The Lone Star Dispatch, Vol. 29, Issue #2, 11.11.16

L one Star Dispatch

The

James Bowie High School

INSIDE

Athletics Burns’s fencing frenzy

Commentary

Transgender Bathroom Law

Junior strives with passion in her sport See page B1

Government decision on unisex bathrooms See page A6

4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin, TX 78749

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Photo Essay Cave exploration begins

APES and Cave Club are first to enter See page A8

Friday Nov. 11, 2016

Vol. 29

Issue 2

News A2-3 In-Depth A4-5 Commentary A6-7 Photo Essay A8 Athletics B1-2 Reviews B3 Entertainment B4-5 Feature B6-7 Photo Essay B8

UT announces new program

“MicroMajors” to come next year Violet Glenewinkel Editor-in-Chief

Receiving Feedback: Newspaper staff take in suggestions at a judging session from LaJuana Hale who teaches at Marcus High School. The critiqued first issue won honorable mention in the TAJE newspaper category. Photo by Mia Barbosa

Journalism travels to TAJE San Antonio trip Fuaad Ajaz Managing Editor The newspaper and yearbook programs traveled to San Antonio late last month to attend and compete in the state journalism convention hosted by Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE). The convention took place over the course of three days filled with photography, writing, and exploring the city of San Antonio.

For sophomore newspaper staff member Reagan Wallace this was her first year going to TAJE. Wallace along with two other newspaper staff members joined the intensive writing workshop where they worked with some of the nation’s best journalistic writing coaches.

“The workshop was shockingly really fun, I was thinking we were just gonna be in the room listening to someone talk for three hours and taking notes,” Wallace

said, “But the leaders of the workshop were literally some of the best people because they were making it where we would not only learn how to improve our writing but also make us enjoy writing and what we do.”

One of the most popular contest at the convention is the on-site photography contest in which photographers have to go around the city and photograph things from a list of categories they have.

“I had to submit five photos in five different categories that ranged from person under five or over 50 to circles,” junior Sarah Baber said. “I got a honorable mention and a award of excellence and those are equivalent to third and first place.”

Newspaper editor-in-chief Violet Glenewinkel enjoyed getting to bond with the newspaper staff throughout the trip.

See page 2 for more

Campus unites for Pride week in support of LGBT Jolie Francis Staff Writer Pride and unity has always been a big part of Bowie High School. The students take pride in their openness. But this year, Bowie took their pride to a new level.

Pride Week was a week in October that was recognized throughout all AISD schools. At Bowie High School, each day there was a new theme to support pride.

The last day of the week, all the teachers dressed up and created a rainbow, a large symbol of pride. Students and teachers alike expressed their

support for the week and what it represented.

“Pride Week is definitely something Bowie needed,” senior Caleb Newton said. “Despite all the perceived progress undertaken by our country, acceptance and equality for transgender individuals still has a long way to go, and other identifications are continuously under attack. So, by creating little things like pride week to recognize those who fight for equality, we are able to slowly chip away at the blatant discrimination that still occurs.”

According to senior Ciara Cera, pride week was comforting to not only her

This coming year of 2017-2018, Bowie will be one of the three pilot schools that will offer a new University of Texas program, MicroMajors, which will encourage and enhance more dual-credit courses.

These MicroMajors and classes that come with it will only be offered to juniors and seniors.

According to UT News, it will do more than what an average AP class does. “[MicroMajors] are a new initiative to help high school students become better prepared for success at leading universities,” according to a UT press article.

“This unique opportunity will help students become more competitive for admission and success at UT Austin or other selective colleges and universities.”

Instead of a regular AP class, the MicroMajor program will take dual-credit classes and make it even more specific.

“It’s in conjunction with UT and there’s going to be more opportunity to study more specific works I believe,” Rhetoric and English teacher Matt Flick said. “It gives a more specific direction to a student’s high school experience.”

UT is attempting to create new programs, to try and make high school experiences different from past ones.

“The MicroMajor program builds on UT Austin’s leadership in working with school districts, educators and students across the state to bridge gaps between traditional high school courses and the expectations of colleges and universities,” the UT press release said.

The program aims to not only make students more prepared for college, but with admissions and getting into their college of choice as well.

“This unique opportunity will help students become more competitive for admission and success at UT Austin or other selective colleges,” according to UT press.

To earn a MicroMajor through the program, UT requires several courses to be taken.

“Students must take at least two courses from an approved list of UT Austin dual-credit, dual-enrollment or on-line offerings,” according to UT press release.

“They may take up to two other approved Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or college courses for a total of four courses.”

“The biggest concern that I have in courses like APUSH is that all those students have to take the STAAR tests,” APUSH teacher Ruth Widner said. “College professors are generally not informed about what’s going to be on the STAAR tests so the risk is our students won’t be prepared for the test which is required for graduation.”

The instruction from professors in dual-credit classes are not guaranteed to be the best suit for students also which has Widner concerned.

“If you take APUSH [at Bowie], we have to be credited by the college board and all of our teachers are trained,” Widner said. “We do everything the same so that there is some accountability for the teachers and that doesn’t really exist in those dual-credit programs.”

There is a positive outlook from the large AP classes though with this new program.

“We get the same number of teachers while kids are in classes with other professors which means our classes can get smaller,” Widner said.

According to Widner, it’s somewhat of a risk for students to take dual-credit classes for the micro-major program outside of Bowie.

“The other problem is you don’t have necessarily any guarantee or continuity about the quality for the instruction,” Widner said. “You have teachers that are great, you lucked out, but if they’re bad, you don’t know until you are in the middle of it.”

On the other hand, Flick thinks there is more of an advantage than anything when taking dual-credit rather than AP. “Dual-credit is more aligned with current college expectations in terms of the level of writing they have to produce in order to pass the class,” Flick said. “For example, timed writing has gone the way of the dinosaur because colleges realize that if professional writers and collegiate professors have time to work on their stuff, why can’t students?”

And when comparing the skills learned from AP and dual-credit, the latter will drive more towards a modern college style that universities are looking for.

“In terms of the dual enrollment course I teach through UT, skills will be more aligned with 21st century collegiate expectations rather than some of the more archaic testing structures that you see in AP classes,” Flick said.

but to the rest of the LGBT community in the school.

“Pride Week was important to me because it showed me that all the teachers and staff were very supportive and that it was something of Ms. Leos’ interests,” senior Ciara Cera said. “I got to see that all the students also dressed up and it made me feel like I was important.”

The GSA club (GayStraight Alliance) at Bowie was responsible for the planning of the week, and explained the purpose and history of AISD Pride Week over morning announcements.

See page 3 for more

Art by Abby Ong

z

News

The Lone Star Dispatch Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page A2

News Briefs Student death impacts campus Junior Brady Henricks passed away on October 1, 2016. Henricks was 16 years old and was a well known soccer player on campus and in the Lonestar soccer league here in Austin.

Interim Principal Susan Leos sent out an e-mail on October 3, 2016 informing parents of Henricks sudden passing.

“It is with much sadness to inform you of the passing of one our students, Brady Henricks, an eleventh grader here at Bowie, passed away suddenly Saturday night,” Leos wrote. “He was a member of the soccer team and was wellloved.”

Junior Michael Jefferson was one of Henricks best friends and had known him since elementary school.

“My first reaction

was shock, my stomach dropped because I never would have expected something like this to happen to one of my best friends and it was just so had to believe it just felt unreal,” Jefferson said.

U.S. history teacher Ruth Ann Widner was Henricks history teacher this school year.

“I didn’t know Brady before the school year started and he had a car accident at the beginning of the year so he missed my class several times,” Widner said. “I was absolutely shocked and devastated and I spent most of the day crying and I was really nervous about coming to school the next day and talking to kids.”

Jefferson remembers Henricks for being a very genuine and generous person.

“Brady had always

been such a supportive figure in my life,” Jefferson said. “He supported me in every single thing that he did and he always was so kind and helpful.”

For Widner it is going to be hard for her to teach now as there will be a piece of her class missing now.

“It was very hard to walk into fourth period and not seeing Brady at his seat,” Widner said.

“That was really hard, and I struggled a little bit about what to do with the classroom, we did not know what to do with the seating in the classroom, we left things how they were for a couple of class periods. After some classes we re-shuffled and had new seating and once I changed the seating arrangements we said okay now let’s move on.”

Story by: Fuaad Ajaz

Tech theatre teacher passes away from cancer Near the end of September Bowie lost former Technical Theatre teacher Robert Gomez after a courageous battle with cancer. Gomez had been teaching for 32 years and was a big influence to many students on campus.

For senior Ben Wheeler Gomez was not just one of his teacher but also one of his great friends.

“I was in shock first I really couldn’t wrap my head around it,” Wheeler said. “Gomez was my teacher for two years but also a great friend. He taught me everything I know about tech and what it is and also taught me what it meant to be respectful and reliable.”

Junior Sam Searles felt many emotion taking over her body when she found out about Gomez’s passing away.

“My first reaction was just sheer pain. I remember crying for a solid two days,” Searles said. “It was a really rough couple of days and was just really hard to see this father figure and large influence in my life pass away to something like cancer.”

According to Wheeler ,Gomez was not only a great teacher but was also the type of person that would make the best out of every situation and time.

“He had such a great sense of humor and was tons of fun to be around because he was just so sarcastic,” Wheeler said.

“Gomez would make the very best out of every single situation even if he wasn’t feeling good. The situation could have been good or bad but Gomez dealt every situation with a smile.

For Searles Gomez’s teachings still influences her daily life in technical theatre today.

“Gomez influenced everything I did in tech.

He still influences what i do in tech, even if he’s not there,” Searles said.

“He inspired me to continue on with my journey in tech and is the reason I love tech and plan to continue with it later in life.”

According to Searles Gomez left behind lots of creativity and influenced the department in some of the things they do today.

“My favorite thing about Gomez was just how he presented things and what he did to solve certain things,” Searles said. “He brought creativity, happiness, sarcasm, and joy to the company.”

Story by: Fuaad Ajaz

Journalism program wins 1

Continued from page

“We just walked on the riverwalk a lot, went shopping, and all just really bonded and got to know each other more,” Glenewinkel said. “I really enjoyed making new memories with them and creating an experience that we will never forget.”

Senior Mariana Medina is one of the three yearbook editors-in-chief and competed for the second time in San Antonio.

“I competed in advanced yearbook design and I got an award of excellence in it. Sadly I didn’t get a superior but I am really proud of what I made,” Medina said.

“They send you pictures and a theme ahead of time and you basically have to create a yearbook spread for a imaginary yearbook.”

At the convention the newspaper, the Lone Star Dispatch, won a best of show honorable mention award and the yearbook, the Lone Star, won best of show honorable mention as well. All together both the yearbook and journalism department won second place sweepstakes.

“I was really excited because when I found out both the yearbook and

Winner takes all: Newspaper photo editor Ashley Ramirez won a Superior award for her first year photo.

The photo was taken at the 2016 Silver Star spring show.

Photo by Ashley Ramirez

but making new friends and memories was her key goal for this trip.

“I was really pumped when the whole newspaper

didn’t even know or talked to before, this trip helped me make new friends that I never knew I would have,” Wallace said.

“I will never see San Antonio the same way again,” - Reagan Wallace newspaper got an honorable mention award,” Glenewinkel said. “The whole staff hasn’t won an award for the past two years so winning this year and winning these was a really big step up for both departments.”

For Wallace, this trip wasn’t just about having her school win an award

staff won an award,” Wallace said. “But this trip had more to do than winning awards for me. This trip really made me bond with everyone that went on it.”

This was an opportunity of friendship and being able to connect with others amongst the staff who were in opposite classes.

“I got to know people I

Not only does the convention gain confidence for the staff from succesfully earning awards, but it creates bonds.

“I was able to meet new people and get to know my staff members better,” Glenewinkel said. “Without San Antonio I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

Forensics individuals qualify to state at competition Mo Orr Staff Writer

At a recent competition, the Bowie forensics team won another sweepstakes with top honors for the third time in a row.

Bowie forensics also earned the first place squad efficiency, and took all six top places for the duo interpretation team acting event for the fourth tournament in a row. The team has also qualified five of its competitors for the Texas Forensics Association (TFA) State tournament in March.

The TFA State qualifications have gone to Caleb Newton for Congress and Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking; Carter Drost for Humorous Interpretation; Jacob Blacklock and Luke Evans for Duet Acting; and Emma Lopez for Original Oratory.

In the duo interpreta-

tion event, Bowie forensics took the first six places.

Jake Anderson and Grace Widner landed 1st place, Drost and Eli Schoolar took 2nd place, Avery Helder and Jamie Muras took 3rd place, Fisher and Megan Russell were in 4th place, Natalie Guerra and Sofia Hutton were in 5th place, and Tasha Anslyn and Anna Seningen finished with 6th place.

The forensics team came very close to taking all seven places in the duet acting event, however the only place they did not take was third place; Reed Syzdek and Widner took 1st place, Blacklock and Evans took 2nd place, Hunter Francisco and Hutton took 4th place, Anslyn and Helder took 5th place, Muras and Schoolar took 6th place, and Fisher and Guerra took 7th place.

Other final results were from the humorous in-

terpretation event, where Schoolar took 1st place, Drost took 2nd place, and Jack Brady took 6th place.

Congress had Newton for 1st place, Zach Houdek for 2nd place, and Lauren Warhol was a finalist. Hutton had taken 1st place for her poetry interpretation.

Newton spoke about the things he did to prepare for the competition, and what else helped him as the competition grew closer.

“I practiced like every single night, we have debate club every Monday, that’s all I ever do,” Newton said. “Also teaching them, I get better and when I help out other people rather than just me acting individually so that’s always fun, helping other people, rather than helping myself.”

In the US extemp competition Lopez took 2nd place, Houdek took 6th place, and Gillian Sitler

took 8th place. Newton had taken 2nd place, with Jimmy Counihan in 4th place in the FX competition. For the Prose interpretation competition, Guerra was in 3rd place, while Anderson was in 4th, and Francisco in 5th place.

Though their 3rd top honors in sweepstakes is consecutive, Marco Bazan, the forensics and UIL academic director, believes that winning team sweepstakes isn’t the focus.

“The focus is that each student does their best and leaves the tournament feeling accomplished and that they are improving as debaters, performers or public speakers,” Bazan said.

“If we happen to also win team sweepstakes, that’s just a little something extra to feel proud about.”

In the dramatic interpretation category, Hutton took 4th place. In the original oratory event, Lopez

Circle up: Junior Grace Widner leads the Forensics team in warm-up for the competition. The competition was held at Austin High School. Photo by Jake Brien

took 4th place, also becoming a qualifier for the TFA State competition. The final results for the novice public forum debate had Joe Bridges and Jace Brown take 2nd place; however in the novice Lincoln-Douglas debate, Rasheek Huq was both a semi-finalist, and the one who took the 2nd place speaker spot. In the novice extemporaneous speaking event, Alexus

Harris took 4th place.

Bazan thinks of the TFA State competition with realistic standards, uncertain of what the results will be.

“TFA State is in March, so it’s hard to say how our students will do,” Bazan said. “We are just proud that they keep working each week to be successful and become stronger competitors.”

The Lone Star Dispatch

News

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page A3

AISD shows their pride in colors Continued from Page 1

“I know that this was the first year that we had announcements. I thought that was interesting. I even learned some things about the LGBTQ rights when I was listening to the announcements, so I think it was great,” head counselor Karina Reyna said.

Pride stretches from the nation to one’s own school community. The importance of this issue has lead

to the creation of Pride Week and a more accepting school.

“The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals with Pride Week is very important to the community.

With national tragedies, recognized by mainstream media or not, happening far too often, I believe it’s extremely important that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or any identification are given a safe space,” Newton said. “A

more accepting campus is paramount towards making members of our community feel more comfortable with doing things as simple as going to school.”

The purpose of this week, was to spread awareness and unity throughout the community.

“There is no reason that a week to raise awareness and show support for the LGBTQ community should offend the straight community in any way,”

Shining stars: Posing for a photo on pride week, the staff laugh and have fun as they create a rainbow to show support for Pride week. The day brought students and staff together to support the LGBTQ community. Photo by Darcy Kanneman

junior Julian Haddad said.

“There are some people who don’t even know what LGBTQ even stands for and that in itself is reason enough to have a designated week every year to show support for our world’s various sexualities and genders.”

While many students were supportive, there was some resistance to a Pride Week.

“I did have some students who had some opposition to it but not for the reasons you would think,” Reyna said. “They were more concerned about the fact that having an event for inclusivity was actually promoting exclusivity.”

Accoring to Reyna, Bowie wants to bring people together and celebrate all types of people and the events bring everyone together.

“I think what’s really cool about Bowie is the fact that any time we’re celebrating anything, ev-

eryone comes together,” said Reyna. “There’s never a time when we’re having an event and people are not into it.”

The week has evolved over the three years it’s been at Bowie. From stickers to announcements and dressing up.

“The first year we just put stickers in people’s boxes,” Reyna said. “And this year, we had an event and every department came together, picking a certain color and then making a huge rainbow.”

Celebrating allows for the staff and students to show their support and assure that everyone has a safe space at school.

“It’s kind of a way for me, as a counselor, to let people know that I am waving that flag, saying I embrace everybody. You can come and you can feel like it’s a safe space,” Reyna said. “It’s really important for us as faculty members and staff members to

throw that out there and say ‘We’re waving a flag.’

We’re saying ‘This is a safe haven for you.’ That’s important for us and me.”

Bringing awareness to diversity is an important part of the community.

“I think every week should be Pride Week. I think we should celebrate our diversity of all kinds at all times,” English III teacher Vicki Hebert said.

“Life is too short and our country is too diverse to think that leaving someone out is going to be a good idea.”

For Gay Straight Alliance sponsor Vicki Hebert Pride Week is important because you are celebrating diversity.

“I think that the celebration of all the diversty in this nation is important,” Hebert said. “Any group that has been ignored as much as the LGBT community deserves to be recognized for how fabulous they are.”

to get their work out there and get it seen, but I need to get those students to give us their best work, and have it be published.”

Lack of funding will be another problem in the future.

“Right now we have a fundraiser in the works for January, we’re gonna do a faculty reading where teachers are going to read their writing, and we’re going to charge admission,” Rolfe said. “That event is going to be headlined by a New York Times best selling author, that is going to come and read her work and raffle off some signed copies of her books.”

Future fundraisers may include some poetry slams and readings throughout the year.

“Eventually, we are going to need more funding; we do have some money right now for this year’s lit mag, but it’s my goal to sort of build up enough funding so that we don’t have to scramble every year to pay to get it out there,” Rolf said.

The literary magazine will

Lit Society Work Submitted: _Pending_ Funds: _Pending_ Lit Mag Release: _In Development_

show the campus what the club has been doing this year and showcase work that has been done by students.

“I am very excited for the literary magazine to be released,” Stryker said. “I’m excited to have it done and to see all the work we dedicated to it as a finished piece.”

The club is planning to call the magazine the Odyssey.

A B C A B C A B C A B C

“The lit mag has been traditionally called Odyssey,” Rolfe said. So we’re bringing back that name and the tradition and the magazine will feature student poetry, stories, and personal essays combined with artwork, photography and some graphic design stuff and if that gets submitted by the students , it’ll be like a real magazine,and it’ll be like a book.”

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At Bowie, students always join the clubs that peak their interests. Literary Society is one of those clubs, and as it looks to its future, it prepares for any problems that it may face.

The club meets to discuss writing techniques in the first half of the year and they work on the literary magazine during the other half of the year.

“What the club does is, we meet in the mornings to do writing activities like writing prompts,” sponsor and english teacher Bree Rolfe said. “But the other half of the year is really just about putting together the literary magazine, but other than that it’s just a collection of students who really love writing and reading and want to kind of come together and write and share their work and just become better writers.”

Problems seem very far off but the literary society plans on fixing each one before they happen.

“We’re just starting out, so there are a few problems right now,” Rolfe said. “Getting students to submit their work is step one.”

Literary society members are focused on fixing the problems before they happen on their end as well.

“So far we’re just trying to figure out deadlines and we’re trying to get people to submit more work for the magazine,” literary society member Lily Stryker said. “But we’re soon gonna be trying to pick editors for pieces that are submitted to the magazine and then we’re gonna start matching pieces up with artwork and getting the magazine together.”

The lit society wants to put the product out to showcase the talent of students on campus.

“The talent pool for writing and art at Bowie is great, We have probably the most talented students in all of Austin going here,” Rolfe said. “I really just want them to have a good forum

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Mo Orr Staff Writer

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Literary society has big plans for annual magazine

(512) 615-2730

In-Depth

The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page A4

The Lone Star Dispatch

Students find their talents through clubs Caitlin Devlin Managing Editor Since Bowie was opened, student run and organized clubs were a tradition and a favorite pastime of students. From key club to cave club, clubs have changed the lives of many who have joined them.

Students create clubs for many reasons, such as improving college applications, finding friends with similar interests, or learning new hobbies.

“We run fund-raisers, like the measles and rubella campaign, we get to impact further regions of the world even though we are just a small organization in a school,” senior red cross club president Caleb Newton said.

Clubs may have a different plan every week on what to do at each meeting, while other clubs are more laid back in their plans.

“GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance club) meets every Wednesday after school in Ms. Hebert’s room, to talk and have fun,” junior GSA president Max Wood said.

In order to start a club, a student has to pitch their idea for a club to teachers that could be possible sponsors for the club. When a sponsor is found, the student must then get approval from the principal to get the club running.

“The process of creating a club was difficult, definitely,” senior fashion club president Christina Jia said.

“I had gone at great lengths to find a sponsor and develop the club’s activities and website as far back as last year. I wanted this club to be interactive, collaborative, and fun and that takes thorough planning.”

Fashion club just started this year, and was created by Jia and a number of her friends. The club does photo-shoots together, and coordinates themed outfits every meeting.

“The best part of fashion club is that this wasn’t integrated into Bowie before. I like gathering people who enjoy the same thing and being able to explore things that we maybe would not have done outside of high school,” Jia said.

Another club that was just created this year is Future Teachers of America club, sponsored by Judd and Amanda Pfeiffer. The purpose of the club is to inspire students to become teachers in the future and let them get an early start on learning teaching tactics.

“My favorite part is definitely the Pfeiffers. The Pfeiffers are incredibly supportive and sweet, they are always there, able to answer any questions we have,” senior FTA president Bridget Alvarez said.

Other clubs have been around for

years, however. Swing club, a club that focuses on 1920’s jazz dancing, has been around for at least ten years.

The swing club meets every Wednesday and goes to the Texas Federation of Women Clubs Headquarters to dance with other more experienced swing dancers.

“My favorite part of swing club is being able to share one of my favorite passions with a bunch of people that I know and make a bunch of new friends, and to be able to teach one of my favorite past times,” senior swing club president Lauren Aman said.

In-Depth

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 Page A5

sponsored by English teacher Bree Rolfe. The club meets Wednesday mornings and Thursdays during FIT. “Our Wednesday meetings are geared more towards the creative writing aspect of the club, and Thursdays focus on the production of the literary magazine,” junior Emily Robinett said.

Clubs aren’t only made for hobbies though. For example, the GSA was a club created for LGBTQ+ Bowie students to meet each other and “I like getting everybody to in-

“I like gathering people who enjoy the same thing and being able to explore things that we maybe wouldn’t have done outside of high school.”

- Christina Jia

Club meeting times are all unique.

Most clubs meet after school, some meet before. However, the ping pong club meets before and after school everyday, as well as during both lunches.

“We learned that there was a ping pong table in Ms. Davis’s room, and we decided to use it for table tennis and created the club,” senior ping pong club founding member Hosei Nakajima said.

Another club that meets several times a week is the literary society,

troduce themselves and see little glimpses into their life,” Wood said.

The Bowie clubs really show the diversity of students and cultures at this school, and that despite differences people can come together to celebrate the things that they love.

“We get to celebrate the awesome creations of other people, and when you have your own moment of brilliance it’s certain to be recognized, which feels pretty great,” Robinett said.

Jitterbug: Seniors Michael Aman and Gianna Nuckols laugh as they perform a dance during Swing Club. One of the traditions of Swing Club is to go to the Texas Federation of Women mansion, commonly known as the Fed, to dance with experienced swing dancers. Photo by Caitlin Devlin

Swing and slide: Seniors Lauren Aman and Josh Owens dance together to jazz music during Swing Club. Aman and Owens have been in the club since their freshmen year, but the club has existed for at least ten years. Photo by Caitlin Devlin

A WEEK FOR BOWIE CLUBS

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Cave Club (4:30 p.m., in F123, only if weather is bad on Thursday)

Painting together: Doing each other’s nails, freshman Willow Stacy paints a friend’s nails during the GSA. The GSA meets every Wednesday to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Photo by Caitlin Devlin

Card Stacking: Sophomore Eyan Muenster takes a look at his hand of cards in Magic the Gathering Club. Every Wednesday, MtG fans hold games in B108. Photo by Caitlin Devlin

Spanish Club (every other week, 4:30 p.m. in A222) Art Club (every other week, 4:30 p.m., F117)

Breakfast Club (8:10, B214) Literary Society (8:15, A210) Red Cross Club (8:20, C103) Fashion Club (4:30 p.m., A110) French Club (every other week, 4:30 p.m., A216) Swing Club (4:30 p.m., band hall) Magic the Gathering Club (4:30 p.m., B108) Anime Club (4:30, G108) GSA (4:30, A212)

Match Point: Sophomore Nicholas Moczygemba plays in a ping pong tournament, rotating players each time. The ping pong club does not have a strict club schedule, they usually meet almost every day during lunch and before and after school. Photo by Caitlin Devlin

Literary Society (FIT, A210) Cave Club (4:30 p.m., F123)

Friday

Angler’s Club (4:30, G128)

Nintendo Club (4:30, A210)

Crepe Party: Juniors Lindsey Cottle, Julian Haddad, and sophomore Jessica Leonard prepare and make crepes during a French Club meeting. Cottle is one of the presidents of French club, along with junior Avy Friedman. Photo by Reagan Wallace

Commentary The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page A6

Bathroom issue is really a non-issue T

Editorial

he debate regarding transgender bathrooms has increased over the past few years. Many believe that transgender people should have the basic right to use the bathroom that are consistent with their gender identity. However, others believe that everyone should use the bathroom that correlates to the gender they were born with.

People should never be forced to use a bathroom they are not comfortable or feel safe in. Their choice does not affect others so cisgender people should not be the ones to decide the fate of transgender people.

Therefore, there should not be laws that completely ignore and disregard the opinions of transgender people.

This is not the first time bathrooms have been a part of a huge national crisis.

This issue regarding transgender people is very similar to the segregation towards African Americans. At one point, there were “white only” bathrooms and now, people are proposing transgender only bathrooms. These two scenarios are alarmingly similar.

This proposal is far from solving the issue because as the Supreme Court stated that “separate but equal is inherently unequal,” meaning this separation would be segregation. That cannot be tolerated in a country that is based off the concept of equality. This is unacceptable and the issue should be given more attention because until action is taking, many citizens must live in fear and discomfort.

This year in late October, the Supreme Court dealt with this controversial issue playing out across the country for the first time. They have currently taken on the case of a transgender high school student that is being denied the right to use the boys’ bathroom even though that’s what gender he identifies as. This student will not be allowed this right until the Supreme Court decides.

Art by Callie Richards

This controversy also affects Texas public schools, like Austin ISD, because some government officials in Texas are pushing for strict bathroom laws. For example, current lieutenant governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, has told the state’s public schools to ignore federal policies that require schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with what gender they identify as.

People opposed to this civil right often believe that by allowing transgender women into women’s bathroom, it also allows sexual predators to enter and potentially abuse women. This is very unlikely because harassment, stalking, and sexual assault are still illegal so nobody, anywhere, could get away with attacking women in a vulnerable place.

There has not been a spike in violence in bathrooms since states have started pro-

tecting the rights of transgender people, which proves that there are not people attacking others in the bathroom like many close-minded people expected.

According to KXAN, AISD does not have specific rules regarding transgender students using public bathrooms but they do protect students from discrimination regarding gender identity and expression.

Here at Bowie, transgender students use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. No problems have ever arisen because of it and this fear of students manipulating this freedom is completely uncalled for.

Many transgender people feel unsafe when it comes to choosing which bathroom to use. They must face the decision of choosing the bathroom they feel they don’t belong in or risk the chance of being judged or even assaulted in the other. It’s common for transgender people to seek

unisex bathrooms in hopes to avoid conflict. It is 2016 and it is extremely unfair to still have people who don’t feel safe doing the most basic daily tasks.

The federal government is on the right track and so far their choices seem fair but they should be stricter when it comes to enforcing the law. Government officials, like lieutenant governors, should not be allowed to get away with not only disobeying the law, but also trying to convince citizens to follow their illegal actions. People who manipulate the law should have to handle consequences.

To force people into using a specific bathroom is simply unfair and insensitive.

This promotes discontentment and fear of potential criticism and abuse for transgender people. Transgender people should be allowed to choose the bathroom of their choice because it affect no one else except them.

Bottle flipping trend should not be common at school Gavin Farner Staff Writer

W

Art by Callie Richards

hat might start as a quick ticket to glory in middle school recess is just an annoyance to those in high school.

The new trend of “bottle flipping” started from an internet video and spread like wildfire.

It is easy enough to see how it started to be popular. You drink most of your bottled drink and take your best shot of tossing it and that’s all there is to it; toss and hope for the best.

I think that this new trend should be ended for the sake of everyone that has some semblance of sanity. My lunch period should not be filled with seeing bottles tossed into the air for quick and an-

noying entertainment.

P e o ple don’t need the headache of constant thumps from bottles flipping during the time to eat lunch, catch up on homework, or socialize with their friends.

The noises that come from the flips aren’t limited to thumps; wait till they land one and you will hear the incessant victory whoops and hollers.

To fuel this unfortunate habit that they have many newly purchased water bottles get half of their contents get poured out without drinking any of it. I’m not an environmentalist by any stretch of the imagination but that seems so wasteful to me to dump

out perfectly good water for a simple game.

During this commo-

DISPATCH STAFF - Vol. 29, Issue #2 Editor-in-chief Violet Glenewinkel Page A1

Entertainment Editor Victoria Newell - Page B4 Kiran Patel - Page B5

Student Life Editors Managing Editor Carissa Duran - Page B7 Fuaad Ajaz - Page A2 Caitlin Devlin - Page A4-5 Kathleen Nguyen - Page B6 News Editor Samantha Knapp - Page A3 Commentary Editors Avy Friedman - Page A6 Ian Miller - Page A7 Athletics Editors Mia Barbosa - Page B1 Shelby Kelly - Page B2 Review Editor Cianna Chairez - Page B3

Photo Editors Cara Andres - Page B8 Ashley Ramirez - Page A8 Website Team Lead Joseph Killeen Assistant Editors Darcy Kanneman Austyn Keelty Abby Ong Adviser Michael Reeves

Dispatch Staff: Jadon Alvarez Madison Austin Jake Brien Maria Demopoulos Gavin Farner Gigi Francis Jolie Francis Yana Krykunenko Justine Lockhart Harrison Louis Sam McPherson Emily Merritt Alicia Molina Mo Orr Shelby Papst Callie Richards Douglas Smith Reagan Wallace Ella Wright Mikayla Zellner

tion of making their debut on the stage of bottle flipping, they make quite the

mess that could have been avoided if they behaved like they were in a public

area which they are.

I won’t be saying outlaw water bottles by any means but at least if you are flipping bottles drink the rest of the water and recycle it or put it away. This shouldn’t be a problem and I can’t fathom wasting my time playing with a water bottle instead of doing work or talking with my friends.

We could just wait for the best new thing to replace the bottle tossing just like “whipping” was replaced by “dabbing” but I would rather just not see it anymore.

As a student who can constantly hear and see water bottles being flipped, I don’t want another day of these juvenile kids flipping their bottles and ruining my peace and quiet wherever I go for lunch.

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

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Commentary

The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page A7

Climate change impacts world T

he change in global climate is a highly controversial topic in today’s society. For those who are unaware, climate change is the rapid rise in global temperatures. Those who accept climate change argue that it is caused by an the emission of carbon dioxide and other such gases into the atmosphere. Those who deny climate change contend that temperatures across the globe are not increasing, and instead they claim that the temperature rise is slowing down.

However, this claim has been disproved.

The reason climate change occurs is because air pollutants and greenhouse gases linger in the atmosphere for hundreds of years after they are emitted. These pollutants trap heat in and cause our planet to become hotter.

Global Warming in an ongoing crisis that today’s society needs to accept. The heat trapping pollution that humans are creating is leading to the change of Earth’s climate, and if not stopped the atmosphere of earth will continue to deteriorate. For many people this may not be a concern, however for the well-being of future generations, an active effort must be made to preserve the earth and its atmosphere.

In recent years, due to the use of advanced technology there has been a rise in the amount of energy used. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 15 out of 16 of the hottest years, in NASA’s record, have occurred since 2000.

The council projects that the continued use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases is the root cause to the dilemma that is climate change.

Often many people are unaware of the detrimental effects of the very objects or machines they use in their everyday lives.

The Natural Resources Defense Council states that excessive use of resources has become a great factor in causing climate change.

As stated by the Natural Resources Defense Council, in the United States the highest source of pollution comes from burning fossil fuels which are used to meet our need for electricity. The second highest source comes from the carbon that is emitted from our transportation vehicles.

These forms of pollution contribute to the heating of the earth and in effect cause the melting of glaciers, droughts, rising sea levels, heat waves, flooding, habitat disruption, allergies, asthma, and even outbreaks of dangerous diseases, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The Union of Concerned Scientists also addresses that the melting of glaciers

STOP GLOBAL WARMING!

Art by Callie Richards

Kiran Patel Entertainment Editor

causes sea levels to rise, and in third world countries where the only water source is natural water the rise in sea levels can have a dangerous impact. Most of the results of climate change come hand in hand with each other, and therefore make climate change all the more dangerous.

Most people think of global warming as a problem that is too difficult to solve, however we can come together as a society and find ways to reduce the release of gases that are toxic to the atmosphere.

Simple ways to start helping the environment are carpooling, using public transportation, obtaining energy through the use of solar panels, and purchasing energy

efficient products.

Larger scale solutions that involve the government include stopping deforestation and helping developing countries and undeveloped countries to build sustainable cities. This will lead to the use of efficient energy and reduce the amount of heat trapping emissions in the atmosphere.

As the years go by, more and more consequences of carbon emission and pollution are surfaced by scientists. Recognizing the ongoing crisis of climate change and finding working solutions to diminish the problem will allow for the preservation of earth and will sustain life on our planet for future generations.

High schoolers shouldn’t trick-or-treat, and here’s why: H

alloween, the holiday of fear, is normally celebrated by dressing up in a costume and trick-or-treating around a neighborhood.

Usually you end the night with a bucket full of candy and a year’s supply of sugar, however this view can change dramatically as someone gets older.

There is some controversy surrounding the idea that high schoolers are too old to trick-or-treat. Most of everyone went trick-or-treating when they were in the middle school and lower ages, but is it immature to go from door to door collecting candy from the neighbors when you enter high school?

In my opinion, the actual “trick-ortreating” part of Halloween day is immature for high school students. Collecting candy from the neighbors is something that should be reserved for the younger kids.

I have nothing against wearing costumes for Halloween - I think it’s a great practice; anyone at any age can enjoy doing that. However, if you’re going from house to house in your favorite Star Wars costume asking for candy, standing an entire foot or two taller than the other trick-or-treaters beside you, that’s where

you need to draw the line. It may not seem like it, but there’s an age limit on Halloween, one that’s a bit harder to fake than the ones you see at the movies.

Secondly, a normal house will set up some decorations to try and scare the trickor-treaters. There’s hardly any thrill for a high schooler going from house to house when they see these “scary Halloween props” because they are aimed at a young-

er audience. High school students don’t fall under this category.

Additionally, students are constantly complaining about their academic workload. Halloween will fall under a Monday in 2016, which will be a school night.

Don’t you think that your time could be better spent somewhere else, like studying for the big test next class or finishing up that two page essay you need to complete

TRICK OR TREAT

Art by Abby Ong

Ian Miller Commentary Editor

by 9:00 next morning? Instead of complaining about workload, a student should try and use their time wisely so they don’t have to complain about it in the first place.

Lastly, does a high school student really need the candy they collect from Halloween? I know I certainly don’t, and I also don’t think it’s worth spending an entire night out to go and gather said candy. If someone really needs the candy that badly, couldn’t they just go out to a corner store and buy a whole bag for $2? Your parents are already going out to grab some from the store, so why not just go with them?

Halloween is supposed to be the holiday of fright and horror however, as I pointed out before, there’s no real fright involved in the neighbor’s Halloween decorations for a high schooler. If someone really wanted to involve themselves in the fright of Halloween, they could go to a haunted house or the House of Torment over the weekend. It sounds much more exciting than the neighbor’s decorations.

Instead of going trick-or-treating this year, I believe high schoolers should dress up, hand out candy at the front door and let the younger ones have their fun for a night.

I think it’s part of becoming an adult and maturing - learning what your parents do for the other kids.

High schoolers shouldn’t be the ones trick-or-treating. Let the younger ones have their fun for the night.

BULLDAWGS SPEAK OUT

How would you write AISD policy for our district regarding transgender students using the bathroom of their choice?

9th

10th

11th

12th

TEACHER

Tanzi Hane

Luciana San Esteban

Alex Tram

Fernando Rocha

Vickie Hebert

“They can use whatever restroom they identify as. If they feel comfortable with what they identify as, they should be able to choose.”

“They should let anyone use the bathrooms they want to use. Your gender and your sex are two different things, you get to decide your gender.”

“If they are trans they choose what they believe, what gender they believe.”

“Let them do what they feel comfortable with.”

“I think that’s brilliant. It would make so much better sense to me if we had multiple bathrooms assigned to no gender what so ever.”

Photos by Madison Austin, question by Shelby Papst

Photo Essay The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov.. 11, 2016

Page A8

Cave club ventures to new depths The first time in thirty years students have been able to go under the school Ashley Ramirez Photo Editor

The light from above: Junior Hajer Deyaf waits for students to come back up from the cave.

Deyaf helped students get out and unhooked from the belay system. “Accessing the cave requires descending a long ladder so students wear a full body harness and are hooked to a belay system in the event of a fall,” science department chair Jill Harding said. Photo by Ashley Ramirez

After years of building anticipation, the cave underneath the school with lurking slugs and beautiful stalagmites, is finally available for students to explore through a club created this school year.

Jill Harding, the head of the science department has passed along the responsibility to two teachers, Cara Willig and Masie Comen.

“She came to both of us this year since we’re both new teachers, young, enthusiastic, not scared of caves, and she was like are y’all interested in doing a cave club and we were like yeah,” Willig said.

The Bowie cave club started with a goal to educate people.

“Our goal for the first year of the cave club is to create a mission statement and idea of what we’re doing,” Willig said. “For education, for preservation, for just educating people that caves are cool and you should go in them and you should be safe when you do.”

In order for a student to go down into the cave it requires certain procedures to be followed.

“You have to submit an application for the club, the application involves us knowing your information and a signature from a teacher ensuring that you won’t go into the cave a destroy it with a baseball bat,” Willig said. “A parent signed form and a training lesson are also required.”

The process of trying to get students into the cave has been very slow.

“The cave was discovered during the construction of the school back in the late 1980’s,” Harding said.

“Teachers along with many parents and students began the process of digging the dirt back out of the cave but it eventually came to a halt.”

With the help of the city, volunteers, and different organizations the cave was able to finish what it started allowing students this year access to the cave.

“The City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Division helped us to open up the cave further to use for education,” Harding said. “The city provided us help from professionals to finish digging out the cave and install safety features.”

Safety is an important part of going into the cave.

“Now that the cave is safe staff and faculty are now more comfortable taking down kids,” Comen said.

Student expressed amazement when they entered the cave for the first time.

“I was excited because the whole group was just so pumped to enter the cave,” junior Celeste Alvarado said.

Many of the members found out about the club from friends.

“I found out about the cave from friends that have Ms. Willig,” junior Gabriela Minjares said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity.”

Willig’s students had expressed their enthusiasm of wanting to join the club from the very beginning.

“I wanted to join because ever since I was a little kid I have collected rocks and crystals,” junior Yelenna James said. “I’ve always been interested in the formation of rocks.”

Strap up: Junior Kevin Howard tightens the strap on his harness before he enters the cave.

Howard plans on continuing his interest in geology. “I have always been interested in geology so being in a cave club allows me to really see and learn more about geology that most people don’t get to do,” Howard said Photo by Ashley Ramirez

Paying attention to details: Examining the details of a crystallized rock is senior Bradford Stross-Lockett on the second level of the Bowie cave. This was Stross-Lockett’s first time in the cave Photo by Ashley Ramirez

Going deeper: Tightly holding the rope is senior Destiny Rollman who is leading students deeper into the cave. Rollman led students to the second level of the cave. “The cave is a wonderful tool for teaching students the connection between caves as recharge features and the water quality in our community,”science department chair Jill Harding said. Photo by Ashley Ramirez The cave: Mud covered crystals and stalagmite dripping with water, cover the cave. Student were advised not to touch the stalagmite because the oils in ones fingers damages them.

“Students can observe the result of years of accumulated mineral deposits in all the beautiful formations,” science department chair Jill Harding said. Photo by Ashley Ramirez

Taking a glance: Senior Bradford Stross-Lockett stands on the second level of the cave and examines the rocky wall. The cave has many unstable areas that members were told not to touch or hang on to rocks away from the cables. Photo by Ashley Ramirez

James Bowie High School

Athletics

4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin, TX 78749

INSIDE

www.thelonestaronline.com

Friday Nov. 11, 2016

Section

Vol. 29

Issue 2

B

Athletics B1-2 Reviews B3 Entertainment B4-5 Feature B6-7 Photo Essay B8

Sophomore soars elegantly on the silks Layla Harris spends her free time performing acrobatic tricks on aerial silks Shelby Papst Staff Writer The silk banner strung high from the ceiling hangs limp in waiting. She takes a step forward, determination set in her eyes.

The material wraps tight around her hands as she flips herself into the air.

She climbs, drops, flips, creating nothing but a skilled and calculated routine to supply beauty for all who witness it.

Embracing the sky with silks supporting her flight, sophomore Layla Harris

performs an uncommon hobby by doing acrobatics using aerial silks.

“If I could describe silks to someone I would describe it as flying,” Harris said.

Harris has been doing silks for a year and was inspired to do them by her mom Toni Harris, who has always had a passion for the activity and circus related sports for quite a while.

“I was a gymnast my whole childhood until senior year of high school, and have always been fascinated with circus arts,”

Toni said. “I choose to continue silks because it makes me feel strong, and graceful. It’s meditative, and slows me to express myself through music and dance, and give me another outlet to be acrobatic.”

Harris feels as if silks has become a huge part of who she is and holds deep value to her.

“When I was going through a rough time silks was where I went to get out of my own head,” Layla said.

Layla’s passion for the sport is known through her family, including her moth-

Suspended in the air: Sophomore Layla Harris lays horizontal above the floor by having an aerial silk wrapped around her right leg for support. Harris plans to pursue doing aerial silks until she physically is unable to anymore. Photo by Fuaad Ajaz

er and sister Sophia Harris, who is a level two in silks.

“Silks is a big part of Layla’s life. Layla loves silks and she works really hard for what she wants,” Sophia said.

Silks requires a lot of focus and can only be done well through relaxing the body, clearing away a person’s stress and putting all focus on performance.

“If I couldn’t do silks anymore I would be very sad because silks is what I do to calm down after a long day,” Layla said.

The sport of aerial silks is as strenuous as it is uncommon. Watching a performance the toll it takes on the performer’s body and mind is evident. Layla always strives to do her best though and can only be described as undeniably driven, which is what it takes to do aerial stunts.

“I’ve seen Layla do silks a lot and I think she’s amazing,” Sophia said.

“You can tell she really tries to be good and she is.”

Silks is considered a sport, meaning it is time consuming, but Layla still manages to balance her schedule around everything to make time for what she enjoys, such as silks and theatre as well.

“Yes, Layla is dedicated to silks, however she is also dedicated to theatre so silks only occupies fifty percent of her extracurricular activities, which is perfect,” Toni said.

There are many parts to performing on silks, such as falling and twisting the performer’s bodies in ways to reflect a dance that en-

In the hands of the silks: Focusing on how to hold the silks and have them wrapped around her body properly sophomore Layla Harris hangs high upside down off of the ground. Layla has been practicing acrobatics on aerial silks for a year. Photo by Fuaad Ajaz

tice the watcher and are fun for the performer.

“My favorite part is dropping and being caught by the silk,” Layla said.

Silks is enjoyed by many and can be done by almost anyone. It’s an eye-catching activity that is possible to stick with a person forever, like it has with Layla.

“I plan to do silks until I physically cannot,” Layla said.

Layla enjoys her aeri-

al talent and plans to stick with it for as long as she can. She’s accompanied by her mother and sister, who both seeing how much Layla’s uncommon passion means to her. Aerial silks is a complicated sport that when it comes down to it is a major portion of what makes Layla who she is.

“People should do silks because it builds muscle and is very relaxing experience,” Layla said. “Once you get the ‘hang’ of it.”

Ultimate frisbee welcomes new teammates this season Joseph Killeen Online Editor

With the sun shining down on the veloway field behind Bowie, ultimate frisbee players sprint back and forth skillfully passing frisbees to each other.

Junior Jacob Ploeger has been playing frisbee for a majority of his life and is a figure of leadership on the team. ”I’ve being playing frisbee for 11 years and I started this club when I was a freshman at fish camp,” Ploeger said. “I also played at Kealing in middle school with a couple of my friends who helped me recruit other people so we could expand our team.”

While the team is deemed as a club, they value their sport very highly and put in a lot of effort to be the best team possible.

“Frisbee is a team sport like soccer where each person has their role, but it’s also different in it’s own ways,” Ploeger said. “You have to know your teammates and they way they play. Each person has a different position, like a cutter or a handler, so that each

person can work together and make a good team.”

It is quite common for members of the cross country team to join the frisbee team due to the similarities in physical requirements.

Varsity cross country runner Erik Atwell is currently on the frisbee team.

“When I transferred to Kealing in seventh grade my English teacher was the coach of the team so I decided to join and once I started playing I got hooked,” Atwell said.

During practice the athletes are constantly running all over the place so they can make efficient and great passes. Atwell finds the practices to have a similar amount of mileage to that of a cross country practice.

“You definitely have to be an athlete because there is a lot of running and stamina involved, but really as long as you’re willing to put work in and become a better frisbee player it’s pretty easy to become a decent, if not great frisbee player,” Atwell said.

If a student is thinking about seeing what it’s like being on the team, Ploeger

gives advice about a few things they should know about and do.

“For someone who is thinking about joining the team I would advise them to come out to a practice, we are open to everyone and whether you know some skills or not we will teach you,” Ploeger said.

New skills will currently be taught by team mates.

“Practices right now are pretty laid back, but when the actual season starts in spring we will have our coach come out to teach us specifics like throwing styles and game-play strategies,” Ploeger said. “As well as having some team vs team scrimmages with other schools for practice.”

It can be common for a school club to die down after a few years due to the departure of the leaders.

But according to Atwell this is not the case for the ultimate frisbee.

“We are getting a lot more under class men which is good because we want the team to continue years after we graduate.

Most of the years it has been our grade level, but this year we are really hap-

Getting past the defense : Junior Francis Lasta lunges past junior Luke Severson to throw the frisbee down the field to a team mate during an after school practice scrimmage. The ultimate frisbee team plans on attending and training for the fall state tournament in Waco on November 19. Photo by Mia Barbosa

py to see many underclassmen joining the team,” Atwell said.

The team is still currently preparing for their first tournament and Ploeger feels that their performance this year will be even better than the previous year.

“We have not gone to an official tournament as

bowie yet, but on November 12th and 19th we are doing some tournaments, last year we got second in state though,” Ploeger said.

During a game, Ploeger describes how the team is very uplifting to one another and how the game creates a very inspiring environment.

“In a game it is very intense and everyone is feeling good especially if we are scoring,” Ploeger said.

“It’s a very fun environment and a little more serious than a normal scrimmage, but once you’re in the game you see a smile on pretty much everyone’s face.”

Atwell has lots of hope for the success of his team this year and he believes they have a good chance at winning the championship.

“I hope that at our state tournament in May we will be a much improved team and we can go out there and win the championship,” Atwell said.

Atwell finds the team to be a place of joy in his life, and he is very appreciative of the people on the team.

“The comradery is really good on a frisbee team, because there is this thing called the spirit of the game where everyone has good attitudes towards everyone on the team and the teams you play. It’s really awesome getting to play on a team with your friends, they are pretty much like family,” Atwell said.

Athletics

The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page B2

Taking a stab at something new

Clarisse Burns ignites her unique fencing interest one match at a time Shelby Kelly Athletics Editor

She steps up to the red line, adrenaline pumping through her veins, eyes focusing on the massive man in front of her holding a sword that has given her many bruises and aches before. But today is different.

Her arm rushes through the air, jabbing with all of her force into his chest, his protective plate rattling with crippling defeat as the match comes to an end.

Grasping a sword that not many grasp, Clarisse Burns is a junior who has recently started fencing at the Austin Fencers Club.

Burns wanted to find a sport that respected her independence so she put on the white glove that introduced her to the new sword wielding sport of fencing at the end of last summer.

“I like being on my own and like having to rely on myself especially if I mess up or something and there is not many sports when you’re not by yourself,” Burns said. “I am sure it does look good for colleges but I don’t know how good you have to be but I really just needed another extra curricular and it might as well be something interesting to me and fun.”

Hannah Danforth explains, that although it seems like just some jabbing motions fencing is actually more than that.

“Fencing isn’t exactly ostrich racing, but it’s still fairly unique. What’s really special about it is its versatility,” Danforth said.

“You can shred it down to the basic touch for a point, but you can also add so many technical and strategic implements that really add to the complexity of the sport.”

Burns was looking for an activity that let her fulfill her love of physical activity and her junior boyfriend

Waiting her turn: Clarisse Burns eagerly waits her turn to fence her next opponent. It’s a tough workout so each fencer had to take breaks. Photo

by Shelby Kelly

Making her point: Clarisse Burns points her swords towards her opponent, stepping behind the line, and gets her hands in position as she gets ready to fight her friend Hannah Danforth. In a practice Clarisse Burns fights many people, differing in skill so she can improve in different ways. Each match is controlled by an electric point system depending on where the person was hit. For a basic game the first to five touches gets to move on. Photo by Shelby Kelly

Jackson Coats agrees that it is a great sport and also helps to relieve stress.

“I think she is already a well rounded person and fencing adds even more,” Coats said. “Also I feel like having a hobby like fencing can really help people take their mind off of the stressful parts of life and help their state of mind.”

After a long day of stressful classes not many are willing to give up the little amount of free time they have for other activities but her mother, Nieves Burns, says thinks its worth it.

“It is awesome seeing Clarisse fencing every time. I can see how she uses her hand-eye coordination, balance, concentration, self-control and confidence. A good fencer bides his time and tries to out think his opponent.

It’s like physical chess,” Nievas said.

Fencing is a good balance for Clarisse because it lets her be independent but still

lean and interact with other players, Danforth also agrees.

“There’s no team pressuring me to be better, but there’s the encouragement of fellow classmates to force me to improve just by participating,” Danforth said.

Fencing is a strong mental sport and it takes certain characteristics to stick to it, close friend Amanda Urrutia explains.

“She’s really diligent and she is very persevering, and she won’t let anything or anyone stop her, if she wants to do it she will, even if that takes away time from friends or family or something, she is very hardworking” Urrutia said.

Practice is only once a week but it is a three hour long class and it can be hard to balance it with her other activities like violin in orchestra and academics but with that it has taught her time management.

“When it was on Wednes-

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day it was harder, it’s just up to me to manage my own time so it’s helping me to plan ahead and plan when I am going to do my

homework which is a useful skill, Clarisse said. “But it does interfere sometimes but it’s only once a week so it’s not that bad.”

Although the practice can take up a lot of time, after just a few months her mom has already seen improvement.

“She has definitely improved. Her footwork looks much better and her score ‘hits’ or ‘touches’ on her opponent are also better. She is always excited about her next class and I am always excited to see her improve,” Nieves said.

As a beginner, never having picked up the saber before, fencing was not what she expected.

“When I first put on the mask, I felt like I could do anything, but when we actually started, I realized just how wrong I was. The heat of my breath surrounded me and I could feel myself strapped into the pulley,” Danforth said.

“As my opponent advanced for the first time, I was trapped and couldn’t breathe, it was all I could do to keep myself from running away. But now it’s no big deal, as long as my hair is not in my eyes.”

Clarisse plans on keeping with the sport for a while, she would like to continue through college or at least through high school as long as she’s having fun.

“I definitely would like to be better, it’s going to be a long term thing hopefully and I know I am only a junior now, but when I look at colleges I am always looking if they have fencing and would love to join it one day and I’d like to go to tournaments in the future,” Clarisse said. “It’s something that I love and I won’t ever forget what it has taught me.”

Practicing for perfection: Clarisse Burns lunges into position as her coach Eric Mallet teachers her correct form with the help of her team mate to hold her target. Each practice, they have to spend a lot of time focusing on basic technique and tactics. The coach spends individual time with each student to perfect their skills. Photo by Shelby Kelly

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The Lone Star Dispatch

Reviews

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page B3

Roanoke nightmare gives viewers nightmares Jadon Alvarez Staff Writer

ORY ROR ST R O H AN

C AMERI

hy n Murp a y R s : r e n Peter Writ on, Eva ls u a P rah Cast: Sa Art by Cianna Chairez

Lost Colony of Roanoke.” This is an event where John White, governor of a colony in Roanoke in 1587, left his colony to go back to England to get food supplies.

In 1950, John returned back to Roanoke but when he arrived, all of his colony had disappeared without a trace. All that remained was the word: “CROATOAN” carved into a nearby wooden post.

Ryan Murphy does a great job at putting details into his settings, developing his character’s personalities and let’s not forget, adding all of the moments that make you want to jump out of your seat.

The actors did a great job of portraying a variety of emotions to their characters and making this season seem like it could be a documentary.

The fictional elements Murphy added to the show were a great addition because they helped advance the plot of each episode.

This season has also been receiving some great reviews so far.

Rotten Tomatoes gave this season an 81%, IMDb gave the premiere an 8.2

Lady Gaga stuns fans with her new album Reagan Wallace Staff Writer

out of 10 stars and IGN gave the premiere a four out of five stars.

If I could rate the new season of American Horror Story, I would give it a four out of five stars.

I think that this season has a great amount of jump scares, and moments where you are on the edge of your

But so far, the new season of American Horror Story is one that you’re going to want to record every week.

The show is filled with death and tragedy. American Horror Story keeps viewers coming back for the action.

from the list, but you can only raise money for one charity at a time.

A frequently asked question that people have is where is the money coming from? People who are using the app don’t have to spend a penny but who does? The app’s sponsors are the ones who are giving money to the charities.

With this app, you don’t have to have the app open for it to be tracking the distance of your activity. As long as you have your device with you, it will track your activity automatically. You earn more money for doing certain activities.

You earn ten cents a mile for biking and twenty five cents a mile for walking or running. People using the app have earned a total of over two million dollars total for charity.

The app has been recognized as: Women’s

Running Magazine’s Best Overall app, Men’s Fitness Magazine’s Game Changer of the Year, Winner of the SXSW People’s Choice Award, and Winner of the 2014 Webby Award: mobile sites & apps health and fitness.

The app encourages you to do all of your activities in a group so that together you can make an even bigger impact. Runners, dog walkers and cyclists all continue to enjoy their lifestyles while earning profits for charities of their choice.

It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you move, forward is forward and every mile counts.

Overall the app is great.

What I like about it is that you can change your charity, you don’t have to have the app open for it to track your activity, and you are raising money.

The only thing that I would change is raising money for one charity at a time. I think it would be even more effective if you could raise money for up to multiple charities at a time.

If I were to rate it on a five star scale I would give it a five.

Charity Miles App blends exercise and donating Alicia Molina Staff Writer

LADY GAGA / JOANNE

When you go to the app store you never know what you will see. The app store has something for almost anything and everything, ranging from games to social media to health and fitness. One app that stood out to me in particular, combines elements that would be found in a health and fitness app, but also raises money for charity. It ular, Hey Girl, featuring is a free app called Charity Florence Welch, will defi- Miles.

The app tracks the disnitely press a positive image of female influence and tance that you have run, empowerment in the minds walked or biked. The more of listeners, as I’m sure you move the more money you raise for a charity was the goal.

Along with the genu- of your choice. There are ine sentiment, Gaga snuck over forty charities that chilling aspects of her this app works with. Some American Horror Story: of the charities that the app Hotel character, the Count- collaborates with are Feedess, into the record. The ing America, ASPCA and cool murderess apparently Special Olympics. The list inspired some tracks on the covers a wide variety of album, according to En- charities to choose from.

How it works is you tertainment Weekly. Eerie download the app for free and irregular minor chords dropped in Angel Down, in the app store and once Sinner’s Prayer, and Jo- you have downloaded the anne added an extra sus- app you either sign in, pense to the music; mixed make an account or link with Gaga’s thinning and it with your Facebook acenthralling voice, the songs count. After you are offiremain irresistible none- cially in the app, you can choose a charity of your theless.

I would give this album choice. Once you choose a 4.5 out of five stars. A your charity, start moving. roller coaster ride from If you wanted to, you can start to finish, Joanne did choose a different charity not disappoint. Perfect for any sad day, dance party, or long car ride, Lady Gaga’s new masterpiece is friendly to all audiences and will without a doubt receive many awards in the future.

Art by Callie Richards

people and leaving jaws on the floor, Gaga presented her “monsters” and I with an authentic view of her love life and fascination with darkness. Each song gave me a vulnerable perspective of Gaga’s past relationships and love for her family. Named after her late aunt, Joanne Germanotta, Gaga personified the relatives spirit as an emotional dive bar queen.

Although the release met some negative critical responses, I personally have never loved her sound more. Her pure emotion and storytelling abilities evidently empowered her in the crafting of the album. One song in partic-

Art by Cianna Chairez

Story

seat.

After watching one episode, you’ll be thinking to yourself “what’s going to happen in the next episode?” or “will he/she survive next week?”

However, I do think that the episodes do have their dull moments where you want to check your phone.

Art by Callie Richards

Romantic twangs on an acoustic guitar. Sweetheart vocals not unlike Dolly Parton. Perhaps this record is country. No, it’s a mix of funk and hard rock. Wait, now it’s indie folk. Never mind, electronic dance music.

If you have listened to Lady Gaga’s new studio album, Joanne, you may have had these conflicting thoughts as well. Released October 21st, 2016, Gaga’s new record exposes her renewed image and sound.

I was taken aback from even the first track on the record, Diamond Heart, as I was expecting the familiar Born This Way sound.

Instead, I was greeted by quiet acoustic strumming and passionate lyrics. By the second song, A-YO, I felt prepared for another melancholy tune, but was surprised again by funky bass and a theatrical drawl in Gaga’s voice. In summarization, if you’re looking for a never-ending collection of genres, Joanne is the album for you.

A veteran in shocking

American Horror

Art by Callie Richards

American Horror Story has become a popular horror television show that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Since director Ryan Murphy announced there would be a season six, over the summer Murphy left us a series of trailers of what the potential plot-line of the newest season would be. That left us American Horror Story fans anxiously waiting until the premiere to find out which trailer was the real one.

After waiting all summer, Ryan Murphy revealed the plot to be “American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare”.

In My Roanoke Nightmare, the season is pre-

sented as a paranormal documentary that follows couple Matt and Shelby Miller.

The Millers moved from Los Angeles, California to a small house in Roanoke, North Carolina to get a clean start after Shelby has a miscarriage.

After getting their new home, the Miller’s start to see supernatural events that begin to haunt them.

What’s special about this season is that some of these events have happened in real life which makes this season scarier.

Anyone who loves a good scary story will love the new season of American Horror Story.

In the show, one of the events that have happened in real life that Ryan Murphy included was “The

?

E ntertainment The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page B4

Senior-directed shows take flight Victoria Newell Entertainment Editor

Props are unloaded from the mini van, carried in by students dressed up as forest animals and fairies, and set up on the small cafetorium stage. Senior-directors set light cues and inform technical theater students when they want the Pink Panther theme to play.

Giant inflatable blow-up suits are ordered, floppy hats are tracked down and tried on, and mouse ears are cut out and glued onto a straw hat. The Children Show productions are under way.

“The energy in children shows is always so good, because you have kids who get out of class to come watch your show, they really want to be there, and so it makes the experience really fun,” assistant director Lauren Norris said. “They always laugh so much, they’re always having a blast, they’re always so invested in the show, invested in the characters, and that’s a lot of fun.”

Students in Starlight Theater Company have the opportunity to become directors their senior year in the senior-directing program. The process to become one is very extensive, and as many as 30 students compete for the position when it begins, this year, nine students have been rewarded the privilege to have the title of director.

“I wanted to become a senior-director because I felt that I had gotten my experience on stage and I wanted to do something new and to gain leadership skills and just put my creativity out on the table and make something of my own,” senior-director Bronwyn Neale said.

The program involves a lot of hard work, senior-directors sometimes spend months in advance to prepare, and is a position that every senior-director has to earn.

“It’s an opportunity that you only get once in a lifetime, at least in your high school career” senior-director David Garza

Fixing the hiccups: Senior-director Emma Haschke choreographs her Children Show. Senior-directors have about three weeks to prepare before performances Photo by Ashley Ramirez

said. “So I worked towards it to prove to myself that I can actually do something valuable in high school.”

The senior-directors get to direct two shows over the course of the year; 20 minute children shows that go on tour to elementary schools, and perform for students, as well as a one-act dramatic or dark-comedy play.

Children Shows are set to perform and tour in early to mid November, and Senior One Acts in the spring.

“Children shows are different because we tour with them, and just logistics, like you have to make sure that it works well with children and that it’s fun and exciting, so it’s all about making it

interesting,” Norris said.

Senior-directors begin the show process by choosing their show.

“It took me about two months to find it, I did a lot of searching in local libraries, checking with our directors, going to the library here that we have in the drama room, it took me a while to find it but I did,” Neale said.

Picking the show can relate back to the director’s personal roots as well.

“My Children Show is the House at Pooh Corner,” Garza said. “I chose this show because I actually grew up on Winnie the Pooh. So when I was trying to find my Children Show I noticed that we had pictures of

me with Winnie the Pooh from Disney World, and we have so much Winnie the Pooh stuff at my house, just because I was obsessed with this one show. So I was like, this is my chance to go back a little bit to my origins, and my childhood ,and get to experience that again.”

Children shows are also known to be where many students, specifically underclassmen, receive their first major roles, or even their first roles ever. Senior-directors are highly encouraged to cast underclassmen as the majority of their casts.

“That’s where everyone gets their start, that’s where everyone finds their love for theater, is in these kind of shows where un-

derclassmen are given more of an opportunity to get cast in larger roles and to show what they can do and to have a lot of fun doing it,” Norris said.

Children Shows also present a different audience, with a different age demographic.

“It’s a lot more exciting for kids, I remember my freshmen year, we had to this thing where almost the entire cast would run up through the audience of kids and they got so riled up and so into the show and it was such a great way to start,” Norris said.

The show is also very student led, even though directors must report to the theater department teachers and they provide guidance, advice, resources, and give the senior-directors a grade for their work, the students often come up with most of the ideas for the shows direction.

“The thing about this show, is that I have my cast to rely on. Or I have Rose Eichelmann, Rose is my AD (assistant director), and she’ll will let me know if something isn’t working, and she’ll be throwing out ideas, and it’s the best thing ever. It’s not only me, it’s a group thing, it’s not ‘David’s show, It’s David’s show with my entire cast’,” Garza said.

Children Shows casts have very limited time to prepare.

Musical Auditions were during Children Show Callbacks, and the musical, The Who’s Tommy, began rehearsal on October 31.

So Tommy rehearsals and Children Show rehearsals are happening simultaneously. As well as the Bowie performances being November 10, 11, and 13, leaving the senior-directors roughly three weeks before the first performance. Preparations for Children Shows happens within an impressive time crunch- but the senior-directors get it done, and done well, as most who have this opportunity are very passionate about theater.

“When I was in my first senior directed show I knew that I wanted to be that in the future, for sure,” Neale said. “One hundred percent.”

Ella Wright Staff Writer

Back in seventh grade, freshman Cedar Speice was assigned a “passion project” so he decided to start composing a musical piece he titled Origins, little did he know that composing would become a passion.

“I was very passionate and knew that I wanted to do a project relating to music, and so it began,” Speice said.

When his parents found out that he started composing a piece they were extremely proud.

“We were too proud for words. So hopeful he wouldn’t over-think it and stop,” Cedar’s mother Alysabeth Speice said.

Cedar has been taking private lessons for about three years, and that’s where he learned how to make reeds- an additional activity of his.

“I learned to make reeds from my private lesson teacher, Emily Spitz, in the summer after 7th grade. I was interested in learning to make my own,” Cedar said. ”And taking my bassoon playing to the next level. She taught me the skills I needed to begin, and I have been making reeds for over a year now,” Cedar’s main inspiration for composing his piece was listening to different composers.

“Listening to composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Ravel, Debussy, and some other masters gave me the inspiration to write my own solo piece for bassoon,” Cedar said.

Reed making takes time, and isn’t a one night process, therefore the amount of

reeds he makes per week varies.

“As reeds are made over time, in different stages, I’ll often have five to ten reeds in different processes of completion. Making a reed isn’t a thing that can be done in one night, the process is very methodical and gradual,” Cedar said.

Reed making has shifted Cedar’s perspective on what is valuable, and has taught him lessons that have been lost in modern everyday life.

“It teaches him about focus and very, very fine details. It gives him a sense of accomplishment and a craft to hone with his hands, that is something that is sort of lost in modern everyday human life,” Alysabeth Speice said. “Also, whereas other children/teenagers would ask for things like Game Stop, gift certificates for Torchy’s card, or for the latest device, he is constantly begging for cane and special knives and embroidery thread and brass wire, and those things are at the very top of his list of gifts that you could give him at that matter. So it really shifts his perspective about what is valuable.”

Teachers, parents, and even students are amazed with the amount of passion that Cedar has towards band.

“I say it is rare to find that kind of passion towards music out of students his age and I think there should be more students like him,” freshman Jun Lee said.

Cedar isn’t just passionate about band, he’s also a dedicated musician.

“Cedar is an incredibly dedicated and thoughtful musician. I am impressed with his patience and perseverance when it comes to learning difficult concepts. So many musicians want to rush ahead and play difficult and fast music without real-

Art by Gavin Farner

Band education uncovers a freshman’s musical passion

ly caring how good it is,” private lesson teacher Amanda Turley said. “Cedar really cares about making every note beautiful and meaningful and I believe he understands that the process is just as important as the final performance.”

Not many people heard Cedar’s piece but the ones who did thought it was different.

“Yes, it was different from other pieces

by older composers,” Lee said.

Cedar prefers the reeds her makes because they better fit his playing style.

“For me, handmade reeds, ones I make for myself, are better than store bought reeds because I can customize them for myself to suit my playing style. Also, store bought reeds are generally made with inferior cane,” Cedar said.

E ntertainment

The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 Page B5

Aspiring Silver Stars audition Darcy Kanneman Assistant Editor

The sound of pounding, loud music and heavy breathing fills the air as students practice for the Silver Star tryouts.

On November 14-16 after school, Silver Star clinics are held to teach the kick dance and jazz dance. On Thursday, November 17, the tryouts will be held after school. Students audition in groups and perform one dance and then later perform the other dance.

The co-director of the Silver Stars Courtney Allison hires three independent judges to determine who makes the team.

“We also have an administrator in there at all times to make sure everything is handled fairly and that everybody gets what they need out of that day,” Allison said.

To make the team students can’t just be a good dancer, they have to meet other requirements.

“The requirements for people auditioning are that you have to be passing your classes,” Allison said. “We do send out a Google doc to teachers as a character study, so the teachers can write back and say if you’re a good kid or a kid that talks too much. It’s really just the ability and drive and who wants to be in and the talent level.”

The audition dances are created and taught by the Silver Star officers.

“The hardest part about tryouts is pushing through the whole week because it’s definitely a long and tiring process of learning the dance and going over it again and again,” sophomore Katrina Kilsby said. “As far

Practice makes perfect : Silver Stars practice on the field before a Friday game. Silver Stars spend time practicing every morning for two hours to prepare for performances. Photo by Madison Austin

as the actual auditions, it’s hard to just breathe because I always feel so pressured that I only have one chance to show the judges I should be on the team.”

Pre-Drill is a class for students interested in trying out for Silver Stars. Pre-Drill prepares students for how a drill team works and the techniques they use.

“This class helps prepare potential candidates for auditions,” Silver Star Director Emily Davis said. “In Pre-Drill, we stretch, practice technique, and work on leaps and turns. Students in PreDrill are also given the opportunity to learn and be evaluated on a jazz and kick routine. Since these are the same types of dances that are taught and auditioned during

Silver Star tryouts, this is a good way for the girls to gauge how ready they feel for auditions.”

The techniques and skills learned and utilized in Pre-Drill are similar to the skills required to become a Silver Star. “[Silver Stars] have practice every morning Monday through Wednesday,” Kilsby said. “We practice from 8 to 10 in the morning, Thursday and Friday we practice from 7:30 to 9:30, and Monday through Wednesday we stretch, kick across the floor, then polish the dance we’re performing at that week’s football game.“ Kilsby continues describing the Silver Stars’ schedule.

“Thursday and Friday we practice the dance on the field to

get an idea of what the spacing will be like when we perform,” Kilsby said. “Friday, band comes out onto the field and we practice our dance as they play the song.

Thursdays and Fridays we will go back into the gym and continue to clean the dance. This is the routine for football season. However, now we are about to start winter show and competition which is 8 to 10 in the morning doing the same routine, cleaning all our dances.”

Allison and Davis guide the Silver Stars and provide them with advice throughout the rehearsal process.

“Be confident in what you do so much so that if you make a mistake, make it look like it was

supposed to be that way,” Allison said. “So many times we go into auditions and we doubt ourselves and that doubt is the thing that clouds everything and we aren’t really able to fully commit and be present with our movements.

But if you truly and fully commit to the movement that you’re doing even if it’s wrong, we can see you’re a performer and you’re committed to the idea and for me that’s the most important part.”

After the try-outs, results are posted on the door outside of the gym hall at 4:30 for students to see if they have made it or not.

“I will miss our seniors dearly, but I’m excited to see what our new team will look like,” Davis said.

Fall Choir Performance displays Bowie’s diverse voices Yana Krykunenko Staff Writer

Harmonious tunes flow in the crisp fall air as the choir students sing in their first show of the year.

The Fall Choir show was performed on October 20, 2016. The show was a combination of all of the different choir groups such as Show Choir, Varsity, Non-Varsity, Varsity-mixed, and Chamber.

The show allows the different choirs to interact and learn to perform as one unit.

“Choir isn’t just a class I get to sing in,” junior Crosby LaGrone said. “It’s a place I can find refuge in music. Like a home but instead of couches and blankets I have melodies and lyrics. And I can grow there and live there while doing what I love most.”

As the students prepared for their first concert of the year, everything was done to ensure success and confidence.

“We spend every class learning the repertoire and polishing other musicianship skills, such as sight-reading and rhythmic dictation,” choir director Caitlin Gasco said. “The ultimate goal is independent, self-sufficient musicians in every choir at every ability level.”

Once they’re out of the classroom, practice doesn’t stop, some students develop their own methods to get familiar with the music.

“I make a play-list of our songs and listen to them on repeat,” LaGrone said. ”That way I’m confident and familiar with the song to learn my part for my section as with much confidence as I can.”

Students do not just jump in and start mindlessly singing their songs, but take time to honor the origins and meanings, so they can translate that knowledge into their performance.

“We spend the first week learning about the

songs we will be singing,” sophomore Gia Spencer said. ”We learn what the song means, because it’s very important to know that so you can show that through your voice.”

This year’s concert was different than the previous years, and the students had to step out of their comfort zone.

“Usually it is the easiest repertoire of the year since it’s their first concert,” Gasco said. “But this year we did some challenging music in all the choirs.”

With everyone’s individuality, depending on the choir they’re in and their own abilities, students are then assigned songs they will sing.

“We are all so unique,” Spencer said. “So when we’re assigned our songs it’s always interesting anticipating the outcome because you never quite know what it’ll turn out like.”

After those decisions regarding song assignments are made, rehearsal starts. This is where a ma-

jority of choir students put in their hours.

“You work hard, you work really hard over and over, there’s no stopping,” Spencer said.

When it’s time to showcase, many get the rush of adrenaline, but also the feeling of nagging nervousness.

“I had silly thoughts like ‘make sure you don’t pass out’, ‘breathe’,“ LaGrone said. “But then I thought ‘Wow this is really coming along’.”

Once the show comes

A combination of voices: Members of Bowie’s Choir Program take to the stage in their Fall Choir performance.

Choir members from different choir groups perform together for the fall show. Photo by Gigi Francis

together, everyone describes their pride, excitement, and sense of admiration.

“When I’m up there, doing what I love, I realize ‘I’ve been working so hard just for this one moment’, it hits me hard because I’m honestly so proud of myself,” Spencer said.

When the show is done, the hard work doesn’t stop, because for most choir students, choir is not just a class, but it’s a part of their life.

“My passion for singing started when I was really young,” LaGrone said. “I was constantly exposed to music. My great grandmother, my grandparents, and both of my parents are musicians so it was a little forced onto me but I quickly found the joy and connection to the world around me that music has, and I haven’t left since.”

While some choir students have a lot of shows ahead of them, for others, these performances will be their last.

“This concert was the beginning of the end for me,” senior Giselle Lozano said. “With it being my senior year, I’ve really learned to appreciate choir, since it’s my greatest passion. It’s the place I found my best friends, my favorite teachers, and my love for music and singing. It has become such a big part of my life and I’m incredibly thankful to form a part of this organization.”

Features

The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page B6

Life skills students fold towels for real world job experience Justine Lockhart Staff writer The students get off the bus without hesitation and hurry to their destination. They know exactly where they’re going and when they enter the room, a small pile of fresh white towels awaits them. In a divide and conquer kind of method the life skills students spread out and begin to fold.

Part-time Bowie LifeSkills teacher, Wayne Johnson, takes five to six students to the Clifton Career Development School in northeast Austin. This is the place where all of AISD sends their laundry to be washed and the life skills students are in charge of folding it.

“Schools from all across the district send life skills students to work at the laundry,” Johnson said.

The life vocational students’ work is part of the Go Project which is one of many parts of the 18+ Program. The 18+ Program helps life skills students

gain social skills as well as work experience.

“Most life skills students can legally stay in school until they are 22,” Johnson said.

This is where the Go Project comes in. The project allows students to join a three year program to get work and social experiences, which can later help them get jobs in the real world.

“When they graduate they have work experience and they can use me and the school as references,” Clifton’s laundry coordinator Justin Senko said.

The life skills students receive a certificate at graduation and get their official diploma after they have completed the 18+ program.

“Students who have ‘walked the stage’ with their peers can apply for this vocational program,” Johnson said.

This program greatly influences students and teaches them to use their money responsibly. The students get paid 26 cents

Huge Load: Freshman Ruby Campbell places the bundle of towel in the hamper. For each bundle they fold, the students earn 26 cents. Photo by Justine Lockhart

Folded To Perfection: Marisol Escamilla concentrates on folding as many towels as possible. Escamilla graduated last year, but continues to take part in the 18+ Program. Photo by Justine Lockhart

per bundle of towels they fold and receive a paycheck at the end of every six weeks.

“I like to spend the money on candy but I’m trying to save it,” freshman Ruby Campbell said.

The students also go to the restaurant NxNW and to Gattitown where they arrange chairs, wipe off tables and roll up the silverware. They don’t get paid at either of these places, but they do get free pizza or a soda as thanks for their hard work.

“I like getting to see everything that I used to play with when I was little,”

Campbell said.

Many students enjoy going to Clifton more than NxNW and Gattitown be-

work ethic. Senior Andy Vasques has earned $31 in one six weeks due to this.

“They earn 26 cents per

“It gives me a thrill to know I’m making a difference in their lives.”

- Wayne Johnson

cause they get paid. The money encourages them.

“They have in their head ‘the more I fold the more money I can make,’” Johnson said.

This motivation has given the students an amazing

bundle and each bundle is 20 towels so that’s a lot of towels when you think about it,” Johnson said.

The students have become so driven, that they have become the best at what they do.

“We average about 1,000 towels every time our students work at the laundry,” Johnson said.

Although the money may be what motivates the students, Johnson has a different drive.

“I love to see them change and that just gives me a thrill to know I’m making a difference in their lives,” Johnson said.

Senko has similar ambitions.

“I wouldn’t be in here doing laundry if I didn’t believe in the program,” Senko said. “There’s a lot easier ways to make a living.”

Student trots in the annual ThunderCloud Turkey Trot Maria Demopoulos Staff Writer This year marks the 26th anniversary of the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning November 24th, 2016. It is the largest five mile run in Texas, and one the largest Turkey trots in the Nation with over 20,000 people participating in this tradition.

All proceedings go to the Caritas of Austin, which is an organization that provides education and support services to working poor communities and helping them become self-sufficient.

“It’s for a great cause, the registration fees vary $25-30 dollars depending on your age group and if your run is timed or untimed,” sophomore Jordan Haschke said.

Haschke will be running the five mile race for the fourth time. She hopes to beat her time every year she goes to improve her pace as an individual.

“Last year I ran it in under 55 minutes and my goal is to get at least 50 minutes or under,” Haschke said.

Haschke is involved in the JV Cheer at James Bowie High School which requires tons of strength and conditioning. But she thinks anyone can run it,

and not just people who are in sports or any physical exercising extracurriculars.

Her dad, Bob Haschke, runs it every year with her.

“I’m not the fastest person out there, but I manage to have tons of fun and also get some exercise in, while being with my two daughters on the Thanksgiving holiday,” Bob said.

He goes with Jordan and her older sister together as a group and enjoys being apart of the Trot.

“I recommend everyone of all ages to run it, it’s a great experience and it’s super fun to get pumped up for the Thanksgiving holiday,” Bob said.

She encourages others

Art by Gavin Farner

to go outside for the holiday and get active, especially from all the traditional food people will be eating. “ At the end of the race there is different Thanksgiving foods provided, especially for people who decide to dress up as Turkeys or Indians and pilgrims,” Jordan said.

Jordan will not be dressing up for the race this year. However, Austyn Keelty, a sophomore at Bowie, will be dressing up all the way.

“I usually wear an Indian headdress and paint my face and wear like orange, yellow, brown or red to go with it,” Keelty said.

Keelty has been going to the Turkey Trot since she was six years old. She loves the race and looks forward to it every year, but has advice to first-time goers.

“Get there early.

There’s a lot of people and it can get really crowded, if you are going with a group or family, it’s better to stay with them even if they don’t go your pace. No one should be pressured to run.

It’s a carefree fun event,” Keelty said.

Trotting To The Top: Jordan Haschke prepares for the Turkey Trot by doing quick sprints. This will be Haschke’s fourth time participating in the race. Photo by Mikayla Zellner

Jordan understands the pressure of going for the first time. However, she highly recommends it.

“It’s a good experience to have and it’s fun to do,” Jordan said. “Especially if it’s your first time, you should keep a slower pace and not start off very fast.

Also remember to stretch

so you don’t pull any muscles.”

The Turkey Trot is more than just a race for Jordan.

It represents her philanthropy towards her community.

“My family is my motivation and they inspire me to it,” Jordan said.

The Lone Star Dispatch

Features

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page B7

Ready, set, teach; the teachers of the future New class allows students to pursue their true potential of teaching children Yana Krykunenko Staff Writer As a student looks around their classroom, there’s kids of the ages five and six, but it’s just a typical day for the students of Ready Set Teach.

Ready Set Teach is an interactive program at Bowie run by Jean Frazier and Laura Barnes. Students are hand-picked and selected to commute to elementary schools during class time to experience a genuine teaching experience.

“I was so excited when I heard about Ready Set Teach,” senior Janette Fattouh said. ”Because I’ve always considered a career in teaching and this was the perfect opportunity for me.”

Ready Set Teach is unlike any other class on campus, it steps outside the comforts of the class and explores the outside world.

“It’s a really unique classroom setting because unlike in a traditional class, you are able to interact with children and engulf yourself in the environment of education,” Fattouh said.

Students found themselves surprised to learn about the reality of teaching, defying their expectations.

“I learned that it’s a lot harder than it looks,” junior Tayiah Rasmussen said.

“There’s definitely a lot that goes into keeping the kids on track and the structure of the classroom so they don’t get distracted.”

Not only are students given a taste of the real world, commuting two days a week spending two hours on the elementary campus, but the teachers at the participating elementary schools get to add a twist to their typical class.

“My first graders fell in love with the student teacher the first day,” Kim Lee, a teacher at Nan Clayton elementary said.

“With a 22:1 ratio in the primary classrooms it is hard to always meet the students’ needs, both academic and social,

Learning new skills and perusing their passion: On their first day of Ready, Set, Teach, the students are listening to the principal of Baranoff Elementary, Megan Counihan, who is explaining the basic skills that are expected when working with children. The Bowie students spend two hours at each elementary school that they visit every other B day. Photo provided by Laura Barnes

but the ratio decreases with the added help.”

Before students were sent out to take on the role of teachers, there was much preparation done prior to ensure success for both students and teachers.

“It was very important for us to learn the basics of teaching,” Fattouh said.

“They were just general things that we would need to know such as safety, pre-

Skating her way to the win Missing school for three weeks to compete in roller blading seems like a hefty school load to come back to, and a very expensive trip to take. Senior Nina Tinsley was prepared to take on the challenge.

Tinsley went to Nanjing, China to compete in a In-line Speed Skating competition. She competed with the United States of America team and was the only skater to represent Texas.

“I earned the second spot on the 2016 In-line Speed Skating Junior World Team,” Tinsley said. “My coach lives in Michigan, and I’m the only athlete from Texas that made the team.”

Speed skating competitions are races based on whoever crosses the finish line first. There are fouls and disqualifications that can be applied though.

“The winner is the first person who crosses the line,” Tinsley said. “There are referees that will disqualify people if they push, block, or interfere with another skater, but the winner of the race is usually not questioned.”

Although Tinsley did travel with a team, individuals are the people who get medals. The teams are not rewarded with medals, though they are considered a team.

“The competition is technically an individual competition,” Tinsley said. “But it’s not uncommon for people from the same country to work together to help someone win.

The competition was tough and many countries competed, but Tinsley had been training for this and was able to place in a few events. And this wasn’t her first time at the world championships.

“This will be my second year competing at the world championships,” Tinsley said. “I got 11th in the 100 meter, and 21st in the 300 meter. My ultimate goal is to earn a medal.”

After coming home to America, Tinsley was ready to get back into her schedule and back on track with all the other students. The teachers were able to make the transition smooth for her.

“It was definitely very stressful to try and catch up in class,” Tinsley said. “But I think it was worth it. My teachers were

Art by Fuaad Ajaz

Jolie Francis Staff Writer

cautions we would need to take and general ideas of how to run a classroom.”

Aside from the basics, students also dug deeper into the social topic associated with the makings of an effective teacher.

“We talk about what their favorite teachers are and why,” Frazier said. “See if they can pick out the good qualities and understand how to latter pattern themselves that way.”

This program has not only affected Bowie students, but elementary students are also experiencing a new learning environment.

“Students view high schoolers as role models,” Lee said. “Their rock star status motivates them to achieve in school so that they too can do well in reaching their academic goals.”

A home with a motor Douglas Smith Staff Writer

The sounds of squeaking brakes and growling engines surround everyone during the morning drive to school. A massive row of traffic lines Slaughter lane as drivers prepare to turn in to Bowie High School.

Amongst this daily traffic is a dark green 1993 Volvo 240 driven by junior Ethan Moore. Moore’s car is what is considered almost vintage. He sought out the 240 as the car that he wanted to drive, and now he’s got one.

“My car is like a second home to me,” Moore said.

“I can get very comfortable and it’s a safe zone as well.”

Inside his car, Moore has time to think and relax, but owning an older automobile sometimes has him weighing the pro’s and con’s of the older car in his head.

“The car has both unique and annoying aspects to it,” Moore said.

“One of the bad parts being that it’s 23 years old and I always think it’s gonna break down.”

Because of it’s age and style the car gets a lot of respect from Moore’s family.

Chris Moore, Ethan’s dad, admires his son for the car.

“I think it shows that he has an old soul,” Chris said. “ I enjoy it quite a bit.”

Parked proudly for everyone to admire: Ethan Moore’s vehicle is proudly parked in the Bowie parking lot. Moore rides into the parking lot each morning with a confident feeling. Photo by Douglas Smith

Because of the car’s style and his own, Ethan feels that the automobile reflects him on a more social level that others might guess at or wonder about when they see him driving.

“I’d hope people would think I’m at least neat and interesting,” Ethan said.

“Usually people with 240’s know what they have.”

As a student with a vintage car, Ethan’s friends understand his relationship with the 240. Alissa Lopez, one of Moore’s good friends commented on the situation.

“It fits his personality spot on,” Lopez said. “He’s like a dad, and that’s a dad car.”

Although he isn’t always boasting about his car, Ethan recognizes the

attention that it gets and feels pride in its reputation.

“My car makes me feel pretty good knowing that it’s neat and catches some looks,” Ethan said. “Positive one’s I hope.”

With such an attention grabbing car, other’s might wonder if he would trade in the 240 for another model, but Ethan was firm in his opinion of the car.

“I’d say I have a dream car already,” Ethan said.

“With it I feel lucky.”

As other cars go about Bowie and Austin, the familiar chugging of the green 240’s engine will be there too, piloted by a satisfied driver.

“I guess I feel somewhat different as a student with a car like that,” Ethan said.

Photo Essay The Lone Star Dispatch

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Page B8

Day in a Life: Upcoming Rapper

Attention Grabber: Junior Patrick Allen, also known as Sheesh, poses in front of the Bowie campus. He’s been attending Bowie for a year now and has the privilege to record in the schools studio. “I’m so glad that Bowie has a studio. It makes it so much easier for me to do what I love and to make my ultimate dream come true,” Allen said. Photo by Cara Andres

Behind the scenes of rap artist Patrick Allen Austyn Keelty Assistant Editor

In The Studio: Sheesh records a rap to upload on his soundcloud. He’s gotten over three thousand views on one of his songs.“Whatever I make next will be even better,” Allen said. Photo by Austyn Keelty

In every career, people have to start from the bottom and work their way up. Olympic swimmers learn to swim, football players learn to throw and catch, writers learn how to write, mathematicians learn how to add numbers, and along with everybody else, musicians start at the bottom too.

Junior Patrick Allen, more commonly known as Sheesh, is an up and coming rapper at Bowie High School. Between family, school, and a job, Sheesh finds time to write, record, and produce his own music.

Behind the four tracks and 180 followers Sheesh has gained on soundcloud, he had to start somewhere like everyone else.

“When I was growing up, I always tried to freestyle rap or remake songs I’ve heard. When I first started recording music, I used a guitar hero microphone on my mom’s computer,” Allen said. “I never had the chance to really take it seriously because my mom worked from home, making it more difficult for me to access the computer.”

The music industry can be harsh and extremely difficult to succeed in, so it’s important to always have a goal that will keep pushing young

musicians to succeed and give them something to look forward to.

“My dream in music is simply to help my family,” Allen said. “My mom is a single parent with six kids.

I might not become rich enough to help everyone, but my ultimate goal is to become rich enough to put others in a position to build their own brand.”

Animations teacher Andrew Nourse has given Allen the opportunity to use his studio.

“It’s my belief as a teacher to give students the best resources possible and let them pursue their passions,” Nourse said.

Allen is one of many that has had the chance to use Nourse’s recording studio.

“Dozens of students over the years have used the studio to create their own music,” Nourse said.

Another important part of achieving goals is having a significant figure that one can look up to and rely on through rough patches.

“My biggest influence in music has to be myself and a lot of poverty based situations I’ve survived or witnessed others go through,” Allen said.

Earlier this semester, Allen released a song that quickly gained popularity called #LOWKEY, featuring sophomore William Chapa, who is also known as Willie Chapa.

This song has become the most listened to on Allen’s soundcloud with a total of 3,551 plays.

“They had a studio and I didn’t know anyone there but Chapa...plus I wanted to give him a chance,” Allen said.

Junior Bakr Al-Gailani, a friend of Allen, has thinks highly of his music.

“I like that it’s unique and he has a really dope style,” Al-Gailani said.

Keeping up in the music industry isn’t all fun and games and can sometimes call for serious responsibility and hard work. However, through the process, artists can learn more about themselves and attain new skills and traits.

“I just don’t want to screw up. I have a lot of people counting on me and a lot of people watching me. I have to be careful about how I approach certain situations now,” Allen said. “I’ve had to humble myself this year because the slightest thing can ruin my career, so I try to avoid anything that can lead me towards trouble.”

Music isn’t only a career and a hobby, but it can also be an outlet for some to channel their emotions and stress.

“For me, the studio is a way for me to escape from everything and everyone, turn my phone off, and vibe to the beats,” Allen said.

Behind The Magic: Sheesh writes lyrics for a future song. His lyrics are inspired by many other famous rappers, such as Jumpman Drigo and Randy Bee.“Writing lyrics is so much fun and it comes naturally for me. It’s how I express everyday situations,” Allen said. Photo

by Austyn Keelty

Side by Side: Sheesh stands next to junior Bakr Al-Gailani.

He’s a supporter of his music. “Sheesh is very creative and has a unique style,” Al-Gailani said. Photo by Austyn Keelty

By The Tree: Filled with joy, Sheesh poses with a few supporters. A lot of his friends and fans boost his music by posting a link of one of his one songs on various platforms of social media, such as instagram and twitter.

“It’s so nice that people boost my stuff. It just makes me even more motivated to continue sharing a different flavor of music with the world,” Allen said. Photo by Austyn Keelty