The Dispatch, Vol. 31, Issue #4, 02.08.19

D

HERE WE GO AGAIN! Starlight Theater Company puts on the musical production of "Mamma Mia!"

BRINGING IMMIGRATION HOME An in-depth look in the shutdown, the wall, and what it means for students

PUPPY LOVE Junior Anna Smiley battles anxiety with her service dog, Judge, by her side

pg. 8, 9

pg. 4

coming UP Feb. 9 TSI Testing Feb. 15, 18 Student Holiday Feb. 21 Career Fair March 7 Late Start

pg. 13,16

Pride in Publishing

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

Vol. 31, Issue 4 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin TX, 78749

BIG CHANGES AHEAD

With the planning of the construction final, architects are now preparing to carry it out Cianna Chairez Editor-in-Chief

Campus Master Plan

Athletic Center

Student Activities/ Dining

Administration & Learning Neighborhoods

Library

Academic E Hall

In the dead of winter, the heating system in all of the academic classrooms goes out. Students and staff around campus wonder what could have caused this.

The community was told that the construction over the summer would solve the ventilation problems.

However, according to principal Mark Robinson, another problem arose.

“All of the work that was done this summer was replacing hydroponic piping, which is basically pipes that carry hot and cold water that drive our heating and cooling ventilation system,” Robinson said. “The problem that we ended up having was that we had new equipment

INDEX

Academic B Hall

ART BY Joe Morales

by the city. Impervious cover is all surfaces that do not absorb rainfall, such as rooftops, patios, parking areas, roads, sidewalks, etc. Because Bowie has reached its maximum amount, the architects are forced to build up.

“One of the big limitations in all this project is that we can't cover anymore ground with concrete, because we're in the Barton Springs Watershed Zone,” Robinson said.

“The school district had to purchase additional tracts of land to associate with Bowie, just in order to allow us to grow. That's why we have to use that space where the tennis courts currently are for our new athletic facility.”

The parking garage and tennis courts are scheduled to be done during the 2019-2020 school year, while the athletics and fine arts facilities are scheduled to be done

Temporary heating systems Jadon Alvarez News Editor

Academic A Hall

Dispersed CTE

Dispersed CTE

Dispersed CTE

Centralized CTE

Academic F Hall

Student Parking/ Band Practice Lot

Auditorium & Fine Arts Center

Dispersed CTE

The future of the school has been altered. No longer will its students recognize it for its extensive traffic and outdated facilities. With the initiation of the 2017 bond, the campus was included based on one thing: capacity needs.

The current capacity of the school is just under 2500 people, while with the new changes, the new number will be 2900. AISD is working closely with Page Architecture and Engineering Firm to carry out the plans for new athletics and fine arts facilities, as well as renovation of the parking lot.

“I'm really excited about the project because when I look at our current fine arts and athletic facilities, they've been well used over the years,” principal Mark Robinson said. “We all recognize that we, at Bowie, have been very creative about how we use space. I think that just having that elbow room is really going to change the feel and the climate on campus.”

Within the 2017 Bond Program, approximately $91 million have been allocated to renovations on campus. As architects at Page consult with traffic engineers, one of the first changes that students will begin to see is an additional right hand turning lane on to Slaughter Lane.

“We know parking has to be first because of the agreement that we have with the city,” Robinson said.

“We don't currently have enough parking spaces for a school this size. We need to fix some of these traffic patterns so that when we are doing work, then we'll be able to continue to come and go from campus.”

Plans for the parking lot include the addition of a parking garage as well as a leveled out lot that will double as a marching band practice lot. The tennis courts will be relocated to the top of the parking garage. As a result, there will be no attendance incentive for senior painted parking spots.

“I’ve been looking forward to painting my senior spot since I was a freshman, and have been brainstorming ideas to how I would decorate it,” junior Emerson Taylor said. “But now, because of the construction, we’re no longer allowed to paint them which is a big disappointment.”

One challenge that the construction faces is the maximum amount of impervious cover that is allowed

in part of the system that shows the flaws in the older part of the system.”

Robinson and AISD are still working on HVAC repairs, but in the meantime, a quick solution has been found to cover heating in the school.

“Once the system failed several times and we got to where it was extremely cold on some of those days, it made working conditions for staff or the learning environment for students practically unusable,” Robinson said. “We started to address it a little more directly.”

The school decide to rent out portable heating systems so the classrooms can be filled with heat, while they work to fix the problems.

News 1 , 2, 3 Reviews 13

“The temporary plan that we put in place was the heating units in the classrooms,” Robinson said.

“We had a large number of them, because we have a large number of classrooms.”

For yearbook advisor Lindsey Shirack, the space heaters were a tremendous help to battle the fluctuating temperatures in her room.

“These heaters were helpful because my room consistently struggles to maintain an appropriate temperature,” Shirack said.

“For example, our yearly record so far is 52.9 degrees.

The space heater was the first time we actually hit 70 degrees in the classroom and students commented how much better of an environment it was.”

READ MORE “Portable heating” pg. 2

Feature 4, 5 In-Depth 6, 8, 9

until 2022. However, according to Robinson, being prepared for anything is essential.

“Anybody that's been through this process knows that things don't always go according to schedule and according to plan,” Robinson said. “There's gonna be times when we have to ask for everybody's patience through the process. But we're really making a good faith effort to put something in place that

minimizes the discomfort, that minimizes the impact to the campus.”

With the addition of the construction next year to the parking lot, there will be limited parking on campus. In response, the administration has organized for a shuttle to operate between a remote lot and campus. The shuttle will run Monday thru Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“We're trying to do something instead of nothing,” Robinson said.

“We wanted to be able to offer a solution and that was the best possible solution that we could find.

That's why that became the plan.”

To Robinson, one aspect of the project that has been a welcome surprise has been the support from the community.

“Even though some of us may not be here because we're going to graduate and move on, we've all recognized that Bowie is not very warm,” Robinson said. “The building is not very warm, literally and metaphorically. But that's not our campus culture. Our campus culture is very warm and connected.

And so I think that it's exciting to think about this space reflecting the community and the work.”

For freshman Grace Oelkers, the construction is exciting.

“It will open up a lot of new windows, essentially,” Oelkers said. “We're going to be able to have a modern school which will be nice and we'll have air conditioning which I've been wanting for awhile.”

Despite the loss of the senior parking spots, Taylor focuses on the bright side.

“Hopefully getting a spot in the morning will be easier and with the addition of a second turning lane, we can get home sooner,” Taylor said. “I think it’ll look a lot better, and be much more functional for students and staff. Hopefully it will make everyone’s lives much easier and make Bowie more enjoyable.”

Robinson shares his vision for the future infrastructure of Bowie.

“They say your mind is like a parachute," Robinson said. "It works best when it's open. If we can see that reflected in the facility then not only is the space conducive to the work, but it also showcases the talent. It showcases the achievements. It showcases the accomplishments of our programs.

That transparency goes a lot to bringing us together as a community, but then also given us the chance to shine as well."

Campus bounces back after vandalism

Community fund raises money to repair damages done to windows On the morning of Dec. 13, students and staff were welcomed to school with an estimated 75 to 100 broken windows in the fine arts and athletic halls. In the aftermath of this vandalism, the Parent-StudentTeacher Association (PTSA) stepped up and held a fund raiser for school repairs and improvements.

“I got a call that morning about 6:15 from a high school officer asking me if I was aware of what happened at Bowie,” principal Mark Robinson said. “He informed that several windows had been broken out.

PTSA was immediately involved. They are able to get the pulse of the community and communicate with me about the problems and concerns. I was already in touch with the PTSA president, and reached out if there was anything that she could do.”

The PTSA decided that the best course of action was to raise money for the school.

“Instead of sending in stuff, [the PTSA] directed folks to do donations, so that way it was the best way to support students, staff and campus,” Robinson said. “The

Photo Essay 7, 16 Sports 10, 11

Entertainment 12 Commentary 14, 15

PTSA organized a #BowieStrong fundraising campaign to help with the disaster relief.”

Instead of relying on second-hand sources, the PTSA decided to run their own fundraiser.

“We knew that if we created a fundraiser in lieu of a crowd-sourced fundraiser like GoFundMe, then we could guarantee that all the money raised would go to Bowie," PTSA President Mia Scroggs said.

With over $3,250 raised, the school benefited and still has $2,450 to dedicate to Build Up Bowie.

“We used some of the #BowieStrong funds to provide a welcome-back breakfast to Bowie faculty and staff as thanks for all the extra hours they had put in after missing two days of school in the middle of finals preparation,” Scroggs said. “The rest of the money raised will be the foundation of our Spring Build Up Bowie campaign, which will go toward security cameras, improved sensors and lighting.”

STORY BY Shruti Patel & Rachel Baschnagel

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2 NEWS

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

Who's Who? and whose the who that decides who Cade Spencer Photo Essay Editor

As seniors prepare for their life after high school, they work tirelessly to fill resumes with any accomplishments possible. During this time of reflection, some students have an opportunity to go further and are invited to participate in an annual student recognition opportunity..

The Who’s Who Award is an annual acknowledgment of twenty four seniors nominated by the Bowie staff and selected by a committee of previous Teachers of the Year and department heads.

“The [Who’s Who award] is about [honoring] those seniors who are active in making Bowie and South Austin a better place,” History Department Chair Carlen Floyd said. “The [nominees] are well rounded, thoughtful, kind, or helpful. Anything that means they care about other people.”

Amy Shreeve is a Who’s Who nominee who participates in Speech and Debate, PALS, NHS, and the Odyssey Literary Magazine.

“I’m really grateful that teachers would think of me as someone that has made a difference at Bowie,” Shreeve said. “It’s nice to know that they appreciate me like I appreciate them.”

After each staff member has nominated five students, the entries are reviewed by a committee of previous Teachers of the Year and department heads.

“When I nominate kids I look at things they do outside of class and my direct personal experience with [them],” Floyd said. “But I always look for people who voluntarily help someone who is struggling.”

Angel Estrada is a Who’s Who nominee involved in choir, theatre, and NHS. “I was in awe that I was nominated,” Estrada said.

“I’m happy to be recognized, but I feel as if my hard work is shown [best] through the end product of whatever project I am working on at [any] time.”

Once a student has been officially nominated, they submit an application consisting of a resume and an essay.

“The application process was really easy,” Shreeve said. “Most seniors already have a list of their accomplishments at Bowie for college and scholarship applications.”

After the applications have been assembled, the members of the Who’s Who committee cast votes supporting twenty four different seniors.

“The department chairs make a binder of the finalists and printouts of all the student’s applications,” Floyd said. “Teachers have access to sticky notes and can go through and write [any comments] they have about a student to bring up in a committee meeting.”

Emily Leeke is a senior nominee involved in NHS, Spanish Honor Society, tennis, and Student Council.

“I felt honored [to be nominated},” Leeke said.

“It’s a great honor to be nominated by a teacher who feels as though you have contributed to Bowie in the past four years.”

For the 2018-2019 school year, the committee will be selecting 24 honorees out of 171 senior nominees.

“We have had valedictorians who did not make it to Who’s Who,” Floyd said. “It can be someone who is not at the top of the class, but they are also in Multicultural Awareness Club, Musical Theatre, or PALS.” Similar to the Bowie staff, Leeke understands the importance of honoring seniors for all of their contributions to the school community, “I think everyone who is a Who’s Who honoree is determined, a leader, motivated, and altruistic,” Leeke said. “By honoring seniors based on more than academics, many seniors who deserve recognition have a chance to shine.”

In addition to being well-rounded, the Who’s Who Committee feels it is vital that a Who’s Who hon-

HERE'S HOW they choose WHO'S WHO

1

NOMINATIONS: Each staff member nominates five seniors and the entries are reviewed by the Who’s Who Committee (Previous Teachers of the Year and department heads).

2 3

FACULTY EVALUATIONS: After the applications have been submitted, the Who’s Who Committee cast votes for 24 different seniors.

4 5

APPLICATIONS: Once a student has been nominated, they submit an application consisting of a resume and an essay.

ADDITIONAL FACULTY INPUT: Teaches have access to sticky notes about the nominees and can go through and write comments they have about a student which they will bring up in a committee meeting.

FINAL DECISION: The Who's Who Committee meets and discusses every candidate. Each committee member has an equal number of votes and chooses 24 finalists.

ART BY Cianna Chairez

oree is active in the school and surrounding community.

“To me, being an active member means being willing to take a step back and work out of the spotlight,” Shreeve said. “I’m not used to [the recognition] and it makes me a little uncomfortable that people notice the work I do.”

As a senior, Estrada has experienced the importance of working hard to succeed in high school.

6

RECOGNITION: After the twenty-four honorees have been announced, there is a reception and their photos will be placed in the library for a span of four years.

“I just really love getting involved and keeping myself busy,” Estrada said. “Always want to better yourself because you can never not grow and learn from experience.”

After the 24 honorees have been announced, their photos will be placed in the library for a span of four years.

“Every kid has something amazing to other, and every student has a certain kindness,” Floyd said. “If we could I feel like we would

Dogs aid 'Dawgs with mental health Maddy Rice Managing Editor

It's around 7 a.m. on a Monday and the elementary schoolers have gathered around for morning assembly. A 5th grader is crying because she had a rough morning, so the teachers send her to the counselor's office.

Once she arrives, a tail-wagging Golden Retriever is there waiting for her hugs.

This is an example of one of the many jobs dogs perform, from being comfort animals to search and rescue dogs. At Bowie, service dog owner junior Anna Smiley has had her psychiatric service dog, Judge, for six months.

“He’s trained to pick up on my anxiety and nobody else’s,” Smiley said. “I actually scratch [my arms] when I get nervous...so [Judge] has learned that whenever he sees me do it to nudge my arm away and then he also does deep pressure therapy, so if I tap my chest he jumps up on me.”

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are defined as being specifically trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. In Smiley’s case, she has a psychiatric service dog prescribed by her psychiatrist, allowing her to take Judge along with her in any public place. Unlike emotional support animals (ESAs), which are often referred to as comfort animals,

which are not allowed in public.

“I think if an individual is suffering from a major psychological disorder an emotional support animal can be beneficial,” Licensed Professional Counselor Savannah Stoute said. “Our pets are a source of unconditional love and the act of petting a dog can feel very calming.

However, in order for a pet to be an emotional support animal, the student would have to go to therapy and a therapist or another mental health professional would have to agree and write a letter indicating that an ESA is necessary.”

Students with service animals also have to have a disability, which Assistant Principal Larry Britton explains is most easily identifiable by their qualification for a 504 or IEP (Individual Education Plan). Freshmen Ava Villalpando says that her IEP states she needs a service dog.

“I was evaluated by someone who worked for AISD and it was recommended that I get a service dog,” Villalpando said. “I got [my dog, Guts] off of Craig’s list for $500; we picked him up in a shaded parking lot of a barbecue in San Antonio.”

For students who don't qualify for a service dog but could still benefit from the presence of a furry friend, the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry works in partnership with Bowie to bring comfort

give every senior an award.”

As senior year comes to an end, Leeke believes the high school experience is more meaningful then what can be fit on a transcript.

“Building a resume means nothing if you have not grown as a person and felt fulfilled by all your hard work,” Leeke said. “It’s better to become passionate about something and help others then to constantly chase opportunities to type on paper.”

Portable heating systems fill classrooms during renovations CONTINUED from pg. 1

A DOG'S PURPOSE: Freshman Braden Kennedy pets Abner in the library during FIT on Friday. Abner provides emotional support for students while they study. PHOTO

BY Maddy Rice

dog, Abner, to see Bowie students free of charge.

“His other service is crisis and disaster, so for instance, if there’s been a violent situation somewhere and he’s requested, we will go and get volunteers to go with him,” caregiver Jill Gonzales said. “He’s gone to Houston when there was the hurricane, and he's gone to places where there's been tragedy of death.”

Abner has been visiting Bowie since late 2018. Students wishing to get more information on Abner may follow him on Instagram or Facebook as @lcck9abner.

Abner is also available in the

library during visits, which are usually once a month unless he receives an emergency call. Additionally, according to Stoute, any students feeling anxious, sad, or stressed and unsure if they’re experiencing a mental health issue should let a school counselor/parent know so they may contact a therapist if needed.

“It’s just nice to have a relationship with the students because we get called a lot when there’s been something bad happening at schools,” Gonzales said. “We just like to have a good foundation built with the students on a regular basis.”

Despite a small honoree group of twenty four, Floyd wishes more students could be awarded with the Who’s Who title.

“I would never ever-ever in a million years want there to be the impression that anybody who is not a Who’s Who is irrelevant and they should be embarrassed,” Floyd said. “Being nominated, the fact that a teacher thought of you as well-rounded, committed, and caring is an honor all by itself.”

AP Biology teacher Jessica Davis notes that when she tested her heater out, the noise that came out was louder than expected.

“There was one day that I had to use the heater and they were really loud and I didn’t really care for the background noise [because] they were too loud,” Davis said. “On the day I used the heaters we were just lecturing so the heater wasn’t too bad [of a distraction] but if we were testing I imagine it would be a distraction.”

Senior Amanda Harms, also agrees that the heaters were a distraction in the classroom, and not only for the noise that came with them operating.

“The heaters were a distraction for the first part of class on the first day that our teachers used them because they’re so huge they get in the way and we talked about that,” Harms said.

Harms wasn't a fan of the heaters, noting they just created a distraction for the classroom instead of helping it. ”I personally didn’t think that the heaters did a great job at providing heat for the whole classroom,” Harms said. “They did not seem to do their jobs well,were in the way of where you were trying

to go in the classroom, and only provided heat from the place that they were put.”

After a couple of weeks the heaters were returned since they were rentals, however Robinson notes that if needed, the school would rent the heaters again to provide heat if the HVAC system wasn't in the best condition.

“Through this most recent episode with the district, I feel like the precedent is that before the year and a half that I’ve been at Bowie that in the past we’ve just kind of had to suffer through [the current heating conditions],” Robinson said.

“But now that I know that there is a response that can get us a better working and learning environment, I feel like a precedent has been set for us to be able to say we’re having the same problem again.”

Robinson knows that the heaters might not be the cheapest solution for temporary heat in all the classrooms but he knows that the heaters will provide heat in some way for the Bowie staff and student body.

“We know that this urgent and we know that this is expensive but it’s what we need to do for our students and staff immediately,” Robinson said.

NEWS 3

FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Bringing love through baking Avery Shelton Dispatch Reporter

Chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, brownies, and more are just a small sampling of the Valentine’s Day treats available to order from the culinary classes for their annual fundraiser.

The culinary students have been planning for months and also received assistance from other programs within Bowie in preparation for the Valentine’s Bake Sale, which will have orders available for pickup on Feb. 14.

“We started our planning in December and had help from the practicum in the graphic design class in redesigning our sales materials,” instructor chef Richard Winemiller said.

“It is also important to get the students motivated to make a lot of sales so we will be successful in meeting our fundraising goals.”

Throughout the year, the culinary program hosts and provides food for many different events.

“Most of the events that we prepare and serve for are designed to break even, which allows us to cook a lot and get a lot of experience without having to worry about fundraising restrictions,” Winemiller said.

Students have specific detailed jobs and tasks to help promote and plan for events to ensure the best outcome for the program.

“Basically, I reached out to other feeder schools to see if they were interested in obtaining sales info and set up dates and times for promotional stunts,” social media, marketing, and promotions manager senior Asia Vo said.

Putting on a successful fundraiser and bake sale comes with a lot of work and time dedicated to getting it ready, according to those involved in culinary.

“The biggest task as the teacher, assisted by the seniors in my culinary management class, is getting everything organized for taking orders, then scaling recipes and calculating the amounts of ingredients to order,” Winemiller said.

The bake sale has become a popular culinary event for students.

"With our Valentine's event our pre-sales are very student driven, so we had to market pre sales for two weeks just getting the word out and taking orders," senior vice president Grace Mansen said.

Behind every event put on by the culinary program, there is an abundance of behind the

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Dozen: $12

1/2 Dozen: $6

Chocolate Drizzled Shortbread Hearts 2 for $5

Brownies Dozen: $12

1/2 Dozen: $6

Handmade Chocolate Truffles Dozen: $12

1/2 Dozen: $6

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake $15 ART BY Joe Morales

scenes work to prepare the food for delivery and for being served. Students like Vo spend hours of time in contribution.

“When taking in account the time I spent and will spend in culinary management on promotions, in and outside of school activities, I’d probably say I spend about 10 hours personally and about 15 hours with other students,” Vo said.

Students that are not in the program can see the effort that goes into the events the classes put on and the overall benefits that come with taking the course.

“I like how culinary programs prepare students for the real world and I think they are very beneficial to the students who take them,” sophomore Katie Puperi said. “Especially if they’re thinking of pursuing a culinary career.”

Puperi, among other students, enjoys having easy access to baked Valentine's Day goods during school hours.

“I like the idea of having a

bake sale during school, it is convenient and is a good way to support their fundraiser,” Puperi said. “It's also festive for Valentine's Day and I remember everything tasting very good last year.”

Participating in these tasks help prepare students who wish to pursue careers in the field.

“I transferred to Bowie specifically for culinary and I plan to go to school for Culinary Science. I have a passion for [it] and I could never imagine leaving the field,” Vo said.

Other preparations for this sale included lessons on the history of chocolate, basic techniques in handling and working with it, and even a chocolate taste testing.

“My students get experience working in a realistic job environment and develop skills in time management, collaboration and people skills,” Winemiller said.

In addition to many useful life skills, culinary students also earn their Food Handler's

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License and their Sanitation Manager's certificate in the different levels of the program.

“I feel that the culinary program is primarily beneficial for anyone who has an interest in a career working with food, whether as a chef, restaurant manager/owner or any of hundreds of other careers,” Winemiller said. “Those are the students the program is mainly designed to serve, but there are a lot of other benefits to be had by taking culinary at Bowie.”

According to the culinary students, they are thankful for the work experience the sale gives them and are excited for their attributed hard work to be shared with the rest of the school.

“Chef always tries to make class and prep as close to a real culinary experience as physically possible," Vo said. "So with events like these, it helps a lot to see what the industry is actually like and grow from my mistakes in order to improve for the future."

Juniors get SAT financial relief School district saves students from cost of SAT by paying for the test in 2019 For the first time, Austin Independent School District (AISD) will pay for all juniors to take the SAT; the standardized tests used for colleges in the United States. All students have to do is show up to their testing room on Tuesday, April 9 with a calculator, two pencils and a desire to do their best.

The entrance exam is a multiple-choice test administered by the college board, it is a way for colleges to understand the students' abilities in various academic fields. Junior Payton Lord will be taking the exam this year.

“Although the SAT can be stressful, it’s a really good opportunity to see where you place on a college level test and it’s really not too bad,” Lord said.

This year, AISD has decided to save each student and their families the registration fee of $65, which is just the cost of taking it once.

Junior Taylor Hubbard is one of all the juniors that will take the free SAT. “I am very grateful that our school is paying for juniors to take the test, because it will save money and give us the opportunity to see if we'd like to take the test again,” Hubbard said.

One way for students to practice for the SAT is to link their PSAT score to their Khan Academy, which will personalize problems according to your score. This strategy is used by many students, like junior Andrea Otti.

“So far I have prepared for the SAT by doing Khan Academy,” Otti said. “I also have bought the SAT preparation books from online.”

Taking SAT preparation classes is another way to practice; they provide tips and tricks that can help students during the exam. One student, junior Rhea Dharwadker, chose this method of preparation as it is the most helpful for her.

“I took classes with More Than A Teacher, which helped me improve on my math and reading skills and also taught me a lot of helpful tricks for the test,” Dharwadker said.

The SAT measures critical reading, writing and math knowledge, while determining college readiness and future academic success.

Students receive three scores on a 200-800 scale for each subject, and the scores are then accumulated to get the final score.

“I think that the SAT is a stressful situation for a lot of juniors, but since it is necessary to get into college, it is definitely something worth studying for,” Dharwadker said.

Juniors will be automatically registered for the pre-paid exam that will occur in the beginning of April.

“I think that it’s really cool that AISD is paying for juniors to take the SAT because we get a chance to go in and not be stressed out about wasting money,” Hubbard said.

The ability for AISD to give students the opportunity to take the SAT free of charge alleviates stress of many juniors who are trying to balance school and stay encouraged for the test, according to Otti.

“I think having the opportunity to take the SAT for free is highly superb, giving us a better reason to be motivated and take the test,” Otti said.

STORY BY Shikha Patel

4 FEATURE

Pawesome pup eases student’s anxiety THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

PARK PALS: Junior Anna Smiley and her service dog Judge Smiley hang out in Circle C Park to soak up the sun. Despite being a fairly energetic dog, this was actually Judge’s first time at a park. According to Smiley, his favorite way to get his energy out is going for a simple walk. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

Dogs with jobs make student life less ruff by providing services and emotional support Maddy Rice Managing Editor

AR TB

Something bad is going to happen. Junior Anna Smiley doesn’t know what’s coming, but the deep feeling of worry in the pit of her stomach tells her there’s something.

She scratches her forearm, which is already rubbed raw, as she paces back and forth in the school bathroom. Everything feels as if it’s going to come crashing down— until her service dog, Judge, nudges her arm to stop the scratching. Smiley runs her fingers through Judge’s fur and takes deep breaths, kneeling closer to the ground so she can properly see her dog.

This is a panic attack associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and a dissociative disorder. Because of her anxiety, Smiley often finds difficulties relaxing in stressful environments or even regular ones because of the uneasy feeling GAD provokes.

However, this is all managed by medication, therapy, and her psychiatric service dog, Judge Ment Smiley.

“Just having a dog with you when you’re having bad anxiety is really grounding,” Smiley said. “I’m a very touchy person, so being able to feel him grounds me. He can sense when my [anxiety] heightens, so he senses it and he helps me with that.”

Y

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Mo

Judge completed 3 1/2 months of training with K911! Training and Behavior based here in Austin. The company’s service dog trainer, Jenny, trained her own psychiatric service dog and worked with K911! and Smiley in order to find her the right dog.

“He actually failed out of police search and rescue because he got too attached to his handler and he wasn’t aggressive enough,” Smiley said. “So he already was a working dog and picked up the training fairly easily.”

For Smiley, meeting Judge was love at first sight. Originally, Smiley and her team had planned to get a Golden Retriever because of their frequent success as comfort/therapy dogs, but that all changed when she received a text with a photo of a Belgian Malinois named Kane.

“Of course, I was like, ‘oh my God he’s adorable,’ and so I actually got to meet him the next day,” Smiley said. “He’s just very lovable, and honestly he’s just kind of a dumb dog when he isn’t in his service dog vest. Also his ears, I fell in love with his ears.”

For the six months Smiley has been with Judge, Smiley says they have bonded immensely as if Judge always knew that she was his person.

“Judge is Anna’s safety

rales

net,” her father, Colin Smiley said. “When Jennifer said. “They are a team now. I was so things become overwhelming, Judge helps nervous the first few times we went out with Anna cope. Things Anna could not compre- him. Nervous what people would think, nerhend of doing before now become possible vous Judge would misbehave but after the with Judge at her side.” first week I didn’t think about any of that.

However, Anna doesn’t find the life of own- Judge stays by her side, listens to her, he is ing a service dog glamorous all the time. She so calm. And people hardly notice him. Judge runs into daily problems with people asking is a rock star and Anna is too.” to pet her dog Now, in or pointing at contrast to Judge is Anna’s safety net. When things her sophoher, which only become overwhelming, Judge helps Anna more year, triggers her anxiety. Since Anna feels cope. service dogs are that she has working, they overcome should not be her diagnosis Colin Smiley pet while on the with Judge Anna’s Father job in order to by her side. assure they have no distractions.

“It kind of makes me happy to see that I’ve “Sometimes I don’t like talking to peo- come so far since then,” Anna said. “It’s reple about why I have a service dog because ally nice to see I’ve overcome this and that I I’m scared they’ll be like ‘well I get nervous know that I’m not alone, even though I don’t sometimes, why can’t I have a service dog?’” really know that many people who have conAnna said. “Nervous and anxiety are com- ditions like me. But it makes me feel really pletely different things. You’re nervous be- good to know that I’m not alone.” fore a test because you’re like ‘oh I hope I And she isn’t alone, there is another stupass this,’ that kind of thing, but anxiety is dent at Bowie with an anxiety disorder who just like you shut down before you take the brings her Pug, Guts, to school for help. test because you’re just so worried.”

Freshmen Ava Villalpando suffers from a According to licensed professional coun- nerve condition and arthritis that make her selor Savannah Stoute, who works with a anxiety even more painful than it would northerapy dog in her own practice, many people mally be. diagnosed with anxiety and depression don’t “Sometimes it’s arthritis, sometimes it’s require a service dog. She does believe ser- more stabbing pain, sometimes it’s more vice dogs are beneficial for those with anxi- muscle soreness, sometimes it’s really dull, ety because of how they can reduce stress or and sometimes it’s like pressure,” Villalwarn owners about panic attacks. pando said. “Everywhere. To where I just “Anxiety is a psychological disorder char- couldn’t be functional. I mean, I deal with acterized by excessive amounts of worry pain on a daily basis. There’s constant pain.” and/or fear that impacts the individual’s Guts came to Villalpando as a puppy that daily activities,” Stoute said. “The level of her family discovered on Craigslist in Octoworry/fear is usually out of proportion to ber of 2017. Villalpando’s mom, Nicole Vilthe impact of the event.” lalpando, says Guts made it possible for Ava Anna was diagnosed with a number of to attend school more often, lowering her disorders the summer before her soph- anxiety and pain index, as well as giving her omore year. The doctors informed a talking point for meeting new kids. that she had GAD, dissociative dis“We tried many different therapies to order, and bipolar disorder (BPD). manage her pain from arthritis and a nerve BPD is a condition that involves the condition, her anxiety, and her ADHD,” Nioccurrence of “manic” and “depres- cole said. “Some of them worked OK for a sive” stages that indicate unusual time, but, a special education evaluator noshifts in mood and energy. ticed that Ava did really well when she was “It was kind of my rock bottom around animals and recommended that she just because I was so confused,” have access to animals as part of her individAnna said. “I kind of always knew ual education plan.” that there was something wrong with me in According to Stoute, mental health issues the sense that I knew that my brain didn’t are common and should be dealt with by fowork the same as other peoples’. I felt like cusing on self-care, asking for support, and I couldn’t relate to anybody because I didn’t seeking out a therapist. know anybody else who had the same prob“I feel like a lot of people are scared to adlems as me.” mit the fact that they have [mental health This is when Anna and her family began issues],” Anna said. “At first, I was definitely seeking a service dog. At first, Anna’s mom, scared to admit that I have all of these disJennifer Smiley, was uneasy about adding a abilities, but then I was just kind of like, I furry friend to the family since she’s afraid of don’t really care anymore. I wanna be able to dogs. However, she and the rest of the fam- help people understand that it’s okay to talk ily have come to appreciate Judge as one of about it and that it’s okay to ask for help if them. you need it.”

“I love what [Judge] is doing for Anna,”

”

FEATURE 5

FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Prolonged shutdown impacts student

Layoffs, furloughs and unease impacts senior Isabelle Martinez home life Marisa Salazar Feature Editor

of funny,” Martinez said. “I made light of it, but really I think it’s insane that my Airport security was mom had to get another job. sparse, food inspection was Her boss called her a few dwindling, the FBI was at a days ago and asked her to standstill and national parks start working without pay, were closed. This would usu- so she’s been working again ally be a cause for concern, from home for the IRS.” Like some other federal however these closures became commonplace during workers, Martinez’s moththe 34 days in which the er was called to work withgovernment went through out compensation while the an indefinite shutdown that shutdown was still in effect. resulted in 800,000 federal Prior to recent events, Martiworkers missing their pay- nez was aware that this was a possibility for her mother as checks.

The government shut- she recalled a previous shutdown had a direct effect on down that occurred back in senior Isabel Martinez and 2013.

“I knew the government her family. Martinez’s mother was left without work due could be shut down because to the IRS offices being tem- it has in the past,” Martinez porarily closed but expected said. “I remember when I to resume normal operations was in middle school and we were having a fundraiser, but as soon as possible.

“Many people don’t really I couldn’t get my mom to understand until I tell them pay because the government it’s affecting me and my was shut down.”

Martinez explained the family,” Martinez said. “My mother hasn’t gotten her first restrictions on the ability paycheck and she’s about to for someone to understand a probmiss the lem imnext one.

I don’t They don’t know how much pacting k n o w of our lives are being affected. a group peowhat’s in They don’t understand on a of p l e . store for personal level...

Despite us.” inforMarIsabel Martinez mation tinez’s Senior being mother accesdeclined to be interviewed for job sible through broadcast and security purposes, howev- online news outlets, she er Isabel shared what her believes that to fully grasp mother had to do in order what is happening there is a to get money while the gov- need to be included in those ernment was closed. This impacted.

“I think they are aware included taking up a temporary job through Postmates, but to a limit, like a lot of an online food delivery ser- people [at Bowie] too,” Marvice where drivers can pick tinez said. “They don’t know up and deliver meals at their how much of our lives are being affected. They don’t choosing.

“My mom wasn’t work- understand on a personal ing for a while,” Martinez level, they understand from said. “She filed for unem- a logical level, but they don’t ployment, but then she got a know how it’s affecting varijob at Postmates. She didn’t ous families.”

Government teacher want to go to a regular 9-to-5 job because it was temporary James Ellerbrock became and she didn’t know when concerned about the govthe government was going to ernment shutdown after viewing the impacts on unopen again.”

Martinez expressed mixed employed workers and their reactions to finding out that families when he watched a her mother would be taking story on a local news chana job with Postmates during nel. He asked his students to the shutdown, especially bring donations of non-persince she was aware that her ishable foods, since some mother has solely worked government employees had for the federal government to rely on food pantries for for 34 years, and that tenure help during the shutdown.

“I’m asking students to may now be in jeopardy.

“At first, I found it kind bring some food, because I

”

saw on television last week that more people are coming into food banks because they’re not getting paid,” Ellerbrock said. “I’m asking my students to be generous and help some of these people.”

Bowie donations went to the Abiding Love Lutheran Church, where food pantry coordinator and former Bowie math teacher Diane McGowan has been a volunteer since the program began back in 2005.

“It started 14 years ago,” McGowan said. “I was Christian Service Director at that time, so I was the one who started it along with volunteers from my church. We provide food service and a few other services.”

McGowan expressed her gratitude for the donations from Bowie students. She added that the best donations are ones that are healthy, since the church food pantry is a part of the Central Texas Food Bank Healthy Initiative Project.

“We got so much peanut butter from Bowie in December, I think it was like 300 or 400 jars,” McGowan said. “The boys brought it over one week day before school was out, it was great because that is something they all want and take, but we try to provide the most healthy foods that we can.”

According to McGowan, the food pantry saw a growth in attendance from this time last year. This mirrors the increase in demand for food pantry assistance from unemployed government workers who had trouble affording food during the shutdown.

“November and December numbers were about the same as last year, but our numbers in January were increased,” McGowan said. “The average number of families that come to the food bank last year was 65 a week and this year it was 73 a week.”

Martinez and her family were able to manage when the government closed on December 22, however she expressed her sympathy for the federal employees who live paycheck to paycheck and had to seek outside assistance to make ends meet.

“I’m blessed that I’m in my state where my mom has savings money, but reading

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Up to 88% of Department of Homeland Security workers were furloughed.

Including TSA, Coast Guard and National Weather Service.

THE SHUTDOWN STARTED DUE TO A STALEMATE IN CONGRESS OVER THE BORDER WALL AND OTHER IMMIGRATION POLICIES PROPOSED

BY PRESIDENT

DON’T KNOW

HOW THE SHUTDOWN AFFECTED WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SOME

A LOT

NOT MUCH

8% 8%

26%

20%

38%

NOT AT ALL

SOURCE www.statista.com

34 DAYS: DECEMBER 22, 2018 - JANUARY 25, 2019

TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.

36,000

FEDERAL WORKERS FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN JANUARY 2019

ART BY Marisa Salazar

SOURCE www.vox.com

the stories and seeing them on the news, seeing that people can’t afford to get food, I can’t imagine being where they are,” Martinez said.

United States history teacher Kaylin Brett shared her view on the government shutdown. She explained her disagreement with how the shutdowns negatively impact uninvolved workers when there is a disagreement between political parties, which has recently become more frequent.

“Unfortunately, I feel like

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE BACK PAY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT REOPENS.

the government shutdown is becoming more and more common, but was really crazy of how long it lasted,” Brett said. “It’s kind of frustrating that the parties can’t come to compromises, like they can’t even reach an agreement for the sake of the people who can’t work.”

While it is uncertain if the government will close back down only weeks after reopening on January 29, Brett hoped that the widespread effects of the recent long running shutdown will

encourage people to visit the polls to potentially prevent something like this happening in the future.

“A silver lining would be that it is going to cause people to become more active and involved in politics,” Brett said. “I would like to think that most of our politicians are trying to do what’s best for the country and what’s best for Americans, weather that’s building the wall or taking that money and using it for other resources.”

6 IN-DEPTH

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

T

E T A B E D T A E R G E H ATION R GRADU E H IG H % AVE A 40 AN STUDENTS DENTS H U RB T U S E League R T E A H OT DEB Debate

Jocelyn Brooks Managing Editor

”

ON THE

GRIND

Speech and debate students reveal how they spend idle time during 12+ hour tournaments

DATA BY

90% OF FORENSICS STUDENTS GO ON TO COMPLETE AT LEAST ONE GRADUATE DEGREE

e

FORENSICS STUDDATA BY National Speech and De ENTS SCORE 18 % HIGHER ON bate Assoc.

READING TESTIN STANDARDIZED G THAN THE AV ERAGE STUDEN T Speaking and Original Oratory. We is have two rounds of these being willing to take the usually. Then, we have a other side—it kind of sepathree-hour Congress pre- rates your feelings from the liminary round. If I’m lucky, ideas, which is often what I’ll have a semifinal round drives a lot of the conflict of [Original Oratory] and that happens. I would argue Extemp, then there’s a two in today's atmosphere right hour Congress final. Then is now that being able to sepExtemp and [Original Orato- arate emotionally from those ry] finals. There isn’t a lot of is probably pretty critical for free time if I do three events, creating that civil discussion but my favorite parts of tour- that is necessary for coopernaments are spending time ation.”

According to Mast, debate with my team. Then, there is also teaches students critical an awards ceremony and we reading analysis skills, effigo home. Frequently, we’ll cient note taking (or flowhave team dinners after.”

Many events in debate ing), and how to advocate require prior knowledge, for oneself.

“Debate has literally been which students must know ahead of time as the inter- the most useful thing I’ve net is not allowed to be used learned from public American schooling,” Van Lente during events.

“I spend every living sec- said. “Debate keeps me ond of my life researching aware of what’s actually hapand preparing for debate,” pening in the world, it allows Due to the sophomore Nick Van Lente me to eloquently present my length of the said. “I use the hell out of view on something, and betournaments, students often my New York Times sub- ing able to confidently speak grow closer with their team- scription. Keeping caught up in public is a skill virtually mates. helps me be more aware of every profession uses.”

“Spending up to 12 hours important things in society Furthermore, while the with the people on the team and strengthens the power forensics process can be chalat tournaments has helped I have as lenging, learning how to exme get much closer to ev- a US citpress views eryone on the team since i z e n — i n - Being the unapologetic and apply there are often a few hours formation peaking version of myself is always sskills between rounds where the is power. to real the one that feels and issues has team just sits in the cafe- Also, being teria talking,” sophomore fluent ultimately speaks my truth. in Kaia Pierce said. “You tend politics is let students to learn a lot about a person a great way confront Nick Van Lente when they are running on to flex on their own Sophomore four hours of sleep.” identities relatives at Students in Debate 1 are Christmas and Thanksgivand prepare required to participate in ing.” for the world around them. two tournaments over the “When the topic is conIn context of today’s course of the school year and growing political polariza- troversial, it’s typically pretthose in Debate 2-4 must tion, Mast stresses the im- ty easy to coward and hide do five, and both groups are portance of a safe environ- my emotions, but one of the required to help host the ment to practice generating few things I’ve come to learn Bowie tournament. Howev- civil debate. is that being the unapologeter, many choose to compete “The problem is that we ic version of myself is always more regularly. kind of get stuck in our own the one that feels and speaks “A typical tournament: [perspectives] and if we only my truth,” Van Lente said.

I wake up around six and hear that version of things “Letting myself conceal or get into my suit,” Shreeve then it gets reinforced, so conserve my personality is said. “We go to another high hearing people from all sides a form of fear, and stepping school. First, I do my second- of the spectrum is critical,” out and being vulnerable and ary events, Extemporaneous Mast said. “The other thing raw never ceases to shine.” lton Spruc

of adrena l i n e high that is pretty great,” Evans said. “It also helps improve your speaking skills because once you’re there, you can do absolutely nothing about the fact that you will have to perform so you just have to kind of realize everyone is nervous and go for it.”

These public speaking skills are also applied in debate.

“I do Congressional Debate, so, just like the real Congress, we prepare pieces of legislation,” senior Amy Shreeve said. “We get thirty bills per semester. They pertain either to foreign policy or domestic policy. To prepare these, I usually do some targeted Google searches to get an idea of the topic, decide the side I’m going to take, and then do substantive research (from law journals and theses) to back up my claims. A lot of the preparation I do is mental—I practice so I don’t get nervous, and I prepare outfits to hype myself up.”

"If novices go to the tournament I don't prep, but I make them explain their cases to me and help them make friends. Since I'm a senior, I won't be around next year to help them and in order for them to thrive in Congress they need to have connections to other schools and competitors."

”

"One time [we] were waiting for postings and so we decided to take a walk, but I didn't have any other shoes except my shoes and it had just rained so I basically just climbed through the forest with heels on and somehow we made it to the side of a highway."

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE Students develop bills and resolutions and vote on their implementation to simulate the US Legislative process

A breakdown of some of the forensics events students compete in

Alyssa Shumaker, 10

One-on-one debate on ethics/ values based on gathered evidence

Students write and deliver a tenminute memorized persuasive piece

ORIGINAL ORATORY DUO/DUET

Oral interpretation in which students perform as a pair; unlike Duet, students may not look at or touch one another­in Duo

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

DATA BY National Speech and Debate Assoc.

Two-on-two debate where sides argue pros and cons of current events

"Two years ago, the Chaparral Star and Westlake swing tournament started to have a lip-sync battle and Bowie has won both years. This year we did a mash-up that included some ABBA and Britney Spears."

Kaia Pierce, 10

Brianna Rodriguez, 12

SUIT UP:

n

America

ART BY Da

mostly objective feedback from a random person Across Austin, thousands who doesn’t care of alarm clocks rip students about your feelfrom their beds at five in the ings or being too morning on a Saturday, each harsh, which kind of whom wrestles into suits of sounds awful but before stumbling to their car it has been an incredto drive to the school hosting ible tool for me to use the tournament. It’s going to as an actor and has largebe a long day for the speech ly been why I still love perand debate department. forming.”

Composed of 25 oral inWhile tournaments foster terpretation students and 90 skills for all participants, stuspeech and debate students, dents in theatre in particular including novices, the Bowie are able to gain experience in forensics department spends the audition process. all year preparing for week“The benefit of speech ly tournaments to compete and debate is that you're against other schools in their auditioning every weekevents. end, so you get feedback “There is really kind of constantly and they start three groups,” debate teach- to kind of be more aware er John Mast said. “There's of how they're presentdebate, which is usually ing themselves,” speech two teams against each oth- teacher Marco Bazan said. er, and then there's public In the weeks and days speaking, which is like you're leading up to the tournacompeting against other peo- ment, students must deple but not in the same way, vote time to developing and then oral interpretation the materials for their is usually interpretation of event(s). literature, like books, plays, “Preparing for a music, [or] songs.” tournament starts with However, many students deciding what events to are unaware of the differenc- compete in and then searches of speech in comparison ing for literature,” Shumakto debate. er said. “Once you find your “A lot of people think that book, play, poem, musical, or we give speeches, which is other piece, you start cutting more on the debate side of it. Cutting a piece consists our program,” sophomore of searching through your Alyssa Shumaker said. “In source for the scenes or pagaddition, occasionally some- es you want to include and one will see the name ‘fo- combining them in a way rensics’ used, which is really that works for your event. just another name for speech Next it’s memorization and and debate, and think of like blocking, as well as feedback CSI criminal science sort of from other members of the things, which is definitely team. After that, you’re pretnot what ty much we do.” ready to You learn to love the Instead, go.” s p e e c h feeling of anticipation and Since focuses performit becomes a really unique on events in kind of adrenaline high. ing such as front of oral interjudges pretation, requires Luke Evans which is a complete Senior ten-minc o n f i ute acting piece performed dence in the piece, students by one or two individuals. spend time in and out of “Interp is an amazing op- class rehearsing. portunity because you don’t “You never entirely get have to wait for someone over the feeling of nervouselse to give you a chance,” ness you get before a toursenior Luke Evans said. “It’s nament, especially the early your own stage and you can ones, but you learn to love the try pretty much whatev- feeling of anticipation and it er you want and get some becomes a really unique kind

Students write and deliver a tenminute educational memorized speech on topic of choice

PUBLIC FORUM Two-on-two debate where sides argue pros and cons of a policy proposal

DRAMATIC/HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION POLICY DEBATE EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS

DEBATE

N

RATE THA

(NOVICE, FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC)

AMY SHREEVE, 12

JADEN DAVIS, 10

SPEECH

Students perform a ten-minute piece from a play or other published work without props or costumes

Students have 30 minutes to prepare and memorize a seven-minute speech answering a randomlyselected question

PHOTO ESSAY 7

SR&D does groundbreaking research FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Junior and senior students participate in the Vertebrate Interactome Streaming Project Rey Gray Photo-Essay Editor

For the past semester, Bowie’s Scientific Research and Design students have participated in the Vertebrate Interactive Streaming Project. They have been working with high schools and professional labs around the world to find out what specific proteins in the body do and how they function within the body.

With this information, SR&D students hope they can not only gain a better understanding of the human body and DNA, but also find out how proteins are linked to diseases to find cures.

Each student in Scientific Research and Design is given a different DNA sample that makes a different protein, so no two students’ work is the same.

“The uniqueness of this class is that every student gets their own different project that they’re assigned,” Scientific Research and Design teacher Alonna Beatty said. “So while they’re trying to do the same thing by altering DNA that will then produce an actual protein in a mammalian organism, in a human specifically, they have to figure out what they need to do and then they’re kind of on their own because their project is not the same as anyone else’s in their class.”

The students in the class are working on ground breaking research regarding DNA that is going on around the world in educational and professional labs.

“The fact of the matter is that this class is actually cutting edge research that may not have been done anywhere else in the world,” Beatty said. “Scientists are

trying to figure out what these proteins in our bodies do and how we can mitigate some of the problems that people have in terms of diseases when their proteins don’t function correctly. So we are trying to figure out the source of those problems at the DNA level, so that we can possibly solve it at the DNA level.”

The Vertebrate Interactive Streaming program is the project that the students in SR&D are working on.

“The projects that we are working on are a part of the Vertebrate Interactome Streaming Project; basically the idea is that your DNA eventually becomes the proteins that do everything in your body, from make your hair color to helping you digest milk,” Beatty said.

Amanda Schwenke, a junior SR&D student, is working on her project regarding mutations in proteins.

“A lot of the genetic issues that people have are a result of small mutations.

In order to fix these, people need to understand them and that’s what we’re studying,” Schwenke said.

The projects of the SR&D class are complex, and it takes a lot of work to map the number of genomes and proteins in a human that complete daily bodily functions.

“We are trying to help map the human genome,” senior Reid Zavaleta said.

“The human body creates all these different proteins; and there is many variations of the same protein with a slight change in it. There are millions of proteins that we don’t know what their purpose is they’re there so they must form a function in our bodies. Our purpose in

GROWING BIG AND STRONG: Senior Kaedon Solana and junior Gabriela Hall carefully measure out the food solution for the bacteria to grow in using a serological pipette. The food solution they use is called lysogeny broth and it is used for the growth of bacteria. “The LB media (food solution) is just a nutritious medium for the bacteria to grow in,” Solana said. PHOTO BY Rey Gray

SR&D is to help experiment with these proteins that we have no idea what their purpose is, and figure out what they do.”

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Students in SR&D have to carefully avoid the pellet of bacteria cell debris. They have to spin their tubes in the centrifuge to break apart the bacteria cell so that they can extract the DNA from the tube-the pellet left at the bottom is the bacteria’s guts. “With the bacteria broken open, the DNA was left freely around our buffer for us to collect,” Reid Zavaleta said. PHOTO BY Rey Gray

TROUBLE SHOOTING: SR&D teacher Alonna Beatty and junior Andres Sanchez work on figuring out what course of action Sanchez should take with his bacterial cell. Students’ in SR&D have their own projects that they are working on and no two students work is the same. “The teacher is more of someone that helps you trouble shoot, as opposed to someone who would tell you what to do and how to do it,” Beatty said. PHOTO BY Rey Gray

GETTING THE MUNCHIES: Senior Reid Zavaleta works to get the bacteria on his toothpick into the food solution for it. The bacteria in the solution have to be put in a shaking incubator for a night so that they grow large enough for the students to place their DNA strand in it. “In SR&D we’re using bacteria cells to copy DNA, this makes it easier to work with a specific strand of DNA since we will have more copies to work with in our tests,” Zavaleta said. PHOTO BY Rey Gray

SENIOR ASSISTANCE: Senior Kaedon Solana works with junior SR&D students to pick out bacteria colonies. It is important to their research that they pick bacteria colonies correctly so that they can perform their experiment properly. “We are trying to pick ones to clone so we can use them to test out our mutations on,” Solana said.

“We will be trying to recreate a mutation of our bacteria to study how that mutation affects the gene.” PHOTO BY Rey Gray

IN-DEPTH 9

8 IN-DEPTH

FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

IMMIGRATION STATUS

IMMIGRATION Talk surrounding the border wall draws attention to claiming asylum and naturalization process Abby Ong Editor-in-Chief

GOV’T SHUTDOWN

In what was regarded as fearfully similar to children throwing temper tantrums, the government shutdown in early January lasted 35 days. The record-breaking shutdown occurred when Congress refused to pass legislation that included over $5 billion for a border wall demanded by President Donald Trump.

The fight over the border wall drew attention to a topic that has remained one of the nation’s greatest political issues: immigration. With policies surrounding illegal immigration, asylum and refugee seekers, birthright citizenship, and gaining green cards constantly being re-evaluated and questioned, discussion regarding the topic can become heated and hard to follow.

“There was and still is a sense of dehumanization toward immigrants when Trump speaks of immigrants,” senior Taylor Bhuiyan said. “I think that is the hardest thing for me to swallow; when I watch the news every night and [see] clips of the United States president speak so vulgarly regarding them.”

Historically, immigration has positively contributed to the ‘cultural melting pot’ of the US. However, the broad discussion regarding immigration and all of the nuances involved make declaring a stance harder than ever comparted to some other issues.

“I don’t necessarily stand to the right or the left,” senior Stephen Achilles said. “I do believe that there is a big problem with the way we handle immigration today. I don’t think we’ve come up with the right answer and I don’t know what the answer to this complicated thing is.”

Junior Trey Campsmith viewed the shutdown as rather petty, disapproving of the month of standstill it took for the government to be able to make a decision, while remianing open to a wall.

“Regarding immigration policy, I don’t really see how a wall protecting our border is a bad thing, especially if the cost of it is insignificant to the national budget,” Campsmith said.

“I do, however, think that it should be easier to get a working visa and we should incentivize legal immigration by making it much easier to come here.”

According to economics and government teacher Ruth Narvaiz, immigrants typically add to the wealth of a country.

“They pay taxes just like you and I do on every paycheck they get,” Narvaiz said. “In a lot of cases they come in because immigrants have specialty jobs that are required.”

CITIZENSHIP

ART BY Joe Morales

Under the 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, undocumented immigrants have the same rights to attend primary and secondary schools as citizens and permanent residents, and are required to attend school just as other minors. In addition, school officials have no legal obligation to enforce immigration laws.

“As an educator, I would hope that any student that walks through our doors would feel welcomed regardless of where

he or she comes from,” English teacher Amanda Pfeiffer said.

“We are charged with that, it is our jobs to make you feel welcome and that you deserve the highest quality education regardless of any other factors.”

Around half of Bhuiyan’s family are immigrants from Bangladesh, and she has witnessed her parents try to get family to the US her entire life.

“The process is long and requires a lot of interaction with our local and state representatives, so if [any of them] are unresponsive, the process can take months before any substantial progress is made,” Bhuiyan said. “I remember my parents filling out countless amounts of paper work for each member of my family.”

Senior Luciana San Esteban currently has permanent residency and is attempting to gain citizenship. Her father was born in the US and has citizenship, so he claimed residency for them when they moved from Mexico.

“We’re trying to get passports because I’m technically a citizen, but I have no official documents to prove that I’m a citizen,” San Esteban said. “I can’t vote because I’m not [recognized as] a citizen. For every college I applied to, I had to fill out that I’m a permanent resident and I had to send the pictures my green card and my alien number.”

The citizenship test requires knowledge of US history, geography, and government, as well as the ability to write and speak in English. US history and government teacher Carlen Floyd worked with a non-profit to help people prepare for the test.

“They can take the class as many times as they want [and] some of them took the class three times, just because they don’t want to fail,” Floyd said. “They’re so much fun, they’re so excited. They want to vote so badly, and they know more than a lot of native born citizens are walking around because they’re forced to.”

SEEKING ASYLUM

Attorney Marc Vockell, father of senior Carina Vockell, has recently begun offering free legal services to immigrants seeking asylum.

“I decided to focus on this field for two reasons: first, the clients I have had the honor to work for are amazing people who would be persecuted if forced to return to their countries,” Vockell said. “Second, because I love my country and its ideals, and believe in the promise of the Statue of Liberty, which has welcomed immigrants for centuries and made us the amazing country we are.”

For Vockell, the most difficult aspect of his work is representing victims of violence and thinking about the possibility of them being forced to return. He has worked with clients fleeing violence in countries where police are unable or unwilling to protect individuals.

“I recently spoke with a 19-year old El Salvadoran woman who looked like she could have easily been a Bowie student,” Vockell said. “She worked in a food shack and was approached by a local gang member who wanted her to become his girlfriend. Within days, her parents were approached by the gang asking where she was, and she knew she wouldn’t be safe anywhere in El Salvador.”

Her family raised $4,000 for her transportation the US border.

Those seeking asylum must prove “credible fear” in an interview with an immigration official and will either be deported or then

have to wait for a hearing.

“After a month-long journey, she arrived at the US border, only to be kidnapped by a criminal organization in Mexico,” Vockell said. “She [was held] another week before her family could gather and pay another $3,000. She is now in detention and has a good immigration case, but if she gets the wrong judge, she could get sent back to El Salvador.”

According to Vockell, an immigrant might attain work permission while awaiting the hearing or they might remain in custody the entire time.

“The standard under the law to receive asylum is to prove a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ based on a person’s race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group,” Vockell said. “The asylum-seeker also has to prove that the government in the home country is causing the persecution or refuses to prevent it. Recent policy changes by the current administration have suggested gang violence and domestic violence should not be the basis for asylum, but this issue is being litigated in the federal courts.”

Floyd volunteered at a women’s detention facility in Hutto, where women awaiting their hearing stay. She spoke with two women, both of whom were deported within a week after her visit.

“It’s former jails, they have guards,” Floyd said. “When you go to visit, it’s a screening like you’re going into a federal prison. The people are all identified by numbers. There are visitation rules, they’re always under supervision.”

Many of the asylum seekers at the border come from Central or Latin America countries and are often unable to speak English or Spanish.

“There is one professor at UT who speaks these [indigenous dialects],” Floyd said. “When they have to give their information, there’s one person in Austin, Texas who volunteers his time. He can’t do it all, so there are women who are here with their children, there are women who have fled who have no way of actually communicating.”

RESIDENCY PROCESS

Senior Ariel Sandoval Olivia moved to the US from Monterrey, Mexico in 2013 to live with his father, who is a US resident. He described the room the family of four moved into as one so small that a king bed couldn’t fit.

“At that point my dad had some money, and he thought it would be enough to get an apartment here, at least for some time until he got a job,” Sandoval Olivia said. “Since he had no work here, there was no way to prove that he would be able to keep paying that money. It got a really bad, at some point my dad was like ‘please I’ll get the money out, I’ll pay a year in advance.’ No one would.”

After four months, they moved into his aunt’s garage, a typical garage for two cars, slowly remodeling and adding a kitchen, gas, and a refrigerator.

“My parents had a big bed, me and my sister slept on one of those sofa beds,” Sandoval Olivia said. “I couldn’t be alone any time, I mean you’re a teen and you want to be alone right, and having my little sister and my family [there], you can’t even talk at home, can’t even talk at school because there’s no one to talk to.”

Sandoval Olivia and his family remained in the garage for seven months before they moved into a house. Upon starting school in the US, Sandoval failed a required English test, which meant he was placed in an ELL class for two years, prompting him to spend the majority of his time learning English.

“If I wasn’t reading, I was with my headphones watching YouTube videos on how to pronounce words,” Sandoval Olivia said.

“I would spend hours and hours getting the right pronunciation or figuring out what some phrase meant because I couldn’t get it right. People always tell you that the best way to learn a language is by watching movies, listening to music, or speaking it yourself.”

He retook the English test before eighth grade and passed it, although he was still required by law to stay in the class. For Sandoval Olivia, the thing that helped him the most was playing a multi-player online battle arena, where he decided to buy a headset to progress further in the game.

“I got my first headset, connected it to the computer, and little by little I started learning cues,” Sandoval Olivia said. “Next thing you know, I’m speaking to [others], they’re helping me, I have like a little [team] of them. They understood that I wasn’t from the country and they were helping me.”

Sandoval Olivia has been in the US for five years, fulfilling the proof of residency requirements. He will travel to Mexico to take a blood test before being seen in court on Feb. 8, which will determine whether he will return to the US or not. These steps have caused him to keep a very small circle of friends for fear it might impact his chances.

“I trust [my friends] to keep a secret if I need to talk to them, but I don’t know what they’re going to do,” Sandoval Olivia said.

“Especially with how strict laws are here. If they were to just not care or try to disrespect me and bring a bottle of vodka hidden in one of their purses or something and they end up drinking at my house and they leave and they get into an accident, who’s to blame? It’s me.”

The process for permanent residency is long and costly. After spending $6000 on consulting a lawyer, not to mention paperwork and travel expenses, Sandoval Olivia has been very careful to protect himself.

“I mean if by any chance [drugs] get on me, I’m getting a blood test and [the test where they take your hair and scan it] to see,” Sandoval Olivia said. “If I’m around any of [my friends] and they happen to be some kind of scent or something on me, well that could ruin everything.”

Regarding the fear of immigrants in the news, Sandoval Olivia understands, but disagrees with the threat of a wall.

“If you see a country as your own house, I wouldn’t allow people I don’t know in my house, I need to know them first to open my doors,” Sandoval Olivia said. “If that’s the way the US wants to go, sure, but also you need to understand that this is a country made of immigrants, people from all over the world.”

In Floyd’s opinion, one of the most important things to remember about immigration is that this is not a faraway issue, especially living in Texas.

“This is not a problem that exists in Arizona; this is not a different school’s problem,” Floyd said. “We’ve got students here in our classes. This is not a national news story, this is in our classrooms’ and our families’ story.”

UNDOCUMENTED PERSON Someone who does not have permission to be in the US, either because they entered illegally or because their visa expired

VISA HOLDER Immigrant Visa: Granted to those who intend to stay permanently Non-Immigrant Visa: Stay is temporary, often for work or travel

LEGAL RESIDENCY Green Card: Permanent residency allowing one to work and live in the US indefinitely Conditional Permanent Residency: Valid for two years

CITIZENSHIP Birth Naturalization: Married to a US Citizen for three years or five years as a qualified lawful permanent resident Derivation or acquisition: Granted through birth or adoption by a US Citizen

GRAPHIC BY Abby Ong SOURCE Catholic Charities Central Texas SOURCE US Citizenship and Immigration Services

10 SPORTS

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

Senior kicks it as soccer captain Sam Blas Sports Editor

Bright lights shine down on each and every player on the field. All one of the players have played for years and have gone through hours upon hours of rigorous training. But, one player stands out from among the rest.

Girls varsity soccer Team Captain senior Hannah Erb details her soccer career.

When Erb is on the field, she believes she needs to always perform well to live up to her title.

“I feel nervous sometimes because as a team captain, I feel like I need to perform well on the field,” Erb said.

“But I’m also really excited to be out there with my team. We’re all really good friends, and it’s honestly so much fun playing with them.

Before the game I’m mostly nervous, but when the game actually starts, all the nerves go away.”

Erb thanks many people for her success as a player. A couple of people she thanks are her parents.

“My parents always pushed me to be better and to work as hard as I can.

We’ve traveled a lot for soccer and they’ve encouraged me to do as much as I can with my soccer career,” Erb said. “They’ve paid for training, and I thank them so much for that. They’ve motivated me to work as hard as I can to get as good as I can.”

Another person she attributes her success to is the head coach of the varsity soccer team, Coach Carrie Hoffman-Howell.

“Hoffman has been great.

She has been supportive; she just makes us feel really comfortable when we talk to her. She always has our best interests in mind,” Erb said.

“She’s the sweetest lady ever.

When someone on the team is going through some stuff, she’s really understanding.

She’s really supportive when one of us is having a bad game. She’s always there for

SAM SAYS The NFL has an officiating problem and it needs to be addressed Sam Blas Sports Editor

BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM: Senior Rheanna Reyes dribbles the ball.

The Bowie girls soccer team is tied for first in the district. PHOTO BY Sam Blas

GETTING A KICK OUT OF IT: Senior Hannah Erb outraces her opponent. Erb is one of the two team captains of the varsity girls soccer team. PHOTO BY Sam Blas

you.”

Hoffman-Howell has overseen Erb’s growth throughout three years, as Erb has been on varsity since her sophomore year.

“Hannah’s one of the players that came to me very highly skilled. She made varsity as a sophomore,” Hoffman-Howell said. “I never put any freshman or sophomores on varsity unless I know they’re going to play the majority of the time because it would be a waste if they weren’t playing. Once I saw her play at the sophomore level, I knew she had some talent.”

Hoffman-Howell attri-

butes a lot of her team’s success to Erb. “Hannah’s the kind of player that if you don’t know much about soccer, you kind of overlook her. That thing is true for a lot of center mids and defenders. But what Hannah does is she can control the pace of the game,” Hoffman-Howell said. “She’s the one that lays the ball off to all the forwards and they get all the glory because they’re the ones scoring all of the time, but if Hannah wasn’t there, they wouldn’t be scoring all of these points.”

Erb stated that all of her teammates have been sup-

portive throughout her career. When she was a sophomore, she broke her arm and sat out for nine months and her teammates helped her through this setback.

“I had to have three surgeries to fix my arm. It was hard because I just had to watch everybody play while I had to sit out,” Erb said.

“But all of my teammates were all very supportive and they were all sad that I couldn’t play. Once I got back and started playing on varsity, which was my first year on varsity, it honestly motivated me to work harder and to get where I am.

Even though I was set back, I

was so motivated to improve my skills.”

Erb stated that one teammate in particular has supported her throughout her soccer career. Senior Rheanna Reyes has been one of her best friends since Erb started playing for Bowie.

“Rheanna has been my best friend on Bowie soccer for four years. We’ve always been really supportive of each other,” Erb said. “Even if we get into little arguments on the field we still love each other. We’re always trying to cheer each other up and help each other out while playing.”

Reyes has been friends with Erb ever since they started Bowie soccer. She believes that Erb is one of the best players on the team.

“Hannah’s always really supportive. She’s a really good leader, gives good directions in an encouraging way, she communicates very well too,” Reyes said.

“Hannah has a presence on the field. You wouldn’t expect it looking at her, but when she’s playing, she’s really in control of midfield.

She’s really aggressive and she works really hard all the time. It makes people around her work hard as well.”

Varsity baseball player steals a school record sport into college, according to scholarshipstats. org.

“I would tell people who want to reach a level After going to school for eight hours, practic- like I did to work hard every day, be patient, and ing for a few hours, and keeping up grades, high be productive,” Werchan said. “Stay humble and school athletes frequently crumble under the consistent, and just have fun. If it’s something you pressure. However, senior Seth Werchan juggles love, go for it.” his busy schedule while keeping strong morals Werchan’s excellence in cooperation has shaped and staying grounded. him to be a strong team player.

Werchan began his athletic career at the young “Seth is a very smart young man and he has a age of five with swimming, which he continued great personality; for me that is his best quality,” for nine years.

Degelia said. “He is a natural leader on the field “[After swimming,] I then played soccer and who really leads by example.” basketball for a few years, along with track and Werchan’s coaches are appreciative of his atfootball, but I’ve always titude because it pushes been a baseball player,” the team to a more comWerchan said.

Seth sets the bar really high for our petitive level.

Werchan is going to attitude pushyounger players, I would hope they es “Seth’s be playing Division 1 us to be the best we use some of what they’ve seen can be every day. Espebaseball at University of Pennsylvania. cially downtime at prachim do.

“The opportunity to tice he makes sure we are Sam Degelia play baseball in college always working,” baseBaseball Coach has been my dream since ball coach Steve Villanmiddle school,” Werchan ueva said. said. “It’s rewarding to see my dream come true.”

Werchan struggled with the yips his freshman Werchan is frequently noticed by coaches and year during baseball tryouts, which is a mental obviewers when he plays sports. stacle that stops people from doing simple tasks.

“Seth’s best strengths are his work ethic and “For me, I was so nervous to make a bad throw [the fact that] he is coachable,” baseball coach that I then couldn’t even make an accurate throw,” Sam Degelia said. “He is always the first on the Werchan said. “I would throw the ball 20ft in field and the last one to leave, and does everything front of my partner or 20ft over their head; I was you ask him to do.” so scared because I had no control. I’ve struggled Werchan is not only involved in sports, but is with that throughout high school, but I’m through also active in his church and community. with it now.”

“I’ve had so many supporters, such as a handThe Bowie coaches teach students from P.E ful of amazing coaches, a few great men from my to varsity sports, shaping many members in the church; including my pastor; my grandparents, community. and my parents,” Werchan said. “I’ve been lucky “I’ve learned so much from the Bowie coaches, to be surrounded by some special leaders that I’ve football and baseball,” Werchan said. “If I didn’t learned a lot from.” play football, I know for a fact I wouldn’t be standWerchan stole 44 bases last year and was an ing where I am today.”

All-District selection in baseball.

Werchan has a reputation of being very consis“Those 44 stolen bases were the most that I tent and motivated. have had since I have been here at Bowie,” Degelia “I’m very honest in myself because nobody can said. get better if they can’t admit failures that they’ve Only 11.5% of high school boys continue their done,” Werchan said. “I have a solid mindset to be Abby Brien Dispatch Reporter

”

GETTING TO THIRD BASE: Senior Seth Werchan prepares to sprint to home base.

Werchan will attend the University of Pennsylvania to play baseball. PHOTO BY Sam Blas

consistent, come prepared, and motivated toward a goal.”

Student athletes commonly go to school for almost eight hours and practice for a few more hours.

“Sometimes you have night games or tournaments that you miss school or get home late,” Werchan said. “It’s just part of being a student athlete and you must accept the fact that you can’t just do sports, but you must be a student first. I try to get the highest grades I can because I’m also competing academically too.”

Werchan’s work ethic has risen above the average level, according to Villanueva.

“Seth’s strengths are his leadership and work ethic,” Villanueva said. “His work ethic has got him where he is, and his leadership has made the team who we are.”

Go ahead and call me a salty Saints fan. Go ahead and say that they blew a 13 point lead. But, no matter what you say, you have to agree that the Saints were screwed out of a Super Bowl trip.

During the NFC Championship Game, while in the red zone, the referees missed a blatant pass interference as a Rams cornerback absolutely laid out a defenseless Saints receiver. If the refs actually called that foul, the Saints would’ve won the game, as they would’ve gained a first down and could’ve run down the clock and either kicked a very easy field goal or scored a touchdown.

This kind of screw up is unacceptable for an NFL official. This was completely a foul where it was utterly obvious and should’ve been flagged. It’s either that these officials are incredibly oblivious and shouldn’t be officiating any playoff game or that they are corrupt, but I highly doubt it’s the latter of the two.

I believe that there should be a punishment for those refs involved in the game, as this was not the only no call in the game. Two Saints players got away with face mask penalties. Another Rams player got away with another PI. Those are only two of the numerous fouls committed by both teams that were missed. But still none of them had the magnitude of the missed PI at the end of the game.

The punishment I find suitable for these refs is a hefty fine and/or a suspension. I get that they’re human. I get that they all make mistakes. But if you miss such an obvious call and screw a team out of a chance to win the Super Bowl, you should be punished accordingly.

Moving on, there was another bad call on the AFC side of things- the roughing the passer call on a Chiefs defensive lineman when he didn’t even knock the quarterback down. This cost the Chiefs a chance to bring the lead up to 11 points. But, the refs decided to throw a flag and let the Patriots have another chance at scoring.

I am so tired of seeing teams get screwed. It’s just so infuriating. It happens every single week of the NFL and it needs to stop. But I am glad to hear that there are a couple of rule changes in the future that will prevent this stuff from happening.

Everyone is watching these games. Everyone saw how appalling the officiating was. The NFL needs to crack down on these bad calls and hire some refs with some working eyes, and maybe we’ll have an entertaining league to watch. All we can do is hope for some rule changes or something along those lines. But until then, we will have to wait patiently.

Coming UP in SPORTS February 12 Varsity boys soccer vs. Westlake @Burger Annex

February 23 Boys Varsity Lacrosse vs Austin @Bowie

February 22 Wrestling meet @Bryan High School

March 5 Softball vs. Liberty Hill @Liberty Hill

February 15 Varsity Baseball vs. San Marcos @San Marcos

M a r c h 2 Tr a c k m e e t @ R o u n d R o c k H i g h S c h o o l

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: Samblas @thedispatch online.net Room: F203

SPORTS 11

FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Senior guard assists varsity to victories Hailey Atwood steals McDonald’s All-American nomination while leading team in scoring The high pitched squeak of basketball shoes sharply changing directions on the court fills the air as number five swishes the ball through the net, making the amount of points she’s scored individually equal to the total score of the opposing team.

That player would be Hailey Atwood, a senior who has been a key player on the varsity Bowie basketball team since her freshman year, according to girls basketball coach Vickie Benson.

“When she came in as a freshman, she played without fear ... she was able to play varsity and was the first player off the bench most of the season,” Benson said.

“From sophomore year on, she’s started and played most of the minutes of the game.”

Atwood began playing basketball at a young age.

“I have played basketball all my life,” Atwood said. “I have trained since I was six, but I didn’t start actually playing on a team until the 7th grade.”

Benson was impressed

Hailey Atwood

AVERAGES

with Atwood when she saw her try out as a freshman, and she immediately knew Atwood would become a star player for varsity.

“She had a lot of raw talent and natural, instinctive skill,” Benson said. “She was quick, she was fast, she could jump, and she was very athletic.”

Now on her fourth year of playing the guard position, Atwood scores the majority of the team’s points nearly every game.

“Hailey can score,” Benson said. “She has a knack for scoring and she does it at all three levels. She does it at the rim, she shoots midrange, she shoots threes she’ll get a steal on defense and go make a layup on the other end.”

As a result of her hard work and talent, Atwood has received and been nominated for several awards.

“I’ve been Central Texas Player of the Week,” Atwood said. “I was nominated for McDonald’s All-American.”

Atwood inspires other girls on the team through her play, including sophomore basketball player

#5

POINTS: 26.1 REBOUNDS: 6.1 STEALS: 3.1

PHOTO BY Austyn Keelty

GRAPHIC BY Sam Blas

Naya Tillisch Dispatch Reporter

Brooke Druebert.

“I like playing with Hailey because she is very passionate and has a huge drive to win, [which] motivates me,” Druebert said. “She’s definitely a key part of the team because she makes things happen on both offense and defense.”

Atwood has become a leader on the team due to her skill and responsibility.

“I think if you asked any of her teammates why she’s so good, it would be her humility, because she’s really good and they all know she’s really good, but she doesn’t ever point fingers at them if they make mistakes, and if we’re not playing well, she owns it for herself and sees it as if she’s not doing a good job,” Benson said. “They respect her so much that I think sometimes they want to play hard just for her.”

Atwood said she works very hard to balance basketball, school, and her personal life.

“I would say being a student athlete is probably the hardest thing you can do, especially at a rigorous school like Bowie or any other level of basketball, including college,” Atwood said. “I usually utilize my study hall time and any free time to get all my work done so all I have to do when I come home is rest.”

Basketball has helped Atwood get through some rough times of her life, for she feels that being submerged in the game provides a distraction and refuge from reality.

“I have had some personal things going on that really tested my mental strength during my junior season,” Atwood said. “Although it was probably the hardest thing I have been through, it made me a lot stronger as a person, and with the support of my teammates, I was able to get through the rough

LAY IT UP: Senior Hailey Atwood leaps up to score a lay-up. Atwood was nominated for McDonald’s All-American. PHOTO BY Austyn Keelty

time. Playing basketball definitely made things better and got my mind off of what was going on in my personal life.”

Atwood has had very few serious injuries, but she did acquire one this season.

“I have suffered a few rolled ankles, but the only real injury that I had was splitting my eyebrow open during a game that happened this season,” Atwood said. “Although I didn’t miss any games for it, I still had to get stitches, and I had a nice black eye for about a week and a half.”

The team is very supportive of everyone and is a closely-knit group according to players.

“I think the team chemistry is really strong and a lot of people are really good friends,” junior basketball player Sasha Sunga said. “It makes it more fun to play together when everyone gets along.”

The team is having a successful season so far with a record of 21-8 overall, and 14-1 in District.

“We’re sitting second place in district,” Benson said. “We’re one game be-

hind Westlake, but hopefully we can beat them when we play.”

Though Atwood is the leading scorer and a key part of the team, Benson said the other players greatly contribute to her success and the team’s winning record.

“This team is the smartest team I’ve had in a long time because they ... understand strategy. It’s just like chess for them,” Benson said. “It’s not just Hailey; it’s the whole team and how everyone understands their job and their role, so that’s extremely important.”

Diver takes off somersaulting all the way to the state Peter Dang Sports Editor

Climbing up three stories of stairs just to jump off into a pool for fun, then doing it over and over again. That is 10-meter diving.

Alekzandr Popper is a diver with his eyes set on winning the UIL state meet. Popper was a gymnast for seven years before transitioning to diving. For all six years of his diving career, he has been to nationals.

“I have honestly loved every second of diving,” Popper said. “When I am in the air I feel like I’m flying, so it has been really fun.”

When Popper first started diving he landed on his stomach and back often due to lack of experience. The mechanics and flipping were the same as gymnastics, but everything else was different.

“It was a hard transition at first, gymnasts always land on their feet, divers always land on their hands,” Popper said.

“Being a gymnast, I never liked to land on my hands.”

LOOKING UP: Alekzandr Popper executes a back flip off of the 1 meter board. He placed first with 488 points at districts. PHOTO BY Rey Gray

Popper recalls his nerve-racking first time jumping off the 10-meter platform, the tallest platform in diving.

“The first time I jumped off the 10-meter platform, I was afraid I was going to die or something,” Popper said. “I was really scared.”

After overcoming his fear of jumping off of a 10-meter platform, Popper became fond of the event. Popper also competes in the 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, 5-meter platform, and 7.5-meter platform.

“The 10-meter is the one I am the best at, I enjoy that one the most,” Popper said. “I have the most fun.”

Popper’s favorite dive off of the 10-meter platform is the full in, it is a front 1.5 somersault with a full twist, followed by a 1.5 pike. It is a 2.7 out of 3.6 degree of difficulty.

“The full in is my favorite because of its difficulty,” Popper said. “It’s pretty hard but when I do it, I feel like I’m flying.”

Popper practices three to five hours a day, seven days a week in the morning and after school. He dives for three hours every day. He also does about two hours of conditioning per day which consists of running stairs maintain his cardio and leg training to help him jump higher. To help his muscles recover from his intense training Popper gets treatments like dry needling, cryotherapy, and massages.

“Diving is a very intense and demanding sport,” Popper said. “It requires a lot of time and a lot from your body.”

Popper said his mental strength developed from his six years of experience has made him a strong diver. After overcoming the mental barrier of jumping off the platform, the physical part of diving takes over.

“Diving is more of a mental sport than a physical sport because to most people jumping off of a 10-meter platform is really scary,” Popper said. “Doing multiple flips and twists off of 10-meters is even scarier.”

In the past, swim and dive coach Peyton Bobo has worked with a few divers. Most of the divers he worked with were transitioning from another sport like gymnastics or cheerleading to diving. Popper already had five years of diving experience before working with Bobo.

“I have had a couple divers in the past,” Bobo said.

“Alekzandr is the best diver I have coached.”

Teammate Page Vavasour recalls her first time meeting Popper as being in awe after watching him dive.

“I met him at dive camp when I was diving over the summer and he was diving there too,” Vavasour said. “I was like wow he is really good, I was a little intimidated at first.”

The dive team’s only two divers have a close team bond and are supportive of each other according to Vavasour.

“It is really helpful to have him as a teammate because he teaches me a lot of stuff,” Vavasour said. “He also directs me in diving and overall makes me a better diver.”

In his freshman year, Popper won 1st at the district competition and broke the meet record. He went to regionals and advanced to state. This year, he won 1st at the district competition, advanced from regionals and is headed to state.

FLIPPING OUT: Alekzandr Popper jumps off the board into a front flip. He averaged a 7 1/2 score on his dives. PHOTO BY Rey Gray

“Last year I dove pretty badly at state, I dove with a back injury and ended up placing 6th,” Popper said. “I think I have a chance this year at winning state.”

Popper wants to make the sport of diving more popular.

He wants more people to try the sport he loves.

“If you are a thrill seeker and want to experience something new, like learn flips and stuff,” Popper said. “It is a really fun sport to do.”

According to his teammates and coach, when Popper dives, his hard work shows in his skill and his execution of difficult dives.

“He is really fun to watch on the diving board,” Bobo said.

“He can really get up in the air and enter the water with no splash.”

12 ENTERTAINMENT THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

All-State Orchestra’s young musician

Grace Gum is one of the only freshman violaists to play in this competitive performance Mikayla Zellner Entertainment editor

Freshman Grace Gum will be one of the only freshmen to participate in the All-State orchestra competition on February 13-16. All-State is a competitive orchestra performance where students from schools all over Texas compete against one another.

“I think that the fact that I got in as a freshman, even if I didn’t make the best chair, shows that I have a lot of potential to be better when I’m an upperclassman and get a way better chair,” Gum said.

Gum plays viola in the AllState orchestra competition.

“All-State is similar to All-Region, but on a much bigger scale, so everyone in the state of your instrument records eight excerpts that they assign you,” Gum said.

“You have one shot to record them all and the judges evaluate them over two days and then you get all of your rankings. For violas they took the top 42 [students]; it’s like a competition you have to try out for every year.”

To play for the blind audition for All-State, the orchestra students had to practice songs and perform pieces that

SKILLFUL STRUMMING: Grace Gum plays her viola in the orchestra winter performance. The orchestra performed pieces from Borodin’s Second Symphony and Finlandia by Sibelius. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

were assigned to them.

“Getting into All-State alone is an amazing accomplishment, as the competition features extremely difficult etudes,” senior Kody Cardamone said. “Solo pieces

[are] designed to be difficult to play, along with excerpts from orchestral pieces which are shorter but require a high level of precision.”

Orchestra teacher David Chisum provides support and

CONDUCTING THE CHORUS: Orchestra teacher David Chisum conducts the orchestra during their performance in the theatre. Families of the students came out to support them. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

suggestions for the students participating in All-State. “​ Students have the opportunity to play for me, individually or in front of their peers,” Chisum said. “I provide feedback on what they’re doing well and where they need to improve.”

These pieces can be difficult to master for the students, according to Cardamone.

“The material the musicians then have to play is extremely difficult and then judged extremely rigorously, so much so that one mistake can take someone from in All State to out of All-State,” Cardamone said.

After the students performed their song excerpts, they were assigned certain chairs, which is a system used to rank the musicians.

“I’m tenth chair in the lowest of the three orchestras for string players, but you have the potential to move up,” Gum said. “I think I’ll probably move up at least a few chairs.”

According to Cardamone, it’s uncommon for freshman to be able to master these kind of technical and high level difficulty pieces.

“Mastering this material to have very few mistakes and being an All-State musician is already difficult, [so] for a freshman player to do that, it’s an entirely different accomplishment,” Cardamone said. “Being able to come from middle school and then master music to an All-State level is very rare.”

Because of this, most of the students who compete in All-State aren’t freshmen.

“I checked the TMEA All State results just now for viola,” Cardamone said. “Out of the 42 All State viola players, only six were freshmenthat’s less than 15 percent.”

Gum said she put a lot of time and effort into becoming a skilled viola player, even giving up band to focus all of her energy on the viola so she could get into All-State.

“I actually used to play a lot of things in middle school,” Gum said. ”Then I quit everything just for viola because I wanted to get in All-State.”

Gum wanted to be a part of All-State because everyone she knew that was involved had a positive experience.

“Everyone that I know who got into All-State told me it’s the best thing ever; they met

lifelong friends,” Gum said.

“I really wanted that to be on my resume since a lot of freshmen don’t make it.”

All-State can present various opportunities to the students that compete in it.

“I think what really sets apart All-State from any performance is that it can open up a lot of opportunities for you and it’s something that you can put on your resume and get scholarships from colleges,” Gum said. “Like the Austin Youth Orchestra symphony invited me to join them without an audition.”

She has a lot of skill, according to Cardamone, especially considering that she is a freshman.

“Grace Gum is a great viola player and it is unique to see a freshman be able to enter high school with the amount of technique that she has,” Cardamone said.

Gum plans on continuing her orchestral career throughout high school.

“I just really love [orchestra],” Gum said. “I made so many friends in it and I just love music and playing music and I see myself doing it till the end of high school and maybe even beyond.”

This fundraiser was a smash!

Orchestra students hold a Nintendo Super Smash Bros. tournament Orchestra students held a video game tournament on January 18 to fund-raise for their program this year.

“We chose to play Super Smash Bros. because the new game had just come out,” junior Emma Davis said.

COURTESY OF: Nintendo The orchestra took advantage of the students’ love for the game and created a way attention. to make money off of it. The participants “We chose Smash Bros. because it was were charged $7 to compete in the tourna- easy to organize a tournament and lots of ment. people have played the game,” Perez said.

“A lot of orchestra people are big Super Many of the orchestra students were Smash Bros. fans and it is a really popu- pleased to see their peers enjoying themlar competitive game, so it makes sense to selves during this fundraiser. capitalize on its popularity, by holding this “The tournament went much better than tournament,” senior Ivan Perez said.

I expected,” Davis said. “There were almost The orchestra found a new way for fund- 50 people that came, and we were only exraising involving the current students in pecting 30 to 40.” the orchestra program inviting other kids The tournament outcome was a pleasant outside of the program to participate in this surprise to Davis because they exceeded tournament. their fundraising goal.

“Most of our other fundraiser ideas were “We did make the money that we expectnot actual events, unlike how the tourna- ed to make by selling tickets to both play ment was an event,” Davis said. and watch the tournament,” Davis said.

The tournament gave the opportunity Students didn’t have to compete to supfor the kids to have a good time with other port the organization; there was a $2 fee for friends, not just the ones in orchestra. the students that just watched the tourna“The Smash tournament differed from ment. other methods of fundraising because it “I went to the tournament to watch and was fun, creative, and easily accessible to help sell tickets and it went really well,” everyone,” Perez said.

Davis said. “Everyone seemed to be having Since most students have heard about a really good time.” this game, this fundraiser received a lot of STORY BY Gigi Francis

coming UP in ENTERTAINMENT Feb. 9 Mr. Bulldog Feb.13-16 All-State Orchestra Performance

Feb. 28 Choir Pre-UIL Concert Mar.1-2 Debate National Qualifier Tournament

Mar. 14 Choir UIL Mar. 30 Bowie Idol Performance

REVIEWS 13

FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Audiences had the time of their lives Miranda Cardenas Dispatch Reporter

Filled with the classic and iconic hits from ABBA, sparkly outfits, and a cast and crew who poured their heart and souls into the show, the spring musical of “Mamma Mia!” put on by Bowie’s Starlight Theatre Company (STC) did not disappoint.

Walking into the theater on the last Saturday night show, you could just feel the excitement in the air as you were greeted by the smiling faces of the theater department ushers and other families trying to find their seats in the hectic theater.

Seeing numerous pairs of grandparents and extended families taking up whole rows, it was clear that “Mamma Mia!” had a lot of love and support from the audience even before the show started.

The first thing that really caught me by surprise and impressed me were the special effects present throughout the whole show. The musical went above and beyond in effects.

The light up disco dance floor that was incorporated throughout the show synced to the music numbers added more life and energy to the show that the audience was really feeding off of and appreciated.

The floor’s colors and patterns added to the fun, lively vibe of the show while not taking the attention off of the cast, and instead added emphasis to the characters and show stopping numbers.

Another aspect that made the performance stand out and added depth to the show was the rotating taverna.

Having a rotating set piece that could show two different set scenes depending on the part of the show helped the show run smoothly and efficiently, and it became a

popular conversation topic at intermission.

Along with bold special effects, like the disco floor and rotating taverna, smaller ones like the fog and projections on the stage also added to how amazing the show turned out.

I really liked that throughout all of the musical numbers, these effects worked so well together to add depth to the show and practically made the songs come alive to the audience.

Every single number performed was well choreographed to result in a topnotch show for the audience to enjoy.

Choreographed by senior Catarina Chavanne and led by musical dance captains sophomore Tayah Savoy and junior Jade Fattouh, numbers such as “Gimme! Gimme!

Gimme!” and “Voulez-Vous” made the room feel like a disco dream.

The whole dance ensemble was well put together and each number was clean and graceful.

Every time the dance ensemble was on stage performing, I heard numerous “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” around me by people stunned at how well put together each number looked.

Along with how well the female dance ensemble performed, the Greek vocal chorus and the backstage vocalists provided even more depth to the story and made for a more entertaining show for the audience.

The way everyone’s different voices blended together made each number unique and special.

My absolute favorite part of the show was how much each person of the cast really dove into their character and made the characters come alive.

Every single person on stage was so talented while

ACTORS MESMERIZE AUDIENCE: Junior Gillian Griffis is looking at her cast mates surround her as they perform the song “Money, Money, Money.” Griffis, as Donna Sheridan, is trapped by the students around her almost as her character has been trapped by society’s obsession with money. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

acting and singing throughout this amazing story that I found myself mouthing the words to the songs with them and dancing in my seat.

While I didn’t get to see every cast perform, I was blown away by the performances of junior Kamryn

Morales as Donna Sheridan, junior Eric Larson as Sam Carmichael, sophomore Sydney Reinhart as Sophie Sheridan, and junior Jaden Yakerson as Sky. The talent each of these individuals displayed was phenomenal and made for an

unforgettable show.

Though their acting and singing was superb, the chemistry displayed between these characters on-stage really brought this production to life and made the audience jump to their feet at the end of an amazing night.

The STC is known for their hard work and stellar shows such as “Tommy” and “Mary Poppins”. The amount of time and effort the company puts into their shows is clearly seen on stage and “Mamma Mia!” is no different.

Local Austin movie theaters captivate audiences Gracie Angeli Reviews Editor

The Austin area has dozens of movie theaters, ranging from dine-in cinemas to traditional theaters. I went to three movie theaters, pursuing the answer to which one is the best, and am ranking them based on their atmosphere, service and food.

The first movie theater that I went to was Alamo Drafthouse.

The service was acceptable; I had bought the tickets online so it did not require much human interaction in the first place.

The experience itself was nice; I enjoyed the movie and the ambiance inside the movie theater. Alamo is known for their animations they show before the movie, and they are entertaining but some of them are slightly creepy.

Ticket pricing is average, but after popcorn and drinks or whatever food you get, it can add up and be pretty expensive.

The next movie theater I attended was Regal Cinemas Westgate 11. The service was great; there was a line outside to purchase tickets but the wait went by fast.

There were quite a few people working at the concessions counter and provided fast service. The snacks are kind of pricey, but that is to be expected at a movie theater.

I really like the vibe in Westgate, it is calm and not too crowded. Distractions from other audience members inside the movie are also really uncommon, which is nice.

1 2 3

Regal Cinemas Westgate 11

AMC Barton Creek Square

ART BY Joe Morales

The third movie theater I went to was AMC Barton Creek. Since the movie theater is inside the Barton Creek Square mall, it can be really hard to find parking.

It is always very crowded in the theater, so you normally need to buy tickets online beforehand or arrive early if it is a newly released movie.

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The theater always has pretty good service; the lines are long but with multiple employees working at a fast rate. The theaters and bathrooms are pretty nice and clean, so that is a plus.

I really like AMC but I don’t like the location or how crowded it normally tends to be.

Overall, I would say my favorite movie

theater in the Austin area would probably be Westgate.

It is in a good location and close to a lot of other fun things to do, so it keeps your options open on the night’s activities. It is not normally very crowded, has fairly decent service with nice employees and fresh popcorn, and has a very calm ambiance that I like a lot.

My second favorite movie theater would be Alamo Drafthouse, just because it is such a unique experience that you can’t get at any other theater.

They have great food, great service, and all of their locations are pretty nice and kept clean.

My least favorite would have to be Barton Creek Square, just because I don’t like the location.

If you are already at the mall for shopping or hanging out with friends and decide to watch a movie, then it is convenient to have everything in one place.

But if you are just in the mood to watch a movie and want to get in quickly, I don’t think that AMC is the best option. It is always packed and the employees tend to be preoccupied with something more important than customer service.

All of the movie theaters have their own advantages, and are nice to visit now and then when you are in the mood for a different experience. I think just the traditional Westgate is great for when you want to view a new movie, plain and simple.

You make the memories.

We make them last.

Yours forever, Bowie Yearbook Order today at BowieYB.com

14 COMMENTARY THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

Texas' school funding system is defective EDITORIAL From the clunky air conditioners to broken pipes and swarms of aggressive bees, this year at Bowie has not been a walk in the park.

Students can only hope that one day their school will have some basic heating, but right now, they’re wondering why AISD is unwisely spending state and local money on such inefficient, quick fixes, whilst seemingly avoiding the main solutions that students have been demanding for years.

The topic of school funding at Bowie has always been a cloudy one, more often than not leaving students uninvolved, confused, and in the dark about where their school’s money is going.

Some might say that, “in the state of Texas, throwing money at the wrong issues won’t solve any problems, it will only create them,” and leave it at that, but this simply won’t solve any issues by itself. Instead, those who desire to change how Texas schools are funded must get involved in the extensive process of the state legislature and rule in favor of education.

The Texas state legislature could sit on piles of money and still not know what to do with all of it. It’s time for parents and students to stop

oversimplifying the lack of sufficient school funding for Bowie, AISD, and the state at large by asking themselves if throwing more and more money at a broken system has worked in the last twenty years since the re-capture program, also known as Robin Hood plan was introduced.

As some may already know, Texas enacted the "re-capture" plan in 1993 with the intent to share the wealth and equalize public education. The law “recaptured” property taxes and redistributed that money to district across Texas with less wealthy campuses receiving more of these funds.

The problem is that these oncepoor campuses are still receiving the majority of the money that comes from the Robin Hood plan, even if it means their schools are in great condition, with massive theaters, robust CTE classrooms, and lots of perks for their students. Although this plan was created with the best intentions, it clearly isn't benefiting Bowie for the state to take away more than half the property taxes from the local population that could be used to fix our problems.

Public schools in Texas are funded by local property taxes as well as some of the state’s general revenue. Lowering the already-minimal amount of funds some schools receive from these taxes because of the Robin Hood plan is bound to create problems in the long run.

The source of strange spending and lack of school funding in Texas starts in state government. The Texas legislature creates a budget for education every two years.

When electing representatives, the pol-

ART BY Ian Miller

Correction

of Te x a s has a serious funding problem when it comes to funding their schools, and it’s causing a number of issues within their schools to be seemingly overlooked.

To conquer these issues, the state must look at possible solutions found in other places around the country.

In many states, a sizable portion of school funding is generated through state income tax, which is not very effective in Texas, thanks to the Robin Hood plan. Instead, Texas generates revenue through other basic taxes, such as a percentage of sales taxes, optional taxes and through bonds. This revenue, which, although it has kept education afloat, could use many improvements. To start, AISD should compare themselves with other educational systems and see what can be assimilated from schools around Texas.

Texas communities who want to change the school funding system are obligated to speak on these issues and to get superiors involved.

The future of a safe, well educated youth should be a priority to the

state.

What students need are basic resources and faculty to help them thrive. AISD does all they can to create this environment for their students, but when they need more, it becomes obvious that there’s a serious funding problem that the district and state must find a solution to.

Letter to the Editor

In the December 14 issue of The Dispatch on Entertainment page 14, in the story titled “New JV Star Dancer team is created for underclassmen,” there were two misleading statements.

First, the headline indicates the class is currently comprised of all underclassmen, when in fact there are three grades of students currently being taught, 9th through 11th.

Second, the lead paragraph indicates the class was created specifically for freshmen, when in fact the class is open to all grades, 9th through 12th.

We apologize for the error. As stated in our editorial policy published on the first Commentary page in each issue, we want our articles to “reflect our genuine objective reporting of news” and there is no malicious intent when mistakes are made. We always welcome reader input. Please see the Editorial Policy for how to contact our staff.

Testing coordinator addresses imprecise statements in opinion piece Dear Dispatch readers,

In the December 14th issue of The Dispatch there was a commentary on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR. While the article was an editorial piece, and therefore mainly intended to express the writer's point of view, there were some factual inaccuracies that I would like to address. The STAAR tests are administered in grades 3 through 8, and STAAR End of Course (EOCs) are administered in high school. While these tests are used to measure a student's academic growth, they do not necessarily prevent a student from promoting from one

EDITORIAL POLICY • The Dispatch is the official student newspaper of James Bowie High School. 3500 copies are published and distributed for free six times a year, generally once per six weeks for the school’s students, staff and community.

• The Dispatch is an open forum for student expression. The Dispatch is not reviewed by school administration prior to distribution, and the advisor will not act as a censor.

Content represents the views of the student staff and not school officials.

• The Dispatch works to avoid bias and/or favoritism. We strive to make our coverage and content meaningful, timely, and interesting to our readers. Our articles reflect our genuine objective of reporting news and will be held to a high standard of quality.

• We make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph without indicating that the photograph is an illustration.

• Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Dispatch staff or administration as a whole.

• The Dispatch welcomes reader input. Please send any letters, articles, comments or corrections to bowie.journalism@gmail.com, call (512) 841-7825, mail them to 4103 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749 or drop them off in room F-203 with adviser Michael Reeves or any editor. Letters must be signed, and emailed letters will require verification before publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

CURRENT STAFF AWARDS • CSPA Silver Crown, Gold Medal, 3/3 All-Columbian, 2017-18 • JEA 2nd Place Best in Show, Chicago Fall Convention, 2017-18 Issue #2 • NSPA First Class, 4/4 Marks, 2018-19 • NSPA Pacemaker winner, 2018-19

itician’s views on funding education must be taken into account, especially considering their contribution to the state budget. One of the major problems Texas faces is the domination of republicans in the legislature whose agenda does not prioritize education.

According to Teach the Vote, democrats in Texas have been making a push to restore the $5.4 billion cut from public education funding in 2011 and $1.7 billion cut in 2017. On the other hand, republicans want Texas school districts to spend at least 65 percent of their current funding before receiving any additional funding. If students desire change for their school, they must stay neutral and vote for the most qualified politicians that will better their school districts and their schools.

There are many issues at Bowie that require more funds to solve, the first of which are the basics of stable infrastructure. Once there is the initiative to supply funds for Bowie and a push to provide a fair system for education funding is established, students and their issues should be the priority concern for AISD. For example, one of these issues is the need for more special education teachers around Texas.

The problem has grown so large that some public schools in Texas are denying enrollment to kids with disabilities due to the financial liability. According to the Houston Chronicle, Texas needs up to $3.3 billion to bring special education services up to national standard.

Additionally, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Texas legislature only requires one counselor for every 250 students, which is a massive number for a single person. Texas schools should direct funds to better balance the ratio of students to counselors.

The bottom line is that the state

ART BY Ian Miller

Untangling the mysteries behind local educational financing and a push to vote for education

• SIPA All-Southern, 2018-19 • UIL/ILPC Bronze Star, 2017-18 • ASPS 1st Place Senior HS, 2018-19 • TAJE HM Best in Show, 2018-19 • NSPA Online Pacemaker Finalist, 20182019

grade to the next as stated in the article.

Students that do not meet the minimum standard on an assessment will still promote with their peers and have the opportunity to retest. The law also requires an intervention class to prepare the student for the next testing opportunity.

Another inaccuracy in the article was a story about students having to retake the test because scores were "lost." Several years ago, Pearson, the company that produces the STAAR test, did suffer a failure of the cache system they use. No student information or scores were lost. Students who were affected did have an opportunity to access their test the next day and re-

PRIDE IN PUBLISHING Friday, February 8, 2019 Vol. 30, Issue 4 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin TX, 78749

submit, if they chose to. Students did not have to resubmit their test if they did not want to. The information they originally submitted was saved and scored.

I hope this information clears up any confusion about the administration of STAAR and the application of the test scores. If you have specific questions about STAAR please feel free to visit https://tea. texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/ or schedule a time to visit with me.

Wendy Escobedo Campus Testing Coordinator James Bowie High School

THE DISPATCH STAFF

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Cianna Chairez Abby Ong

PHOTO ESSAY EDITORS Rey Gray Preston Rolls

MANAGING EDITORS Jocelyn Brooks Maddy Rice

COMMENTARY EDITORS Jake Brien Ian Miller

NEWS EDITORS Jadon Alvarez Shelby Papst

COPY EDITOR Rachel Baschnagel

FEATURE EDITORS Marisa Salazar SPORTS EDITORS Sam Blas Peter Dang REVIEW EDITOR Gracie Angeli ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Mikayla Zellner ARTS/GRAPHICS EDITOR Joe Morales

ASSISTANT EDITORS Miranda Cardenas Katie Holme Cade Spencer REPORTERS Natalie Aman Emily Breach Abbie Brien Gigi Francis William Grossenbacher Amelie Hayne Kateri Jaquette Madisen Johnson Austyn Keelty Sumin Kim

Faith Lawrence Carter Scruggs Avery Shelton Elizabeth Shymkiw Dalton Spruce Naya Tillisch Caitlin Worthington PHOTOGRAPHERS Abbey Repka Chase Westfall THE DISPATCH ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mo Orr MANAGING EDITORS Ellie Coulston Kaitlyn Zellner STAFF Maya Amador Austin Civatte Shruti Patel Shikha Patel Amara Robertson Amanda Zinni ADVISER: Michael Reeves

COMMENTARY 15 FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Parking plans insufficient for Bowie

CHAT with NAT

Abbey Repka Dispatch Reporter

There’s no doubt that the parking controversy has been a big topic amongst underclassmen. Juniors aren’t as concerned, as they have priority to both the school parking lot and the church parking lot next year. So most of the underclassmen, myself included, are upset that we will have to park over a mile away from Bowie.

Even though Bowie is at least trying to make sure everyone can have a parking space, this whole situation is going to be awful for everyone involved.

Because student drivers will be parking so far away, there will be shuttles running between Bowie and Westoak Woods Baptist Church.

This system is most likely going to be a bus because so many students will be needing to get to and from their cars all at the same time.

Think of the traffic that we’re going to have to sit through just to get to the parking lot from the number of students involved. Ironically, it makes more sense to take the bus to school rather than driving to school, parking far away, and then taking a shuttle.

What happens to the people who have to leave school later because of after school activities? The shuttles probably won’t be running by the end of school, so these students will have to walk all the way to their cars.

It’s not as simple as them parking closer to Bowie be-

Reflecting on high school as graduation date approaches.

Natalie Aman Columnist

ART BY Dalton Spruce

fore school -- the traffic and the wait time for the shuttles will most likely take much longer than anticipated, making them late to their activity. Bowie is trying to avoid this by scheduling the shuttles to run from 6:30 am to 10 pm to make sure that no one has to walk to get to their cars.

To get one of these valuable spaces, students will have to apply to park at the Bethany Lutheran Church across the street. The application will be based on GPA, extracurriculars, class

rank, and attendance. While I believe that this application process seems fair, I also think it will lead to a lot more unhealthy and unnecessary student competition.

Since pretty much all of the current sophomores want to be able to park close by, everyone is going to start trying to one up one another which will lead to an unhealthy environment at school.

Once the parking garage is built, many new drivers will all be leaving school at the same time. This will

most likely lead to multiple crashes, which will then take everyone else even longer to get out.

Although the parking garage sounds like a good idea, it will most likely lead to more traffic and may just make our current parking situation worse. In addition to the garage, Bowie is adding another left turn lane onto Slaughter Lane.

This will hopefully decrease the amount of waiting time to turn left by a landslide, which will benefit everyone going that way.

Overall, Bowie is trying its hardest to make sure everyone can park as close as possible, however the steps to reach that goal are going to be long and simply terrible for people who want to drive to school next year.

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: abbeyrepka@ thedispatch online.net Room: F203

High school in the digital world: is it acceptable?

Madisen Johnson Features Editor

We’ve all considered the blissful thought of dropping out and being able to take our classes in the comfort of our own homes. While not having to get out of bed to go to school seems like a wonderful option, the idea of transitioning to online school because of sheer laziness to actually attend school will certainly lead to further issues.

Online school is nonetheless challenging. If a student can be completely self-motivated, have an outstanding ability to understand material with minimal questions, and enough time management skills to do well in online school, I say, go for it.

Transitioning to online school is becoming increasingly more accessible. According to Connections Academy, there was an 80% increase in the number of students taking part in online school from 2009 to 2013.

Online school requires a level of maturity and drive that some students have yet to develop. Due to the self paced nature of online school, students who decide to take classes online have to have a number of qualities to get through essentially

ART BY Dalton Spruce

being their own teacher. Time management, as well as self-motivation and responsibility, becomes even more important.

I think that most people believe that online classes will be the “easy route” for high school, but in my opinion, it may take a toll on a student if they aren’t actually given the structure of classroom learning.

While there are sometimes extenuating circumstances that make public school hard for a student, online school may not be a helpful learning style due to these exceptions.

With online school, there is no op-

portunity for the collaborative learning that public schools offer. This can be damaging to a student’s learning.

Even the shyest or smartest students can learn from their peers and that is an important part of learning. Also, the whole concept of working with other people important to life.

Working with people in person and even dealing with people we disagree with can prepare us for life.

Students who decide to transfer to online school more often than not do not get the opportunity to have to work in a school environment with a person he/she dislikes.

Despite the issues and difficulties that may come out of moving to online school, there are positives as well. With online school, students have the ability to be more creative and have a more flexible schedule.

This flexibility creates a real world feel, with students having to learn some things on their own, just like in college.

In this way, online school can be more beneficial than public school.

If someone is motivated and determined to do well, they will be successful on online school. These students will get the benefits of online school and experience minimal negative effects.

While there are certainly benefits to online school over traditional schooling, we shouldn’t judge online school at face value. After all, we can’t knock what we haven’t tried.

New year, same us, right? Same friends, same weekend festivities, and the same late nights of homework. I find comfort in this routine because it won’t be long until we are packing up and heading out for the next chapter in our lives.

So as we prepare for life beyond Bowie High School, I’d like to reflect on what excites us most about being here as seniors.

Let’s start with going back to that first week.

It seems like so long ago now, but seeing all your ‘19 queens’ in their matching shirts was kind of cute; you have to admit it.

Following the hectic back to school events, we enjoyed our time as the list of “lasts” grew. The last season of Friday Night Lights, final fall concerts, and homecoming dance.

I am constantly having moments in which I have to take a pause and think, “Wow. This is it.” Big changes are on the horizon, and time isn’t slowing down to allow us to take our sweet time.

It seems like in the blink of an eye we have already reached February. Now we are taking senior photos as we wait on those heavily anticipated college acceptances.

We used to long for the future to hurry up, but now that it’s here, I for one have been doing my best to take each day as it comes and enjoy the perks and the bittersweetness that comes with senior year.

I think there is a unique sense of community that comes with being a senior.

It doesn’t matter what club or background you come from because you realize that it all comes to an end so soon. The traditions that come with being a senior make the year a little bit more bearable for others.

So, as Valentine’s Day blends into Spring Break, which leads to prom, which is shortly followed by graduation - try to take a pause and appreciate what a remarkable year we have had, and the community our class of 2019 has become.

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

Contact:

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: madisenjohnson@ thedispatchonline.net Room: F203

Email: natalieaman@ thedispatch online.net Room: F203

BULLDAWG SPEAK OUT

9th

Devin Suskic

"I'll feel less motivated to do my finals with an incentive because I feel like it proves that I don't need to study."

Do you feel students are more or less motivated with the incentive process?

10th

11th

12th

Carson Copenhaver

Angelina Amaral

Carolina Govea

"I'll feel more motivated during my finals if I have incentives because I can use the incentives."

"No, because if I'm sick, I'm not going to go to school."

"I feel like the incentive makes me more motivated to go to class."

TEACHER

Renee Keyes

"I think [students] are definitely more motivated to come to school."

PHOTOS BY Chase Westfall and Jake Brien

16 PHOTO ESSAY THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2019

Taking a chance on "Mamma Mia!" Preston Rolls Photo Essay Editor

Bright neon colors of the dance floor glint off sequin-coated costumes, captivating the audience.

The lights come up and the music swells as cast members scramble into position for the Starlight Theatre Company’s (STC) 2019 musical production, "Mamma Mia!".

After the release of the three different cast lists at the end of November, the STC took to the stage, rehearsing five days a week.

“I was so beyond excited when I found out that I got the role of Donna, but I was surprised more than anything else,” junior Kamryn Morales said. “I hadn’t really had big musical theatre roles prior to "Mamma Mia!", so I was incredibly shocked when I saw the cast list and saw that I got the lead role.”

In order to raise awareness for the upcoming musical, the STC and "Mamma Mia!" cast members began advertising by making posters, posting to their social media, and making announcements.

“I think we advertised very well, because I made a 30 day countdown until the opening of the first show which I posted on [my] Instagram story,” senior Saylor Dement said. “I, along with the other STC members, helped make a promotional video for the musical.”

The show was choreographed with the audience’s nostalgia in mind, trying to keep some scenes as close to the 2008 movie version as possible.

“We tried to keep a lot of the really iconic scenes to look exactly like the audience would have remembered it from the movie,” senior Jamie Forst

said. “Donna has a total of 10 costume changes and for some scenes we have to wear our costumes underneath other costumes because we don’t have time to completely change.”

As there are with any big musical production, incidents and mishaps did occur, but of course the show had to go on.

“We had several incidents during this show, like skinned knees from rocking out too hard during ‘Does Your Mother Know’,” senior Kelley Israel said. “Also other injuries from falling off stairs, tables, and landing wrong after a flip, and just plain wiping out because shoes were very slippery on the dance floor.”

This year, the technicians for the musical constructed a brand new lightup disco floor as an aspect of the set to match the colorfulness of the original musical.

“I choreographed the dances for the musical and it took about two weeks to teach the choreography to the dancers,” senior Cat Chavanne said. “It was hard trying to adapt to the new dance floor since it was so slippery for the dancers, but it made the whole performance look amazing.”

Finally, after months of rehearsing, the casts of "Mamma Mia!" were ready to hit the stage on the opening night. The musical ran from Jan. 16 to the 27 with each cast getting to perform three times.

“I definitely think "Mamma Mia!" was a successful musical this year, even with all the new faces on stage playing the lead roles,” Forst said. “It was really awesome to hear people say that they saw it once and had to come back and see it again. It just makes all the hard work, time, and dedication we put into it even more worth it.”

SAYING I DO: Junior Ava Nielson and senior Kelly Israel express their excitement as they get junior Kamryn Morales to say yes to Sam's unexpected proposal. During the musical, the cast members are trained to show a wide variety of emotions to further fit the part that they are trying to play. "One show, the audience laughed at one of my lines and I almost busted into laughter," Nielson said. "Sometimes it's so hard trying to keep a straight face and stay in character." PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

POSED WITH THE DYNAMOS: Seniors Grace Clark, Jamie Forst and Saylor Dement finish off the iconic song "Dancing Queen" as they take a stance at the front of the stage. Some of the main characters, such as Donna, who was played by Jamie Forst, had up to 10 costume changes throughout the show. "We have a dressing room where we keep all our costumes, but we only have one really quick change," Forst said. "We have to put our big sparkly finale costumes on in less than a song and it takes both of my doubles to help me make that costume change." PHOTO BY Preston Rolls SAYING THEIR VOWS: Juniors Jaden Yakerson, Chris Lamm, and sophomore Sydney Reinhart gather as they act out the wedding scene from the musical. The scene of the wedding was the final part of the show; afterwards the cast performed the songs 'Mamma Mia,' 'Dancing Queen' and 'Waterloo.' "I bonded well with the cast," Yakerson said. "The final performance was super fun and I'm glad I got to meet all the amazing people." PHOTO BY Preston Rolls JUMPING FOR JOY: Junior Kamryn Morales jumps around on the bed during the song "Dancing Queen." In the musical, Morales played the part of Donna, who is the main character in the show. "I think that I played Donna pretty well because I, much like Donna, am also a frantic hot mess," Morales said. "Also at first, I was really nervous about the idea of playing a 40 year old woman who acts like a teenager being a teenager, but I ended up connecting to the part of Donna a lot, because of the way I express emotion and show care." PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

With the cast of "Mamma Mia!"

SPICING IT UP: Senior Stephen Achilles performs the song "Does Your Mother Know" during his cast's show. To further prepare for his role, Achilles got a spray tan and shaved his legs. "I played Pepper, he's in the show to add some humor and sensuality to the musical," Achilles said. "He is such a fun character to play." PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SONG FROM THE MUSICAL? "My favorite song is 'Waterloo,' the upbeat style mixed with all of us dancing together is so fun," sophomore Maia Gerdes said.

WHAT CHARACTER DID YOU PLAY? "I played Rosie, a sassy woman who always speaks the truth and she was such a fun role," senior Kelley Israel said.

DO YOU THINK THE MUSICAL REFLECTED THE MOVIE WELL? "I believe that we reflected both the classical musical and movie very well, which made it so fun," junior Ava Nielson said.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT

PART OF THE MUSICAL FOR YOU? "The most difficult part of the show was the time commitment, since this was my first theatre production I was not expecting this much, but overall it was very fun," senior Stephen Achilles said.

WERE THERE ANY MISHAPS OR INCIDENTS DURING THE SHOW? "Adapting to the slanted stage was hard for a lot of the dancers because the light up dance floor is so slippery; one of the dancers was trying to do a flip, accidentally fell and dislocated her knee," senior Cat Chavanne said.

DANCING AROUND Sophomores Maia Gerdes and Kaia Pierce twirl during the song "Honey Honey." Each main character had two doubles so that the cast members didn't lose all their energy. "The style of the show is very upbeat," Gerdes said. "I'm glad I had my double to keep me hyped up, it made me enjoy the show a lot more." PHOTO BY Preston Rolls