Senior Ladies develop ambition to increase community service.
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Environmentalists expand club activity with new outlook.
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Junior varsity player’s injury inspires team and school.
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the
PEREGRINE
Volume thirty-seven Issue two
Jersey Village High School
7600 Solomon Houston, TX 77040
pages GAME READY In a district game against the Cy-Creek Cougars Rocky Huff, Lance Siragusa, seniors, and Ross Fly, junior, take directions from the coaches before the next play.
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november ‘08
the
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work in
did
YOU know?
progress
Fascinating JVHS Facts
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Ongoing construction rouses mixed feelings
videos on YouTube tagged as Jersey Village HS
MANDY HOGAN
construction timeline
news editor The plethora of temporary classrooms and the renovated entrance of JV serve as daily reminders of construction. Everyday, students and teachers alike face numerous challenges, including parking issues, portable buildings, alternative entrances and electrical issues. photo by MANDY HOGAN Michael Ray, assistant principal RENOVATION PROGRESS The current construction provides a glimpse of what Jersey Village High and construction liaison to JVHS, School will look like in two years when the project is complete. said that construction should be completed by fall 2010. Hurricane Marte Parham, English IV teach- not get a parking sticker,” Zach MoIke has delayed the construction by ran, junior, said. er, also holds an optimistic view. approximately two weeks. Moran now parks a few blocks “Construction is inconvenient, an“The project is possibly behind noying, but a necessary evil. We must away and walks to school. schedule but the project is not so far Teresa Chueng, senior, shares look at the big picture,” Parham said. behind that it can’t be made up. We’ve Unlike most teachers, Parham Moran’s dislike. Chueng reads the made up a lot of time on the front announcements daily. In some classloves the “trailer park.” section. Once we get inside, construc“I love the fresh air and meeting rooms, announcements cannot be tion can’t be affected by the weather,” new people. After 35 years of teach- heard due to low volume or static. Ray said. “I find construction irritating being, I welcome the change,” Parham Ray acknowledged that the concause announcements are extremely said. struction is an inconvenience for stuHowever, others do not share her important to the student body. If andents, teachers and administrators. love. nouncements cannot be heard, the “When construction is done, JV “I hate construction because I did student body misses opportunities will look very nice,” Ray said. for activities,” Chueng said. Construction Construction started. Phase 1 & Phase 2 Bond However, the Bond Complete current problems Move in to portables Complete Passed Passed will result in a safer and more productive school environment for future generations of Falcons.
2004
2007
2008
2009
2010
an Australian basketball team bought old JVHS jerseys; they are the “JV Falcons”
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Red Cross Club of JVHS provides services to local community
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band received superior ratings at contest. They earned ones from every judge
the JV logo comes from the Atlanta Falcons football team
$
each tournament the debate team attends cost over $1,000
yearbooks must be purchased online.
www.smart-pay.com
the
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PEREGRINE
issue two
‘09 QUEENS Senior Ladies Rebecca Rogers, Jennifer Wilson, Madelyn Ingram, Shelby Buchanan, Natalie Cavazos ride in their homecoming float.
SENIOR
LADIES
GLORIA LERMA
staff writer Tuesday September 30, 2008, Senior Ladies held their first meeting in the library. The excitement of being part of this organization filled the hearts of class of ’09 senior girls. Senior Ladies, for the past years, has been a club that opens the door for senior girls to participate in decorating the annual homecoming float and conducting senior auction. This year however is different. The class of ’09 Senior Ladies are
photo by SKYE COMSTOCK
Young women make move for positive change
determined to leave a mark in the high school by reaching out to the community and doing what no other Senior Ladies, before them have done. Megan Hodges and Bethany Evans have taken the lead position of Senior Ladies Co-Presidents and together, with the support of Angela Williams and Nina Ortiz, assistant principals and sponsors of the club, will be embarking on new projects for the Ladies to do. “I would love for us to sponsor a toy, food, or blanket drive around
Christmas time. I’d also like us to do fund-raising to help raise money for project prom,” Hodges said. The added activities of Senior Ladies will not only help the community, but will also raise funds for the graduating class, which excites the sponsors, because no other Senior Ladies class has done that in the past. “I have been sponsoring Senior Ladies for two years now, and this has been the most active class by far,” Ortiz said. This goes to prove that the ’09 La-
dies have already made a difference by just having the motivation to do more than what is expected. “It’s our last year to be involved in high school things, and we want to make it fun for all the girls,” Hodges said. To continue the Ladies involvement, they have created a Myspace page to keep up to date with any club activities. The sponsors fully believe that the Ladies involvement and commitment to the club will only increase.
More than ENOUGH
Lack of advisory, seven periods affect upperclassmen study habits time in classes we don’t need,” Chan photo by GLORIA LERMA Phan, senior, said. STUDY BUDDIES During their lunch Joseph Flores and Shin Chu, The purpose seniors, study for their AP English class to make up for lost advisory time. for seven periods, according to the GLORIA LERMA Cypress Fairbanks ISD, is to allow stustaff writer As the school year continues, stu- dents to obtain all the credits needed dents are getting accustomed to their to graduate. Upperclassmen that have daily routine of seven periods. Now already completed their credits see the with the lack of advisory, many stu- seven period day as unnecessary. dents are feeling the effects of having “I’m getting homework for a class seven classes, especially seniors. that I was not interested or required to “It is unnecessary to have seven take for graduation, just because I had classes, especially for us, seniors, be- an open class period,” Cheldon Polcause some of us are just wasting lard, senior, said.
This situation seems to be concurrent among other seniors as well. On the other hand, students that have not completed their required credits are taking full advantage of the seven periods. “I transferred from a different school and I have to make up all these credits and having seven periods really help,” Rachel Ibarra, senior, said. The lack of advisory has also created problems for students, especially the ones involved in after school activities. “Debate needs to have advisory because that was the one period that the
novices would practice. Now we have to stay after school double the time to do what we could have been done during school (with an advisory),” Joseph Flores, senior, said. Not only are the extracurricular activities being affected, but also students that used that period for extra studying are affected. “I miss advisory, that was my homework time,” Amanda Weise, senior, said. These changes will not go away, so students will have to continue going through their daily routine of seven periods and no advisory.
4 st Served 1 Hand feature
PEREGRINE
the
november ‘08
Q: A:
Culinary Arts students explain love of cooking
Q: A:
High School to attend the Culinary Arts class? “It is okay but at the same time bad because we (have to) get out of class early to get there,” Sarah Arias, senior, said.
What is Culinary Arts class?
Q: A:
“Culinary class is a class for people who already have experience cooking and for others who just want to polish their skills,” Luke Holt, senior, said.
Q: A:
How do you feel about riding the bus to Cy-Fair
Q: A:
What is your favorite item to prepare/
make? “I like making monkey bread; it’s really good,” Holt said.
Do you find the class challenging? Why? “In a way because we have to make the food and serve it in a certain way,” Arias said.
Do you like the chef jacket, hat, and slacks you have to wear?
“I like it, I’ve been told I look good in it,” Holt said.
photo by KATHY ROMERO
Luke Holt, senior
compiled by KATHY ROMERO
WORK IT To hone his skills, Austin Thayer, freshman, practices his moves with a 5x5 cube.
Freshman showcases Rubik’s cube talent
photo by SHELBY CARTER
SHELBY CARTER
photo editor After twisting and turning the Rubik’s Cube’s six faces to solve the intricate puzzle, Austin Thayer, freshman, restores the cube to the solid color solution in less than two minutes and the faces of the onlookers turn to amazement. At the age of 13 Thayer decided to ask his father to teach him how to solve a Rubik’s cube. After watching his father throughout his childhood solve this puzzle he longed to learn how it was done. By using his father’s advice and a few YouTube videos Thayer could solve three different sized cubes. “My father taught me how to do the 3x3,
but I learned how to do a 4x4 and the 5x5 on YouTube. It took me two days to learn how to solve the Rubik’s Cube for the first time,” Thayer said. Thayer took after the cube with a passion, and soon after learning the 3x3 sized cube he sought after more difficult challenges. This included a larger 5x5 sized cube where patterns could be made in the blocks. Learning how to solve a Rubik’s Cube can be a very difficult task. For Thayer the challenge drives him to move forward. “A 5x5 sized cube is my favorite because it also includes the patterns from the smaller cubes. It also is a bit more challenging because I still don’t know all of the patterns yet,” Thayer said. When watching Thayer, a crowd seems to form. Some students cheer, while others stare in astonishment. When Thayer finally puts the Rubik’s Cube down, the crowd that was surrounding him roars out a cheer. “It’s amazing how fast Austin can solve it with the pressure from everyone watching
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him,” Michael Ante, senior, said. The Rubik’s Cube is a pastime that has taken the hearts of numerous people for the past 28 years. With billions of solutions the c u b e is one of the most difficult puzzles in the world. Speed in solving the puzzle astonishes people and is what Thayer strives for. “The fastest time I have ever solved one is an hour and 45 minutes. It took me about six months to speed up from the 10 minute time I started with,” Thayer said. Thayer has spent the past two years learning the challenging solutions to a Rubik’s Cube. The patterns and speed is what draws him in but the reactions he gets from others is what keeps him focused. The Rubik’s Cube not only is what sets Austin Thayer apart from others but it has been a sensation that swept the country.
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•Invented in 1974 •World’s best selling toy
•300,000,000 Rubik’s cubes been sold world wide •Fastest time is 9.55 seconds by Ron van Bruchem of the Netherlands.
5x5
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feature
Mean Green
november ‘08
Environmental Machine
Club helps the planet one step at a time Jasper Gates
delivery manager Students walk down the halls in the afternoons, picking up recycling boxes. These students toil for a common goal, the environment. The Environmental Club is on the rise again, the club’s future looks bright. Its size has doubled since last year and the officers’ roles have expanded into making the club geared Percent decrease in U.S. towards fun and enpollution is required lightenment about the environment. The club by 2050 to prevent the worst consequences of that once lingered on the fringe of loss is now global warming. filled with new members and a better program. “We’ve added and replaced officers, offered food, and tried to come up with more environmental Percent increase friendly activities. We did this to of America’s CO2 try and breathe life into our dying emissions from fossil club,” Ryan Lemke, senior, said. fuels since 1990. The club’s new outlook has courtesy of www.edf.org changed from an alright aspect to an even better, goal oriented organization. The plans that the Environmental Club
80% 20%
have has brought more attention to the club than in past years; as more and more members join, allowing the club to expand its reach beyond the a few numbers of students and into the entire school. The officers have set out to make sure that their plans are successful and more notable than before. “We’ve gone from a marginalized and irresponsible band of ideologues to a focused, progressive, and reluctantly structured club of diverse individuals. We try to expand our ideals beyond the realm of photo by GLORIA LERMA in-school activities and mundane community service, into a more enjoyable, yet SAVING THE WORLD Alex Housman, Kenny Vo, Julian James responsible events,” Kevin Nguyen, senior, and Thoa Tran, sophomores, pick up recycling bins from teachers’ room. This is one of the many projects of which Environmental Club said. They will try to challenge the threats or participates. ify and goodify the planet. We try to educate the needs of pollution, global warming, promotion of recycling, and the dangers of litter- student body about various aspects and concepts ing. The ultimate plan is to expand the club into that promote planetary sustainability and the doing city wide projects in order to attempt to advancement of human populations. In other educate students on the environment. The club’s terms, we’re saving the world,” Nguyen said. With a bright future ahead, the Environaspirations seem large and vast for a number of individuals looking towards community service mental Club can sow the seeds of success, plant the trees of life, recycle the paper of prosperity, or the chance to impact their world. “The Environmental Club aims to awesome- and rid the world of pollution.
the
PEREGRINE
issue two
On BandOnSound e
feature
7
e
Overtime practices result in UIL competition award
LAURA HEBERT
feature editor They had the pride, they had the school spirit, they had the dance moves, and more than ever, they had determination. The Marching Band worked overtime to perfect every note and sync every step. After Hurricane Ike, U.I.L restrictions were waived, so practice could go for an unlimited amount of time. Since the time was lost, the band scrambled to make up the practice hours. “Saturday morning practices were very tiring because it was so early. Extra hour practices were exhausting,” Daniel Garcia, senior, said. On average practices lasted an hour and a half, up to three hours. The extended practice caused leaders to emerge. “As a leader, I have had to put the band and my section before myself. I have had to make myself and the
people around me work harder so we came together as a section. I became a stronger leader, band member, and person,” Alyssa San Pedro, senior, said. All of this extra work paid off; members of the band have felt stronger and advanced to area. In a recent competition, the Falcon band was ninth out of 19 schools. “Because of the extra work, my endurance and strength has increased. I could march and play the whole show and not be exhausted at the end,” Jordan O’Neal, senior, said. Being united through sweat, blood, and, tears, band members bonded closer together with this extra practice time. “The extra work has brought me closer to a lot of people in band that I had not gotten a chance to really get to know,” Hope Adams, junior, said. Band members proved themselves as hard workers. Through this
photo by SKYE COMSTOCK
dedication, they polished their musical ability, improved their marching, and boosted their spirit to enhance their routine. “We essentially reformed the overall work ethic of the band,” Charliann Vavricka, senior, said. Despite how exhausting the practices were, the Falcon band continued to empty out the early release parking lot every day in order to perform at the highest level they could.
I Have A Love Performing West Side Story, in their UIL competition the band forms a cluster of hearts in one of the sets. LAST MARCH Escorted by his parents Mark and Ruth, Ian Paige, senior is recognized for his four year commitment to the band.
Senior Night senior band members were recognized during the 50 Cy-fair vs. Jersey Village game on November 7, 2008.
Leaders for the Band
Justin Montes, senior
QA
What did you think about drum majors when you were an underclassman?
“Freshman year I didn’t think about them much, but during my sophomore and junior years I definitely saw them as leaders, as somebody that I really would look to, somebody who the band needs. I thought that they were somebody important.”
with the drum majors
compiled by STEPHANIE GALLAGHER
Amanda Weise, senior
Lily Tran, senior How do you get along with your fellow drum majors?
Samantha Fleitman, senior
“Really we just take things one step at a time, occasionally we don’t agree with each other… I’m normally on who tries to compromise because that’s the best way to approach things and if there’s something hugely conflicting we all get though it because the band always come first.”
Why did you want to be a drum major? “When I was a freshman, drum majors were always people that I really looked up to, and I wanted to be the kind of person that freshman and my peers would look up to in the same way.”
Which position in band do you hold closer to your heart, the position of drum major or playing the trombone?
“Both, drum major because when their faces light up… the people on the field… it’s the most rewarding experience in the world because you know that they finally see what you’ve been seeing in them all along. I miss being on the field though because whenever you’re out there all together, you’re a part of something bigger than yourself.”
8
in-depth
Friday the
PEREGRINE
DEBY THORP sports editor
Clarinets Players are playing Big Booty. Flutes Players are rubbing the belly of Taff Cow and receiving walrus kisses from Wolly. Trumpets worship the statue head of Tito while drinking their customary Root-Beer. Trombones form a separate circle and have story time. All the sections go through their game night traditions and prepare for their reward for all their hard work. The day of the game the Falcon band hall is alive with excited chatter as the members gather their uniforms and instruments. Leaders yell instructions and students divide into their groups and file onto the bus. The bus is filled with laughter and inane chatter as the band travels to their destination. Once at the field, the percussion unloads from their bus taking their instruments to the
Night
Lights
a day in the life
Gold Dusters
photo by SKYE COMSTOCK
sweaty faces if need be. The performance went well, and the girls are now laughed, smiled, and returned to their spots on the bleachers close to the band. But the girls are not alone. On this day, future Gold Dusters are spaced intermittently throughout the veterans, identical shirts and hair ribbons primly placed. Officers looked over the Dustettes, correcting behavior, and groups of girls marched up the stairs single file. Fourth quarter, the band struck up a Cadence, and the fun really began. Music rang out, and the band provided a beat for special dances and cheers. Dustettes looked side to side in an attempt to pick up the perfectly synchronized dances. As a reward for a job well done, each dancer was allowed a brief meeting with a family member, an action never before permissible. As the game wound down, the dancer’s energy never waned. The bleacher Moms and Dads began to pack up supplies. The night is nowhere near over for the hardworking girls.
photo by KELSEY O’BRIANT
Fancy Free Evelyn Gonzales, KELLY HARRISON senior, performs staff writer a “pom-pom” The energy on the field was palpable. Girls dance at the game dressed in identical black warm-ups gathered on against Memorial the sidelines of Pridgeon Stadium, preparHigh School. ing for their structured walk onto the field. With hair pulled back, chins up, and a confident gait, the Gold Dusters took their spots on the field for traditional half-time entertainment. From the bleachers, the Gold Dusters appeared to move as one. Precise kicks and coordinated glances, all paired with beaming smiles helped to compound the motto Gold Dusters strive to live by – “A Tradition of Excellence”. Once the girls exited the field, the atmosphere becomes more relaxed. The Gold Duster escorts walked alongside the girls, gently dabbing the dancer’s
in-depth the
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Falcon Band
field as the rest of the band follows suit at a slower pace. After unloading, the band walks to their bleachers while directed by the Band Parents. Once at the bleachers the students are a flutter of movement as they move to their section and space themselves out. At a home game the band will play the national anthem or if visitors then they mimic the people on field and turn to the flag while patting each other on the back. During the kickoff, the band yells, “Aw you!” in a throw back to Soldier Boy and pumping up the football team. The band burst into excited chatter and can be found dancing, twirling around, and girls with their hair whipping around, and the boys shaking their butts, everyone following the music swept up into the excitement of the night. The clock runs down to about five minutes before halftime and the band start to walk down from the bleachers to assemble on the edge of the field for the show. As they file off, leaders such as Amanda Weise and Stephanie Gallagher grip passing student’s pinkies as a way to wish everyone luck. Standing off to the side of the field, the band is alive with nervous chatter as everyone even the senior band members fill an attack of pre-show nerves. The show is a flurry of movements; each performer is play-
Tooting their own horns Band members led by senior Daniel Garcia line up on the field, displaying their musical prowess.
ing and marching beautifully, the band out doing themselves each week. As they form the customary JVHS to compliment whatever show the Gold Dusters are dancing each student knows exactly where to go and how to play. At the end of the show the band walks towards the stand exhausted from their exertion but still pumped from the adrenaline rush the night gave them. As the band walks up the bleachers, the Band Parents hand out sodas to them as the students hand other parents their performance hat feathers. After finding their seats, students take off their band uniforms and the Drum Majors disappear one by one as they take off their finery and change back into their jeans and band shirts. The game passes quickly now as the band continues to cheer, dance, laugh, and enjoy their time together watching the team that they love. At the completion of the game the band goes back to their buses and rides back to Jersey Village. The students unpack and leave the band hall, some lingering to talk to friends. Some students go home to collapse from their exhaustion of the game, while others go out to all night places to continue the fun of the night, unable to let go of the feeling of the night and the fun they have together.
go time Steven Williams, junior, goes head to head with a Cy Falls player.
photo by JACQUI BONTKE
Varsity Football
SAM KELLY staff writer
A grass field their battle ground and the opposing team plays as an enemy. The coaches are the generals, and the players are their soldiers. This war, or game, is football. The players line up, hands resting on each others shoulders, for the playing of the national anthem. As the last few notes are played the chain of players begin patting each others shoulders, helmets raised in the air. The loud thud of hands hitting their shoulder pads echo through the stadium and once the last note is played a loud cheer is cried and the Falcons rush to the side lines for the coin toss It was decided that the Falcons would kick off to the Lobos. The ball was caught and the Lobos receiver proceeded down the field until stopped by a barrage of purple jerseys. However this alone did not stop the Lobos from scoring their first touchdown and their first field goal. The ball was then turned over to the Falcons who, despite their best efforts, did not score a touchdown but rather ended up turning the ball back over. At the end of the
first quarter the score would be 21 to 0, Lobos in the lead. A comeback looked all but impossible. Players began praying on the sidelines asking for a mere shot at victory. Coaches start to become aggravated, kicking up dirt, and screaming at the referees. Cries of “Go O” (offense) and “Go D” (defense) come from the players on the sideline, trying to encourage their team members. Then a glimpse of hope lit up on the distraught players’ faces during the third quarter, as the first touchdown for the Falcons was scored. Shouts and cheers came bursting from the crowd. Cries of encouragement from the spirited crowd washed over the players and those cries led them to their second and third touchdowns. But in the end the Lobos won their homecoming game, with a score of 35 to 21. The following Monday the Falcons would hang their heads in the hall ways and still other players would keep their heads held high knowing full well they had done a good job. Victories and losses yards lost and touchdowns scored, so goes the life of a football player.
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feature
PEREGRINE
the
French
november ‘08
Finale
AP foreign language lasts one final year
KELSEY O’BRIANT managing editor While enrolment in French I through IV is considerably less than that in Spanish I through IV, enrollment in French V is even less so. French V Advanced Placement, a French Literature course, has been taken by no more than about five students each year. This year, the sole student is Yahya Khan, junior, whose dedication to French has traveled outside of the school campus. “Taking French V AP was definitely harder than I had expected due to a few unforeseen obstacles I had to overcome. Due to some issues with curriculum, I was unable to take the French Literature AP course at Jersey Village. The only other school in the district that offered the course was Cy-Falls High School. I was adamant about taking this course, and [the director of instruction] made it happen for me,” Khan said. Khan had to wait two weeks before he could take a shuttle to Cy Falls to begin the course. Due to the different lunch schedules between the schools, Khan had to drop another one of his AP courses for a K Level course, and even misses class time in that course to get to French class. Khan’s past in French classes taught by Madame Pampe here have not been quite as turbulent; only fond memories fill his mind. “These past years of taking
French have made my experience at JV truly memorable. Madame Pampe is an awesome teacher and I believe she honestly strives to bring as much French culture as she can in her students lives,” Khan said. But now Khan is focused on a French Literature course taught by Dr. Marie-Christine Smith, a French native. The class has a total of five students: two French native speakers and another who studied at an immersion French School in Peru, but Khan has had no trouble adjusting. “They are all extremely adept at French but I’m thankful to say that I’m fitting in fine,” Khan said. While Khan has found immense value in the course so far, others have not taken such initiative in moving to this point in French studies. Due to low enrollment, the AP course will be completely eliminated in Cy-Fair in the future; a poignant defeat for devoted French scholars. “French is definitely an under appreciated language in the US. People tend to focus on Spanish due to our proximity to Hispanic nations. They fail to realize that about 363 million people speak French as their first and second language,” Khan said. Khan himself intends to leave the US in
FOREIGN EXCHANGE The sole French V AP student, Yahya Kahn, junior, makes his daily trip to Cy-Falls High School for French class. the future, so he feels that French will benefit him in his travels as well as scoring points with admissions directors at colleges. “Universities like students who are proficient in more than one language and international employers also admire this characteristic,” Khan said. Despite Khan’s fervor for AP French, the course will come to a bittersweet end after this school year. Khan and other students of the language will have to find alternative outlets for their passion, marking the end of an era.
Parlez Francais?
Learn to speak a little french
English hello goodbye my name is ______ please thank you i love you school
French bon jour au revoir je m’appelle ______ s’il vous plait merci je t’adore école
sports
PEREGRINE
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issue two
SCHOOL
TEAM SUPPORT Kristian Lampkin and Jordan Chachere bring out Hebert’s jersey in respect for their injured teammate.
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SUPPORT Student body comes together in honor of injured athlete MIKELA MELAKIS staff writer People around the world try to show support in various ways. Whether it is by pinning on a red ribbon for drug awareness, wearing a yellow wrist band for cancer, or even by sticking a flag outside their yard for the troops, everyone shows support for their passions. The students at this high school are showing support too, not for a cause, but for a fellow student. The initials DHJ #2 was seen on almost every junior varsity players’ shoulder. Devin Hebert, a sophomore and running back for junior varsity football, was injured at a CySprings game. During a play he tried to tackle his opponent, ramming his head straight into the other player’s knee and crashing into the ground. After the coach realized he was not able to get up he walked onto field. “All that was in my head was oh god what happened? He kept saying something about his arm,” Justin Boualaine, sophomore, said. But Hebert could not move his arm or any other body part. Moments after Hebert had to be life-flighted off the field and the game was declared over.
According to his mother, Djana Vontour, after Hebert got to the hospital they discovered he had a broken neck, spinal cord injuries and was paralyzed from the neck down. The doctors, however, are unaware if it is permanent. The real story though is not the details of his injuries but the amazing show of support he is getting from the student body. The junior varsity team did not start a game without first having a moment of prayer by Hebert’s jersey. Hebert’s team mates also write DHJ #2 on their shoulders. “He’s like a missing puzzle piece; we just can’t really complete the team without him, so we do it to show how much he really means,” Joshua Jarman, sophomore, said. Students are also showing their support for him in other ways, by making T-shirts, cards, and by visiting him. T-shirts are being sold for 15 dollars by jersey village students and friends of Hebert with the proceeds going to his mother. Support has also been seen from people outside of the school. Jersey Village Baptist Church had a prayer service on Monday, October 27th for Devin and his family. Also on October 23 Cy-Ridge cheerleaders were asking for donations for their own Devin Fundraiser.
ALL SMILES Devin Hebert laughs with his friend and fellow team mate, Justin Boualaine, sophomore, at the St. Max’s Fall Festival. “I think me and all of Devin’s others friends are trying to see him photo by MIKELA MELAKIS and make cards for him, just to do anything we can to show him we’re still thinking about him,” Ana Seffair, sophomore, said. Mrs.Vontour has been at the hospital by her son’s side everyday since the accident. As single parent, she relies on close friends for comfort and support. “It really means a lot to see people coming up here and to see that people are still thinking about him and keeping him in their prayers,” Vontour said.
PEREGRINE
november ‘08
the
12
sports
A Small Beginning
Wrestlers approach new season STEPHANIE GALLAGHER staff writer
The rush, the excitement, the energy… Wrestling happens in the moment, like improve; unexpected. Every second on the mats are perfect and precise. Wrestling, a sport unlike any other, creates a one on one experience; and for a wrestler, pure peace of mind. Conducting practices on campus a different and new wrestling team has formed under the direction of Coach Kevin Casula. “I wanted to be in a sport to keep me in shape for football season, but then I ended up liking it and just kept doing it,” Hunter Gregg, senior, said. The 30 members run during their wrestling period, two or three miles a day, practice for approximately 45 minutes, and then move onto body conditioning. “It’s different from any other sport because with wrestling it’s just you out there on the mat so if you lose it’s your fault; you can’t blame it on anyone else, and if you win that’s all you too. Wrestling is a lot of glory,” Gregg said. Casula has previous experience by wrestling for his entire high school career. “Wrestling teaches you perseverance, a lot about character, dedication, and work ethic… all of these attributes or variables you might say, are given to the participants by being in the sport,” Casula said.
Wrestling demands general technique and skill over an opponent. Without these important skills, a wrestler has set him/herself up for defeat. “It’s different from everything else, and it’s also a great way to relieve stress from the day,” Tom Li, senior said. Teen participation in wrestling has gained in popularity over the past 10 years. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrestling is currently ranked as fourth highest sport in participation and second in rate of injury. The wrestling season really starts off on November 27, when the first tournament will take place at Cy-Ridge High School. Like many other sports and activities, wrestling takes time. “We practice everyday and on Saturdays, we have duels once a week and tournaments every other week, once the season takes off, ” Gregg said. The team has practice for about two hours a day and then tournaments every other week that can be from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. “We’re learning our skill pretty fast so we should be in good position for the season, and our coach is a beast,” Li said. The team has high hopes for the upcoming season, and so does their new coach. “We’ll be able to compete given that it’s our first year. Hopefully the
photo by ERIN CUMING
IN THE RING Staring into each other’s eyes, Khang Tran and Jonathon Abushear, seniors, duel each other in the large commons after school. The exercise is a way for the wrestlers to strengthen their skills as well as become adjusted to sizing up an opponent for a match and not only a way to relieve stress. team will all be taking away from the lessons that I’ve been teaching them and learn something from those lessons. If the team takes everything to heart we’ll do very well this season. It is determined for later how well we do, but I think that we will be able to compete just fine,” Casula said.
Special shoes are required for grip, to make the foot more flexible and to protect the wrestlers as well as the mat.
reflections
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PEREGRINE
the
issue two
Nerds vs Geeks
Comic enthusiast shares passion for eclectic Japanese cartoons
Being a geek comes with plenty of perks. However, there is probably triple the downfalls included as well. Being able to quote Star Wars: A New Hope line for line is pretty interesting (albeit very annoying to some) and knowing the plot of some obscure series in Japan comes in handy whenever you get into an argument with some of your fellow geeklings. However, it is rare people outside of the nerdy group will get your pop culture references, nor will they be entertained with the clever sayings. I have had this problem for nine years now. It all started with an action cartoon. The thought of energy beams and fighting to save the world mixed in with cliffhangers at the end of every episode filled my entire body with excitement. I was eight years old when I first laid my eyes on Dragon Ball. This timeless show still affects me. I spent the majority of my summer watching the entire Dragon Ball series. Almost 15 years of animation squeezed into a couple of months. At times I would watch as many as 12 episodes a day. That is nothing when you compare that to the 450 episodes I watched in total. When I would get bored watching Dragon Ball episodes I had already seen ten years prior, I picked up my Game boy Advance and played Pokemon. Some may remember this silly little game in Saturday morning cartoon form. The Pokemon TV show featured Ash Ketchum during his adventure to become a Pokemon Master. This now brings me to the third activity I started, and am still attempting to accomplish. I started watching Pokemon from episode one. Right now I’m at about 150 during the Johto region. Because there are seemingly an infinite number of episodes, I plan to stop after this season. Another geek characteristic is reading manga ( Japanese graphic novels). I know some people who read manga religiously. They never put down their books, even while walking through the halls. It is almost like they have a sixth sense, or maybe like those SONAR glasses batman wore in The Dark Knight. Contrary to popular belief, a nerd and a geek are not the same. A geek is defined as a person who has a hard core interest in electronics, gaming or pop culture. A nerd, however, is one who feels like they have a superior intellect to everyone else. The two nouns may overlap in one’s personality, but they are different. I’m a geek, and proud of it.
Colbert Nation Junior conveys appreciation for political humor KELSEY O’BRIANT “ Tr uthiness, Ploycott, Absinthetinence,” Introduced on The Colbert Report, this vocabulary, while gibberish to many, marks the beginning of a beautiful friendship between two seemingly opposite phenomena: politics and comedy. Stephen Colbert, creator of The Colbert Report and one time presidential nominee, along with Jon Stewart and various other political humor pioneers, have discovered the secret to success not only in comedy but in getting America excited about the election, and they are flaunting it proudly on screens across the United States. The Colbert Report has twisted monotonous news into one of the most humorous forms of entertainment available. The abundance and success of political comedy today can be explained by comfort. Any presidential election is intimidating; between ri-
managing editor
advertising designer
ANTHONY ESPINOSA
diculous rumors, mountains of policies and promises, lengthy debates and conventions, and a slew of publicity stunts, it is sometimes difficult to know which way is up, or rather, which side deserves your vote or even attention. But when humor is factored into this jumbled equation, the average person feels instantly at ease. Colbert understands this better than any personality on television today. The genius of the Colbert Report is subtlety. While in reality Stephen Colbert is a self-proclaimed Democrat who really does know quite a bit about the world around him, he plays a “well-intentioned, poorly informed, highstatus idiot” who tends to lean towards Republican conservatism. Through extremely sincere portrayal and satirical ingenuity, Colbert is able to criticize and poke fun at what many Americans take so seriously, namely politics. Colbert is able to draw his audiences’ minds away from tedious media coverage by exploiting the underlying humor
in nearly every news situation. But one realizes after watching an episode that it is not mere humor. It is not mere distraction. The Colbert Report is able to not only mock, but to reveal. All pretension and formality is stripped away to create a greater understanding through humor. People are far more likely to listen if they are given laugh lines instead of furrowing their brow, and Colbert is a scholar in that area. Sure, he plays a character, but it serves as a tool to peak the public’s interesting in the world around them. In order to understand his jokes and jabs, one must have a deeper understanding of what is actually going on in the world around them. In this way, Colbert has inspired a nation. In an age where apathy rules despite the fact that information is at our very fingertips, political comedy has set a definite precedent. It has created a home in politics for those who had never shown interest and relief for those who always have.
PEREGRINE
november ‘08
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reflections
Cooking Up Some Love Senior reflects upon his loving grandmother ARMANDO HUERECA staff writer
Suffering is as essential as oxygen. We observe some form of suffering on daily basis, whether it is in the form of physical, emotional, or psychological suffering. It is essential because it can serve as a stimulus for change or advancement. Even though someone somewhere is suffering constantly, it is a different story when it strikes close to home. It is difficult to analyze suffering this way when it affects a family member, or more notably, one’s role model. Everyone claims that their grandmother is the best; however I have always been adamant in asserting that my grandmother is the true recipient of that title. There is nothing but love and good nature that emanate from
my grandmother. My sense of right and wrong, my social manners, and most of my morality basically come from her. I have been emotionally attached to her since the day I came to be. When my grandmother suffered from a severe stroke eight years ago, it changed her life forever. Her mobility was limited, as well as her ability to speak. She would become dependent on medication and perfectly balanced and portioned meals. There was an abrupt end to long afternoon walks with Grandma, and also an end to her impeccable skills in the kitchen. If you ask me what I miss most about the days when my grandmother had her health, I will most certainly say that I miss her food. Though this may sound strange, I say this because of my grandmother’s affinity for cooking. I will forever have mental photos of her making homemade tortillas. The kitchen is where Grandma truly felt happy because she could feed her family and bring joy into our lives in the form of incredibly
delicious meals. Her food was amaz- fate I suppose, however it does make ing, even if it was something as con- me love her more. I will never take her ventional as spaghetti. It was the fact for granted. I love my grandmother that Grandma had made it, which was more now than I ever did, and I will why her spaghetti was filled with so always remember the wonderful aromuch more flavor than anyone else’s ma and taste of her fresh tortillas, or spaghetti. the authenticity of her tamales. It kills me now that Grandma can no longer cook, however I’m sure no one has suffered more about it than her. She has truly suffered for the past eight years, and in my eyes it is completely unfair. This is the exception to my assertion that suffering is necessary. I always pray that somehow a miracle could happen, and she would suddenly gain her health again. Why should someone so loving and caring have to suffer so much? Where is the examConsue ple, or lesson learned? lo Huer eca, 199 It was just a whim of 4
BASSically Brilliant Harmonious sounds captivate young man
delivery manager
JASPER GATES The brilliant ringing of the low notes toning through the amplifier fill the room as I pluck the coiled strings with a majestic flow from my pointer finger; As the simple but jazzy tune floods my soul with creativity. With the notes flowing through the room I am reminded of why I played the electric bass guitar. The very first time I came into contact with this amazing instrument was when I was a young boy in middle school. I watched my Uncle Randy take up a strange looking guitar that was bigger than the rest. While most guitars had
six thin strings, his had four thick clunky strings. At first I had looked at this instrument as the goofiest looking piece of music device I had ever seen. Then a note came from my uncle’s finger. It was unlike anything I had ever heard. The notes were low in tone, creating a pulse that formed the central beat to the music. Bum, Bum, Bum the sound in its nature simple, but added a whole other level to the music that I had fell in love with. Inspiration filled my spirit with the aspiration to play this influential instrument. I soon picked up the bass guitar myself; I thought this would be an easy ordeal to master. I was wrong. The first time that I had picked up the bass I had no idea what to do. Stuck in frustration I found myself
lost as to how I could create marvelous sounds from my guitar. Nearly on the verge of giving up, something hit me; I could learn this instrument, just as my uncle had learned his. After this realization I began to talk to the right people and down the line I have gotten better. After slightly learning the basics I have wanted to take my skills on the bass even more. The desire to learn more than just mere scales has given me an opportunity to explore and implore the power and the depth of this great instrument. As I sit in my room plucking the notes away I feel at home in my creativity. I feel like Mozart or Bach leading an entire orchestra through my bass, as I compose and it response with the beautiful and low pitch that only the bass guitar can make.
PEREGRINE Peregrine Staff
the
issue two
TESTED Negative
2008-2009
Teachers contribute to student stress with flawed testing schedule
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It’s harder to fully prepare for tests when they all crash down on you at once. The stress can be mentally exhausting and usually results in poor performance.
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ISAIAH ROSS 10th
KIM TANG12th
students speak out
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I find it extremely stressful and crazy to take so many tests in one day. I think there should be a limit of one quiz and one test a day.
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becomes valid. This policy is established by the administration and teachers are aware of the ramifications. Due to this long process, students question why testing becomes excessive on certain days. The answer is hard to come by, but the result of excessive testing is not. Whether freshman or seniors, students deal with this dilemma, which in the long run produces poor tests scores, frustration in teachers, and unwanted stress on students. Though teachers may not know they are violating the testing schedule, it is happening, and it may be the reason behind disappointing scores. Teachers should monitor when three plus tests are given on a specific day to prevents an unfair factor contributing to the performance of students.
the
yays 1nay 16 PEREGRINE position
CAROLINA BAUMANIS 10th
Foreign Languages, Career and Technology, Physical Education and Health to give tests. Thursdays permit several subjects including Math, Journalism, Fine Arts and A.A.S. to test. For a student taking courses that test on the same day, the test load can become overwhelming and stressful. The process of going against an assigned test day is tedious for both teachers and the administration. According to Associate Principal, Stacie Wickie, if a teacher wants to test on a day that is not assigned to his or her subject the teacher must first submit a statement reasoning the change, whether the change is due to scheduling conflicts, test preparation time or other manipulating factors. The teacher must then go to each subject testing and evaluate the amount of tests a given student would be taking during that day. If the additional test is the fourth or fifth, then the request is denied, however if it is only the first or second test of that day it
A teacher gives a test. The students are given appropriate time to prepare. One class period is spent taking that test, but a re-occurring factor, which is not frequently taken into consideration, is how many times the student must repeat the test taking process during that particular day. As the number of tests given per day increases, the stress of the student also increases. Being under an immense amount of stress is not a place students want to be when a test is given, so testing at an excessive amount that does not follow the assigned schedule must be done away with. Subjects in high school are assigned certain days of the week to take both unit tests and six weeks exams. For example, History and English classes are required to give their unit tests on odd calendar days. For end of six weeks exams, a week is divided by assigning a subject to days, Monday through Friday. Friday allows any computer related classes,
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15
editorial
Tests are ridiculous, especially when you have to take four in a day. It’s hard to keep all the info straight.
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editor-in-chief JACQUI BONTKE managing editor KELSEY O’BRIANT photo editor SHELBY CARTER feature editor LAURA HEBERT news editor MANDY HOGAN sports editor DEBY THORP advertising designers
SKYE COMSTOCK, ANTHONY ESPINOSA
business manager JESSE PYLE delivery manager JASPER GATES contributing artist EMILY JOHNSON staff
ERIN CUMING, STEPHANIE GALLAGHER, KELLY HARRISON, PAXTON HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO HUERECA, SAM KELLY, GLORIA LERMA, MIKELA MELAKIS, MICHAEL PENA AND KATHY ROMERO
adviser MARGIE COMSTOCK principal RALPH FUNK
Jersey Village High School Student Publications’ Newspaper Policy The Peregrine is the official student publication of Jersey Village High School and is published by the Advanced Journalism Newspaper class at Jersey Village High School, 7600 Solomon, Houston, Texas 77040 (713-896-3400). It is distributed free to the student body. Subscriptions can be bought for $15, and copies of the paper will be mailed to your residence. Unsigned editorials represent a majority agreement of the staff. The Peregrine is read in advance of publication by the JVHS administration. Advertising is sold by the 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and full page. The staff has the right to reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. The advertising policy is stated on the advertising contract. Advertising is not an endorsement from the staff, the adviser, the administration, or the Cypress Fairbanks Board of Trustees. The Peregrine is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, Quill and Scroll, and the National Scholastic Press Association. The Peregrine is printed by Texas Student Media in Austin, TX. The opinion of readers is held in high regard. Please send all feedback or questions to our address or room 1712. Letters to the editor need to be limited to 150 words. We reserve the right to edit for spelling and grammar. Letters must be signed.
Sing Singers showcase musical flair
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I enjoy making music with people. Music is a vital part of my life. I enjoy every second I spend in choir.” Kaylee Kuhn, senior
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photo by CRISTIAN SANDOVAL
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photo by CRISTIAN SANDOVAL
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photo by ADRIANA MIRELES
photo by ADRIANA MIRELES
1. Prior to the Fall concert Diana Hoang, Laura Lassiter, Kristy Nguyen, and Chris Barnes, juniors, demonstrate hand motions to reinforce vocal technique. 2.Trey Stoker, Christian Racey, Tyler Bruns, freshmen, members of the Concert Mens Choir perform “I’m Bound Away”. 3. With the Concert Womens Choir Christine Ko, junior, expresses her vocal talents. 4. Andrew Formas, freshman, and Ben Brown, junior, display their voices to the crowded auditorium. 5. Under the direction of Mrs. Neena Taylor the A Cappella Choir takes center stage.
DEC. 8
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photo by CRISTIAN SANDOVAL
Sound of Music Choir department endures Hurricane Ike photo by ADRIANA MIRELES
Christmas Concert at Foundry United Methodist Church photo by ADRIANA MIRELES
O
n October 27th, the choir department along with numerous band members performed in front of a packed house. The hour long concert allowed the six choirs to demonstrate their musical talents and to exhibit all of their hard work. Hurricane Ike stalled rehearsal for the fall concert and forced the department to cancel the demonstration concert which was to be held earlier in the year. The choir department persevered through their struggles and put on a show to be enjoyed by all.
ACCOMPANIMENT Orchestra and band members Vince Flores, sophomore, Luke Holt, senior, Samantha Aguilar, sophomore, Lauren Caton, freshman, and Nathan Camarata, junior, assist in the evening’s entertainment.