Aishani Raju reporters
Garrison Acree
Emily Couch Roslyn Dobbins
Raksha Jayakumar
Owen Oppenheimer
Lex Paull
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Thornfelt
Muna Nnamani online editor
Jennifer Banh business manager
Leslyn Lindsey Sarina Mahmud adviser
LaJuana Hale principal William Skelton
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PE Partners is in need of additional volunteers to help in the life skills class.
Volunteers, which are called leaders in the class, help the buddies–the life skills students. They teach social skills and help the students exercise.
While the class is not in danger of shutting down, there aren’t enough leaders to give one-on-one attention to buddies. The class needs 20-30 volunteers. There are currently only 12.
According to junior and PE Partners leader Jenna Reed, the lack of volunteers has made day-to-day functions more challenging.
“It has made it harder to manage, and it’s made it more difficult to be able to give attention to everyone who needs it,” Reed said.
The daily activities of PE Partners include simple gym games such as bowling, jump rope, playing on scooters, and “Just Dance” on Fridays. It offers a class period full of all the games that students loved to play in elementary school.
“We try to create a family-like environment where everyone feels safe, everyone feels loved,” PE Partners coach Katherine Rector said. “No matter what kind of day you’re having, our goal is to make sure that you’re leaving with a smile.”
Leaders in this class are asked to simply be a friend to others. They are partnered with different buddies throughout their time in the class to make connections.
“Our passion is to build leaders and to help students rise up and lead other people and teach them to have kindness and empathy,” Coach Rector said.
PE Partners has been at Marcus for over 10 years but has had a shortage of volunteers since the beginning of COVID-19. The group is currently focusing on providing trips outside the school for life skill students to improve day-to-day social skills as well.
“They go out into the community, go to Walmart, learn how
to buy groceries and have that interaction,” Rector said.
Junior and PE Partners leader Reagan Burgess says that she learned more about herself from the class.
“You get to hang out with kids that teach you about yourself and teach you compassion,” Burgess said.
Volunteering for the class earns a PE credit and, according to Rector, is beneficial for college applications. It offers leadership opportunities as well.
Rector encourages students who cannot fit PE Partners into their schedules to get involved in the other programs benefiting life skills students, such as Circle of Friends and the Grand Ball Prom in the spring.
Junior and PE Partners leader Corbin Staples said that the group has improved her high school career.
“It’s going to be hard, but you’re going to have some of the best times of your entire life with this group, with this community,” Staples said. “You’re going to make bonds you never thought you could.”
The PE Partners class is second period and is always in need of more leaders, according to Rector. Students can join by speaking with their counselors.
“It is an amazing experience,” Staples said. “And it’ll open you up to this whole world that is so perfect to be in because you will be loved and supported in this community no matter what.”
Banhgoing to make bonds you never thought you could.
Staples,
Jessica True has settled into her new position since being named the new M9 principal on June 13, 2022 and is ready to help the new students on the M9 campus. She replaced Chantell Upshaw, who was promoted to Chief of Middle Schools for LISD after serving as Marcus 9 principal since the campus was built eight years ago.
True says she is excited to be serving as the principal after Upshaw, who she looks up to for her contributions to the M9 campus.
“I think she put a lot of fantastic structures into place,” True said. “She created a staff that is good at taking risks and trying new things.”
Before Principal True transitioned to this role, she served as an assistant principal at the main campus for two years. Prior to this, she also worked at Flower Mound 9 for four years as an assistant principal.
She says she is passionate about helping students in this
world, which she did not enjoy as much as she thought she would.
“I don’t get to see kids as much,” True said. “I kind of really missed that.”
Her passion for helping kids persuaded her to return to education, which was her lifelong goal.
She is currently working on getting a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin University in her spare time.
True says an advantage of working at M9 is getting to work with the same campus.
stage of their lives.
“I think the ninth grade year is a really special year,” True said. “I really have always liked helping kids make that transition smooth and successful.”
• • •
From a young age, True had been interested in teaching.
“I was playing classroom with my stuffed animals as a child,” True said. “It was an early dream and then also became a later reality.”
True received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from UNT, and later received her Masters of Education from there as well.
However, after graduation, she decided to enter the corporate
Mahmud Jessica True spent time working a corporate job before deciding on a career in education. Photo Leslyn LindseyI was playing classroom with my stuffed animals as a child. It was an early dream and then also became a later reality.
- Jessica True
“
“It’s actually one of the biggest rewards of the job to already know that there’s a campus next door that we’re connected to, that is going in the same direction,” True said. “It’s nice to be able to partner with someone on making a difference.”
Helping kids along as they grow is one of the aspects True loves most about this job. She enjoys seeing former students and the people they eventually become.
“I think kids can do anything they put their minds to,” True said. “High school is all about trying to figure out what you might love to do after high school.”
During her first year at M9, True wants to observe the operations of the school to get used to its flow.
“My plan for the year is to adjust things that in the moment absolutely have to be adjusted,” True said. “One of the best things a new principal can do is kind of sit back and watch.”
Principal Will Skelton, who has worked with True both at the main campus and Flower Mound 9, said that her promotion was welldeserved.
“She has always been one of the highest performing administrators in the district,” Skelton said.
Helping this community is important to True, as she grew up in LISD and went to Lewisville High School. Working in the same place she grew up brings back good memories.
“The school has a smell to it,” True said. “And it just brought me back to playing sports in high school and the teachers I loved.”
During her time as principal, True wants to inspire these same memories in her students through an environment that
fosters learning. She also strives to help students feel safe and comfortable at school.
“Those are number one things for me,” True said. “That we create environments that are inviting students to learn new things, to try new things.”
Skelton said that True’s “servant leadership” is what makes her a great dministrator.
“When you have that type of mindset, it creates a very positive culture,” Skelton said. “And I’m really excited to see what Marcus 9 does in the future, under her leadership.”
Chantell Upshaw’s new role as Chief of Middle Schools for LISD focuses on helping middle schoolers be more comfortable and prepared.
”We don’t want to push them too quickly,” Upshaw said. “I believe I can help impact their experience in school as well as their learning.”
Before she was M9 principal, Upshaw was a teacher at Dallas ISD and LISD. In 2000, she became an associate principal at MHS. Upshaw is grateful for her time teaching because she said it has helped her understand situations on multiple levels. She feels it helped her prepare better for her first assistant principal role.
She also served as the principal of Arbor Creek Middle School and the Lewisville Learning Center.
“I knew early on that I wanted to be prepared to move into administration,” Upshaw said. “When that opportunity came, I was also prepared because of my experience as a teacher.”
Upshaw said she is excited to work with many new people and is content with her new position.
“I think this is an excellent spot to be in my career,” Upshaw said. “This is a great place to finish.”
Though Upshaw is enthusiastic about her new job, she still
Though Upshaw is enthusiastic about her new job, she still misses the family at Marcus she helped start. She was glad to finish out the year at M9 while transitioning to her new role.
“It also gave me the opportunity to really soak in and take in all my students and staff,” Upshaw said. “I was so grateful to have the last three weeks of school.”
She is appreciative of the time she got to spend with students at the school and is reminiscent of her time here.
“I wasn’t looking to leave Marcus,” Upshaw said. “But I thought ‘I can’t pass up this opportunity.’”
Sarina
story Raksha Jayakumar
Her entire childhood, junior Maanu Obalapuram grew up hearing her older sister and cousin raving about their debate tournaments. She always wished it would one day be her.
Her sister, Uma Obalapuram, was a co-president of debate and competed with her team at a tournament hosted by Harvard.
“I’ve always been interested in public speaking, but specifically debate,” Maanu
said. “A lot can be learned from it, even if you don’t ever win.”
Maanu patiently waited for the day she could experience the thrills her family described at competitions, the knowledge they possessed, and the friendships they made.
However, Maanu’s hopes to start debate were altered due to the pandemic.
Her eighth grade year was cut short, and her first year of high school did not look like she had envisioned. Being a virtual student, Maanu was at a disadvantage. Getting help in regular academics proved difficult, and receiving assistance in debate proved even harder.
Maanu made a great effort to keep in touch with debate teacher Candace Hightower, but only so much can be done over the phone and emails.
“We were all learning with the kids,” Hightower said. “It was a whole new thing for everyone.”
But instead of giving up, she worked to keep up with her debate goals.
“I very quickly realized that I was pretty much on my own,” Maanu said. “I started to teach myself.”
Maanu believes one of the most important aspects of debate is the community, but it was hard to find because she was one of the only novices. She was excited to talk with her opponents and learn from them, and this wasn’t even possible.
“People don’t have a lot of interest with the virtual tournaments,” Hightower said. “They weren’t as engaging.”
Participation being low made a difficult time even harder.
“At first, debate seemed like a very
lonely thing,” Maanu said. “I couldn’t come to school and interact [with people].”
She stayed in contact with Hightower and trained herself so she could be ready for competitions and stay on track with her dream.
While debate felt like a struggle sometimes, Maanu’s passion kept her going. She tried to find motivation wherever she could, whether it was a financial incentive or pure drive.
“When I signed up for a tournament, I couldn’t very well pay $100 and back out, so then I had to put in the work,” Maanu said. “It sort of forced me to work.”
Once she started her first competition, it all seemed right to her. She knew debate was where she belonged.
“When I went to the tournament, I felt good,” Maanu said. “I felt like I was doing something that I wanted to do for myself.”
I felt like I was doing something that I wanted to do for myself.Junior Maanu Obalapuram rose to president of the Marcus Debate Club after unconventional virtual training. Photo Leslyn Lindsey
-Maanu Obalapuram
Since the switch back to in-person school, Maanu has more opportunities to improve. Her sophomore year, she could meet up with Hightower more often and learn from Joey Rogers, who was the debate team president last year.
Jyothi Charyulu, her mother, is especially enthusiastic about how far she has come in less than ideal circumstances.
“She’s always learned from the community around her when she goes to debate tournaments,” Charyulu said. “She’s inspired others along the way.”
Charyulu says that Maanu has grown not only as a debater, but as a person as well. Maanu used to feel lost, being thrust into competitions with people nationwide, instead of just the Texas circuit. However, the debate community she found helped her succeed in national tournaments.
Charyulu has seen Maanu empathize with new debaters and look out for their success by minimizing that unprepared feeling she first felt.
“Debate is not for the faint hearted,” Charyulu said. “She has grown to this person who says, ‘I don’t want any freshmen to have the same feeling that I had.’”
Taking after her sister like she always wanted, Maanu was able to attend the
feature
virtual debate competition hosted by Harvard University in February 2022 as a sophomore.
This competition lasted until late at night. Maanu went through seven preliminary rounds and won six. She placed among the top 32 competitors in a tournament of about 250 experienced debaters.
Maanu and her family were ecstatic when they found out how well she did.
“We had a total celebration,” Maanu said. “I was screaming.”
While she hoped to make it even further in the competition, she still felt very grateful for the chance to attend.
“In hindsight, I think it was a really, really great experience,” Maanu said.
Her mother was incredibly proud of how well Maanu did at such a prestigious competition and hopes it will inspire others.
“It’s a pride for Marcus at the national level,” Charyulu said. “I really hope and pray that a lot more kids participate in debate.”
• • •
As a junior this year, Maanu is the president of the Marcus Debate Club on the varsity level. She is responsible for educating the lower level students and keeping up with other clubs in the district.
Understanding the difficulty that comes with debate, especially without adequate help, Maanu wants to make Marcus Debate better than she found
it. She hopes to make the club more knowledgeable and inclusive using what she has learned during the last two years.
“She’s definitely improved,” Hightower said. “She’s able to get one on one help.”
Using the help that is now available to her, Maanu plans to expand the team.
“I’m hoping to get more people interested, especially in the novice division,” Maanu said. “Last year, we didn’t have any novices, and a lot of people didn’t really get a strong foundation in the basics.”
The current debate team was built by Maanu, and she has even taken initiatives, like summer workshops, to get middle school students interested. She wants to inspire the same thrill in others that she finally got to experience in tournaments and build a new community at Marcus like the one she has found elsewhere.
Maanu says she is looking forward to competing on the official national circuit this year, called the Tournament of Champions. It includes 100 specific tournaments that come with prestigious opportunities that Maanu feels excited about.
Maanu’s friend, junior Molly Kemery, said that she inspires people with debate, but more importantly, with friendship as well.
“She pushes me really hard, and she supports me a lot in everything I do,” Molly said. “I’ve learned a ton of things from her.”
Maanu said she is more confident and knowledgeable due to debate, and wants this for others.
“I’m still at the beginning of my career,” Maanu said. “But I am very passionate about debate, and that’ll never change.”
design Jennifer Banh
It’s a pride for Marcus at the national level, debate.
-Maanu Obalapuram
The second she saw the bright, shiny pearls hanging on a hook in the Hobby Lobby jewelry section, she knew what she wanted to do. Junior Kate Parsons’ inner entrepreneur fired up, and the gears in her mind began turning.
From there, Kate and her sister, Mae, created something that would grow bigger than they could imagine.
Despite the world being shut down from COVID-19, Kate knew that she wanted to start a business in 2020. She talked to her dad, an entrepreneur himself, and took business classes on Coursera.
Beyond that, she taught herself. She tried the first thing that came to mind–making sugar scrubs. She quickly realized she didn’t feel a strong connection with the product. That’s when Kate saw the pearls at Hobby Lobby.
“I definitely felt called to something,” Kate said. “Whenever I was doing sugar scrubs, I knew that didn’t really mean anything at all. I definitely think that I was knowing there’s going to be a lot that I’m getting into, but I wasn’t scared or nervous about it in any way. I was just excited. I knew that it would work out and everything would fall into place.”
Since that summer of 2020, Kate has been running her own jewelry business, Kate and Mae, with the help of her younger sister.
“It all stems from Matthew 5:16, which says, ‘Shine your light to glorify God,’” Kate said. “All of our products, we want it to have something behind it. We want it to inspire girls to shine their light, so every single one of our products has a verse behind it.”
Kate handles marketing and business, while Mae specializes in design. Jewelry was a good choise for both sisters. The business, which began with the two of them designing and making all of their
own products, was a combination of both of their talents.
“Mae is so passionate about the mission and fashion,” Kate said. “She loves being able to shine with Kate and Mae and be able to design and create the jewelry and keep it fun at work.”
Their collaboration isn’t always easy, though, with Mae being five years younger than Kate. This leads to different opinions and preferences, but they’ve learned to compromise and work with each other.
“Something that’s helped is to just learn the way we both work and to be selfless and make sure we do what’s best for each other,” Kate said. “Sisters over business partners, always.”
Along with motivating others, Kate uses the proceeds from her business to
Sarina Mahmud feature mhsmarquee.comIt all stems from Matthew 5:16, which says, ‘Shine your light to glorify God.’
- Kate Parsons, 11
“
donate to charities.
“The girls were like, ‘We can have a lemonade stand for our friend and raise some money and donate to St. Jude,’” Melissa said. “And it went really well. So every month, they raise money for a different charity and often have returned back to St. Jude.”
Kate’s parents, Justin and Melissa Parsons, both help out when they’re needed.
“I would say Justin and I are basically their board of directors,” Melissa said. “We don’t really do any daily business, or really anything. We consult with them. We’ll sit and discuss pricing with them or discuss their ideas and give them advice.”
The business has grown from hand making the bracelets to having them manufactured to fill orders. Even with the manufacturing, the sisters still design all of their products.
“We have some other products that we’re still making,” Kate said. “It’s really great because we still get to test them out once we’ve made them, and
Honestly, she’s so organized and driven to do her business. It’s so annoyingly amazing.
products, and 24 karat gold is one of my favorite things,” Kate said.
Kate’s success has inspired her family, friends and customers.
“She’s like the high school entrepreneur,” Lauren said. “Honestly, she’s so organized and driven to do her business. It’s so annoyingly amazing.”
Melissa said Kate is a natural born leader who has only grown over the course of the business.
“She learned conflict resolution, and compromise, and how to encourage each other and how to encourage their customers,” Melissa said. “A large part
of their business is to really encourage people.”
Kate grew up going to church, and Christianity has always been a huge part of her life. Recently, she gained a new love for faith and for God through her business.
“After quarantine, my faith just changed on a complete other level,” Kate said. “Just knowing that this entire company revolves around Him is so cool.”
Melissa Parsons said it’s encouraging to see her daughters be so passionate about their business.
“I think that that’s a big lesson as a mom,” Parsons said. “I think sometimes we as parents might put limitations on our kids’ thinking, ‘Oh, that might not be possible in this season of life,’ and this has really taught me to just have an approach of maybe anything’s possible.”
Kate said he is continuously trying to expand her business and reach more people.
“Inspiring girls to shine their light is something I’ve always been passionate about but I’ve never found an outlet for it until Kate and Mae,” Kate said.
then if we really love them and our customers love them, we can send them to manufacturing.”
Junior Lauren Forsyth is both a close friend to Kate and a customer of Kate and Mae.
“I bought these earrings, and I literally sat in class last year and watched her design them on Notability,” Lauren said.
As the business has grown, so has the range of materials. Their products now include real freshwater pearls, hypoallergenic metal, and 24 karat gold.
“Quality is a key part to all of our
- Lauren Forsyth, 11
story Aishani Raju
The rain poured down as senior Emma Sralla stepped out of the bus to face the practice arena for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Similar in prestige to the Olympics, the championship is one of the largest track and field meets in the world with 20 plus nations competing with their top athletes.
On August 3, 2022, the top world athletes shuffled out of the bus as they anxiously waited to hear news from their coaches about the delayed track events.
Typically Emma would be pacing around and fidgeting just before competing. Since this was a global competition, she expected herself to feel the same nerves.
But instead, Emma calmly dozed off at the practice arena thinking that her discus event was delayed until the next day. As she was in deep sleep, the announcer’s voice rang over the arena, calling her name “Emma Sralla.”
• • •
On July 15, 2021, Emma competed in the international European Discus
Championships for the Sweden team. Since her mother is Swedish, Emma is a dual citizen.
She had stepped into the national discus world for the first time in Tallinn, Estonia and competed against world top athletes. Emma had to advance through 1 round of 3 throws to compete against the best top 12 athletes. She had surpassed the distance needed for the first round and made it to the second round, throwing a distance of 158-2 and placing 11th.
She was the youngest competitor on her team.
Although Emma was content with her placement, she immediately started preparing for her next big meet. Her next challenge, one that she’s dreamed of for years was winning first in the World Athletics Championship.
“I felt super motivated again,” Emma said. “I felt like I was ready to attack the next season.”
Emma qualified for the World Athletics Championship because of her previous throws’ distance.
When Emma was finally approved to compete with the Sweden team once again, she was ecstatic.
On Aug. 1, Emma traveled to Cali, Colombia for the competition. Her days started off strong. Emma and her teammates had a team breakfast before cheering on her Swedish teammates.
When the day for Emma to compete finally came, she was nervous and broke out in hives. Even though she had worked on building her confidence for so long, this was going to be the biggest meet of her life.
“That was all a little bit stressful. I was constantly having to
think about my health,” Emma said.
Coach Corey Wales, Emma’s track and field coach, has seen the mental pressure that she has put upon herself to win the championships, but acknowledged how far she has come.
“She has all the pressure in the world because she established herself as this phenomenal person. So now she carries a big burden,” Wales said. “She’s conquering that and it’s really, really fun to see.”
But this time, Emma had the confidence due to her previous experience competing at a national meet.
“I had the experience of the European Championship, because it’s a lot of the same coaches and everything like that,” Emma said. “It was super, super cool to kind of feel comfortable in that space.”
As Emma stepped into Colombia, she was surrounded by athletes that were the same caliber as her and felt more
She has all the pressure in the world because she established herself as this phenomenal person.
Wales, Track and FieldEmma tosses her discus in the air, waiting for her turn to throw at the championships. Photo courtesy of Marta Gorczynska at the World Athletics Championship.
comfortable in her abilities. She had no longer felt outmatched among the world-class athletes.
“I felt less impostor syndrome,” Emma said. “It felt less like I was around all these crazy athletes and it felt more like I get to be one of these amazing athletes soon.”
• • •
Emma didn’t hear her name called
to take on the meet.
“When I woke up, no nerves,” Emma said. “ I felt no nervousness, I felt completely at home. And I felt super energized.”
The time had come for her to throw.
• • •
Emma stepped into the arena with the stadium lights shining brightly on her as the crowd watched. Her view of the people in the arena was blocked by the green net engulfing her. Her only view was the field out in front. She drowned out the noises of the crowd and other athletes onlooking. She only focused on throwing.
Emma threw her first disc against the net, a foul. She took a step back to compose herself. There are three throws per round. Emma only had two more throws left to make it to the next round.
She took a deep breath and launched the discus. She had thrown 178-8 inches.
Emma jumped with joy, as she had made it to finals.
could be proud of it,” Anna said.
Emma made it to the finals. But she had her eye on winning it all. This was the moment that her years of training and dedication counted. Going into the last three throws, Emma wasn’t in the lead. Her two biggest competitors were throwers from Greece and South Africa.
“Both of those (the throws) made me really nervous to watch them at that point… I just wanted her to have a performance she’d be happy with,” Anna said.
Emma stepped into the ring one last time. She placed herself in position with one foot forward and one foot back and shook out her nerves. Honing in on her technique, she swung her last throw and watched it soar into the sky. The results announced a throw of 184-2, making Emma the champion. The average discus throw for high-level women competitors is around 120 feet. She had almost surpassed the average by 65-6.
at the practice arena the day of the big meet.
The coach tapped on Emma to wake her up from her deep sleep ushering her to go to the center where they were calling her for attendance. Instead of panicking, she woke up relaxed. She was free of all her anxiousness and was ready
Watching Emma throw on TV, her mother Anna was overjoyed at her attempt. Anna said that if she didn’t get another throw, she felt like Emma was going to come home happy.
“When she got that second one I felt like that was good enough where she
Emma proudly ran with the Swedish flag on her back . She laid on the track with her hands covering her face in disbelief as she soaked in the moment. She had given Sweden its 12th U20 gold medal.
“She’s definitely earned every medal … because she’s so dedicated to this,” Anna said.
design Leslyn LindseyI felt completely at home... I felt energized.
-Emma Sralla 12
Junior quarterback Cole Welliever can launch a football 50 yards down the field with his rocket arm, hitting receivers in stride. Senior wide receiver Ashton Cozart can turn any play into a touchdown with his burning speed, leaving defenders trailing behind him. As individuals their talent and abilities can work on most teams, but together, their football connection has been unmatched.
Cole and Ashton became friends back in the sixth grade playing 7 on 7 together. The two lived in Washington state at the time, but never got to play together because they’ve always been a grade apart. When Ashton attended Kennedy Catholic High School his freshman year, Cole was one year away from joining him. However, the pandemic cut the season early, robbing them of that chance.
Ashton and his family then moved to North Richland Hills, Texas his sophomore year. While Cole finished his freshman year at Kennedy Catholic but never got to play due to the pandemic.
Neither situation worked out for the duo. Cole and his family moved down to Texas ready to take on 6A football. Ashton on the other hand, transferred high schools in search of more of an opportunity to play. Exploring all their options, Cole and his family decided on coming to Flower Mound. Ashton and his family moved there shortly after. The transition was smooth for both athletes.
“I think the football program is probably the best I’ve been at, and I feel like the culture and the tradition here is second to none,” Ashton said. “I’m blessed to be a part of a powerhouse 6A football team in Texas…It’s a good city. It’s a good school.”
• • •
Finally back together, years since their 7 on 7 days, the two were ready to take on Texas football together in the 2021 season. However, immediately they reached their first obstacle. Cole’s playing time was split with senior Jaxxon Warren, never giving him a consistent amount of time to sync with the rest of the offense.
“It definitely affected my rhythm,” Cole said. “I would go in for a drive and
we’d kick a field goal, and then I’d be out for a quarter, two quarters.”
By the third game of the season, Cole played but not to his standards.
“It was just good to get back on the field,” Cole said. “I had played two games, but I knew I was going to come out rough because I hadn’t played football in forever and I was playing Texas 6A football.”
The third game against Keller Central, not a single touchdown was scored in the first quarter. By the second quarter, Jaxxon and the offense had tied the game back up, 7-7 but after Jaxxon threw two incompletions, Cole’s second chance came late in the second quarter.
“Just do the best you can, once you get in.” Cole thought. “You only get two, maybe three drives a game. So when you get in, do the best you can.”
Coming off that sideline, he was ready to strike.
• • •
Cole’s early football life was built upon consistency. From kindergarten to third grade, he threw a football with his dad daily at the nearby bus stop.
“We didn’t miss one day,” Cole said. “That’s how I really got into football.”
From there on, Cole fell in love with the quarterback position and started playing tackle football in the fifth grade. Then in his seventh grade year, he broke his back, missing the entire season.
But in his first game back, he threw
Lindsey sportsHyunsung Na
It was just good to get back on the field...I knew I was go ing to come out rough because I hadn’t played football in forever and I was playing Texas 6A football.
- Cole Welliver, 11Junior quarterback Cole Welliver handing the ball off to junior running back Ben Perlmutter. Cole completed 19 passes on 30 attempts for 225 yards and one touchdown against the Trojans. Photo Jayni Gogineni
five touchdowns. Cole remembers it as the first moment he saw how much growth he’d gone through.
“I could see myself beating other kids out,” Cole said.
The last time he played real football was his eighth grade year and now he needed to bring this game back on track. Accepting the challenge, he confidently jogged back into the huddle.
In his first two plays, Cole connected with Ashton twice. Picking up 18 yards for a struggling offense.
A couple of plays later, the offense moved down the field. Momentum coursed through a newly revitalized homecoming crowd. Only 26 yards away from the endzone. Cole caught the snap with every intent to score. He scanned every option on the field but paid particular attention to one other player.
• • •
Before Cole checked back into the game, Ashton hadn’t made a single catch. But he knew to remain calm, remembering playing against even tougher defenders.
During a practice at Kennedy Catholic. Ashton was a part of a scout team offense matched up against a formidable defense that featured four star cornerback Kieran Collins. Ashton described Kieran as an aggressive, rough defender he hated going against but
loved competing against.
During that practice, Ashton caught touchdown after touchdown, frustrating Kieran. Eventually a coach noticed and paused practice for Ashton to run 1 on 1’s with Kieran.
opportunity to rise to the occasion.
•
1. 2. 3. Ashton was open three seconds into the play. The ball was out of Cole’s hands on 2. The ball went flying toward the sky, gracefully floated toward the corner of the endzone, where Ashton then tracked it down and caught it with ease. Touchdown. Cole and Ashton ended that night having made a statement. They had arrived. Cole threw for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns while completing 81 percent of his passes. Ashton recorded 10 receptions for 176 yards and two TDs, both from Cole.
When it comes to any pass down the field, Ashton trusts Cole’s abilities.
“I know he’s going to make that throw,” Ashton said. “I know he’s got a powerful arm, so I really have to run at full speed to do it and everything kind of clicks.”
The rest of that season, the two had moments where they showcased their connection. But this year, the two have had ample opportunity to show that last year was just a glimpse of what they could accomplish together.
• •
•
But while both Cole and Ashton have managed to remain productive, this year, team success hasn’t come as easily.
The team’s first two non district games were difficult matchups against Highland Park, ranked 19th in the state and Southlake Carroll, ranked 29th nationally.
In the first game, Cole and Ashton connected only twice against Highland Park’s defense, who frequently sent multiple defenders to guard Ashton.
“Playing with Ashton is super fun because of him being who he is…but teams nowadays want to stack a safety on top of him, and then it’s less fun,” Cole said. “I remember the Highland Park game he had triple coverage and the whole game he got two receptions, which was awful.”
As a young freshman, Ashton learned quickly how to withstand that level of adversity.
“I was getting beat up. I was getting pressed into the ground. It was horrible,” Ashton said. “But I kind of cherish that moment because it lit a fire in me…So I’d already been through it.”
Back then, Ashton struggled when the pressure was raised. But he wasn’t a freshman anymore. Now at the game’s largest possible turning point, it was his
The team lost 38-24 but after another loss to Southlake Caroll, 38-7, the duo were finally able to pull out a win against Trinity High School, 30-20. Cole threw for 225 yards and one touchdown, while Ashton caught 65 of those yards and caught the touchdown that put the game out of Trinity’s reach.
With the rest of the season ahead of them, the former Washington and now Texas duo have plenty more chances showcase their connection.
design Leslyn LindseyI feel like with both our confi dences…it’s going to be insane. I’m excited to put some points up, I’m excited to win some games. - Ashton Cozart, 12
“compiled Aishani Raju photo Jayni Gogineni
What’s one thing you want to check off on your bucket list? I’ve always wanted to skydive.
What would be your ideal weekend trip? Going to Europe would be fun, exploring it by myself or with a friend.
Who’s your favorite artist/ band and why?
Probably Pink Floyd. I like the classic rock. I like that band.
Which celebrity’s life would you like to live for a day?
Elon Musk, I like money and being the richest I can be.
What is the tastiest food you’ve ever tried? Anything but meatloaf.
If you could only keep one app on your phone, what app would you choose?
Probably text messages because what’s the point of a phone if you can’t text.
What’s your comfort movie and why?
I don’t believe in watching movies twice. I’ve never watched a single movie twice.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you at school?
One time I was going down the stairs and I tripped and fell down the whole set … of stairs.
After the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas last spring, Gov. Greg Abbot mandated school safety measures for districts statewide in a letter to the Texas School Safety Center on June 1. As a result, LISD has established new safety protocols for the 2022-2023 school year.
LISD Director of Safety and Security Matt Garrett said in a statement to the Marquee that the district is working to ensure students’ safety.
“[There] is just nothing more important to us as a district than the safety of all those we serve,” Garrett stated. “We are literally protecting our family when we think about how to best keep our district safe and secure.”
Continued on pg. 16
15 photo Alex Thornfelt design Alex ThornfeltA key part of Abbott’s change to school safety is the requirement that all outside doors on Texas schools remain locked during school hours. He has also implemented random checks at every Texas school to check that doors are locked.
While keeping the outside doors locked isn’t new on campus, it is being more heavily enforced. Administration checks the exterior doors weekly, and being caught opening a door or letting somebody else inside is punishable with Wednesday night school.
Classroom doors are also expected to be locked during class
time. When somebody knocks on the door, teachers check who it is before opening it.
However, in a poll by the Marquee, only 14.6% of students surveyed said that locked classroom doors are effective. To senior Emily Starks, a system where teachers must pause lessons to let a student into class is a disruption of class time.
“They honestly don’t make me feel safer,” Starks said. “They’re kind of an inconvenience. They disrupt the class a lot.”
However, sophomore Dayanara Mestanza believes that it protects students.
“I think the locked doors is a smart idea because the people who are unwanted in a classroom, they won’t be able to come in,” Mestanza said.
Mestanza also said that students should respect the rule, no matter their views on it.
“I just think you have to be considerate of other people’s safety and the rules,” Mestanza said.
But while senior Emily Starks understands that the rules are meant to protect the students, she feels like the doors have changed the high school experience.
“It’s also a constant reminder,” Starks said. “It doesn’t freak me out, but it’s kind of like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re always susceptible to school shootings.’”
According to School Board Member Sheila Taylor, the district is walking the line between protecting kids and maintaining a comfortable environment at school. While she
approves of locking classrooms, she also understands the less relaxed environment it creates.
“My middle schooler, some of the stuff she says is, ‘It feels like I’m in jail,’” Taylor said. “But, she saw what happened in Uvalde. She’s that age, and she understands what’s needed.”
At the Uvalde shooting, Robb Elementary’s exterior doors and the classroom were both unlocked. The classroom doors could only be locked from the outside, allowing the shooter to easily enter the school.
Garrett said that even though student convenience is an important factor of safety rules, effectiveness is more important.
“I would tell students that while their perspective is always important, we will always put safety over convenience,” Garrett stated.
Sophomore Makayla Mahns supports the locked doors. She said that she likes that teachers vet who enters a classroom.
“Someone can’t just march in without us knowing,” Mahns said.
LISD currently observes the Standard Response Protocol as its emergency response plan. It refers to five courses of action in an emergency: secure, lockdown, evacuate, shelter or hold.
In the case of an active shooter inside the school, students and staff should engage the lockdown option.
The district also teaches Avoid, Deny, Defend, a strategy to help teachers avoid the shooter, deny his entrance into the classroom and finally defend students. Students and teachers are trained to comply with the Standard Response Protocol through regular lockdown drills.
“I think those are smart also,” Mestanza said. “Because when we actually have to end up doing those, the real life situation, we’ll know what to do.”
To Mahns, the best thing the district can do is continue open
communication with the students.
“I think just checking in and making sure that we feel safe, and assuring us that they have a plan,” Mahns said.
LISD introduced the Elementary Rover Patrol Program this year, which rotates officers between elementary schools. A new tip line was also created for elementary school families to report suspicious activity and safety concerns.
School Board Member Shiela Taylor said that as a parent, increased police presence on elementary campuses is the most important precaution to her.
“We always had somewhat of a presence, but we didn’t have the assigned school resource officers,” Taylor said. “And now we work with all of the local cities.”
Karen Dooley has two kids in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary. She said that she trusts LISD to prioritize her children’s safety.
“I think they’ve had lots of meetings, used lots of…research to develop protocols to keep our kids safe,” Dooley said.
Parent Kristi David has two high school students and one elementary schooler. She said that she is saddened by the need for police officers to monitor today’s schools.
“I trust those police officers, but I also think it’s incredibly sad…that we have to live in a state where police have to constantly be with our young children,” David said.
David said that she understands locking exterior doors, but does not see the point in locking classroom doors.
“While I understand the need to go to the point where you’re trying to protect your kids, the fact that you guys are going to school behind locked doors inside the building?” David said. “Jeez. It’s a prison.”
design
Thornfelt
Emergency Response Parent Opinion 86.2% of students say they know what to do if a gunman enters the school
67.6% of students say that they think the rise in mass shootings had increased students’ anxiety about school safety
Michael O’Hearn, 23 had recently returned to his hometown in New Mexico when he breached the Carlsbad Mid-High School on Nov. 3rd, 1971.
The doors were unlocked, so the former student let himself in. A dangerous stride carried him down the hallway and into a Home Ec classroom. He pulled out a .22 automatic from the burlap sack he carried with him and the barrel of the handgun connected with the head of the teacher, Mrs. Olive.
He made a simple demand: one student will go to the principal’s office, get the master key, and return. Carlsbad student Jeanette Methola rushed to the principal’s office. Learning there was a gunman in the building, both the principal and assistant principal sprinted in different directions to help.
When O’Hearns demands were met, he left the room, moving on to the next step of his plan. Just 15 feet away, he
slipped into the entrance to a storage tower standing above the other halls and classrooms. He made his way up, and when he reached the top, pulled out his second weapon-a 30-30 rifle.
He positioned himself so there was a clear shot of the rows of windows of the classrooms below. The gun was loaded, and with a breath, his finger met the trigger.
• • •
Then 14 years old, AP Humanities teacher Debbie Brininstool sat bored in her World Geography class. She was ready to move on to her next subject when a crackle came from the loudspeaker.
She said she heard the voice of her principal: “Everybody needs to stay where they are. When the bell rings do not move to your next period class. We have a gunman in the building.”
The PA clicked off. The world around her held its breath until the shattering of glass. More noise, but it wasn’t glass anymore — it was bullets coming from above. She turned to her teacher for a sliver of guidance on what to do. The other students did the same.
“He just hid under his desk, and we were just left on our own… I remember Mr. Trujillo jumping under his desk, and he was just worthless at that point.” she said.
At that point, Brininstool didn’t know what to do. She felt everything was numb. No fear or panic, no urge to run or fight back, there was just nothing. Years later, she can still remember feeling this lack of emotion.
“I don’t think I felt anything,” Brininstool said. “…Like shock.”
A voice broke her from the trance–one of the boys from her class, a freshman. He took charge, shouting instructions to the fearful students around him. Dropping onto her stomach just as he’d ordered, they army crawled across the floor of the World Geography class and out to the hall. Somehow, they made it downstairs,
taking refuge in an empty classroom.
While the students inside were filled with fear, police called outside fired back, one of them getting hit in the leg . He was one of the many who believedthe gunman wasn’t going to surrender his attack.
They were safe now, but what could happen next held the attention of every kid.
She recalls the same crackle that had initiated the warning of danger returning, and the voice of the principal filling the quiet rooms. “I want everybody to know, we’re all safe. The gunman is dead. And then I’m going to ring the bell and then you’re going to go on to your next period class.” The voice clicked off.
The kids rose to their feet. The sound of the bell rang out and they made their way out of the classroom, hesitation ineach step.
As Brininstool navigated the halls, she saw him. Wrapped in a body bag and being settled onto a gurney, he lay dead.
The gunman.
She’d seen the police who had been shooting back at O’Hearn outside, as well as the local news stations.
He had formerly served in the Vietnam War, only to be discharged in 1966 due to mental issues, leading to his placement in a mental facility. She later learned he’d shot and killed himself.
Everyone returned to their seats and continued with the lessons planned for
story
I don’t think I felt anything…like shock.
- Brininstool, Teacher
“Debbie Brininstool was 14 years old when the school shooting occurred at Carlsbad Mid-High School on Nov 3rd, 1971. Photo submitted by Debbie Brininstool
the day. At dinner, Brininstool’s family shared stories from the day as usual. Hers was spoken about and comments were passed around before they moved to the next topic of interest.
The campus treated that day just as every other school day before that, and every school day that followed.
• • •
Though it was well over 50 years ago, Brininstool is still reminded of the day a gunman shot up her New Mexico high school when the news flashes of school shootings that have taken place - something that’s happened plenty in recent years.
“I think, by and large, we’re all very safe,” She said “But it just triggers me,”
Even so, she has a plan of action if the day comes when a similar situation occurs and a gunman shoots inside a classroom.
“I’m always thinking about where am I going to put my kids in this room to keep them away from that door, but also to make sure that they’re not sitting ducks in case the gunman chooses not to come into the classroom,” Brininstool said.
Her plan has been refined after years of imagining worst-case scenarios. If the
threat isn’t in the hallway, her aim is to lead students out of the school and to the houses of friends who live nearby.
“I will be the last person out of this classroom,” Brininstool said. “I don’t want to be harmed, but I’m not living with myself unless I know I’ve done every single thing I can to make sure
her for over 50 years.
“What my teacher did was cowardly, because we were children who were left on our own,” Brininstool said.
She believes that the shootings that take place today are far more harmful than what she experienced as a teenager, because of the greater capability of destruction that people have access to now.
“The firepower can create just so many more victims, which makes it so much worse,” Brininstool said.
these kids are staying safe. These are children in this building, and they deserve to have a really long life.”
This need to protect her students’ lives partly stems from the actions of her teacher when her class was shot at. The memory of his abandonment has lasted
From 2000 to 2021, there have been 783 nationwide school shootings, with 2021 tolling the highest body count of 325 victims that were killed, as well as having the most shootings with 93 to date. The state that has the most amount of shootings at a grim 43 is Texas. Califonia and Illinois follow, with the former totaling 41 and the latter being 37. (information taken from National Center for Education Statistics and US News)
Brininstool’s past has given her a new insight on the world today and how she continues to survive in it.
“I have a plan. I’m not stressed, but it’s like, I can’t see any point in passively being a victim.”
in-depth Sept. 30, 2022 design Alex Thornfelt
I’m not living with myself unless I - Brininstool, Teacher
“ know I’ve done every single thing I can to make sure these kids are staying safe.
In my personal opinion, I don’t like them. But I do recognize that in our Constitution, technically everyone has a right to a gun if they so choose.
I feel the opposite political party will either say ... no gun restrictions or anything. And then the opposite will say they want to ban all guns. But I feel like realistically, there should be just more restrictions on them.
I like them. They’re fun to shoot, but they’re also good for protection. They’re good in the right hands.
What do you think can be done to help combat gun violence?
I think that we should really restrict what kinds of guns people can have. Automatic assault rifles, because if you look at mass shootings, those are generally the type that are used. And there’s no need for anyone to have an assault rifle.
Gun restrictions, background checks, mental health checks before a person can buy them. I also think it would be good to implement a similar system as driving tests, when you have to take a course before being able to purchase a gun.
Education. When you look at it, gun owners that are educated and have done specific trainings, or have just educated themselves aren’t usually the ones participating in shootings, or are the ones that actually prevent shootings.
Do you think the school rules alone are able to prevent shootings from happening, or do you want more state and national legislature?
I think the policy of doors being closed is good. I just think that there’s probably not that much more that schools can do without infringing on the rights of their students and making a lot of people upset. So I think the role should fall to the government in really restricting who can get a gun.
I think state and national legislature is more important, because school rules like blocking the doors ... is like trying to cover up something without actually addressing the issue.
If someone was set-bent on coming into school with a gun and causing harm to others, it’s going to happen either way. Instead of focusing so much on locking down the inside of schools, focus on perimeter and people getting in, and that kind of security.
design
ThornfeltSobbing, she rushed back into the classroom of my old school. It was the uncontrollable kind, the kind where you can’t even get a word out. Catching her breath, she was finally able to answer my question.
“What happened?”
That was when one of my closest friends said the nine words that would haunt me for the next three years.
“There was a list, and I was on it.”
I was unable to process the words she was telling me. Tears trickled down her face and my eyes began to blur at the mere idea of losing her.
I was told it was a hit list of everyone
this hateful boy wanted to kill.
He was someone we both knew, someone that we’d trusted and treated with kindness. But the boy made angry, sexist and racist comments. He wanted most of the cast to die, including her. And he wanted to be the one to do it.
I’d known this boy well. He was my romantic partner in a musical. It was terrifying to know that someone I had to hold close, flirt with, and associate with, wanted to kill my best friends. He’d always scared me.
I still remember the way he’d looked at me. At first, so hateful, so full of pain. I figured someone who can simply look at you and convey that sort of emotion must be hurting so much inside. So I was always kind to him.
I would lend him pencils when he needed one and tell him “bless you” after he sneezed. I was a silent friend to him because I didn’t know if he had anyone who was.
I remember the day when he realized I wasn’t out to get him. I remember when the look in his eyes changed and they were no longer piercing towards me, but softer. There was still something about him that wasn’t right, but he began to
know that I saw him.
story Emily CouchMy friend, the one who was on the list, would stand up against his abusive comments and he didn’t like it. He would try to intimidate her but she wouldn’t take it. She was always strong but the day the list came out I saw her crumble.
When I was at school, the one place I thought I wouldn’t have to worry, the lives of my best friends were threatened. Because of that, our outlook on safety has changed. For my friend, she tells me that every time she goes to school, she feels it’s a gamble for her life.
My mind still confuses reality, convincing me that I’m not safe. Not to leave the class to go to the bathroom, not to walk home by myself, not to live my life without the fear of losing it.
While I do regret not standing up to him, similar to my friend, I will never regret being kind.
We often can’t control what happens in life, but we can control how we treat people. Everybody needs someone to be kind to them and treat them like a person. We can all make such a large impact on those around us if we can remember that.
Parent Syeda Hasan has two high school students. She said that even though locked classroom doors may be inconvenient, she endorses anything that will keep her daughters safe.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Hasan said. “I mean, every life is important. Whether it’s students or teachers or custodians. And if we can even save one life through these measures, we have done our job.”
Dooley says that though there will always be uncertainty in sending her kids to school, her faith keeps her from living in fear for them.
“I think it’s wise that LISD is putting all these protocols and things into place,” Dooley said. “Is it going to guarantee that
nothing happens? No. But because of my faith... we know that God is going to take care of them no matter what.”
• • •
Taylor emphasized that the board members and administrators do not have all the answers. She encourages students to write to the school board or the administration with any suggestions they may have to improve school safety.
“Let your voices be heard, because we take that into consideration as well,” Taylor said.
She says that by following the rules, students can partner with LISD to protect themselves.
“Bear with us,” Taylor said. “We’re doing this for the safety of every child in LISD because you’re important to us.”
design Alex Thornfeltstory Emily Couch
If you enjoy a good laugh or unwinding after school, you probably have an arsenal of comedic TV shows. We all feel like we can relate with one show over the others — take this to quiz out which one.
1) It’s breakfast. What are you eating?
A) Waffles
B) Ice Cream
C) Nothing
D) Donuts
2) Pick a season.
A) Spring B) Summer C) Fall D) Winter
3) You have a flight to catch. What are you doing before you board the plane?
A) Stuck in security for bringing illegally imported cheese
B) Buying everything from the airport gift shop
C) Got distracted and missed the flight
D) Arrived early and waited in the terminal for 2 hours
A) Moped
B) Oscar Weiner Meyer Hot Dog Car
(weinermobile)
C) Party bus
D) Ice cream truck
design
Mahmud
5) You have one wish. What are you wishing for?
A) World peace
B) Ice cream cake
C) Money to pay for rent
D) Partner in crime
You got “Parks and Recreation.” You are a lively, passionate person. You fight for the things you believe in, uniting with your friends to support a good cause.
You got “New Girl.” You would do anything for your loved ones, and your weekends are comprised of spending time with them. You’re a little scatter brained but enjoy living life to the fullest.
AYou got “The Office.” You’ve got a sense of humor so dry that people struggle to know whether you’re kidding or not. Your friends get you through the school day, and you find enjoyment in the day-today things.
You got “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” You’re intense and curious about the world around you, and see your friends as your partners in crime. Whether you’re eating donuts or chasing down bad guys, when you and your friend group set your mind to it, you’re unstoppable.
As teens, healthy food is not always among the more appealing options when it comes to eating. However, food can taste great while also doing us some good. What are some local options for fun, affordable, “clean” food?
Chillicious is a small affordable Thai restaurant that is packed with people sitting at small tables that hug the walls. They’ve got traditional food with salads, spring rolls, curries, fried rice and noodles. Each dish is unique and has its own healthy vegetables. The majority of the dishes are about $15, with enough food to last a couple of days.
I got Thai Fried Rice with chicken which was $14.50. I like that Chillicious lets you customize the spice level for most of their dishes. I personally can’t stand bland food.
I chose a four. My fried rice was well seasoned, and it included carrots, peas, eggs, tomatoes and onions. The rice was super filling too with a good aftertaste. When coupled with the Red Curry the flavors combine perfectly and explode in your mouth. The rice goes down easily, and it has a nice soft texture when put together. This dish includes something from almost every food group; it has grains, protein, fruits and vegetables, as do many of the dishes in this restaurant. It is a great alternative to fast food.
Gyro360 is a Mediterranean restaurant with traditional food options like falafel, pita, bowls, and sandwiches. All the furniture is a calm, matte black. The restaurant is covered in windows and natural light to eat under.
I got the Chicken bowl for $11.99. It’s made up of rice and lettuce, cucumber, corn and tomatoes. The rice was well seasoned, but a little dry. Once it was combined with the tzatziki sauce though, it got much better. The chicken was tangy and flavorful. The texture of the overall bowl was good with the crunchy lettuce, juicy corn, chicken and soft rice. The bowl not only tasted good, but I felt good
while eating it because it wasn’t too filling but just enough. Normally, I don’t like food unless it’s spicy, but this bowl was flavorful enough to make me want it again. The chicken bowl was a balanced meal made with tons of clean ingredients. While being healthy, it stayed tasty.
Luna Grill is a Mediterranean restaurant with a mix of traditional food and more Americanized food. The restaurant is calm with gentle music playing in the background and plenty of tables.
I ordered the Mediterranean Chicken Wrap which comes with tons of vegetables like kale, cucumber and red onion. It also includes pearled couscous, feta cheese, and creamy vinaigrette sauce. For only $11, this dish is brimming with more food than you’ll actually eat. Some of the ingredients were new and unusual to me, like the feta and couscous, so naturally, I was excited to try them. However, this dish was minorly disappointing. The creamy sauce from the photos tasted much more
2500 Cross Timbers Road, Suite 100
soggy in person. It leaked onto what could have been great chicken. The taste wasn’t completely ruined, but the texture was a little off for me. The couscous felt a little too grainy, and the tortilla seemed a little too thick. However, it ended up being okay because the feta cheese and vegetables worked well together. They provided a much better, crunchy texture that temporarily made me forget about the rest. Overall, the dish was okay and healthy.
This restaurant is located on Justin Road by Briarhill Middle School and serves Tex-Mex food. The atmosphere of the restaurant is incredible with nature-y decor hanging from the ceilings and color changing candles at the tables.
While Mexican food does not appear to be traditionally healthy, it has aspects that are often overlooked. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Fajita for about $19. While this seems more expensive than the other options, this dish comes with an enormous amount of food, and the leftovers lasted me two days. The fajita includes beans, tomatoes, rice,
chicken, peppers, cheese and sauces, which is every food group. This restaurant is great, especially for people who love more spicy and flavorful food. I could write sonnets for the salsa alone. I would eat it by itself as a full meal. While it includes a few unhealthy ingredients, they are matched by cleaner ones. The fajita was fun to eat because I could build it myself and it had a giant serving size. The food is phenomenal because it’s healthy, but the taste isn’t overpowered with clean ingredients.
Sophomore Chloe Heeter already had three dogs and a bearded dragon. But when her fourth-grade teacher was giving away “Theo,” a leopard gecko, Heeter knew he was going to be her favorite.
“We were like ‘We’ll take it,’” Heeter said.
However, Heeter found Theo’s favorite foods are live insects.
“I have to give him these nasty roaches,” Heeter said. “They’re so gross, but he likes them...and then there’s crickets...and then the worms. He likes anything that moves.”
And after he’s done eating, he’ll begin to lick his eyeball, though his tongue can barely reach it.
Chloe’s favorite memory of him was when she cradled him in her hands for the first time.
“I just looked at him, and I realized how cute he was,” Heeter said.
Gem the ball python is aquatic science teacher and assistant coach Preston Jund’s classroom snake. She was a gift from Marquette’s director Alice Dack.
“She belonged to her daughter Emma, and they were looking for a home,” Jund said. “So I took her in.”
He loves to parade around the school with Gem draped over him.
Jund finds her presence very calming, whether it be in his hands or wrapped around his neck.
“She’s never been aggressive towards me,” Jund said. “And I think it’s largely due to the fact that students have a lot of respect for her. She is an animal and they understand that whatever energy they give to her she’s going to return.”
“We leave the doors open when the weather’s nice, and we were cooking a pot roast Christmas Eve,” Andrea said. “We all thought we put the pig away. Nobody put the pig away, and he came inside and tried to take the pot roast out of the oven. He did not get the pot roast.”
Not only does he like pot roast but he apparently loves bacon as well, thanks to a Marcus student.
“He literally goes to our school,” Paige said. “And he biked over one morning and gave our pigs bacon because he thought it was funny.”
When he’s not busy giving in to his cannibalistic tendencies, he instead tries to nibble on her brother.
“When he hears my brother walk in, he’ll go and run at him and eat his toes,” Paige said.
Senior Paige Wood’s family is full of pets. Specifically three great Danes, four cats and two pigs. Her Juliana pig, Dobby the House Pig, is the size of a small dog. Yet, he seems to be the biggest troublemaker among them. He’s managed to create stories that leave her and her mother Andrea Wood laughing.
The main campus has welcomed new APs, and we’re excited to have new additions to our school family. On M9, Mrs. True has taken over as principal and is doing a fantastic job.
Nothing carries you through first and second periods better than knowing that you’ll get to microwave your Cup O’ Noodles at lunch. From Hot Pockets to homemade meals, the foods we can warm up make microwaves a dearly-loved addition to the cafeteria.
It’s easy to miss announcements during Marauder Time when we spend it in loud classrooms, or we’re preoccupied with homework. The daily email with the contents of the morning announcements make it easier to keep up with school affairs.
column Roslyn Dobbins
The people that you used to be don’t ever go away.
Not really.
They haunt you like ghosts, coming back when you least expect it.
My ghost is my freshman self. The one who would rather be hated than admit any kind of insecurity. The one who was disrespectful and loud with their opinions. The one who left such a horrible impression that four years later, I was still judged for who I used to be.
That first week of my senior year, I made a friend. We grew close in the span of a few weeks, and they came to mean a lot to me. Maybe a week after we had started hanging out, my friend sent me a text.
“Oh great, my mother already has her doubts about you.”
My stomach twisted and tightened, and despite my efforts to control my frantic mind, I could feel the edges of panic set in. My mind was spiraling down into that dark, black hole of ‘what if’s.’
My friend promised to call and explain what had happened. I nervously waited, trying to keep my worried mind distracted. When the call came, the silence on the other end felt deafening. Eventually, stumbling over words, my friend told me what happened.
An older sibling had talked to a teacher, who described the kind of
Ghostsperson I was freshman year. That information was quickly relayed to my friend’s mom, who shared different values than me, furthering her initial dislike.
Immediately, I was judged for my aggressive attitude that I harbored freshman year. From there, I was at a disadvantage. I had to work to rewrite her perception of me, as someone who
as polite and kind as I possibly could, hoping to change what they all thought of me. My friend stood by me, enduring the underhanded comments their family said about me when I wasn’t around. They stuck by me. We didn’t give up, and after some time I could see my efforts start to pay off. Our greetings went from a brief hello to a welcoming smile and conversation.
As they began to trust me, they became less strict about when me and my friend could meet. Things became almost normal. I could laugh, joke and have conversations with them without feeling like I was being judged for every word I chose. I don’t blame them for their initial dislike of me. I know they simply want what is best for my friend.
The beautiful thing about being human is that we are capable of change, if we so choose.
I’ve spent years wishing I could take back who I was four years ago. I wish I could apologize to the people I was senselessly mean to. I wish I could have realized that it’s okay for people to think different things.
was more mature and understanding. By the time I got to meet some of my friend’s family, they had all heard the rumors. I remember the first time I ever went to their house. I met some of my friend’s family and despite their polite hellos, there was still that unspoken awkwardness between us.
From there I spent day after day being
But after all that wishing, I realized something. Spending forever in the past only pulls us backwards. We all have made mistakes. We all have moments we want to go back and change. But we can’t. We can only change who we are now. Instead of simmering in that regret, we can learn from our past and improve.
In one way or another, we learn to live with our ghosts.
design Kaelen Reed opinionFrom iffy messages on the boys bathroom stalls to entire lunches stuffed in the urinal bowls, you never know what you’ll encounter in the boys’ bathroom. Everybody has a part to play in making sure the bathrooms are clean, and not
Having to kill three cockroaches per class period is definitely a distraction to learning. We’ve grown accustomed to finding bugs in our classrooms and sidestepping cockroach carcasses on the school floors. A little more pest control could help our bug problem.
It’s annoying when students linger and talk to their friends on the W hall stairs during passing periods, because everybody else is held up. And it stinks when you have to pee, but feel self conscious because a group of girls is chatting it up by the restroom sink. It would be great if students exercised social awareness in the commons, stairs and bathrooms.
I wake up to my mom resting her hand on my shoulder.
“Garrison, you need to get up and come downstairs right away.”
Immediately, millions of things rush through my mind as to what could be happening. The house is being repossessed. Someone stole my truck. Breaking Bad was just taken off Netflix. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
“Okay, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“It’s Ali.”
Oh no. I jump out of my bed, throw on the first outfit I see and sprint downstairs.
Not yet. Please, not yet.
I round the corner of the stairs and look out into the living room. In the brown leather chair, she’s sprawled on her back, unmoving, all of her paws facing up. I run over to her and try to pick her up. She lets out a shrill yelp and I set her back down.
“Don’t pick her up, she’s in a lot of pain.”
Gently, I hold her body and look into her eyes. She’s hurting really bad. “It’s okay, it’s alright, Ali. I’m here.”
Tears drip down onto her body as I hold her close. “I’m here.”
• • •
It was in 2010 that Ali was adopted. A black mini Schnauzer with floppy ears and chocolate eyes. Throughout the years, she grew from a cotton ball to a foot-tall, slightly larger cotton ball. She
grew into a tiny diva that chased geese four times her size. She deserves only the best, and she knew it. She was always there when it really mattered. Licking my face while I mourned my grandma’s death, lying by my feet at 4 a.m. during late-night study sessions -- the type to be there where nobody else was. Every night, after an exhausting six-hour shift, she’s always sitting at the door, waiting for you.
Four years that gradually became more painful for her, suppressed only by the medicine. We pretended that everything was fine, but reality wouldn’t change. Ali was a dead dog walking. From eighth grade to senior year, I mourned her death before it happened. Every day was tainted by her condition.
There was always that nagging thought that the end was drawing closer with nothing I could do to save her. Every night, I begged for her to still be here the next morning, knowing that there was a chance she could be gone. When she went to the animal hospital this summer, we didn’t know how this was going to end. And we were terrified to find out.
• • •
In late 2018, she started fading. Every day, there would be dog vomit all over the house from her feeling so nauseous. When she wasn’t vomiting, she was constantly panting. After weeks of scans and tests, there was no clear reason for her change in behavior. After a month of uncertainty, we finally got an answer. Terminal kidney failure.
• •
•
Medicine. Special food. Monitoring. These three barely kept Ali alive. They gave us four extra years with her.
Ali would come home from the animal hospital a week later. In an urn. The symptoms came fast and took her down faster. Saturday night, she was greeting me at the door as I came home from work. Monday morning, she was being puwt down. Ali’s life couldn’t go on forever. Over the last four years, I wasted time worrying about the end, when I should have loved and savored the days Ali had left.
Life constantly changes, for better or worse. The only constant in life is death. We could try to stop the end all we want. We could waste our lives worrying about something we’re powerless to prevent. Or we could use the end to enjoy the present even more. So instead of dreading the end, why not savor the days we have?
design Kaelen ReedMy dad started the car while we talked like nothing was wrong. My grades. College. The future. The entire time I looked out the window at the 5 a.m. dark blue sky. Looked at the sun slowly rising with a bright orange that melted into calm clouds. I was looking at anything but my dad. I didn’t need any other reminder that after four days, my dad was leaving again.
• • •
My dad is a trucker. He drives around one of those absurdly long 18 wheelers, lugging around anything to anyone who needs it. I’ll check his location sometimes to see him in the middle of Arizona one day and the next New Jersey. He doesn’t drive nonstop of course. He takes breaks, switching out with his partner to sleep or to eat a meal. Then once every three weeks, he gets to visit our family for four days before leaving again.
In exchange I get to live in a three bedroom apartment. I get to eat multiple meals every day. And I get to go to college to pursue a career in jobs besides the medical industry. A luxury rarely reserved for Asian children.
But I know he hates it. Not because the job is difficult. Not because it takes a wear on his body. Because he misses our family.
During the weeks leading up to his first trucking stretch, we were on our way back from getting groceries when he interrupted our usual silence to tell me how he really felt.
“My job is hard, driving for a long time is hard. But being away from you and your brother and your mom is harder. Mental pain. Not physical.”
It’s a rough translation of what I heard, but it did the job. I hung onto every word. My dad was always open with me, but it caught me off guard how out of nowhere he’d just tell me things like that.
He paused after that. He stayed silent for a couple seconds, collecting his words, as if what he was about to say
was the most important thing I could hear.
“I do it because you need to eat, and you eat a lot.”
It was instead a joke. He broke into his hearty laugh that filled the car.
“But sacrifice is easy for me. You will understand when you are a father. How much you would do for your son.”
We drove home and I thought about what he said for a while.
After he’d left, life didn’t stop moving, I still had school, newspaper, a job and my friends. But we’d talk in pockets of time we both found.
The day before my dad came back
home, we spoke over the phone when I got out of work. Being on the road for most of the day, he never got much of a chance to speak with anyone unless it was over the phone. Excitedly, he’d bring up things like going fishing or to the gym and I’d agree. Tired from working, I never paid full attention to what he said. I was moving on to the next thing mentally. I nodded and half presently responded with mumbling “yeah’s,” and quickly fired “sure’s.”
I made sure to say “I love you too,” but even now I can’t convince myself that it was with any sincerity.
Hyunsung NaI wasted my four days with Dad. I went to work, hung out with friends, putting off spending time with him to the latest I could. But there was no more time. No more, “we’ll hang out later’s.” No more dad. Now it was the fifth day, and I was now in the longest car ride of my life. It was only 20 minutes but knowing this was the last moment before our goodbye, I was conscious of every second passing. Every sign we drove past. Every tree I saw whizzing past. I could feel time move. In between my mom and dad’s conversation about my grades and what time my shift was, my dad would say something directly towards me in Korean.
Like when we stopped for gas, my dad pointed behind me, toward the horizon.
“Pretty sky.”
Back in the car, my father pointed at a herd of cows, telling me we should go out for barbeque sometime.
At this point, I wanted to cry and plead for my dad to stay like a preschooler on his first day of school. But I knew that was selfish.
We pulled into the storage facility where his truck was parked, and I packed each of his things one at a time. My dad barely made eye contact with me. He barely said a word.
As I handed him the last bag, he gave me a fist bump and said goodbye.
“You’re a strong man now. Take care of your mom for me, take care of yourself. I love you.”
On the way back, I let myself cry only for a moment. Even then I knew there was no point in sitting in self pity. My dad left recently again after another four days in Texas, but this time we spent one entire day together. Not all the days, but it was an improvement. Honestly, I don’t know if we’ll ever spend all four days together, but I don’t think that’s the solution either. Finding moments of time to talk, to watch tv, to eat dinner together. There’s nothing else I could want more. That’s all we need.
“Yes, I think they can have their own opinions and it also impacts them later and in their life.”
“I don’t think they should be able to. Actually, it depends on where they are, because some of them are mature, but some of them aren’t”
“I think that a common misconception is that your vote doesn’t matter. But in reality when many votes come together, it has an effect on the ultimate result of the election.”
“I think it’s important for them to make informed voting choices instead of just following what their parents think.”
On May 24, one of the most publicized mass shootings occurred at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, when a gunman passed through the school’s unlocked doors and killed 19 kids and 2 teachers.
This tragedy brought statewide attention to school safety. Following the shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott mandated that Texas schools introduce strengthened security protocols such as regular checks that outside doors are locked. As a result, LISD has introduced new safety rules for the school year.
While we appreciate this focus on safety, we encourage the district to also focus on effectively communicating and enforcing these rules.
A Marquee poll revealed that 86.2% students think that they know what to do in case of a shooting. But when we interviewed students about their plans, they were usually unclear and differed from the district’s instructions.
One student said that he counted on being able to run faster than other students to save his life. Another said that she would sprint into the hallways and into the parking lot. Neither acknowledged the possibility that an active shooter could be in the hallway.
This is partially because of the way that the required lockdown drills are executed. Sometimes teachers and students don’t take them seriously. Even
though teachers technically fulfill their duty by turning out classroom lights and making students move into the corner of the classroom, lots of classrooms just whisper and make jokes until the lights are turned back on.
Because we are performing the drills halfway, most of us have little experience performing them as they were intended. As a result, students may not be as prepared as needed when a shooting actually happens.
The student body’s lack of a clear plan also stems from the fact that we don’t actually know the safety protocol. Each of our teachers may have a different plan in case of a shooting depending on the layout of their classroom and their proximity to the exits. But some teachers have not shared a plan, leaving students in the dark about how to navigate an emergency situation in that classroom.
LISD uses Avoid, Deny, Defend as the system for teachers to protect students in case an active shooter is in the building. Teachers are supposed to take specific steps to avoid the shooter, deny the shooter’s entrance into the classroom and finally defend kids.
The staff received an hour-long presentation about this system at the beginning of the school year, but We don’t believe that this is enough time. Teachers cannot properly prepare students for a shooting without adequate training.
The Avoid, Deny and Defend Information was also not communicated to the student body through email, assembly or announcements. We are asking for it to be taught during Marauder Time lessons. LISD should also provide teachers with handouts about its safety protocols to be taught in tandem with the lessons. While we understand that more teaching about gun violence may upset students, we would like the topic to be treated as seriously as suicide and mental health lessons.
We know this is a difficult thing for teachers and students to talk about. However, we must face the possibility of a shooting and prepare to save our lives.
The Avoid, Deny, Defend website offers a free informative poster, as well as a video that walks viewers through scenarios they might face during a shooting. These would be helpful teaching resources.
While there is temptation to treat them like tasks that need to be done, it’s the responsibility of teachers and students to take the lockdown drills seriously. They are the district’s plan to protect us and maximize our chances of making it out of a situation.
The district is already working so hard to keep students and teachers safe. Making sure that the rules are enforced and communicated efficiently is another way to achieve this goal.
-Nancy Joykutty, teacher
Do you think it is important for 18 year old high school students to vote and why?
Looking to bounce back from back to back losses to start off the season, the Marauders had their work cut out for them on the Sept. 9 matchup against the Trinity Trojans.
A back and forth game all night lead to a tied game by the start of the fourth quarter, 20-20. But a 38 yard touchdown pass between junior Cole Welliver and senior Ashton Cozart, put the game out of reach for the Trojans, allowing the Marauders to earn their first win of the season, 30-20.
The team lines up by the sideline during the national anthem.
Junior quarterback Cole Welliver passes the ball during the first quarter of the game.