Commentary pages 2 & 3 News page 4 In-Depth page 5 Student Life pages 6 & 7 Entertainment page 8 Trends/Culinary page 9 Sports pages 10-11 Photo Essay page 12
News Briefs
Band takes third in Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional This year’s James Bowie High School Outdoor Performing Ensemble ended their season with an incredible finish. JBHSOPE placed third out of fourteen finalist spots in the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional Super Regional. The ensemble competed over a two-day preliminary contest at the Alamodome against 64 of the finest bands in the nation. A successful win left behind a good attitude towards the performance given. “I felt like the students really rose to the occasion and gave the best performance of their season. We were extremly proud of them,” band director Stephen Howard said. “From here we just keep doing what we are doing and continue to push the students to achieve more.” Currently there are 273 students in Marching Band and every student is on the field during performance time. “I felt really good about our performance because we were competing against extremly good schools and we beat them by six places and we were all really proud,” junior Rebecca Ortiz said.
Science activities open doors for young children Science day has been an annual tradition for several years. This event, organized by the science department, brings local elementary students from kindergarten to second grade to Bowie for a few hours to participate in fun, hands-on science lessons taught by high school students. All science teachers encouraged their students to help develop and plan the science lessons. For some students who volunteer to act as a guide to show the elementary students around have to be trained on the expectations of being a guide. “It is a great event for both big and little kids and the science wing is transformed into a carnival with smiling faces as students move from one fun experiment to the next,” biology teacher Jill Harding said.
Volleyball coach, Jason Landers is making a comeback after being diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma last February. Landers as well as his current players speak out about his road to recovery. Saturday, October 26, friends and family gathered for a special event in support of Landers and his family. More on page 4.
Sports
News
James Bowie High School, Vol. 2013-14, Issue 2, 4103 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749, November 18, 2013, www.thelonestaronline.com
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Table of Contents
Landers comeback
‘Dawgs step up their game After losing last years’ seniors, the boys’ Varsity basketball team is stepping up their game to fill in their shoes. Varsity coach, Celester Collier speaks out about his plans for this season, ‘Dawgs rankings, starting tournaments and more are located on page 11.
Homecoming victory
‘Dawgs pump up for homecoming game Bowie football players energetically charge out to the Burger stadium field just before the opening kick-off to the game. The homecoming game win launched the team into play-offs with a record of 9-1. Photo by Photo Editor Ashley Stroud
‘Dawgs demolish Trojans behind Meyers’ four TD’s The Dawgs have continued to keep their nearly perfect record in Along with winning a great game, the team experienced another district with a resounding victory over Anderson on Nov. 1 for win when senior Keith McAlonan was crowned homecoming king the homecoming game. along with senior Audrey Baker as the homecoming queen. With a score of 35-14 they locked their spot in the “I had faith in our team that we would play to the best of our playoffs and played against Cedar Ridge on Nov. 15 ability and the hard work paid off. And I have to say that it was at 7:30 at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex who exciting in the locker room to hear one of the other players was 7-3 in the district. won king,” senior Joseph Lewright said. “The homecoming game was an amazing experiMcAlonan was congratulated by his teammates after he ence for us. The fact that it was our last guaranteed was crowned king. game at the Burger Center made it even more spe“Winning the game was important for the team. It gave us cial for the seniors. I’m very happy that we won. a great chance of making a deep run in the playoffs this year It was a great memory I’ll never forget,” senior but at halftime once I found out I won I was extremely happy,” captain Tyler Walker said. McAlonan said. “Being elected from my peers means a lot to The team had very high expectations for the way me. It was just an honor to be in the homecomthey were going to play during the homecoming ing court and once my name was called I was game according to senior Pedro Martinez. really surprised.” Homecoming “On top of winning, we wanted to start building some Senior captain Clayton Law and Lewright momentum going into playoffs and start to really click King and Queen, Keith think that if the team stays focused that they as a whole and that’s exactly what we did. It was pretty McAlonan and Audrey will hopefully become state champions. exciting having a large crowd and winning for our com- Baker. Photo by Photo uSee “Play-offs” pg. 11 Editor Ashley Stroud munity,” Martinez said.
Teen’s struggle for survival creates huge impact throughout campus
Support shown for Taylor family
What seemed like an ordinary day for senior Lauren Taylor quickly took a turn for the worst when she was quickly rushed to Dell Children’s Hospital due to an unexpected seizure. The seizure led doctors to conduct a series of tests on Taylor and on August 22 she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Lupus, an autoimmune disease that was attacking her brain and nervous system. She was soon admitted to the intensive care unit when she was also diagnosed with Hemophagocyctic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening immunodeficiency and Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS), a disorder that activates as a result of a preexisting autoimmune disorder/disease, which, in Taylor’s case was Lupus. Taylor’s soccer coach, Carrie Hoffman spoke out about how Taylor’s story has touched her and the team. “Lauren’s story has made me appreciate things more. It’s not all about winning and losing a soccer match.” Hoffman said. “Life is more precious, and we can’t take it for granted. She is a great student and athlete. As a freshman she listened and worked at perfecting her skills as a goalkeeper. Last year, as a junior, she was the starting goalkeeper for the varsity girls’ team here at Bowie. She is an outstanding goalkeeper that takes control of the defense.” Taylor’s determination on and off the field is what is expected for her new challenge. “Her sophomore year, she was recovering from a torn ACL and the surgery.” Hoffman said. “Her determination to get through that injury showed her dedication to her team. Now, she has a new fight against Lupus and HLH and MAS. Now, her determination arises again as she takes on a bigger fight.” Friends showed their support by creating a scrapbook containing pages of gluten-free recipes and Lupus diets for Taylor and talked about how her story has impacted them. “This process has made me have a new perspective on life,” senior Sarah Hall said. “It makes me realize that I should cherish every moment I have with someone and not take that time for granted because this could happen to anyone, even to someone who is amazing like Lauren. Her story has impacted me because I look up to her. I hope to be as strong as she is and able to fight through
Taylor Lauren smiles as she enjoys the company of her friends. Friends and family gathered at the Painted Horse Pavilion in Buda, Texas for an event in hopes of raising money for the Taylor family. Photo by Photo Editor Ashley Stroud
hard times like she does.” Taylor’s fight has touched others including her long-term friend senior Lindsey Stites. “Lauren has been my best friend for ten years and the whole time I’ve known her she has never given up on anything. She’s always been there for me and taught me that everything is worth fighting for,” Stites said. Despite the tough times, Taylor’s mom, Angie Taylor continues to stay strong and see things in a more positive way. “She’s kind of quiet, not a very loud person but she’s a very committed individual,” Angie said. “She takes anything on whether its school or soccer or whatever it is that’s just the way she is. It’s a lot of waiting and seeing, its maddening because we just don’t know. It was a lot of just watch and pray and hope it works and that was not something our family was used to doing.” The Taylor family, a closely-knit group, has taken Lauren’s story as a lesson. “My dad died a very quick death about nine years ago so the process of me trying to live life to the fullest had already started a little bit and with Lauren, that belief has
only been solidified which is you just never know.” Angie said. “You never know what your day is going to bring, you never know what your life will be like. So we’ve always tried to teach our children that but we are so close as a family that when this happened to Lauren it happened to everyone so now I believe we as a family get that lesson which is nothing is a given.” Lauren wants people to take a positive lesson from her story. “As far as what I want people to take away from this experience it’s mostly for people to treat everyday like it’s their last.” Lauren said. “To appreciate the fact that they’re alive and healthy. To always remember to help those in need no matter the personal cost it would take. So in a nutshell to, ‘love thy neighbor as thyself.’” A benefit was held on November 10 at the Painted Horse Pavilion in Buda, Texas to help raise money for the Taylor family for medical expenses. Taylor returned home for the first time October 28. She is expected to make a full recovery. by Editor-in-Chief Meagan Prehn