped an album since 2013.

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SWEETENER Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande gifted her massive fanbase with her first album since summer 2016. It did not disappoint, as it was headlined by hit songs like “God is a woman.”

INVASION OF PRIVACY Cardi B

Ever since Cardi B dropped hit single “Bodak Yellow” in summer 2017, her album has been highly anticipated. It delivered hits like “I Like It,” “Be Careful.”

Graphic by Megha Neelapu, Ayush Krishnamoorti and Charles Garrison

SPORTS

22 | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

A week in SPC

BY JORDAN GUY

5. 1. Girls varsity vollleyball players put their talons up before the game starts. 2. Boys varsity volleyball players high five eachother during the game. 3. Katie Heldebrand (10) cheers on our varsity football team. 4. Camila Vicens (11), Laura behr (10), and Kevriana Scott (9) run to the finih line. 5. Victor Garza (11) kicking during the SPC championship game. 6. Sofia Escalona (11) dribbles the ball in her game.

Purple and gold shined in the “Teachers, students, and parents came stadium lights. Teachers, students, and out to watch, support and cheer us on, parents were cheering and shouting. and even Dr. Trusty came out to watch Smiles and highfives after players score us play all the way up in Dallas.” Suppoints. Our fall varisty teams battled port from our teachers, students, and through a great 2018 SPC. parents of players on and off the team After a long hard fought season, our helped motivate the team, especially in Kinkaid Varsity Football team came out the championship game. with the 1st place SPC trophy. With a “The team got hype and partied in the score of 28-6, Kinkaid beat St. John’s locker room before the game, which I at Rice Stadium the week before going think helped us get motivated as a team into SPC. This helped prepare them and get ready to play” said Sofia Esfor playing against some of the harder calona (11). Having played with amazteams in North and South Zone. ing teamwork and skill the field hockey Going up against one of our biggest team, they had two wins in SPC. A 2-0 rivals, Episcopal, Kinkaid is proud win against Hockaday School and a 1-0 to say that they have beat them yet win against Trinity Valley School. again following up their win against Kinkaid and St. John’s, two very Episcopal just last year. The team strong Houston teams battled it out in pulled through to un-tie the game after the championship, with a score of 3-0 the second half score sat still at 21-21, going to St. John’s. However, Kinkaid’s and ended up beating Episcopal by Varsity Field Hockey team finished with 20 points. With a final score of 41-21, a season record of 14-7 and a league rethe defending champions celebrated cord of 5-1. their fourth great SPC win in just five The Kinkaid’s Girls Cross Country years. Kinkaid’s Varsity Football team team ran early morning in the frigid finished with a strong record of 9-1-1, cold at Norbuck Park in Dallas, Texhaving gone almost defeated during the as. “Our team has a strong bond and is whole season always ready to compete individually Both Boy Varsity Volleyball and and especially as a team, which really Girls Varsity Volleyball played extremely helped us to be stronger and more mowell against some very tough teams in tivated than other teams that we were Dallas the week of SPC. Having both competing against” said Camila Vicens won and lost some games, both teams (11). came through to represent Kinkaid very The team had been running strong strongly. the entire season with several first place Girls varsity volleyball had two finishes, and a 3rd place at the Stanford strong wins and one tough loss in Dallas. Invitational in California. The girls finished with a hard fought They won SPC by blowing out the season, with a record of 13-9. Our boys second place team and finishing comvarsity volleyball team finished with a fortably first. Camila Vicens (11) said season record of 11-11. “The bus ride back definity was a happy Our Kinkaid Varsity Field Hock- one, with smiles on everyone’s faces ey team, came through with a second knowing we all put our best foot forplace SPC trophy. Our field hockey ward, by giving 100% and representing team traveled together up to Dallas to Kinkaid as best we could.” Boy’s cross play hard in a championship against country raced next, and finished thirSt. John’s. Sofia Escalona (11) said teenth out of 15 teams.

Inconsistency defines Rockets’ season competition such as the 5-18 LeBron-less Cavaliers and the Don’t panic. rebuilding Mavericks. Two reasons for the rocky The Houston Rockets have start are Carmelo Anthony’s started the 2018 season in a inability to mesh with our less than stellar way, losing team’s offense and our defense more games than they have missing the guidance of last won in their first 23 games, and year’s defensive coordinator amassing more than half the Jeff Bzdelik, who retired in the losses they had all last season. offseason. However, there is reason for With the defense struggling in optimism. the first six games of the season, In the first six games Bzdelik decided to come out of of the season, the retirement to coach the defense Rockets went a paltry once again and there has been 1-5, struggling to noticeable improvement in adjust to roster the defensive perforchanges in the mance since his offseason. return. Following the In the first poor start, six games of the team hit the season, a stride, the Rockets going gave up 8-2 an average in its 116.3 points next 10 per game to games. the opposing As of recent, team, among the rockets have again JAMES HARDEN the worst numstruggled, losing 5 of in the league. 30.6 PPG Sincebers their last 7 games, inBzedelik’s return, 1st in NBA cluding losses to lesser they improved that

BY CHARLES GARRISON

number by just over 7 points per but they have also game, giving up an average of shown that they 109.2 points per game. will drop games to Another telling statistic in the undoubtedly less improvement of the defense is talented teams on that Chris Paul and James Hardany given night. en lead all guards in the league With the significant and are both in the Top 5 in the roster moves in NBA in steals per game, averagthe offseason, ing 2.17 and 2.25 respectively. especially If I could use one word to amongst the describe the rockets season thus bench, there is far, that word reason for hope CLINT CAPELA would be disapthat the rockets 2.17 BPG pointing. Havjust need more 5th in NBA ing your team time to mesh go from one and eventually game (or one will find a way healthy CP3 hamstring) away to bring their from the NBA finals, where I A-game every have no doubt they could have night. triumphed over the Cavaliers, Chris Paul and to struggling for the 8th seed, is James Hard5. excruciating. en have also However, the next word I staggered time would use to describe this missing team, is inconsistent. Only a games quarter of the way through the from NBA season, the rockets have lingering gone through both hot and cold minor injuries. streaks. They have shown their When lacking at ability to blow out contenders least one of the two, like the Warriors and Spurs the rockets stand at when they are on their A-game,

1-7. The fate of this team proves to go hand in hand with the availability of Chris Paul and James Harden. Among the reasons for optimism lie in the leadership of our team. Any team with two All-NBA guards in Chris Paul and James Harden, will not be a dumpster ﬁre of a team. While it seems that they have declined since last year, I do not expect the rockets to stay out of the playoff picture for very long. A team with multiple all star players, arguably the best sixth man in the league, as well as the reigning MVP, is bound to make some noise eventually. Don’t give up on the rockets yet, they have been wildly inconsistent, but a team with this allotment of talent can’t help but to rise up the rankings as the year goes on.

December 7, 2018 | The Kinkaid Falcon | SPORTS 23

Varsity boys basketball: a new journey

Bott’s transformation from a Spartan to a Falcon BY CHRIS STALLINGS Following the departure of Coach Larry Wilkins from the boys basketball program, Kinkaid Athletics has welcomed a new coaching staff to the Falcon family. Though Coach Wilkins left a positive impact on Kinkaid athletics, the school felt it was best to part ways with Wilkins and his assistants. Among them is new head coach, Torrence Botts. Botts and his staff came from Stafford High School, where they previously coached and led the Spartans to multiple winning seasons, including a winning year in 2017-2018. With intentions to develop a positive shift in the culture of the program, Botts is excited to see what lies ahead for his team. Botts emphasized the talent and potential that the team possesses, and mentioned if they continue to work hard throughout the season, their success would reflect their dedication to the program. Botts’s journey to becoming the head coach for Kinkaid was a unique experience. Before

becoming the head coach at Stafford High School for 12 years, Botts was previously a part of the basketball staff under Coach Scott Zimmerman at Kinkaid. Botts kept close connections with the coaches at Kinkaid during his time at Stafford, and looked forward to his opportunity to become a head coach for the Falcons. “I couldn’t turn down a shot here,” he said. Though the move from Stafford was stressful and hard for Botts due to his well-respected reputation, along with working for the Spartans organization that he built and cherished, he said the change to Kinkaid allowed him to “grow as a coach.” Arriving to a new program and school, Botts really wants to bring a different perspective to the boys basketball team, creating a environment where team cooperation and harmony is the focal point. Botts has plans to improve the unity within the basketball program and develop strong relationships between all his players, including those on the

Coach Botts interacting with his players during one of the first basketball practices of the season. Photo by Chris Stallings.

JV and Freshmen teams. He described strong ties between the older players and inexperienced lower classmen would create the bond essential for success. Botts explained that he expects his senior leaders to “leave their own mark” and leave their teammates with a culture that shapes the passion and virtue the Kinkaid boys basketball team possesses. He said he wanted “Kinkaid to be recognized athletically

the same way it is recognized academically.” Botts revealed his initiative to not only have his players strive to be thier best on the court, but to continue to exceed expectations in the classroom as well. Botts said the aspect of “student-athlete” at Kinkaid really emphasized the student, and their ability to not only succeed in one of the most rigorous private schools in Texas, but to play on an elite level as well.

Botts expressed his admiration towards the work ethic of the student athletes “outside of the game” and respects their drive to get better in all aspects of high school. He went on to say the balance between athletics and academics is what separates Kinkaid from other schools. When asked if the future was bright for Kinkaid, Botts simply responded with a smile: “Has to be.”

Houston Texans stage a monumental comeback

Texans players J. J. Watt (left) and Jadeveon Clowney (right) go in for a high five after a play in a game against Kansas City. Photo courtesy of Scott Halleran for CLNS Media.

BY SLOAN COLT & ALI YOUSUF In week 12 of the season, the Texans and Houston mourned the death of Texans’ owner and founder, Bob McNair. McNair brought the NFL back to Houston in 2002 after the Oilers had moved to Tennessee. In the first game after McNair’s passing, the players wore stickers with his initials on their helmets to pay tribute to his legacy. Despite the devastating news, the Texans rallied and overcame the Tennessee Titans in a 34-17 confidence win. The Texans schedule was ranked as the easiest of any team at the beginning of the season, and going forward the Texans play: the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets, the Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Of these teams, only the Colts have a winning-record, standing at 6-5. If the Texans lose only one of the remaining five games, the team will end the season with a 12-4 record.

This would most likely be enough to clinch a first-round bye with the second seed behind the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans comeback is one for the history books. From the dreadful start of the season to the death of Houston sports icon, Bob McNair, the Texans have pulled through despite being met with great adversity. Houston is the only team in the NFL to ever win nine games in a row after starting 0-3. The Texans’ three losses were all nail biters, but the lack of offensive execution and play calling led to a tragic beginning to the team’s 2018-19 campaign. The season opener against the New England Patriots was a disaster from the start, with the first snap resulting in a fumble and recovery by the Patriots. The Texans were able to rally in the second half, but ended up losing by a touchdown. In the second game against the Tennessee Titans, Texans’ quarterback, Deshaun Watson, cost the Texans the game. With 17 seconds left in the fourth

quarter and a three-point score difference, Watson failed to complete a pass or run out of bounds before the clock ran out. After the game Texans’ fans took to social media to call for the firing of head coach Bill O’Brien. Yahoo Sports editor Frank Schwab described O’Brien’s performance as “absolutely atrocious.” However some Texans fans remained faithful in their team throughout the tumultuous period. Fan and Kinkaid freshman, Evan Gibson stated that, “I did not lose faith in the team. I felt and still feel confident [in the offense] with Deshaun at QB and Hopkins [being] a magician at WR.” In regards to the cause of the rocky start, Gibson said, “I think all the people that were injured last year were still healing and we weren’t playing at 100%. Also, our Offensive line was bad… and needed improvement.” With the whole season under threat, the Texans entered game three. Yet again the Texans’ offense was abysmal and the Texans fell to the New York Giants, the worst team in the NFL. The losing streak stressed out fans throughout Houston. In the fourth game, fans saw the same disorganization in the Texans’ first drive against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts were able to march down the field and get an easy score, while the Texans’ offensive line wasn’t able to keep Watson safe. The Texans’ were able to catch a break, though, by pinning the Colts to their own two-yard line and recovering a fumble in the endzone to tie

up the game. From there, the Texans continued their momentum and rode a three-sack day to build a 28-10 lead entering the third quarter after two touchdowns by Deandre Hopkins and Will Fuller, and a rush touchdown by Watson. Despite the team’s effort, Indianapolis surged back and forced the game into overtime, with a tie at 31 with a last-minute, two-point conversion. According to Rodger Sherman of theringer.com, 54.8 percent of teams who win the overtime coin toss win the game. Sherman says winning the toss will increase a team’s chances of winning a game in overtime by 9.6 percent. Although the Colts won the toss and drove down the field, the Texans held the Colts to a field goal and tied the game with a field goal of their own. However, the defense stood strong on fourth down and helped the offense regain the ball, allowing Ka’imi Fairbairn to kick a game-winning field goal. The next two games followed the Texans’ trend of winning close games. They won on a walk off field goal to win in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys in a battle of the defenses, and the following week they won after returning an interception thrown by Buffalo Bills backup Nathan Peterman for a touchdown with the game tied under two minutes left. The following two weeks the Texans showed they can play offense and defense at an elite level to compete for their division and possibly a firstround bye. They limited the Jacksonville Jaguars to just one

touchdown and were able to beat them 20-7; the following week the Texans blew out the Miami Dolphins, 42-23, on primetime television. This was due to a five-touchdown game from Watson and 133 rushing yards from Lamar Miller. The Texans’ deep threat and second passing option, Will Fuller, went down with a season ending injury putting a serious damper on newly raised expectations. As Fuller was ruled out for the season, the Texans brought in recent Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner Demaryius Thomas who has declined in production over the year but can still bolster their locker leadership and on-field production. Thomas played his former team the Denver Broncos in week 9 before the Texans’ bye. The Texans were able to survive the Broncos in their nail-biting fashion as Broncos kicker Brandon McManus was unable to hit a game-winning field goal. In week 11 after their bye, the team was able to beat the Washington Redskins after surviving as Redskins’ kicker Dustin Hopkins just barely missed the distance on a 61-yard field goal attempt. Week 13 was another chance to display their prominance as the Texans were dominant against a Browns team that was riding a rookie wave to improve from last year’s record. The defense was able to force four turnovers and the offense had no issues scoring. It was an impressive win against a team that had given the Pittsburgh Steelers trouble earlier in the year and were able to tie them.

24 SPORTS | The Kinkaid Falcon | December 7, 2018

Seniors sign to continue their athletic careers

Chance to join collegiate sports teams brings excitement, anticipation BY WILLIAM SCOTT

Mason Nome will play golf at the University of Texas next year.

Onuchi Ndee will extend her volleyball career at American University.

He has always wanted to continue his athletic career in college and made a decision to solely play golf at age 12, the same year he won the junior world championship.

She was in eighth grade when she started receiving letters from universities that were interested in her abilities on the volleyball court.

“I was fortunate enough to verbally commit at age 13,” Nome said.

Ndee set her sights on American University after considering what it had to offer in athletics and academics.

His desire to play for the Longhorns was backed by the team’s historically successful golf team and the optimal chance to win a national championship during his time in Austin. “My goal is to have many successful years on the PGA Tour after college,” he said. He has noticed his peers from his previous junior golf competitions who have been highly successful at the collegiate level and beyond on the professional tour. His recognition for the work that is required to reach his goals contributes to each successful day that he has on the course. “I know that it will take continued hard work and dedication, but I will enjoy the challenge,” Nome added.

Lena Provenzano will attend American University next year to continue her soccer career. She began her path to collegiate athletics at age 14 by attending different camps and showcases. “The recruiting process, for me, was long and stressful, but exciting at the same time,” Provenzano said. Her commitment to play at the collegiate level led her and her father all over the country looking at schools that shared interest in her. Her desire to remain in a large city in college, among other things, created a focus on American University. “I knew AU was the one when I went on my unofficial visit. I fell in love with D.C., and the incredibly supportive coaching staff, and the team’s energy,” she said. Her excitement to get to D.C. grows as she is makes connections with the other soccer players who plan to play at AU next year.

“American was everything I wanted in a college. Obviously, the volleyball program is strong and the great coaches and players were a plus. Also, its location in D.C. as well as the opportunities that are presented by the great classes they offer and internships were a huge drawing point,” she said.

Stone Simmons will continue his baseball career at Furman University. He has had a desire to play at the collegiate level since sophomore year with the help and encouragement of varsity baseball coach, Steve Maas, who motivated Stone by recognizing his potential as a pitcher. When asked why he chose Furman University, Simmons said: “When I saw the campus I was blown away, and I was even more pleased when I met the coaches, who are extremely supportive and knowledgeable.”

Her excitement and eagerness to play as an Eagle is supported by her hard work and dedication to reach her goals.

His first impression was followed by an official visit that allowed Stone to create bonds with the other players and future commits, which increased his love for the school and his desire to attend there even more.

“I feel excited because it is the culmination of seven years of hard work. Nerves come with it, too, since the game will be faster and it’s a new environment but mostly excitement,” Ndee said.

“I’m really excited about playing at Furman and I can’t wait to hopefully get an opportunity to pitch,” Stone said. “One of my biggest goals in life is to play professionally.”

Jacob Magelssen has committed to Furman University to play lacrosse. He said he has wanted to play at the collegiate level ever since he picked up a lacrosse stick. His decision to play lacrosse as a Paladin was supported by their “perfect balance of athletics, academics, and social life,” Magelssen said. He plans to continue in athletics after college by studying sports medicine. “I would like to go into sports medicine and help athletes return to the field as soon as possible,” he said. Magelssen made his decision in 2017. “Although nerves are certainly involved, I am super excited and ready to start playing at the next level,” he said. Magelssen aims to be on the field at all times, whether playing or helping others.

All photos courtesy of David Shutts

Olivia Marrus will continue her field hockey career at the University of Virginia next fall. She began her life in field hockey when she played in sixth grade for the first time. Although she enjoyed the sport and its competitiveness, she did not become truly serious about playing at the next level until her freshman year at Kinkaid. Her hard work on the field opened new doors and created higher goals. “I was looking at different schools, but Virginia was always my top choice. After visiting the campus and meeting the players and coaches, I fell in love with the school even more. After that it was an obvious choice in my mind,” Marrus said. Marrus is looking forward to the upcoming year in her sport. “I’m really excited and can’t wait to meet my teammates,” she said.